Within the off-road world, there are perhaps the big rivalries between vehicle brands. For example, Toyota vs Jeep, Jeep vs Ford, Ford vs Toyota, and many more. In many cases, people get fanatical regarding their opinion and will not budge regardless of whether their car is better or not. The problem with such arguments is that there is no single brand that is the king. All vehicles do great in specific areas that others do badly in. The 4x4 you decide to buy is heavily dependent on the type of usage you will be doing. To prove this point, we are going to compare two of the most famous trucks in America, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
A Brief Overview Of The Tacoma TRD Pro
The Toyota Tacoma might be the oldest truck on sale right now. This iteration of the vehicle has been on the market for many years, and in many areas (like the transmission and engine), it is starting to show its age. Underneath, it sits on a ladder frame with a solid rear axle and independent suspension. The rear axle is leaf sprung, which helps increase payload but does make for a harsher ride. The TRD Pro model comes with plenty of off-road features like crawl control, a rear diff locker, a mild suspension lift, underbody protection, and more aggressive tires. The design of the TRD Pro Tacoma means that it can perform well on the road while also being capable off-road. Its main limitation off-road is its suspension, as the leaf-sprung rear end doesn’t have much wheel articulation. The same is true for the independent front, which can’t articulate much while also being weaker than a solid or straight axle design. The Tacoma is best suited on mild trails.
A Brief Overview Of The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
The Gladiator Rubicon takes a different approach to pick-up design. It uses a suspension that is nearly identical to that of the Wrangler; therefore, it has two solid axles. This, combined with lockers and sway bar disconnects, means that the Jeep is immensely capable off-road but not as refined on-road. Because of its suspension, the Gladiator is also immensely easy to modify, a fact that is backed up by the immense aftermarket support available online. Jeep has set out to make off-road toys, and this is apparent when you look underneath the Wrangler and Gladiator. The Dana 44 axles can handle huge tires with no issues, there is plenty of articulation and great mechanical grip. The price is paid on the road where Jeeps can suffer from stability issues but if you love off-roading this is a small price to pay.
Which One Should You Get And Why?
This article doesn’t set out to be a comprehensive comparison between the Gladiator and Tacoma in terms of specs. Those can be easily found online. What this article will tell you is which truck to buy based on your usage.
If you are someone who likes to drive into nature during the weekend to enjoy some silence, time with family, hiking trails, or even mountain biking, then the TRD Pro is the perfect machine for you. It has all the space you need; it is comfortable on road and can tackle some pretty tough terrain. The Tacoma, however, was never meant to be a hardcore rock crawler. Its CVs aren’t strong enough, the front suspension is difficult to lift more than two inches, and it won’t be able to handle large tires without extensive modification. It is a good all-rounder, but it isn’t great at any single function (except reliability).
The Gladiator, on the other hand, focuses on off-road performance. It is the perfect truck for people who love to hit the rough stuff. Rock crawling, big suspension lifts, big tires, and huge obstacles. The Gladiator has the base to do that. If you do not want to go this far in terms of modification but will be using the truck off-road a lot, the Gladiator will still be better as its suspension is more robust. Therefore, it will wear out slower over rough terrain when compared to the one on the Tacoma. Keep in mind, however, that if you are planning on driving long road miles and tough trails aren’t on your list of planned usage, then the Gladiator probably isn’t the truck for you. The ride quality, seats, and cabin layout in the Tacoma are superior.
So, What Are The Takeaways Here?
The takeaways here are that there is no such thing as the perfect vehicle. For some people, the Tacoma may be the best tool for the job, while for others, the Gladiator may suit their needs better. There is, of course, the factor of the heart. The factor of the heart means that you choose what the heart wants and not what the mind says is the best decision. One may simply love the way a Wrangler looks or drives with the doors off. Or just the feeling of having such a robust base underneath you. Other people might like the feeling of Toyotas for similar reasons. The main point here is to acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of the car and make choices accordingly. In simple words, if you want 37s and a 4-inch lift, go for the Gladiator, if you want a mild all-rounder, go for the Tacoma.