2020 Jeep Gladiator at Rausch Creek 11 and 12 Dec 2021 with NOVA Jeepers.
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- Опубліковано 18 гру 2021
- I went with a great group of folks from the Northern Virginia Jeepers Association (NOVA Jeepers www.novajeepers.com) to Rausch Creek PA to run the Blue, Black and Red trails. It was a fantastic weekend and a great way to test my new skid plates.
See our Gladiator build at revkit.com/blu-jt
2020 Gladiator Rubicon, 3.5” Metalcloak Game Changer lift with 6-Pak shocks, 37X13.50 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro’s on MR105 Beadlock wheels, Badland APEX 12k Winch
See our Gladiator build at revkit.com/blu-jt
An interesting advantage I heard somebody mention on a video is it if you have a longer wheel base it's more likely that the traction is different between the front and the rear tires... Which can create at traction advantage... They were basically saying that if you have a long vehicle and your front wheels are in the puddle your rear wheels are less likely to be in the puddle also compared to a shorter vehicle. So you get situations sometimes where if you're going into the mud you've always got two dry tires. Long wheelbase isn't always bad.
really enjoyed the commentary over the video, looks like a fun place to drive
Thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed it. If you get the chance to do Rausch Creek take it. There are a wide variety of trails to meet all vehicle and skill levels! I am going back this weekend with the NOVA Jeepers and should have the video up next week.
Gladiators are just fine if it's lifted. It's just like all other pickup trucks - needs to go up 6 in in the air compared to a 2 door with a 2 inch lift (doesn't have to be a 6-in lift, just 6 inches total) to match the break over angles especially.
For example , Jeep gladiator (stock) has a breakover angle of 20.3 degrees. Clearance from mid vehicle underside is therefore 12.3 inches (I'm not talking about diff clearance) . I backwards calculated it using the breakover angle and the wheelbase. Yay algebra...
My Cherokee Trailhawk with a 2 inch lift and therefore achieves 29.3° breakover.
(14 inches off the ground mid vehicle after tire size increase) .
If you raise the gladiator up 2 inches from stock likewise , to 14.3, you'd achieve a breakover of 23.5° (boom, you already beat the 4 door Rubicon stock doing just that 2 inch lift and NO other changes, some cheap spacers would do the trick to beat the Rubicon) .
Doing the math on what it would take to achieve 29.3° for the gladiator you need to be 17.5 inches off the ground between the axles (basically at the seam where your front door meets your rear door).
Conclusion: going up 5.2 inches from stock ride height will put you in a VERY good place for breakover. The approach angle on the gladiator is about the same as other Wranglers and so now you would just have to worry about departure. Departure is not going to be as good as something like that Grand Cherokee. But I'm sure it's probably fine.
So I'm going to say like four or five inch lift with big tires and you're fine. You probably already did that.
I agree. In my limited experience (and watching many youtube videos) I find that every vehicle has pros and cons. You try to build to overcome some of the cons and learn to drive to overcome the rest, which is the fun. The long wheel base can place both front and rear tires on different obstacles at the same time or in other cases place the front or rear tires in a better position than a shorter wheel base vehicle (both a pro and a con). With my 3.5 in lift and 37 in tires I find it capable and fun. Thanks for the well though out comments and thanks for watching!!
Nice vid. I put a Voodoo rack on my Gladiator. Have you noticed stability issues while you're loaded (on top of the rack) both on/off road? I felt like I was a little wobbly at interstate speeds....It was weird. Looking forward to your thoughts.
I have not had that problem either loaded or unloaded, when I camp I usually have a full bed of gear and a good bit of it strapped to the top of the rack. Are you running the steel or aluminum rack? Roof top tent? What shocks and springs? Thanks for watching!
I'm running a steel rack. No tent (yet) just gear. Factory Fox shocks and springs on a 2020 gladiator Rubi.
I had upgraded springs and shocks on my rig before I added the rack (also steel) so that could be the difference maker.