A peek into our minds? Ezra Dyer's article: I'm Afraid to Start Modifying My Jeep Gladiator

[Silverator]

Spent way more - WAY MORE - modifying my previous Tacoma just to try to get it near as capable as my Rubi is stock. I could have left it as it was and still been happy with it. Anything I add isn’t out of necessity, it’s for added fun. . .

Agreed. my problem is that although I am well versed and knowledgeable about modding off-road motorcycles, I'm a newb on jeeps, and I just don't know how much is "not enough" and how much is "too much". Time will reveal all, but until it's revealed, I keep getting bouts of the "I GOTTA HAVE THAT!!!!" syndrome. I need a consultant who's not financially motivated. : ? ? ?

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[ScottBeach]

Example i have.
A. Puck leveling kit?
B. Short arm lift
C. Long arm lift

One will happen. I cant pull the trigger. Cant make the choice. All have pros/cons. Brain lock.

 

[HooliganActual]

Agreed. my problem is that although I am well versed and knowledgeable about modding off-road motorcycles, I'm a newb on jeeps, and I just don't know how much is "not enough" and how much is "too much". Time will reveal all, but until it's revealed, I keep getting bouts of the "I GOTTA HAVE THAT!!!!" syndrome. I need a consultant who's not financially motivated. : ? ? ?

Well… you’re in AZ. I’ll happily come up and help you spend your money. I’m embarrassed at how much I’ve spent and would love to spend more on someone else’s build!! Lol

 

[Duece McCracken]

Wait, not modding a car? I don't understand.

Modding is life...

 

[Shopshirt]

I read this waiting on a haircut today. So many things I want...trying to balance wants and needs. Wait, who am I kidding.

 

[Jteakus]

Feel the pain. I can't seem to find a stopping point.

 

[Redruby]

Just remember this:
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

 

[TigerInFL]

my wife is not amused at all .. lol. actually she is pretty cool with it all. as long as i do a mod from time to that she can appreciate from a visual standpoint. i keep mixing them in with some other things that she won't be able to see.

it all balances out. at least that what I keep telling myself.

 

[Beemer533]

Well, I’m worse than Ezra and you guys. I have been lurking on this forum for few years and haven’t even bought a Gladiator yet!!

This is all out fear of buying an increasingly expensive vehicle and then wanting to spend even more on it! Haven’t been willing to take the plunge though I really want a rubicon or Mojave. Rented a rubicon for a week in Montana this past summer and loved it.

You haven't lived until you have bought parts, spent actual money, before you even own the vehicle lol..

I'm not ashamed to admit I probably spent around $1k before my Mojave had even come off the assembly line..

 

[Freems]

Ezra’s article was awesome! I forwarded it to my wife and daughter and they both asked when did I interview for the article? HaHa…yah well it’s me to the core. I think the key to my “problem” is going beyond my original vision and scope of what I fell in love with about a vehicle. I won’t deny that most of us, no matter what we drive, within 60 days or less of ownership want it to go faster. With this DNA, I try to stay away from the engine as long as possible, unless it can’t get out of its own way. That helps me increase my budget, or time to budget with the sled. When is it finished? This is another key control point for me. I picked up this concept from a good friend who builds show cars. He’s lectured me for years about writing out a build list, in extreme detail of what it will be/do/and cost before you start.

 

[HooliganActual]

He’s lectured me for years about writing out a build list, in extreme detail of what it will be/do/and cost before you start.

Similar theme here with my mindset: I'm building an overland rig not a rock crawler so right off the bat, there was a minimum investment I would make towards "crawl-worthiness". My Wrangler was built with the opposing mindset since it wasn't an overlander.

Do I want to beef up the steering, add Reid knuckles, Tom Woods drive shafts, Chromoly axles, a Big brake kit (well, I might do that), etc.? Of course. But the priority had to be on the Habitat, kitchen, lighting and such.

It doesn't mean I won't do it but my mindset is that those things will become the upgrade plan. So when the ball joints start to fail, I'll replace with the Teraflex joints. If I bend an axle shaft, Yukon Chromoly shafts. Bend the tie rod or lose a heim joint, maybe a Rusty's aluminum tie rod or such. When maintenance has to be performed, I will augment the expense with the upgrade.

Point is, I think the way to get around the article author's angst is to have a plan. I had (still have) a plan and when I see or hear about cool things/mods that are not part of that plan, I say to myself "Well that's cool" and move on. Now if I see or hear about something that relates to my plan, I may very well lean into it and see if it is an improvement over what I had already planned. I am willing to course correct (put in a change order for the engineers and project managers out there) because things do get improved over time, or it may solve another issue I am trying to address.

I mean, I can be flexible without losing focus:

Cheers

 

[NotSo Bright White]

My wife allowed me to reward myself after being forcefully retired due to a second back surgery. I was in a pretty dark place living in a recliner and self medicating.

I ordered a JTRD and thought I would put wheels and tires on it. WRONG! It has become my full time obsession and hobby! I usually only drive her one day a week to the beach but it definitely got me out of my funk.

Sadly, I had to start consulting to support my habit but it is worth it!

 

[Bantam]

While I’m still in shock that someone that writes for Car and Driver owns a Jeep, more so a Gladiator, he’s hit the nail on the head.

 

[Charles 236]

What is this "finished" that I hear about?

 

[PJZ]

Some modified Mark Twain -

Look at the grande Doumo of Florence Jeep Gladiator - a vast pile that has been sapping the purses of her citizens for five hundred years, and is not nearly finished yet. Like all other men, I fell down and worshiped it...

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