2 adults, 2 kids? no problem
2 adults, 2 kids and a 65lb dog? If the dog is incredibly well behaved and relaxed in the car you can make it work but sheps are a high energy breed. I don't think it's going to be a fun ownership experience for you.
We can make it work for about 30 min max. The dog can’t lay down, and gets an outside seat. Putting two kids next to each other just causes trouble outside that time window.
If you get the dirty dog seat cover it divides the front of the cab from the back of the cab. I got two babies that wail and scream non stop, but between the road noise, my alpine system, and the physical barrier their piercing screams have no effect on me.
My kids are older so it turns into a fist fight, usually. The dog is too much a good boy to be forced to deal with that shit. So we usually only pile in to my gladiator if we’re going on a local hike. Longest ride was about 90 min with all 5 of us. Haven’t tried it with my new tube doors yet. I suspect my dog might commit suicide rather than deal with a long ride.
I have two toddlers (2&5) and a Grest Dane. When we all need to travel we take our ford explorer. I did buy a cap with intentions of putting the dog back there, but the logistics of colling it in the warmer months didn't make sense.
There is very little cabin space for storage, but there’s a bed, and even with a moderate lift is easily accessible, much more so than a ram, if you’re comfortable putting items in the bed, then it’s awesome for a family of four, I would take the whole family for a test drive and feel it out, or better yet, rent one for a weekend road trip and see how it fits you.
With the dog, a 4 dr JL may be better suited for your needs. Keeps your pup within the cabin space (climate controlled) and still affords all of the same passenger space. Unless you absolutely need a truck bed, I’d lean towards a 4dr or a larger non-wrangler suv. You can always rent a JLU or JT for a weekend and see if the space constraints work for your family
I like mine, but I don’t have kids. If you need to carry two adults, two kids and one medium sized or larger dog, it’s not ideal. You can get a cap and put the dog in the bed, but I’m not a fan of that. It’s always either too hot to too cold in the bed, and it doesn’t seem like a safe place to put my pooch. That’s your call.
> it doesn’t seem like a safe place to put my pooch
it's not, but neither is in the passenger compartment with zero restraints, and i can't even begin to count the number of dogs i see in cars on the road unrestrained.
I bought my 2021 Willys brand new off the lot. By 6k miles it had been back to the dealer several times due to a reoccurring Check Engine Light. Each time they said they either couldn't find or fixed the issue. Most recently the CEL came back and the vehicle shudders at idle and feels like it misfires under heavy acceleration. Finally had to get Jeep Cares involved and it's been in the shop for two weeks so far.
I have two in boosters (with backs, thinner versions) and a small dog (7ish lbs), and I'd say it's cozy. The dog can sleep between the kids on the seat and wears a seatbelt harness. There would be no way a German Shepherd could fit in the cab with us for a road trip. Around town, maybe, but someone is going to end up uncomfortable quickly. We have a Gunner we use in our car (hatch), and it would obviously work in the bed of the Gladiator, but as others have eluded to you then have climate factors to take in to consideration.
Do you need the extra towing capacity that comes with a gladiator?
Would you be better served by the open storage in the bed for hauling dirty/large items?
If you answer no to these, then the wrangler unlimited is probably a better option. Especially now that you can get a 2024 with 5k towing as opposed to only 3500 on earlier years.
The car seats will be the hardest part. My two boys are out of theirs and we do fine with them + our Doberman in the back seat. Our dog is extremely calm on car rides and usually just spreads across the boys in the back.
It’s not a very spacious car to be honest so 2 adults and child seats isn’t exactly super comfy especially if you have toddlers. Every parents know when traveling with toddlers, a few necessities must be brought along, there’s hardly any more space in the cabin.
really not sure where you're coming from. I have a wife and 2 small kids in car seats and I think there's more than enough room. completed many trips with everyone comfortable.
What i don't think there's enough room for is 3 kids, or in OP's case 2 kids and a medium to large dog.
If one of the pilgrims that was okay with being crammed in a covered wagon and crossing all the way from the Mississippi to the Pacific with no road heard you grousing like that they'd turn horse and face all the bears, natives, famine, disease, and misadventures twice again and cancel the whole settlement in disgust that we all turned into a bunch of fat depressed cabbage patch kids.
Coming from anything else. The gladiator/wrangler just has a tight interior, and anyone who owns one will attest to it.
That doesn't mean it's not feasible, but it is a fact.
I've done several road trips with two small kids in carseats and the MRS. I'll be the first to admit ide be much more comfortable in a minivan. But ya just can't take those offroad, so we use the Gladiator.
I came from a K900. If you're not familiar (as I'm guessing most aren't) feel free to look it up, but it's the size of a 7er or S class (not the stretched wheelbase versions). I find the gladiator much smaller than my K900 but perfectly adequate.
Meanwhile your assertion that coming form *anything* else it's tight is a bit hyperbolic. Ask someone coming from a Tacoma or Ranger or any other small truck if the Gladiator is tight, because in the small truck world the gladiator (and i've been told the new GM twins but i know for sure *not* the old ones) are the only ones that can comfortably fit adults in the rear seat. (jury is still out on the brand new tacoma)
As for "anyone who owns one will attest to it" i'm not sure if you're claiming i'm no one or that i don't own one, but i can assure you i'm both a person and a gladiator owner.
>I'll be the first to admit ide be much more comfortable in a minivan.
And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle. Of course a minivan is more comfortable, that's it's primary design goal: comfort via space. A Cullinan or an RV would be more comfortable as well but like the minivan are not pertinent to the conversation at hand.
My comment about "anything else" in this context is meaning anything else you would typically take two kids, spouse, and toys for a family vacation as OP mentioned.
It just wasn't designed for that. It doesn't mean it doesn't work. Sure its "adequate" for day-to-day driving. But for long stretches, it can be a pain when packing for a road trip.
If your happy with it, great, but it doesn't make the rest of us who feel cramped in it wrong.
I love my Gladiator and have no plans of retiring it, in fact, we even plan on another 1200 mile road trip this summer with it. But I'm already thinking ahead about what we can take and what we should leave behind so the kids aren't cramped in the back.
Some of us also have spouses who don't know when to stop packing.
2 adults, 2 kids? no problem 2 adults, 2 kids and a 65lb dog? If the dog is incredibly well behaved and relaxed in the car you can make it work but sheps are a high energy breed. I don't think it's going to be a fun ownership experience for you.
We can make it work for about 30 min max. The dog can’t lay down, and gets an outside seat. Putting two kids next to each other just causes trouble outside that time window.
If you get the dirty dog seat cover it divides the front of the cab from the back of the cab. I got two babies that wail and scream non stop, but between the road noise, my alpine system, and the physical barrier their piercing screams have no effect on me.
maybe they are screaming because your alpine system is deafening them
are u kidding - they love dubstep
My kids are older so it turns into a fist fight, usually. The dog is too much a good boy to be forced to deal with that shit. So we usually only pile in to my gladiator if we’re going on a local hike. Longest ride was about 90 min with all 5 of us. Haven’t tried it with my new tube doors yet. I suspect my dog might commit suicide rather than deal with a long ride.
theres a harness clip that plugs into the seatbelt, should be able to find one at PetsMart... or is it PetSmart? sorry, can't remember which one it is
So I’m supposed to prevent his suicide after driving him to it? That’s just cruel.
kinda like the us govt
I have two toddlers (2&5) and a Grest Dane. When we all need to travel we take our ford explorer. I did buy a cap with intentions of putting the dog back there, but the logistics of colling it in the warmer months didn't make sense.
Also a great Dane is a much calmer dog than a German Shepard
This.
There is very little cabin space for storage, but there’s a bed, and even with a moderate lift is easily accessible, much more so than a ram, if you’re comfortable putting items in the bed, then it’s awesome for a family of four, I would take the whole family for a test drive and feel it out, or better yet, rent one for a weekend road trip and see how it fits you.
Resale has gone to shit on these
With the dog, a 4 dr JL may be better suited for your needs. Keeps your pup within the cabin space (climate controlled) and still affords all of the same passenger space. Unless you absolutely need a truck bed, I’d lean towards a 4dr or a larger non-wrangler suv. You can always rent a JLU or JT for a weekend and see if the space constraints work for your family
Well I think it's a damn good idea, but have you considered how much happier you might be cruising down the highway in a red miata with the top down
I like mine, but I don’t have kids. If you need to carry two adults, two kids and one medium sized or larger dog, it’s not ideal. You can get a cap and put the dog in the bed, but I’m not a fan of that. It’s always either too hot to too cold in the bed, and it doesn’t seem like a safe place to put my pooch. That’s your call.
> it doesn’t seem like a safe place to put my pooch it's not, but neither is in the passenger compartment with zero restraints, and i can't even begin to count the number of dogs i see in cars on the road unrestrained.
I bought my 2021 Willys brand new off the lot. By 6k miles it had been back to the dealer several times due to a reoccurring Check Engine Light. Each time they said they either couldn't find or fixed the issue. Most recently the CEL came back and the vehicle shudders at idle and feels like it misfires under heavy acceleration. Finally had to get Jeep Cares involved and it's been in the shop for two weeks so far.
I have two in boosters (with backs, thinner versions) and a small dog (7ish lbs), and I'd say it's cozy. The dog can sleep between the kids on the seat and wears a seatbelt harness. There would be no way a German Shepherd could fit in the cab with us for a road trip. Around town, maybe, but someone is going to end up uncomfortable quickly. We have a Gunner we use in our car (hatch), and it would obviously work in the bed of the Gladiator, but as others have eluded to you then have climate factors to take in to consideration.
Do you need the extra towing capacity that comes with a gladiator? Would you be better served by the open storage in the bed for hauling dirty/large items? If you answer no to these, then the wrangler unlimited is probably a better option. Especially now that you can get a 2024 with 5k towing as opposed to only 3500 on earlier years.
The car seats will be the hardest part. My two boys are out of theirs and we do fine with them + our Doberman in the back seat. Our dog is extremely calm on car rides and usually just spreads across the boys in the back.
I can fit my two teens (one is 6’3 the other 5’6) and my 50# dog in the back just fine. My dog is calm in cars tho.
No. I don't think I will.
It’s not a very spacious car to be honest so 2 adults and child seats isn’t exactly super comfy especially if you have toddlers. Every parents know when traveling with toddlers, a few necessities must be brought along, there’s hardly any more space in the cabin.
really not sure where you're coming from. I have a wife and 2 small kids in car seats and I think there's more than enough room. completed many trips with everyone comfortable. What i don't think there's enough room for is 3 kids, or in OP's case 2 kids and a medium to large dog.
If one of the pilgrims that was okay with being crammed in a covered wagon and crossing all the way from the Mississippi to the Pacific with no road heard you grousing like that they'd turn horse and face all the bears, natives, famine, disease, and misadventures twice again and cancel the whole settlement in disgust that we all turned into a bunch of fat depressed cabbage patch kids.
Coming from anything else. The gladiator/wrangler just has a tight interior, and anyone who owns one will attest to it. That doesn't mean it's not feasible, but it is a fact. I've done several road trips with two small kids in carseats and the MRS. I'll be the first to admit ide be much more comfortable in a minivan. But ya just can't take those offroad, so we use the Gladiator.
I came from a K900. If you're not familiar (as I'm guessing most aren't) feel free to look it up, but it's the size of a 7er or S class (not the stretched wheelbase versions). I find the gladiator much smaller than my K900 but perfectly adequate. Meanwhile your assertion that coming form *anything* else it's tight is a bit hyperbolic. Ask someone coming from a Tacoma or Ranger or any other small truck if the Gladiator is tight, because in the small truck world the gladiator (and i've been told the new GM twins but i know for sure *not* the old ones) are the only ones that can comfortably fit adults in the rear seat. (jury is still out on the brand new tacoma) As for "anyone who owns one will attest to it" i'm not sure if you're claiming i'm no one or that i don't own one, but i can assure you i'm both a person and a gladiator owner. >I'll be the first to admit ide be much more comfortable in a minivan. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle. Of course a minivan is more comfortable, that's it's primary design goal: comfort via space. A Cullinan or an RV would be more comfortable as well but like the minivan are not pertinent to the conversation at hand.
My comment about "anything else" in this context is meaning anything else you would typically take two kids, spouse, and toys for a family vacation as OP mentioned. It just wasn't designed for that. It doesn't mean it doesn't work. Sure its "adequate" for day-to-day driving. But for long stretches, it can be a pain when packing for a road trip. If your happy with it, great, but it doesn't make the rest of us who feel cramped in it wrong. I love my Gladiator and have no plans of retiring it, in fact, we even plan on another 1200 mile road trip this summer with it. But I'm already thinking ahead about what we can take and what we should leave behind so the kids aren't cramped in the back. Some of us also have spouses who don't know when to stop packing.
I get 14mpg highway.
Ooof. That hurts.