@ChasingOurTrunks you list sounded like a Jeep list at first. The reason I really like the Diesel Gladiator is the fact that it offers a platform that meets a lot of the points for me. Transfer case, frame, 5 passenger, and truck bed.
I want a diesel for long term use and high mileage, as a trip to the west coast is anywhere from 6-8k miles round trip and that’s before trails. The MPG obviously also helps and can be improved upon with a tune, long range tank, etc. my only issue is with getting low sulfur diesel outside of the US. A Rubicon also gets lockers, etc all under warranty which helps when travels across the country. Besides suspension I want to keep the mechanicals and power train as stock as possible for long term reliability.
The PowerWagen is basically the big Brother to the Gladiator Rubicon; minus the diesel. This is where the conflict becomes real.
1 drawback of the Gladiator is the interior room, 2 adults and 2 kids (5 and 10, one being autistic), and a service dog. Originally I thought of putting dog in the back, in the bed, with a cap and kennel; however after asking some advice on here (never having a dog before); really made me open up and realize the dog needs to be in the cabin with my son.
Drawback of a power wagon, it’s big on the trail.
I have basically narrows it down to one of those two.
A diesel for high mileage makes sense. There’s a real buzz when a gasser gets half a million miles on the Odo, and it makes national news when it hits one million, while some diesel owners see those articles and say “I remember when my odometer on this rig rolled over the million mark 15 years ago” from the drivers seat of their original-engined Landcruiser! (I am kidding, it’s not necessarily that drastic but the point stands!).
I totally hear you on the dog thing. We have two German shepherds, and they are always in the cab with us and our son in our midsize. We actually took out 2/3rds of our back seat and built a dog platform. A similar solution for the Gladiator might work if it’s got a split rear bench. The advantage for that is that people are tall, dogs are short. Our dog platform is about to have a shelf installed in the dead air above the dogs, which is a great way to maximize interior storage space. The platform also has a mesh divider to keep them physically secure from our son. But without a doubt the full size has more space — when we bring that we also have room for the cats too! With two kids though the dogs might have to go in the back, but that’s not necessarily a deal breaker for the Gladiator.
In your case with a service dog that might not be an option, but with a bit of planning it’s fairly easy to make a safe and secure dog space in the back. The Aussies have been doing it for years with their canopy systems — if you look at “Ute canopy dog box” on Google you’ll see tons of options of how to provide Fido with a safe and comfortable space in the back (I’m specifically talking about how to make a space for a dog, not that you need to go with a tray and canopy just for the dog’s sake on a Gladiator). In fact, a dog box designed for a pup in the back can be/often is far safer and more comfortable than a dog on a seat. They can lay down, stretch, get water, and move, while still being secure in the event of an accident. In my experience that’s hard for a big dog to do on the back seat.
I think if I were in your shoes it would be a tough call and I can very much appreciate why you are feeling conflicted! [Edit: I know you know all the stuff I’m about to type but I’m an external processor, so this is more about showing my thinking process than giving you information you already have!]
The compromise with Power Wagon that it is “only” capable of doing 80-90% of the trails in North America no problem, but outside of NA you may find some restrictions (but if you don’t intend to travel to remote parts of central or South America, it’s probably not a huge concern). Without a doubt It would be more comfortable for your family in the cab (Fido included) And will allow for a lot more “toss it in and go” which can be handy with small kids. In hour one the book comes out of the bag, hour two it’s the game, hour three it’s the snack kits, and often that stuff ends up just loose in the back, but the cab is still has room and is comfortable, even with the flotsam and jetsam all over.
The Gladiator Rubicon off the lot will do more off road. It will do most of the trails and tracks on earth, but the compromise is really on that interior space. it would require you to maximize the cubic feet In the cab and the box to accommodate everyone, and just like the Jeep wagons, you really need to have “a place for everything and everything in it’s place” for a comfortable cab environment. It’s a close race between those two. Other considerations — the Gladiator will likely hold it’s value better, so you could always start there and upgrade to a PW more easily than the other way around. And for aftermarket kit, because the Gladiator and the JL share a lot of components, there are TONS of accessories you can get depending on the application of the vehicle to enhance it’s capability.
A often not-talked about benefit of the midsize trucks is that they are often better daily drivers too If you life in a city. They fit in parking lots better, they turn faster, etc. And are just nicer to “live with” In a modern city.
Perhaps the most important — more than anything else we’ve talked about —
is what do you like better? I can tell you that I LOVE my full size truck. It has literally saved my family’s life in reliable comfort (A story for another day and a campfire, not the internet!), and I’ve had many fantastic and fun adventures at the wheel of my Silverado.
But when I have to “just run out” or go on a trip, it’s the Canyon’s keys I reach for first. Every time I get behind the wheel of the Canyon, my smile is just a little wider than it is in the Silverado. I can’t say why — it’s probably just in my head — but life is too short to ignore smiles per hour! Imagine you had both — which keys would you reach for most often?
Perhaps that will be your answer!
