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

[RudeJeepin]

Working on motorcycles with the Phillips head bolts in the cases. The impact driver was mandatory to loosen them up. I have 3 of them.

I gonna guess you probably already know what a JIS bit is, but for the rest of the crowd.
If working on Japanese stuff, (atleast motorcycles) the "Phillips" screws probably are JIS screws. Look very similar, but have a small dot/dimple on the head. The angles of the cross/indentation is slightly different.
Here is a JIS head...

Here is the bit...

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[mx5red]

Now that I’ve not seen before. Pretty cool. So spring loaded, hand impact wrench for small fasteners?

Hadn’t either. People were recommending them for removing the painted door bolts to put on those folding steps.

 

[BaneKotaKeena]

Picked up my 23 HA on 3/7 and started with a few small interior MODs as I continue research on wheel/tire options.

For now just threw on:

RAM Mounts Tuff Track dash system w/2 balls - Balls link
Moveland Grab handles
Rugged Ridge Door Sill Guards
Passenger Storage Tray
Shorty Antenna - Not Pic'd
And a Gladiator T-shirt! (2XL and fit is nice!) - Not Pic'd

After having put about 150 or so miles on it, its crazy how much drag there appears to be without a cover on it. Averaging only 17.x MPG in mixed driving w/the 3.6L. Maybe thats normal, dunno but in any event, a cover has risen to the top of the MODs list in priority.

Probably gonna pull trigger on RC Folding cover this week (mainly due to price point vs others I have had on previous vehicles over the 1k price point). A Tazer is also top priority to address some settings and to get familiar with it in prep for wheels/tires.

Wheels/tires or just tires for stock rims will happen a little later when I can decide how I want to address the front to clear 35's (leveling kit or full suspension lift). Budget-wise, leveling would be prudent.

Will add more here as things progress. Peace!

The research for Wheels/Tires continues but I did manage to order a few more things (smallish MODs) from Extreme Terrain.

Also picked up the extension cable for the Tazer from Z-Automotive and a very inexpensive (compared to the Mopar Part) Grille Winch Brush Guard. We'll see how well made it is and the finish it has when I try and mount it.

Interested in getting the Tazer installed and to turn off/down the annoyingly, glaring license plate lights when using the rear camera zoom to back up.

And also interested in mounting the Oracle Rear Bumper Lights. I think these will work pretty well out behind the truck at night (wife should like) as will the hood struts.

The leveling kits may sit for a bit until I actually get wheels/tires on and see what I need and how much more $ its gonna take to get the ride I want (and apparently, its always gonna take more $)... I am a Harley guy so I know a bit about that...

Likely getting bed cover soon too.

Anyway, will post some pics as I get these things added this wknd hopefully.

Shipping for the brush guard was insanely fast! So… its ON. And looks pretty good for what it is. Finish pretty close to OEM from a “looks” perspective.

 

[PLZL]

Good morning....

 

[Casique]

Added silicone hose to super leaking rear window! They all do it sooner or later, now waiting for rain today for a real world test.

 

[-miko-]

New Power Stop pads and rotors all around. I hate the torx screw that "holds the rotor on the hub." Stripped one out so I drilled it out.

Bought everything as a kit from an off road online store. They sent the wrong rear rotors, so I had to get a ride to parts store. They only had super premium rotors in stock. At least I won't have to replace them for a very long time.

The store may not honor the rear rotor return, as it was purchased as a kit. Unreal.

Curious why the need for new rotors? Do the Mopar ones wear that fast?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Curious why the need for new rotors? Do the Mopar ones wear that fast?

The Powerstop rotors do a much better job or not warping with mountain driving or towing.

 

[WILDHOBO]

The Powerstop rotors do a much better job or not warping with mountain driving or towing.

At least the z36 ones do. I’ve had them on several vehicles now. They’re not a big brake kit, but they’re better than stock for a reasonable price.

 

[Todd091870]

AEV 2" lift. Definitely clears the 37s better.

 

[PsyRN]

Installed my Eibach shocks and rotated my tires. Didn’t get to the stabilizer though.

 

[JCappy]

Picked up my 23 HA on 3/7 and started with a few small interior MODs as I continue research on wheel/tire options.

For now just threw on:

RAM Mounts Tuff Track dash system w/2 balls - Balls link
Moveland Grab handles
Rugged Ridge Door Sill Guards
Passenger Storage Tray
Shorty Antenna - Not Pic'd
And a Gladiator T-shirt! (2XL and fit is nice!) - Not Pic'd

After having put about 150 or so miles on it, its crazy how much drag there appears to be without a cover on it. Averaging only 17.x MPG in mixed driving w/the 3.6L. Maybe thats normal, dunno but in any event, a cover has risen to the top of the MODs list in priority.

Probably gonna pull trigger on RC Folding cover this week (mainly due to price point vs others I have had on previous vehicles over the 1k price point). A Tazer is also top priority to address some settings and to get familiar with it in prep for wheels/tires.

Wheels/tires or just tires for stock rims will happen a little later when I can decide how I want to address the front to clear 35's (leveling kit or full suspension lift). Budget-wise, leveling would be prudent.

Will add more here as things progress. Peace!

Your fuel mileage should improve some as the engine breaks in some. I've read that will happen by 10,000 miles or so. I just turned over 4,000 and mine has gone up a couple of MPG's so far. I thought about the RC folding tonneau but I ended up getting a Bakflip. I know it was more pricy but I have always read good things about them so I thought I would give it a shot. So far I really like it. Your new JT looks nice. Enjoy
Edit. Also you can get a discount as a forum member at Realtruck. I also got the Oracle rear bumper lights. Wired mine to one of my aux switches which gives me options for different uses.

 

[Hootbro]

Installed my Eibach shocks and rotated my tires. Didn’t get to the stabilizer though.

How are they? They replace the OEM ones?

 

[BaneKotaKeena]

Your fuel mileage should improve some as the engine breaks in some. I've read that will happen by 10,000 miles or so. I just turned over 4,000 and mine has gone up a couple of MPG's so far. I thought about the RC folding tonneau but I ended up getting a Bakflip. I know it was more pricy but I have always read good things about them so I thought I would give it a shot. So far I really like it. Your new JT looks nice. Enjoy
Edit. Also you can get a discount as a forum member at Realtruck. I also got the Oracle rear bumper lights. Wired mine to one of my aux switches which gives me options for different uses.

Thanks for the info! Yeah, I figured the MPG will improve over time just like with most other vehicles. Changed out the air cleaner to K&N today too and it felt a little less restrictive but could be that it just wasnt as windy as it has been. Had BAK Flips on all trucks previous to this one. Just trying to be more budget conscious. They are good brand for sure.

 

[Freems]

I had made a cardboard box to keep my fuel cans from banging together and then my boss said I could make a wood box at work. Turned out pretty nice.

My Smittybilt traction boards were too long to fit across the front so I hacked off a couple inches and now it all fits together nicely, and freed up some bed space to the side.

I’ve never wheeled in AZ, why the pruning shears?

 

[PsyRN]

How are they? They replace the OEM ones?

I drove around town doing some errands after and they are noticeably stiffer but not rough feeling. I would get a lot of sway on a few corners near my house because of the camper and lumpy road condition. On those same corners I got very little sway, and crossing some railroad tracks, I got 1 bounce and then it stopped. Before I would get 2-3 bounces. lol

They replaced the OEM Fox shocks that had about 45k miles on them. I thought those were ok when the truck wasn't weighed down, but after the camper they just got too soft. About the only other thing I might do later is replace the rear springs to stiffer springs. I already have the stiffer diesel springs on the front even though Im running the 3.6.

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