What did you do TO your Gladiator today? [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS, NO GUN TALK]

[ShadowsPapa]

Finished up the wiring to operate my Oracle LED backup lights via an aux switch or when in reverse.

Switch #4 allows me to run the bumper-mount lights even with engine off for those times I need light at the rear for strapping down a car, finishing a trailer hookup with engine off, or whatever.

I also configured switch 3 to operate the winch solenoid/disconnect. I set that to operate with engine running only. That also works (it's ready for a winch, anyway)

Bright sunny day with sunlight coming in the windows and the LED garage lights on and they stil lit things up behind the truck -

I hacked the Oracle plug n play harness to create a feed that goes to one of the top diode terminals. That's the red wire from the oracle harness. The white wire comes from the aux switche terminals up front, through the frame and up.

I put a rubber grommet in the frame hole and ran the wire through this plastic split loom and into the frame up front.

I made all connections with open barrel terminals, crimper, sealed with marine type heat shrink (which has a glue that melts and seals as the tube shrinks) and the connections at the diode in the rear tail light pocket are lubed with anti-oxidation grease.

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[Proximo]

How difficult was it to burry wire all around the perimeter, assuming that you have to create a loop ?

No loop needed, it's grounded to a 4ft grounding rod under the unit. As for the wire, it's not buried. I got cheapo plastic garden stakes, cut em in half, pounded into the ground every 10-15ft, and hung the wire on the hooks about 3" off the ground. Mine goes about 200ft in 1 direction, and about 100ft in the other direction (No loop)

 

[Proximo]

Thanks to @Murgatroid we will be able to have all 7 of the family go to the store, or ice cream, or out to dinner while we are on Drummond Island for the next week.

 

[SargeDiesel]

Took my doors off and used my gowithoutdoors.com cart. Added my kickbax mirrors too. Both for the first time!
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Please let me know what your experience is when you go to put your doors back on. I would love to hear any lessons learned or tips and how easy/difficult it was ... nice rack... lol

 

[SargeDiesel]

Finished up the wiring to operate my Oracle LED backup lights via an aux switch or when in reverse.

Switch #4 allows me to run the bumper-mount lights even with engine off for those times I need light at the rear for strapping down a car, finishing a trailer hookup with engine off, or whatever.

I also configured switch 3 to operate the winch solenoid/disconnect. I set that to operate with engine running only. That also works (it's ready for a winch, anyway)

Bright sunny day with sunlight coming in the windows and the LED garage lights on and they stil lit things up behind the truck -

I hacked the Oracle plug n play harness to create a feed that goes to one of the top diode terminals. That's the red wire from the oracle harness. The white wire comes from the aux switche terminals up front, through the frame and up.

I put a rubber grommet in the frame hole and ran the wire through this plastic split loom and into the frame up front.

I made all connections with open barrel terminals, crimper, sealed with marine type heat shrink (which has a glue that melts and seals as the tube shrinks) and the connections at the diode in the rear tail light pocket are lubed with anti-oxidation grease.

Did you make your own AUX distribution panel ? Looks nice... cost of materials ? Is it fused ? Thanks

 

[Murgatroid]

Thanks to @Murgatroid we will be able to have all 7 of the family go to the store, or ice cream, or out to dinner while we are on Drummond Island for the next week.

Mine worked great, the girls were comfortable (the last time we went, one of the girls bruised her butt in the open bed) but I never ended up having more than 3 in the back so next year I'm only taking the three across the back and leave the two home. And we got to see the wild horses on the last trip up the beach.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did you make your own AUX distribution panel ? Looks nice... cost of materials ? Is it fused ? Thanks

I had a piece of thick polycarbonate sheet left from making a surround for my wife's new sewing machine that sits down in her huge sewing table. So I had that scrap. The terminal block came from Menards, can't recall but I bet it wasn't much over 5 bucks.
I had all of the stainless screws and nuts and the bolts I used to attach it to the truck (I have jars of various screws and fasteners)
So the making was just the terminal block and whatever I've paid for the misc. screws and bolts in my jars over the years.
The aux switches are fused. F103 and F108 for example are the 15 amp fuses for aux switches 3 and 4.

I ran the factory engine bay aux switch wires that are taped between the battery and fender to the fender side of the terminal block, I ran a ground wire from one of the fender ground points to the rear terminal on the block to make a convenient point to ground the winch solenoid (or other stuff I need a light ground for)

A is ground to winch solenoid
B power to winch solenoid when switch 3 is on
C goes to a fender ground point
D are two bolts I used and recessed into the plastic because my hood struts would otherwise hit the stock bolts that were there because of the thickness of the plastic.
Wires numbered 1 through 4 are the factory aux switch wires that they tape next to the battery.
The black round plug is hiding a boo-boo I made drilling in the wrong spot originally
There's currently a white wire at terminal 4 next to the orange wire - it runs back to my lights.

Showing white wire on number 4 going back to the backup lights -

 

[SargeDiesel]

I had a piece of thick polycarbonate sheet left from making a surround for my wife's new sewing machine that sits down in her huge sewing table. So I had that scrap. The terminal block came from Menards, can't recall but I bet it wasn't much over 5 bucks.
I had all of the stainless screws and nuts and the bolts I used to attach it to the truck (I have jars of various screws and fasteners)
So the making was just the terminal block and whatever I've paid for the misc. screws and bolts in my jars over the years.
The aux switches are fused. F103 and F108 for example are the 15 amp fuses for aux switches 3 and 4.

I ran the factory engine bay aux switch wires that are taped between the battery and fender to the fender side of the terminal block, I ran a ground wire from one of the fender ground points to the rear terminal on the block to make a convenient point to ground the winch solenoid (or other stuff I need a light ground for)

A is ground to winch solenoid
B power to winch solenoid when switch 3 is on
C goes to a fender ground point
D are two bolts I used and recessed into the plastic because my hood struts would otherwise hit the stock bolts that were there because of the thickness of the plastic.
Wires numbered 1 through 4 are the factory aux switch wires that they tape next to the battery.
The black round plug is hiding a boo-boo I made drilling in the wrong spot originally
There's currently a white wire at terminal 4 next to the orange wire - it runs back to my lights.

Showing white wire on number 4 going back to the backup lights -

Sweet ! It's crazy you posted with this picture, I was looking at this one earlier today.. about $40... but after seeing yours, I figured I could probably build one cheaper.... yours is great.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sweet ! It's crazy you posted with this picture, I was looking at this one earlier today.. about $40... but after seeing yours, I figured I could probably build one cheaper.... yours is great.

LOL - I should have made a template while I was at it.
Then I could easily cut, polish the edges, and drill a base and put a terminal block on any time I wanted to make more.

I had actually thought about making a cover for mine that would attach via the same screws that hold the terminal block to the base, with holes aligned right over the screws so you could remove or insert wires, but nothing could actually touch the screws or hit the wire connections.
I may still do that to dress it up a bit

 

[Chuck-a-Palooza]

I've been naked for a few weeks now. I've only Not been able to go out a few times - it's been a dry summer.
This afternoon, my son and I went to play disc golf (old guy sport) and it looked pretty dark for only a 15% chance of rain. I had my hammock tarp under the seat along with some small bungee straps. Sure enough, 3 holes in and it came a downpour. I put a stuff sack down blanket above the bar to keep the water from pooling. The tarp didn't quite cover the doors but it worked great. I may try turning it sideways next time.

 

[Cavitt]

You are so weird sometimes. Everybody's had CV joints in cars for decades lol.

Anyway, more of a do with, but did a quick first oil change at 2600 miles, and a little trip to Fargo and Itasca state park this weekend. Stood in the middle of the Mississippi river. Decently pleased with the diesel (reported) mpg on 37s.

My wife and I were at the headwaters of the Mississippi in late April. The ice wasn't completely out then, but it was still a beautiful place. I want to try to get back there in the fall. BTW, I got nowhere near 23 MPG's in my gas Rubicon.

 

[Kevlarr]

Added a Max modular copy bed rack I picked up on EBay for $450. Super stout

 

[Verne]

Please let me know what your experience is when you go to put your doors back on. I would love to hear any lessons learned or tips and how easy/difficult it was ... nice rack... lol

I have had the front doors off one other time but put them right back on bc I didn’t have a storage solution. I think I laid them on a blanket on the garage. I added the Quadtratec door alignment pins to all 4 doors and they really help. The cart is great. We have a condo in NC that is on the third floor. I’m supposed to be able to roll the doors up the elevator on this cart (video on their website) to safely secure them. It‘s really the main reason I never wanted any hangers in the garage. This is a good solution for me. It took me 6 months to find mirrors. You can go el cheapo but the mirrors shake and move. You can get the mopars that are really nice but I’m not about $300 for temporary mirrors. These kickbax are easy to attach and to no need to be screwed down (saving paint). For $175 a pair I’m happy. I was going to go with the JPeggz but they put too much torque on the lower door hinge and can move it out of place. The wind noise is supposed to be poor too. If any of you have experience with them, maybe I read wrong. Really happy with the two decisions.

 

[Klicht87]

After much debate on the tire size. I finally decide to stay with the 35s for simplicity. Had them installed today at the local @Discount Tire in Ocala. The guys did a great job and fast too. Discount tire advertises a price match, and they mean it. They came through for me no " if" "ands" or "buts" about it. Really like the new look, subtle change from stock but enough to notice. And still drives great.

I really like the quadratec replica wheels. Jeep should have come with those offsets.

 

[SargeDiesel]

can someone help me out please ?

Are the 2018+ JL and the 2020+ JT rear driver/passenger door windows ( the small part that does not move) the same dimensions ?
Thanks

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