u/nogoodusernamesrleft

i had a 2020 gobi rubicon that i loved. I already was thinking a lot about a full size truck for towing a small camper (<4,000 lbs) and hockey carpools. The gladiator was getting small and loud. I got a 2023 ram 1500 hemi etorque that currently has 63,000 miles on it. Its big inside, its comfortable, its nice... but I hate DDing it. parking sucks, it takes up alot of space in the driveway, and most improtantly to me, i dont park it walk away and look back and love it. Its just a truck. dumb and emotional, yes. i've owened it for two years and this feeling is still the same.

i thought i needed more space and I thought the ram would make a bigger difference when towing. It did not. Was it better, sure. But i expected to not notice the camper. Each summer, I typically make 4 trips that are anywhere from 1-2 hrs away and one longer 5ish hour trip. I don't plan on taking a long cross country trip in the camper. the gladiator was fine for all of those distances.

My gladiator at 89,000 miles got all of the error codes that suggested the penta tick. the local jeep ram dealer had the used ram i wanted at a good price, they gave me a trade in value on my rubicon as if there were not engine codes... i traded in my jeep and for the past two years i have never parked my ram and looked back and think how bad ass of a ride it is.

My oldest son just got his license. i don't need to drive him anymore, and he can drive his brother a bunch, so the hockey carpool isn't much of an issue anymore.

over the summer i picked up a 2015 jku for him and then to be passed down to my yonger son who is 14. it can easily hold multiple hockey bags... and scratched the jeep itch. I drove that for a couple of weeks to make sure it was dialed in. I loved driving that and could have easily driven that everyday, but i do need something to tow 4 or 5 weeks a year.

like everyone else here, i have almost always driven jeeps. i had a 2013 jku, 2010 jku, 97 tj, 84 cj. I drove a tacoma for 6 years before the gladiator

i miss driving a jeep. i havn't offroaded in forever and don't really plan to. i would like to overland, but we camp with the travel trailer. none of my friends are interested in overlanding, thier campers are full of every amenity possible.

I can find used rubicons with less than 70k miles within an hour drive for $27-$28k asking price. two are at a ram dealer that have been on the lot for two months.

There is a sweet Mojave in sarge green, but if they only two 6,000 lbs and the rubicon tows 7,000... then I should stick with a rubi or a max tow sport s, right?

Anyone go back to a gladiator and regret it? Are there any other mid size trucks i should be considering? I would say 30k is the max for my budget.

i picked up my used 21 low rider s last fall, i was told by the dealership that it has a stage 1 se tune A41001002B-1 flashed from an SE tuner. the tuner was not included with the sale, i think they said it was the pro street tuner.

my question: Are all SE stage 1 tunes the same? Do they have multiple stage 1 tunes based on various parts bolted on the bike?

I removed the "sound" baffles from the s&s slip ons and it sounds better... but i am still planning on replacing with a 2-1 pipe. I am not sure which one yet.

I will likely put a cam in at some point, so i need to figure out if i need a tuner like a power vision for the pipe and intake for now with an off the shelf map and then i can get the bike dyno tuned once i get the cam installed.

If i can use my se tune for now and then just get a license from the tuner to flash the bike, i think that would save me a few bucks.

It is time for new tires, my stock scorchers are about ready to replace, I bought my bike used and have put about 3k miles on the tires. the stock ones are fine, but I would rather something stickier.

I am leaning towards the Pirelli Diablo PowerCruisers, but also considering Avon Cobra, Chrome, Metzler Cruise tech or other suggestions.

Is there another tire anyone recommends? I understand that stickier tires will wear out faster. I am ok with that as a compromise for better handling

well... shit. I was merging on the highway on my way to work this morning. yes, i kinda hammered it while in 4th to then shift to 5th, 6th to get to highway speeds.

it didn't find the gear. I was able to get positive clicks into gear when i shifted, but would not move forwards. I pulled off to the side of the highway with the bike running and was able to shit to neutral but couldn't put it in gear. now the bike won't turn over.

does anyone have any ideas at what I should look at? does this sound like the compensator went? i'm thinking it is something in the primary becuase the transmision still shifts into gear... but then again, what the hell do i know?

the bike is currently on the side of the highway and i am about to get a trailer from uhaul. then the decision is do i open it up and see what i can see... or do i bring it to a shop.

I bought the bike used in october, its been a great 2000 plus miles since then. mostly new england winter miles, but its been fine. it has s&s slip ons and I am told a SE stage 1 tune.

does anyone have any ideas?