If you started your Gladiator build over tomorrow, what would you do differently?

[Stan H]

I would :
1.regear first.
2. Then lift that way it wouldn't strain the transmission so much
3. Then do add ons.

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[Gvsukids]

I have seen 6 cam failures in my small group of friends.

We have had 5. Three needing new/remanufactured motors, including us. Ours was paid for via the extended warranty through CNA.

 

[Gvsukids]

If you were starting your Gladiator build over tomorrow, what's the first thing you'd do differently?

Winch and 2 inch lift.

 

[g8tor2020]

Probably not bought the Mopar performance lift kit and gone with my King coilover setup from the start. Would have saved me 1k. But that's about the only thing different I would have done.

 

[Old Dogger]

My Mojave sits high enough, but it needs 35"s.

 

[HereWeGo]

I would have tracked the weight of all of my modifications much more closely. When I was finally done and loaded for a 4 month overland trip, I was 1,000 pounds over GVWR (including full tank, food, clothes, 2 ppl). Beefed up suspension and brakes were definitely part of the build. It's held up just fine in the two years I've been using it for Overland trips, but it is a bit rolly with the rooftop tent and the weight. I also have to watch oil temps on long inclines at highway speed in the desert heat, like I-17 Phoenix to Flagstaff. I'm not sure what I could have done differently to reduce the weight and retain the amazing functionality that it has. I have gone over and over in my head what I could have done differently and for two years I have come up with zero.

 

[ExoShield]

I would have tracked the weight of all of my modifications much more closely. When I was finally done and loaded for a 4 month overland trip, I was 1,000 pounds over GVWR (including full tank, food, clothes, 2 ppl). Beefed up suspension and brakes were definitely part of the build. It's held up just fine in the two years I've been using it for Overland trips, but it is a bit rolly with the rooftop tent and the weight. I also have to watch oil temps on long inclines at highway speed in the desert heat, like I-17 Phoenix to Flagstaff. I'm not sure what I could have done differently to reduce the weight and retain the amazing functionality that it has. I have gone over and over in my head what I could have done differently and for two years I have come up with zero.

Wow 1,000 pounds just goes to show you how quickly a build can snowball.

It almost sounds like the only real solution is a second vehicle.

 

[Jefe1018]

I was honestly really happy with my JT, I just didn’t want to reengineer the cooling system and the heat from the engine bay made the cab suck on longer trips in the summer. Not much I would do differently, maybe not have wasted the money and time to add the insulation to the floor and the roof, didn’t make much of a difference in my opinion. Other than that, it was a solid platform that just went with a 2 inch lift, 37’s and stock gears that ecodiesel felt unstoppable, at least for the few paces I put it through.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I was honestly really happy with my JT, I just didn’t want to reengineer the cooling system and the heat from the engine bay made the cab suck on longer trips in the summer. Not much I would do differently, maybe not have wasted the money and time to add the insulation to the floor and the roof, didn’t make much of a difference in my opinion. Other than that, it was a solid platform that just went with a 2 inch lift, 37’s and stock gears that ecodiesel felt unstoppable, at least for the few paces I put it through.

I dunno….. I think ya need another inch.

 

[HereWeGo]

Wow 1,000 pounds just goes to show you how quickly a build can snowball.

It almost sounds like the only real solution is a second vehicle.

It definitely did snowball! If you look at my signature you can see everything that's in the build. To me it sounds like all the basics that you need for a fully functional Overlander. When I'm done with this trip to Alaska I'm going to go through the entire build and see what I can do to reduce weight. So far I have only come up with about a hundred pounds.

 

[ExoShield]

It definitely did snowball! If you look at my signature you can see everything that's in the build. To me it sounds like all the basics that you need for a fully functional Overlander. When I'm done with this trip to Alaska I'm going to go through the entire build and see what I can do to reduce weight. So far I have only come up with about a hundred pounds.

Alaska seems like the perfect test before making any big changes.

It'll be interesting to see if there are any pieces of gear you come home realizing you never actually used. If not, then it makes the cutting down a lot harder...

 

[HereWeGo]

Alaska seems like the perfect test before making any big changes.

It'll be interesting to see if there are any pieces of gear you come home realizing you never actually used. If not, then it makes the cutting down a lot harder...

Been thinking harder about this for the past couple of days. I could remove the slide in the back where all of our boxes of clothes, camping gear, and food are stored that I don't use very often that weighs 100 lb. I could trade my rock hard steel rear bumper for a rock hard aluminum bumper and that would save 50 lb. So far that's all I've come up with. Now I'm on a mission!

 

[g8tor2020]

It definitely did snowball! If you look at my signature you can see everything that's in the build. To me it sounds like all the basics that you need for a fully functional Overlander. When I'm done with this trip to Alaska I'm going to go through the entire build and see what I can do to reduce weight. So far I have only come up with about a hundred pounds.

Looking at the items in your signature maybe a lighter RTT, bed rack and your skids if they are not already aluminum?

 

[g8tor2020]

I really wish I would have weighed my rig fully loaded to see how much it weighed. When I had my RTT and hit the scales I was at 5580 about 1245 of payload to play with.

 

[ExoShield]

Been thinking harder about this for the past couple of days. I could remove the slide in the back where all of our boxes of clothes, camping gear, and food are stored that I don't use very often that weighs 100 lb. I could trade my rock hard steel rear bumper for a rock hard aluminum bumper and that would save 50 lb. So far that's all I've come up with. Now I'm on a mission!

Sounds like you've already found the biggest opportunities. A 100 lb storage slide and 50 lbs from the rear bumper is a pretty meaningful start.

Have you ever put the RTT on the chopping block, or has it earned its spot enough that it's non-negotiable?

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