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

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

Froze my a$$ off. Started the voswitch install. Had to move my winch solenoid and rework the mount and rewire it, as it was previously in the spot the voswitch panel needed to go. Cleaned up some wiring, removed a now unnecessary wireless fob receiver, and mounted the panel under the hood. Quit for today as it’s too cold now. The heat gun would barely shrink tubing because it was too cold out. First picture is before. The second is the current state, and the winch is functional and tested. I’ll finish it up another day.

The one perk of Florida, it was close to 80 degrees today. It was rainy which made for short lines at the dealership for both batteries being replaced, I was in and out of there in less that 1.5 hrs

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[WILDHOBO]

I did the same the Saturday before Christmas.
Ditch lights, front bumper and winch.
I worked through the night until 4 in the morning and by the time I was done I was shaking in my boots. Got her done though
My next electrical upgrade will include a distribution panel for all my added lights and will include the factory aux panel wiring ends under the hood to clean them all up and simplify any future changeovers.

I need to add a badge glow or equivalent for the aux switches as well. I’m sick of butt connectors and heat shrink.

 

[KevinM60]

I need to add a badge glow or equivalent for the aux switches as well. I’m sick of butt connectors and heat shrink.

With each add-on I used butt connectors and added electrical tape to wrap it up and also added a ground wire to the fender ground post that I want to incorporate into one connection block that’s grounded with my aux switch wires into one side and the add-ons into the other side to keep it all clean and any reorganizations will be a simple unscrewing the connector and moving it.

 

[WILDHOBO]

With each add-on I used butt connectors and added electrical tape to wrap it up and also added a ground wire to the fender ground post that I want to incorporate into one connection block that’s grounded with my aux switch wires into one side and the add-ons into the other side to keep it all clean and any reorganizations will be a simple unscrewing the connector and moving it.

That’s my plan as well. The voswitch will clean up a bunch of it, but not all. But I wanted it in before figuring out a panel for the aux switches. It takes up enough space that I needed to know where everything was first. I also have a small charge controller I need to move off of the fuse box lid. I’m adding Eclik shocks and the ECU goes there. I’ll probably relocate the charge controller to the lid of the air box.

 

[WILDHOBO]

With each add-on I used butt connectors and added electrical tape to wrap it up and also added a ground wire to the fender ground post that I want to incorporate into one connection block that’s grounded with my aux switch wires into one side and the add-ons into the other side to keep it all clean and any reorganizations will be a simple unscrewing the connector and moving it.

Please don’t judge me for the wire nuts. Those are temporary covers for the lights I removed from the aux switches, and will end up on the voswitch. I would never use a wire nut on automotive wiring.

 

[drewcnit]

I like the new placement for the winch solenoid, any issues getting it to mount there?

 

[KevinM60]

Please don’t judge me for the wire nuts. Those are temporary covers for the lights I removed from the aux switches, and will end up on the voswitch. I would never use a wire nut on automotive wiring.

lol. No judgement here. Mine’s not the greatest either. My aux wires are wrapped together with the ground wired sticking out in the location where I added each accessory. That’s why I want to incorporate the whole thing into one panel. I haven’t decided on exactly what yet but I’m going to design an overall light scheme and do the whole thing at once.

 

[WILDHOBO]

lol. No judgement here. Mine’s not the greatest either. My aux wires are wrapped together with the ground wired sticking out in the location where I added each accessory. That’s why I want to incorporate the whole thing into one panel. I haven’t decided on exactly what yet but I’m going to design an overall light scheme and do the whole thing at once.

I currently have everything grounded separately, which works great electrically, but is messy. Everything I hav

I like the new placement for the winch solenoid, any issues getting it to mount there?

i reversed the aluminum angle iron, changed out the self tappers for stainless bolts for clearance reasons, and had to remake positive and ground wires for the solenoid power, but that’s it. The winch positive cable had enough length to get there.

 

[Volksparts]

Did a simple install of new gauge faces for my toy...

 

[WILDHOBO]

Did a simple install of new gauge faces for my toy...

I didn’t even know this was a thing. Pretty cool.

 

[Sw00per]

I need to add a badge glow or equivalent for the aux switches as well. I’m sick of butt connectors and heat shrink.

What are some of the alternatives to the simpleaux?

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

Changed out my blown (?) Kenwood X3Cs with Infinity 3022s. Got them at Bezomart for $50.

I installed the X3Cs back in 5/21. They’ve since developed severe rattles. My polarity is good. I removed them thinking it was grit from beach driving and blew them out. The cones grind badly when you move them by hand. I couldn’t find the source for this so it must be internal to the voice coil which you can’t get to. So it was time for new speakers.

I’ve used Kenwood car audio stuff back in the day. Okay for the money IMHO. Not great. Not terrible. Infinity is okay too. I’ve got some old school 4 foot tall Infinity 7 speaker towers in my home theater which still can hold their own compared with anything on the market today.

As for these 3.5s, the Kenwood are 125W RMS, the Infinity’s, only 75w, but in my experience Kenwood specs are BS. The magnets on the 3022’s are bigger, as is the butyl surround. The cones are a little stiffer and nicer material too. Overall the Infinity’s appear to be better quality. The problems with the Kenwood, aside, the Infinity’s sound far better; much better sound throughout the range. I was underwhelmed by the X3Cs improvements over the stock speakers. I’ll give the 3022s some time before I declare them a winner. You can’t expect too much out of any 3.5 especially at this price point.

One thing to note: The Infinity’s don’t fit without trimming the mount with diagonal cutters. Also they came with gasket material which I used. I don’t remember if the Kenwoods didn’t come with that or I failed to use it. Like the X3Cs, I didn’t use the capacitors. I’m sure that doesn’t help their longevity, but I’m good if I can get 1-2 years out of $50 speakers.

 

[b-roc]

That’s my plan as well. The voswitch will clean up a bunch of it, but not all. But I wanted it in before figuring out a panel for the aux switches. It takes up enough space that I needed to know where everything was first. I also have a small charge controller I need to move off of the fuse box lid. I’m adding Eclik shocks and the ECU goes there. I’ll probably relocate the charge controller to the lid of the air box.

We are following a similar build plan. I am planning on adding the Eclik shocks before some bigger trips this summer (likely may timeframe). I recently consolidated my connections and inline fuses to a Blue Sea fuse box that I have mounted to the factory fuse box cover (similar to where you have your charge controller). My current plan is to stack the Eclik ECU onto the Blue Sea cover, but I haven't verified the dimensions. Any chance that you have the ECU in hand and have dimensions on it?

On a separate note, I need to pick your brain about your Rubicon trip. Thanks!

 

[WILDHOBO]

We are following a similar build plan. I am planning on adding the Eclik shocks before some bigger trips this summer (likely may timeframe). I recently consolidated my connections and inline fuses to a Blue Sea fuse box that I have mounted to the factory fuse box cover (similar to where you have your charge controller). My current plan is to stack the Eclik ECU onto the Blue Sea cover, but I haven't verified the dimensions. Any chance that you have the ECU in hand and have dimensions on it?

On a separate note, I need to pick your brain about your Rubicon trip. Thanks!

I don’t have the ECU yet. I ordered them on Tuesday, and they thought 1 to 1.5 weeks to ship. But I’ll send pictures and dimensions when I do. Even if it would fit, I’m worried about temps from the charge controller, so I’m moving it. I finished the voswitch today. It works beautifully. I have two sets of lights on it, but was too cold to move the third one. But it turned out great, and looks totally Oem. After I took this picture, I changed the backlight color from blue to white. Happy to share about the rubicon trail. It was an epic trip. Now I want to do the rest of California.

 

[JsnJcksn]

Did a simple install of new gauge faces for my toy...

Simple?

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