Looking for Jeep pro to help convert my JT back to stock

[ShadowsPapa]

All systems go. New JT supposedly arriving on 14th but we know how inaccurate that web site is. Dealer thinks it will be earlier than that.
In any case, I figure I now have 1 week to strip my 22 and get it ready for the trade.
Of course that will include making room by putting a lot of things away that didn't get put away over the winter, but with the car now running, it can be done in the shop with some rearranging of things. Heat, light, and all the tools are there.

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[Jaxmax]

Bill did you ever find out if your are getting the transfer case you wanted. I built a Mojitio Mojave X the other night on the Jeep site and looks like the auto is avalible, plus I have now seen two Mojito Gladiators around my area. Guess I should stop by and check tomorrow......Jack

 

[Mr._Bill]

I traded the Overland for a High Altitude a little over a year ago. I moved a lot of stuff between the trucks. Some stuff just wasn't worth the hassle.

I left the front receiver on the truck. I carefully cut the hole and put the air dam back on. It looked like a factory installed option. I wasn't going to mess with it.

I installed one of the Badge Glow terminal blocks for the Aux Switches. The wires were crimped and heat shrinked. It stayed and I bought another one to install.

The frame mounted Mopar brackets for mounting lights in front of the grill also stayed. They required drilling and rivnuts to install. I also custom cut the cover plate and put it back on so only the mounting tabs were visible.

I left the Curt Trailer Brake Controller with the truck. The knob was mounted to the dash near the Start Button using double sided tape. It was over four years old, and I decided I would just buy a new one if I found something that I wanted to tow.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bill did you ever find out if your are getting the transfer case you wanted. I built a Mojitio Mojave X the other night on the Jeep site and looks like the auto is avalible, plus I have now seen two Mojito Gladiators around my area. Guess I should stop by and check tomorrow......Jack

I checked out at least a dozen on the internet - photos of them on dealer lots - not stock photos, but REAL photos as they show the dealer's lot and building and other vehicles in the background. All of the Mojave X I checked out showed they have it - both the cluster indicator and shift lever.
Sales guy, Scott, says the build sheet shows it. (the build sheet link we use as consumers won't even show these VINs!)
So the build sheet shows it, and pics of the Mojave X on dealer lots show it.

I traded the Overland for a High Altitude a little over a year ago. I moved a lot of stuff between the trucks. Some stuff just wasn't worth the hassle.

I left the front receiver on the truck. I carefully cut the hole and put the air dam back on. It looked like a factory installed option. I wasn't going to mess with it.

I installed one of the Badge Glow terminal blocks for the Aux Switches. The wires were crimped and heat shrinked. It stayed and I bought another one to install.

The frame mounted Mopar brackets for mounting lights in front of the grill also stayed. They required drilling and rivnuts to install. I also custom cut the cover plate and put it back on so only the mounting tabs were visible.

I left the Curt Trailer Brake Controller with the truck. The knob was mounted to the dash near the Start Button using double sided tape. It was over four years old, and I decided I would just buy a new one if I found something that I wanted to tow.

Taking the front receiver - I have to pretty much strip that area anyway to get my plow stuff, and winch plate and so on. The air dam I have to put back on is not cut out for the receiver - the steel skid plate I'm keeping does.
Power steps are staying on and I'm getting new. It's just not worth the hassle and the dealer is giving me a great deal on new RSE steps - installed for about the same price as I paid for mine. They are having a customer truck shop do those.
I may leave the air bags in place - for 100 bucks I can get new ones vs these 3 year old ones.
The Synergy 2" springs are coming out - dealer ain't getting those but it would sit too high by the time all the weight is off the front anyway.
The blue spiderweb shade is staying - my wife says I have to get a green one for the new truck, blue wouldn't look right.

Brake controller - opinions, please!
I had a Redarc in my 2020, then went with the mopar controller - which is in this 2022.
I still have the Redarc in a box on a shelf.
Not sure it's worth pulling out the Mopar brake controller since I have a nice Redarc sitting here - but it doesn't quite match factory interior.
I had wondered - has anyone tried putting a brake controller knob for something like a Redarc in the area Jeep has for the bed 115v outlet switch? that piece pops out, correct? Will a Redarc brake controller knob fit in that knockout piece????????
That mopar controller was over $300 - but it's been in 2 trucks and is a pain to take apart and out.

 

[Jaxmax]

You would think that after about four years or so that you could order with the Mopar brake controller installed….Jack

 

[RudeJeepin]

You would think that after about four years or so that you could order with the Mopar brake controller installed….Jack

I don't see why a fully integrated trailer brake controller isn't available. My 2015 Ram had it and it was awesome. I would love that system in my Gladiator.

@ShadowsPapa I think I prefer the RedArc over the Mopar. Based solely on the footprint, I mounted mine next to the 12v plug.
Figure I could always buy that little piece, panel, if I wanted to keep the controller if I got rid of the Gladiator.

 

[rharr]

call me silly but won't it be easier and cheaper to keep what you have, and just buy a blower or plow attachment for one of your tractors if you are just doing your dirveway? (Not sure if you still have tractors but you talk about them still.)

The heart wants what the heart wants and all, but it just seems like a pita to make a parallel move for a few extra do-dads

 

[ShadowsPapa]

call me silly but won't it be easier and cheaper to keep what you have, and just buy a blower or plow attachment for one of your tractors if you are just doing your dirveway? (Not sure if you still have tractors but you talk about them still.)

The heart wants what the heart wants and all, but it just seems like a pita to make a parallel move for a few extra do-dads

You REALLY missed out on all of the discussion a year or so ago - maybe farther back, when I was talking putting a snow plow on my JT. I heard all sorts of reasons it wasn't a good idea or I should or could do this or that instead.

I have this JT with a snow plow - done deal a couple of years ago - for reasons all in those threads.
The only thing is transferring all of the wiring, cables and so on from this one to a new one. I own the snow plow. I own the wiring and mounting brackets.

I USED to use my JD tractor with a blade - but - the driveway is up hill, it was taking a couple of hours, and here after a snow - it's usually extremely cold with strong winds. Raynaud's, back problems among other reasons - that method had to go.

I don't see why a fully integrated trailer brake controller isn't available. My 2015 Ram had it and it was awesome. I would love that system in my Gladiator.

@ShadowsPapa I think I prefer the RedArc over the Mopar. Based solely on the footprint, I mounted mine next to the 12v plug.
Figure I could always buy that little piece, panel, if I wanted to keep the controller if I got rid of the Gladiator.

Yeah, after all these years, it's weird that they don't offer that as an option or factory installed accessory.

I've decided the MOPAR controller can stay with this truck when it gets traded. Not worth the hassle. I own the Redarc, it's a good unit, and far more flexible as far as where to mount the box and the knob.
I was thinking maybe the Redarc knob could go in that small pop-out panel where Jeep puts the bed outlet switch/control? we'll see.


Huge shoutout to jebiruph (Jerry) for his awesome help today getting a number of things stripped off the 22!

All of the snow plow mounting brackets are off the truck, all of the wiring pulled (oh, that was FUN) - except the pigtails that go out under the fenders between the liners and flares and connect into the turn signal/park light wiring. That will involve pulling the liners down a bit - I have to remove the clear markers anyway so two reasons.
Original bumper is back on, winch, steel bumper - off (dang, had to take that steel bumper apart to get the hooks back out to put into the factory bumper. Bummer.)

All that's left is those turn signal/park light pigtails, the clear marker lights, and the front springs (I think I have spacers under the rear springs that need to come out)
Otherwise, a lot got done today. I'm sore as heck. Found myself getting dizzy working under the dash, up and down a couple of times and I was almost sick. That's going to be a rest of my lift thing I guess, according to doctors. No fixing that when the inner ears go south.

All of the weight off the front of that thing and I swear it sits a good inch higher now. Those 2" synergy springs will come out, though putting it back to stock height.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bill did you ever find out if your are getting the transfer case you wanted. I built a Mojitio Mojave X the other night on the Jeep site and looks like the auto is avalible, plus I have now seen two Mojito Gladiators around my area. Guess I should stop by and check tomorrow......Jack

Jack - if you do happen to see something - but don't go out of your way. I'll learn in a week or two anyway (maybe sooner, who the heck knows!?)

I'm absolutely exhausted - got in, fed the cats (you do NOT ignore them!) and just too pooped to get up and fix myself some supper........... Jerry did the heavy lifting (literally).

I've had a bike for sale here for a few weeks, very nice, good condition, almost no wear (used it a few times one year, then parked it) - and Jerry may get that, some other odds and ends and some cash as he's been a huge help - jumped right in. A couple of things we had to sort of figure out - how to get those HUGE plow harnesses out of the mix in the engine bay and I probably used 200 zip ties on everything - LOL - you should see the pile of cut zip ties on the floor! Invest in zip ties, guys, I'm going to have to buy MORE!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

DONE. At least as far as I plan on taking it.
The air bags stay,
the Eibach shocks stay unless someone here wants them (won't take much to swap them out if someone is interested)
MOPAR trailer brake controller stays

All that is left is to take all of the 150 items out from under the back seat and from behind the back seat - straps, shackles, pulleys, and so on.
All of the wiring for the snow plow is out - including pulling the front fender liners to get the taps for the turn signals and marker lights removed, and the clear front marker lights came out at the same time, put the stock amber lights back in. I only broke one of the "christmas tree" retainers, reached into my drawer of AMC body parts and grabbed a new one to replace it - yeah, interesting what is still used from the 1980s.

HUGE shoutout to Jerry ( @jebiruph) for his help, especially with the things that literally made me sick or dizzy doing. The front spring swap actually went quite well - used his spring compressors to get the longer 2" Synergy springs out and put the stock springs back in - with the Daystar spacers since I had those under the rear springs - to balance things out to make it look less like a jack rabbit ready to bolt from a cat.

I was joking with him that now that it's ready except for cleaning it out - it will be another 2 weeks before the new one arrives - then I come into the house, take care of 4 ticked off and hungry felines, and go to find they've changed the expected delivery date from the 14th to the 9th. (that doesn't mean it will be here, let alone ready because the Jeep site is notoriously WRONG most of the time.....)

 

[NULL POINTER]

I do not have the oem bed outlet, but having pried out that switch strip left of the steering wheel, it is just a plain piece of plastic and I figured it would be a perfect spot for the redarc TBC if I decide not to get the oem bed outlet kit. There looks to be enough space to put the redarc TBC in it. If you have the oem bed outlet, I think there is a whole bunch of stuff on that strip associated with the switch - key words "I think", no guarantees.

Glad Jerry was able to help you out. Congrats on the new rig, and take it easy getting it set up.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealer says the Gladiator left Toledo 4-5-25. It's 2 to 3 days allowing for mandatory stops/breaks OTR drivers must make, plus allowing for other things.

When I ordered my 2020, it left Toledo on a Sunday night and arrived two days later - on that Tuesday morning bright and early.

 

[AstroZombie]

Awesome you are getting a new one!!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Awesome you are getting a new one!!

Yeah, but even after is arrives, maybe on the 9th, there will be the RSE steps to get installed so I actually may not get to drive it until next week. Who knows. But it has "left Toledo" so...............

 

[legacy_etu]

Yeah, but even after is arrives, maybe on the 9th, there will be the RSE steps to get installed so I actually may not get to drive it until next week. Who knows. But it has "left Toledo" so...............

Uh oh. Hope you're making good progress breaking down the current one.

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