The Jeep Gladiator is a powerful truck with a powerful engine, but are Jeep Gladiators good in the snow?
The Jeep Gladiator is an off-road and Overland built family truck, it has all the necessary features you will need to handle any extreme terrain, Jeep Gladiator parts and accessories are reliable, has an impressive towing capacity of 7700 pounds, and a powerful engine of 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
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But are Jeep Gladiators good in the snow? Let’s find out!
Are Jeep Gladiators good in the snow?
Yes, The Jeep Gladiator is Good in the snow, they feature a Command Trac 4wd system, Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution system, high-tech LED projector beam lighting, and impressive ground clearance.
If you want a truck that can handle snow terrains, the Jeep Gladiator is the better option, there are a lot of reasons why the Jeep Gladiator is fitted as the best truck to drive in snow and wet & slippery surfaces. Let’s take a closer look at some of the features mentioned above:
- Jeep Gladiators are well suited to drive in the snow, they have multiple features such as Jeep’s Command-Trac 4WD system, with an option of having a Selec-Trac system that makes it navigate extreme terrains such as snow. The Jeep Gladiator Command-Trac 4wd system adds extra traction you will need when driving in thick snow or slick ice without hydroplaning.
- The Jeep Gladiator also features an Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) that used the Jeep’s brakes and engine torque to limit how fast the wheel can spin relative to the actual speed of the Jeep. Jeep Gladiator ESC is essential when driving on the ice where it’s easy to lose traction and control of your Jeep.
- Jeep Gladiators also feature an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a system that has been engineered to prevent the wheels from locking when braking, Jeeps ABS helps the Jeep maintain stability and directional stability when driving on slippery surfaces such as snow. Stopping distances are longer on ice, meaning you will have difficulty stopping your Jeep on ice and snow, the Jeeps (ABS) system increases braking power after pressing the brakes.
- The automatic anti-blacking system on the Jeep Gladiator increases the pressure when the sensors sense the driver is not braking hard enough, especially when driving through slippery roads. You will be able to reduce braking distance by up to 30% and quickly stop your Jeep.
- The Jeep Gladiator also features an electronic brakeforce distribution system that controls the amount of brake force applied to each wheel, it’s applied when the wheel speed doesn’t match the speed of the Jeep and prevents skidding on slippery and wet surfaces.
- The Jeep Gladiator’s ground clearance is 10.0-inch, with high ends Jeep Gladiator trims such as the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and Mojave having 11.6 and 11.1 inches respectively. If you live in snowy regions, you will need at least 7-10 inches a threshold that the Jeep Gladiator fits perfectly.
- Poor visibility when driving in snow is one of the risks associated with winter driving, the Jeep Gladiator is fitted with LED projector beam headlights which are superior compared with Halogen lights in most trucks, the LED projector beam headlights provide increased visibility when driving in all weather conditions including snow.
Does the Jeep Gladiator have snow mode?
The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t have a snow mode, rather it has two four-wheel-drive settings: 4H and 4L that will help you navigate your way through ice- or snow-covered terrain.
Let’s take a closer look at the Jeep Gladiator 4WD system, and how it adapted for snow driving:
The Jeep Gladiator’s 4H setting in snow.
When driving on a steep slope covered in snow or ice, you better turn on Jeep Gladiator’s 4H driving option, to activate 4H on the Jeep Gladiator you will need to shift the selector to 4H from 2H.
When driving in snow, you can shift from 2H to 4H when the Jeep Gladiator is in motion, however, we recommend reducing the Jeep’s speed and shifting to 4H for a smooth transition.
After shifting your Jeep Gladiator to 4H, you can speed as you look, but since you are on a snow road, you don’t need to accelerate much, speeds of 55 mph are suitable for the 4H driving option, but when driving on snow roads you should go at least 10-20 miles per hour below the posted speed limits, or just match your Jeep speed with other vehicles on the road.
The Jeep Gladiator’s 4L setting in snow.
The Jeep Gladiator’s 4L setting is the best for snow driving, this is because 4L speeds are suitable for off-road driving at slow speeds, if you live in an area covered with snow The Jeep Gladiator’s 4L setting will allow you to drive through snow roads.
If you see that the 4H is stressing out your Jeep Gladiator in deep snow, you can shift to 4L by shifting from 4H to 4L, while driving slowly at 2-3 miles per hour. It’s important to note that you will need to have your transmission in neutral when shifting in and out of 4L mode and keep the speeds below 25 miles per hour.
Is the Jeep Gladiator warm in winter?
Yes, the Jeep Gladiator is warm in the winter, it features heated front seats, heated steering, Uconnect remote to start to warm up your vehicle before getting inside, and you can buy a Jeep Gladiator cold weather package.
What is a Jeep Gladiator cold weather package?
The Jeep Gladiator cold weather package is a luxury feature that allows you to have heated front seats, heated steering wheels, a remote start system, and automatic temperature control.
You can use the automatic temperature control system to preset the temperatures of your Jeep’s front seats, steering wheel, and cabin. The system can also start temperature control even after starting your Jeep Gladiator with the remote start option when the temperatures are below 40ºF.
If you live in winter conditions, the winter package is worth your consideration.
Jeep Gladiator auto start/stop is not working in cold temperatures
The Jeep Gladiator can start even in subzero temperatures without problems, if the Jeep Gladiator auto start/stop is not working in cold temperatures it means something is wrong.
Here are some of the reasons why your Jeep Gladiator auto start/stop is not working in cold temperatures:
- Your Jeep Battery has low voltage.
- Your Jeep Battery has a faulty connection or is Faulty.
- You are using low-viscosity oil on your Jeep Gladiator.
- Your Jeep Gladiator fuel lines are contaminated with water, or have frozen.
- You have an electrical problem, common electrical faults include (Faulty starter solenoid, loose grounds, bad power cables, etc.)
Does Jeep Gladiator need Snow Tires?
Yes, you will need to buy Jeep Gladiator snow tires if you live in cold climate environments, if you live in areas below 7 °C (46 °F) we recommend having winter or snow tires installed, Snow tires perform well in cold weather conditions (Snow, Ice & Cold Dry roads) compared to all-season tires.
When buying a brand-new Jeep Gladiator, or even a used Jeep Gladiator, there is a high possibility you will get all-terrain Jeep Gladiator tires installed on them, however, we advise buying snow tires or winter tires for your Jeep Gladiator that will offer more improved traction and stability control of your Jeep Gladiator.
- All-season Jeep Gladiator tires are good for summer activities, and when the temperatures are above 7 °C (46 °F), in ice and snow they give average or poor traction.
- Jeep Gladiator Snow tires offer better traction in winter traction, they also break easily and accelerate faster when driving on roads covered with ice, snow, and slush.
Looking for Jeep Gladiator tires, check out our Jeep Gladiator tires posts:
- Jeep Gladiator 37-inch tires for off-roading and Overlanding
- What Jeep tires should I get for my Jeep?
- Are Toyo Tires good on a Jeep?
Can you put chains on a Jeep Gladiator?
Yes! you can install snow chains on a Jeep Gladiator; however, you must be aware of chain control regulations in your state, when driving with chains your Jeep Gladiator should only be at 4H or 4L driving modes.
Ideally, we recommend having all four wheels wrapped with chains on them. By having all four Jeep Gladiator wheels wrapped with chains you will get the best possible traction and balance when driving on a snowy road.
Driving your Jeep Gladiator with chains on the wheels on 4H will get you out of most situations, and 4H will improve your Jeep Gladiator traction, for example when driving on a regular snowy road. However, you will need to shift to 4L to get extreme torque on your Jeep Gladiator tires with chains.
You will need to drive at least 20 to 30 miles per hour when driving your Jeep Gladiator with chains on a snowy road, we also don’t recommend driving on dry land with chains, as this will damage your Jeep Gladiator.
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu is a seasoned automotive professional with a deep passion for Jeeps. With 40 years of experience in owning, testing, and reviewing various Jeep models, James has gained extensive first-hand knowledge and expertise. He shares his insights, tips, and advice through his engaging writing, helping fellow Jeep enthusiasts navigate the exciting world of Jeeps.
