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

[XraytecH]

Replaced the main and aux battery…

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[RickF]

Took the plunge and replaced the knee dash speakers. I was pretty intimated with taking the dash apart, but after seeing some YouTube videos and posts from other members here, I did it. While the "patient was open", I installed the bed outlet kit while I had the dash apart.

I went with Alpine 6.5" two way speakers (R-S65.2) and Metra enclosures (includes harness adapter).
https://amazon.com/dp/B08S6NXSDQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
https://amazon.com/dp/B082BWZJ1L?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I trimmed off the inner mounting tabs on the enclosure, as it can accomodate smaller speakers. Then I lined it with sound damping material and poly fill.

Here's the old speaker next to a new one.

The Metra adapter was quite long, so I trimmed and soldered them to the terminals.

Taking the dash apart wasn't too bad. There were just lots of screws. Some videos said to remove the radio and loosen the passenger side airbag cover, but I didn't have to. It was good that it was warm and sunny, as it made the plastic more pliable and less brittle.

Here is one assembled enclosure next to the stock one.

A nice feature of the Alpine speakers is the ability to tilt the tweeter up instead of straight, as the speakers are tilted slightly downward.

As other members and videos state, the passenger side was much easier and required much less disassembly.

Replaced the driver side panel with the new one with outlet switch.

Sound is MUCH better. Balances well with the Alpine soundbar speaker kit I installed earlier.

Once done with the speakers, I finished up the bed outlet. Used a utility knife to cut out the bedliner covered plug.

Installed outlet, plugged in jumper harness from underneath, and activated with tazer.

Took about about 4 hours (with lunch break). Buying all parts ahead of time, prepping, and studying videos really helped.

Thanks to other posters/members for the outlet kit parts list.

Nice work! One small note: I don't think there will be much sound coming out of those knee-panel tweeters anyway, as the stock Alpine system only sends lower frequencies to those speakers. Get down there next to one of them and you'll hear what I mean: there's no treble coming from there. I did the same mod and I love the way the 6" speakers bring the bass forward in the soundstage and eliminate the distortion. Those cheap 4" factory speakers trying to be woofers were the weakest spot in the system, in my opinion--they'd break up and sound muddy when trying to push any volume from music with a lot of activity in the mid-bass.

 

[rm1515]

Yes. The Badlands Apex 1200 doesnt quite clear the steel rubicon bumper so these space the bumper forward a bit. A forum member makes the plates.

can you send me who makes them?

 

[USMC_1Wire6337]

can you send me who makes them?

It's @svc707

 

[chorky]

Swapped out my Fox 2.0 shocks (which were leaking badly) for a set of Bilstein B8 5160's. Remote resi's. Much better ride. Little stiffer, and almost eliminated the head sway that the Fox's gave me. Can't wait to throw the trailer on to see how they help with that. Pics to come tomorrow.

better than the stock shocks, but these are vastly better than the Fox i.m.o. Like I said, the "head-sway" is nearly gone, and it feels much more solid on the road. We do a fair amount of traveling with our camper trailer, so I went with the res

Are these basically the same version that AEV includes in their kit?? How much stiffer did it really make it?

 

[Jeepmonster]

Nice work! One small note: I don't think there will be any sound coming out of those knee-panel tweeters anyway, as the stock Alpine system only sends lower frequencies to those speakers. Get down there next to one of them and you'll hear what I mean: there's no treble coming from there. I did the same mod and I love the way the 6" speakers bring the bass forward in the soundstage and eliminate the distortion. Those cheap 4" factory speakers trying to be woofers were the weakest spot in the system, in my opinion--they'd break up and sound muddy when trying to push any volume from music with a lot of activity in the mid-bass.

You are absolutely RIGHT! I just tested the knee speakers with an audio spectrum analyzer app, and with the treble turned all the way up and bass and mid all the way down, you can clearly hear the lack of treble at those locations. Darn, what a waste of additional features (two way and tiltable treble). I used the app on the other speakers (dash top and soundbar), and you can clearly hear and see the high frequency responses. I would've thought that the frequencies going to each of the locations were the same and that the speakers themselves were doing the filtering, but that is not the case. After doing the speaker upgrades, I noticed the bass response overall is much better and works well with the factory sub. I also have a 10 inch Kicker sub, which adds even more to the low end.

 

[SF_E60]

Installed some KC flood, and rock lights this past weekend.

 

[RickF]

Hell of a lot more ambitious than I am at the moment. I am way too intimidated to try that level of disassemble-foolery...

You don't have to do that much. There's a great tutorial out there on how to do this without having to take apart the entire dash. It's on the "other website" but it can be found easily--Google "Jeep Wrangler knee panel speaker replacement." I used that guide and got it done. Don't get me wrong; it's still a pain in the ass, but much less so.

 

[Willys2Gladiator]

Installed some KC flood, and rock lights this past weekend.

Looks great. How/where did you mount the rock lights?

 

[SnazzGlad]

Another big money mod. Hitch plug $8.59 for 2 of them on Amazon lol. I am gonna give one to someone I see at a Jeep meet or in a parking lot. Could not see paying 40 bucks for the one that said Jeep on it.

 

[Fcmalie]

Installed my Rock Hard 4x4 Aluminum stubby bumper. Now debating on a pair of LP6 lights on top since I won't be mounting a winch.

 

[AmosMoses01]

Wanted to push my mid-length Fishbone bumper forward to keep it with the 37's, were too close for comfort with lots of articulation. Installed a DV8 JK to JT/JL bracket and pleased with the result. I didn't measure, but easily 2 inches forward. As a bonus could reinstall the skid plate which I couldn't before with the Fishbone bumper.

 

[KoBear]

picked up my second gladiator today. ??

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Got ready for haunted trail ride next weekend…

 

[Jeepmonster]

Made another bed divider today. I hand routed the grille and headlight pattern.

It didn't come out perfect, but mistakes open other opportunities. Instead of traditional stain, I painted it black and distressed it with wire brush, sandpaper, and steel wool.

Then, I attached steel discs in the headlights. They were leftover from previous magnetic cellphone mounts.

I attached magnetic battery powered puck lights from Amazon. The recessed "pockets" help keep the light from sliding down during bumpy rides.

Here it is installed. The lights come on when it senses motion (and it is dark), like when I open the tailgate at night. Since they are attached magnetically, I can remove them quickly and use them wherever I need them. Otherwise, it adds convenience lighting.

They work great! The lights turn off after 20 seconds if it doesn't sense motion.

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