Us overlanders love our vehicles. Can you blame us?
As vehicle travel enthusiasts, we rely on our vehicle of choice to take us to the far reaches of the Earth and back reliably and safely (while looking epic, of course). Having a truck (or anything else with wheels) you can trust to carry you, your family, and your gear into the backcountry without issue is key, but it’s not the only consideration.
A myriad of factors influences whether a particular vehicle is apt for overlanding. Some of these factors are universal, while others are deeply personal. For the sake of the question at hand—is the Jeep Gladiator a good long-term overland vehicle—I want to be very clear about what criteria are framing my answer.
Our Jeep Gladiator prepped and ready for adventure
Some of my criteria may relate to your own, while others might not at all. Only one way to find out—read on!
What Makes a Good Long-Term Overland Vehicle?
I want to emphasize the term long-term because we may have different opinions of what qualifies. For the sake of this argument, I’m defining long-term as anything over one month of full-time living on the road out of your vehicle. Anything under one month does not factor into my evaluation of the Jeep Gladiator as an overlanding truck. In case you want my opinion on that scenario, it’s brief and I’ll give it to you—the Jeep Gladiator is a phenomenal overland vehicle. One of the best, hands down.
With our timeframe defined, it’s time to dive into a few more of the key criteria I have for this particular article. To keep it simple, I’ve bullet-pointed my priorities and pertinent travel factors.
Vehicle Considerations
Range
Reliability
Capability
Storage capacity
Aftermarket support
Our Circumstances
Two full-time travelers
Full-time remote work
Diverse climates (Southeast to Northwest US and everything between)
Seat time (7500 miles in six weeks)
Mixed camping
These are, of course, my criteria. Yours might look slightly different, but for the scaffolding of the article, the lists above are what we’re working with. So, let’s dive in!
Long-Term Overland Vehicle Considerations – How the Gladiator Stacks Up
Let’s get one thing out of the way—the Gladiator is a phenomenal overlanding vehicle. It stacks up very well against the competition, especially those with a focus on off-roading. It’s a solid all-arounder and a Jack-of-all-trades. Consider the Jeep Gladiator a multi-tool in vehicle form.
Business in the front, party in the back. The Gladiator is sort of the Leatherman (and mullet) of the Jeep world.
Okay, cliches exhausted, let’s get into our list and examine the nitty-gritty details of what makes and breaks the Gladiator as an overland vehicle.
Range
I’m kicking this list off with arguably the Gladiator’s weakest point—range. With a relatively small gas tank, especially in the world of trucks, the Jeep Gladiator leaves a lot to be desired in terms of fuel capacity. It checks in at only 22 gallons.
If we were averaging 30mpg, the small tank would not be a big deal. However, when we are fully loaded for an overlanding trip—rooftop tent, all of our gear, 35” tires, etc.—our fuel efficiency is nowhere near 30mpg. On the highway, we average between 17 and 18mpg. Around town, that number drops to 15 to 16mpg. On the trail, I can only guess but I know it isn’t good.
We carry a five-gallon gas can with us to help extend our range, specifically into the backcountry. Additionally, companies like Long Range America offer auxiliary fuel tanks that can nearly double the fuel capacity of the Gladiator. So, while the stock range is not great, especially when equipped for overlanding, there are ways to extend it.
Alternatively, you can opt for the diesel engine. While this does increase fuel efficiency, it also gives you a smaller tank—a minuscule 18 gallons.
Verdict: It could be better, but aftermarket support makes up for some of the Jeep Gladiator’s shortcomings.
Reliability
Make all the jokes you want about Jeeps and reliability; our experience has been pretty much flawless. While there are plenty of horror stories floating around out there (seriously, name a brand or vehicle that doesn’t have its fair share), this is our third Jeep since 2019, and all three have been extraordinarily reliable.
Thus far, we have had no major issues, even when mildly abusing our Jeeps. I can’t speak to the platform as a whole, but my experience has been stellar.
Verdict: So far, so good. No issues here.
Capability
This is where the Gladiator shines. If you’re looking for a blend of on- and off-road capability, comfort, and size, there are few vehicles that can claim to rival the Jeep Gladiator. It has a long enough wheelbase to provide stability and comfort on the road, yet the off-road chops are hard to top.
Our particular model, the Mojave, comes from the factory with a boatload of off-road features. A solid front axle, rear e-locker, skid plates, rock sliders, and absurd Fox suspension system all contribute to a massively capable off-roading machine straight from the dealer lot.
In fact, all we’ve done to enhance the off-road ability of our Jeep Gladiator is add 35” General Tire Grabber ATX tires wrapped around Anthem Off-Road Wheels. That’s it. No lift, no additional armor (aside from a Rock Hard 4x4 bumper to house our winch), no regearing, and so on. Prepping these vehicles for overland and off-road travel is unbelievably easy.
Verdict: A+. It’s hard to get something better from the factory.
Jeeps take you places like this. That’s pretty rad.
Storage Capacity
This is a point of contention because storage needs vary greatly among overlanders. Objectively speaking, the Gladiator falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of overland vehicles when it comes to storage capacity. The interior is small, but it has a (small) truck bed. Do with that what you will.
When thinking long-term, however, the capacity is limited for two or more full-time travelers. Again, aftermarket support does provide many storage solutions—more than a lot of the other options on the market. That being said, Hanna and I began to struggle after about a month despite having our organizational system pretty dialed. Ideally, a vehicle with more storage space would be better for genuine long-term scenarios. For us, at least.
Verdict: Better than some options, but leaves something to be desired.
Aftermarket Support
You would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle platform with more aftermarket support than the Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators in the United States. Toyotas may come close, but the level of support for Jeeps is unbelievable. If you can dream it, chances are someone makes it. This is a huge benefit for those outfitting their vehicles for vehicle-based travel.
Verdict: One of the primary strengths of the Jeep Gladiator platform.
How the Jeep Gladiator Worked for Our Six-Week Overland Adventure
People travel in different ways. Some do it as a lifestyle, others do it for work, and many do it as a form of vacationing. For us, it falls somewhere in the middle of all three. Despite our best attempts to balance it all—enjoying the journey, immersing in the local cultures, appreciating the scenery, and documenting everything—one pesky detail always gets in the way. Yep, you guessed it. Work.
While this is a major factor in how we (are forced) to travel, it is not the only factor at play. Let’s dive into our personal factors and how the Gladiator aligns with our travel style and needs.
Two Full-Time Travelers
Hanna and I almost always travel together. As two relative minimalists, the space the Gladiator offers actually works quite well for us. While it has its limitations, especially when you push over the four-week mark on the road, the combination of the rear seat and truck bed is adequate, especially when you factor in an organizational system built around the Alu-Cab canopy.
Would we like more storage space that would make pushing our travels to three or more months easier? Absolutely! Is it necessary? No, we can make do with what the Gladiator offers.
If you have more than two travelers, a pet (as we soon will), or have an affinity for gear and overpacking, you may find the Gladiator lacking for longer trips.
Verdict: A solid mid-tier offering for two full-time travels. Some might consider it Goldilocks. Others may find it a bit small. We’re somewhere in-between.
Full-Time Remote Work
Our personal circumstances require that both Hanna and I work full-time while on the road. It’s not the ideal set-up for an overlanding journey, but it is our reality. Of course, the ability to work remotely does allow us to stay out indefinitely, so there are pros and cons to everything.
Unfortunately, the Gladiator falls very short in terms of workspace. The cabin is cramped, the seats leave a lot to be desired, and our camping set-up leaves a lot to be desired in terms of facilitating productivity. Working on the road? Painfully uncomfortable. Working at camp? Maybe if the weather is nice.
We could remedy the latter issue to a degree by opting for an Alu-Cab camper, some kind of trailer, or another solution that offers interior space. As is, we have serious troubles staying on schedule and often build our travel schedule around coffee shops in order to get work completed.
Verdict: The Gladiator and our current camp setup do not work for us as full-time remote workers on the go. Our productivity is severely limited, and the duration of our trip suffers as a result.
Diverse Climates
This point is subjective and has more to do with camping gear than the vehicle. Still, it affected us profoundly on our trip, so I have to mention it.
Our rooftop tent and outdoor living did not work on this six-week trip. The stifling heat and humidity of the Southeast United States made working outdoors and sleeping in a tent downright miserable. Out West, we experience a week straight of storms, leaving us seeking cover and largely unable to work or even stretch our legs.
Verdict: Consider this a reflection of our camping facilities, not necessarily the Gladiator. One of the weak points of our setup, and a definite factor in our longevity and level of enjoyment on this trip.
Maybe you can’t feel the heat and humidity in this photo. Let me assure you; it’s oppressive.
Seat Time
We did a lot of driving over the course of six weeks—7500 miles, to be exact. While much of this was divvied up into smaller stints and shared between two drivers, the hours in the front seats add up quickly. Hanna and I have driven across the United States many times, but this was probably the most meandering and lengthy trip to date.
Along the way, we realized that the seats in the Jeep Gladiator are incredibly uncomfortable. We have the Mojave trim, which adds bolstering to the seats, making them narrower, so this could have contributed to our uncomfortable experience. In addition to the seats, the cabin of the Gladiator is exceptionally tiny to live out of for 40+ days. There’s not enough space to stretch out, change how you’re sitting, work effectively, and so on.
Verdict: I’ll be generous and give the Gladiator a C here. I’m sure there are less comfortable vehicles out there, but by the time we got home, we were ready to buy the biggest truck possible as a replacement.
Mixed Camping
Hanna and I like to find remote campsites, as well as enjoy the amenities and community of established campgrounds. The former often involves going down an unfamiliar trail that could get pretty rough. The Gladiator is nimble enough to conquer just about anything we encounter, making it a phenomenal exploration vehicle. It may not have the space to compete with luxury campers, but the capability certainly makes up for it.
Verdict: There’s no argument against the Gladiator’s ability to take you to the most remote locations possible, even when the going gets tough.
Is the Jeep Gladiator a Good Long-Term Overland Vehicle?
We’ve come full circle to the original question. The answer is one of those annoying “it depends,” so all I can do is give you the verdict on how the Gladiator works for us. Your personal factors may lead you to a very different conclusion.
For us, the answer is a hesitant no. Don’t get me wrong; we LOVE our Gladiator and think the platform is exceptional. It does a little bit of everything and does all of it very well. However, it simply isn’t large enough to accommodate long-term overland travel for us and the demands of our jobs. We need more space, both in terms of our vehicle and our camping setup, in order to extend our travels to several months.
So, there you have it—my deeply personal (and painful) conclusion on whether the Gladiator is good for long-term overlanding. Wrapped up in that answer, you might find a breadcrumb trail to our future travel plans and the build that will facilitate them.
What do you think? Is the Gladiator a good long-term overlanding vehicle? Are there better options out there? If so, what are they?
Catch you on the next one!
-RW