Gladiator JT, Tacoma and Colorado ZR2 Weighed as Trail Trucks

The Jeep Gladiator JT, the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 start a trail build from three different places, and the front end is where they diverge first. The Gladiator carries platform code JT, built 2020 to 2026; the Tacoma, platform code N300, built 2016 to 2026; the Colorado ZR2, platform code ZR2, built 2017 to 2026. All three are trucks by the site's class definition: street-legal, trail-capable, two to six seats. The Tacoma's run is the longest of the three, opening a model year before the ZR2 and four before the Gladiator, which makes its used market the deepest and its condition the most variable.

Two different front-end wear entries sit in the desk's records for these trucks, and they set two different used-inspection lists. Death wobble is recorded against JT alongside the two Wrangler platforms, and the recorded cause names a solid front axle with a loose or worn track bar bushing, tie rod end or ball joint, made worse by lift geometry and larger tires. Front lower control arm and ball joint wear from lift and tires is recorded against ZR2, alongside the 4Runner and the Bronco.

That gives a practical rule for a used inspection. On a Gladiator, the front-end check is the track bar, its bushing and the steering linkage, and the symptom to ask about is a violent shimmy at highway speed after hitting a bump that only stops when slowing down. On a ZR2, it is the lower control arms and ball joints, with a clunk on turn-in, uneven inner tire wear and a loose feel over washboard as the reported symptoms.

The Tacoma's own record is the one that most often ends a purchase. Frame rust and perforation on the rear rails is recorded against N300 and the 4Runner platform, presenting as flaking scale on the frame behind the cab, soft spots when the metal is poked and rust staining under the bed, with boxed frame sections trapping moisture and road salt. On a truck sold in a salted state, a flashlight, a probe and half an hour under the bed are the whole inspection.

Two more entries divide by platform. Rear differential and axle seal leaks after wading are recorded against N300, showing as an oily film inside the rear wheels and a low differential level at inspection. Rear shock and leaf spring sag after heavy desert use is recorded against ZR2 alongside the F-150 Raptor, with the truck sitting lower at the back and shock bodies weeping oil. Soft top and panel water leaks are recorded against JT.

Recall exposure in the desk's store is substantial for all three and different in character. On the Gladiator, NHTSA campaign 19V-636 covers 2020 vehicles whose rear driveshafts may have been assembled without grease in the monoblock joint, with dealers replacing the driveshaft. NHTSA 26V-363 covers 2021 to 2025 Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles where the electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, with owners advised to park outside until repaired.

Manual-gearbox Gladiators carry one more thread. NHTSA campaign 23V-116 covers 2020 to 2023 Gladiators with manual transmissions where the clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture, with dealers replacing the clutch assembly and updating software, and the row notes it expands and replaces 21V-028 so that previously repaired vehicles need the new remedy. A 2026 buyer has a separate item: NHTSA 26V-456 covers steel wheels whose walls may be too thin, allowing them to crack or detach.

The Tacoma's rows are spread across the drivetrain and the suspension. NHTSA campaign 24V-152 covers 2022 to 2023 vehicles where the axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing, with dealers inspecting the rear axle and tightening the retaining nuts. NHTSA 26V-514 covers 2024 to 2025 vehicles whose front and rear shock absorber flanges may corrode and fail. NHTSA 25V-656 covers 2025 vehicles whose front driveshaft constant-velocity joint may deform and break.

The ZR2's rows read as assembly and fastener issues more than design ones. NHTSA campaign 24V-237 covers 2023 vehicles whose front wheel hub bolts may have been over-tightened and damaged during installation, with dealers replacing them. NHTSA 24V-703 covers 2023 to 2024 vehicles with a front seat belt buckle attachment bolt that may not have been tightened, and NHTSA 24V-491 covers 2024 vehicles whose fuel tank lock ring may not have been fully locked.

Parts coverage in the desk's rows differs enough to affect a build plan. The N300 and JT rows are level in our store and the ZR2 rows sit one behind, so the difference between them is what they carry rather than how much.

The N300 rows carry an ARB Air Locker, a selectable differential lock that needs a compressor, alongside Bilstein shocks, two all-terrain tires, a Method Bead Grip wheel and a recovery kit, and the ZR2 rows carry a selectable ARB Air Locker of their own, so the locker is not what separates the three. The JT rows carry a WARN winch, Fox shocks, rock sliders, a wheel, a tire and lights. Treat those differences as gaps in our records rather than a verdict on the aftermarket, and confirm any part by platform code and year range with the supplier.

Maintenance is identical across the three because it is set by class. Engine oil and filter every 5,000 miles or six months, with dusty trail use shortening that considerably. Tires rotated and sidewalls inspected every 5,000 miles, because rock damage shows on a sidewall first. Skid plates and underbody fasteners checked every 5,000 miles. Brakes every 10,000 miles. Steering and suspension joints every 10,000 miles. Differential fluid every 15,000 miles, sooner after water crossings.

The figures behind those jobs, the torque values, the capacities and the tire pressures, are in the service manual for the specific truck and year and are not published here. One last practical point that applies to all three: trail systems set their own rules on vehicle type, width and season, permits and fees vary by managing agency, and closures change through the year, so confirm with the agency that manages your intended area before committing to any of them.