What did you do WITH your Gladiator today?

[BlueScapegoat]

Let’s go hit the Rubicon!!!! Well in a year or 2 once I’ve got my Jeep built. Pretty sure that trail would eat me up at the moment.

I don't know what your build is at the moment but I used my Artec engine skid, both RockHard rock rails to the point of bending the left one, bashed the Artec comp cut high rear bumper multiple times, drug down the extent of both sides of the frame, both diff covers, smacked the tie rod, sheered a valve stem.

It's a gnarly trail. I'm about 4" of lift with 40s. Never had to pull a winch line but did shove some rocks under the tires once when I turtled.

All in all I only really reversed to reposition myself and take another shot at an obstacle less than 10 times. But there was a lot of rubbing and barely scrambling through.

37s on a JL, fine. The JT is just a schoolbus. I think my TJ on 35s would walk the trail in comparison.

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[Cattywumpuss]

Took a day trip to Hope and then drove 1500 ft up some mountains up the Palmer Creek Road trail.

This was the view for lunch:

 

[Mud Pie]

Spent Wednesday through Saturday on Galveston Island. My wife had a rough 2 weeks at work and wanted to relax, so we checked into Moody Gardens resort. Nice joint.

Of course on the day we headed out, Tropical Storm Arthur decided HE wanted to spend time on the island, also. It had already rained the entire week, Galveston is known for flooding. I decided to give it a go, my wife needed the break.

We get to the island, several roads have high water. Nothing too extreme, maybe 8" or so. Passenger cars said, "nay-nay" and U-turned, my Jeep said, "Ain't nothing but a thang.". Barely kicked up a wake driving through it.

The wind was kicking at 40mph or so, not pleasant. The threats on the news proved false, the storm kicked further east. We had wind, a little rain every now and then, nothing to be concerned about.

Thursday, very overcast, rain every now and then. The idea of popping the top and dropping the doors were squashed.

While sitting at the hotel bar, my wife asked how was I going to take the doors off ? Walk them through the lobby ? That "was trashy". I showed her the EZ 4x4 door cart. She goes, "Order it so we don't have to carry doors around next time.". Don't have to tell ME twice !! Ordered.

Friday, it was partly cloudy but HOT. We popped the top and hopped on the car ferry over to Bolivar Peninsula. There are sections of the beach were cars are allowed. Cars. Yes, it's pretty hard packed. If you keep going, it eventually gets soft, 4 wheel drive needed. As we are driving, there are several gullies trenched in the sand. The high water making it's way back to the Gulf. Maybe 5' wide, 3-4' deep with water flowing like a fast creek. Water depth, maybe a foot. Golf carts and cars making U-turns. I plow through, still in two wheel drive. No issue. A guy behind me, with more money than sense, tries to take his lifted, VERY expensive golf cart through. Plunk. Nose down. Stuck like Chuck. I stop and look. He and his drunk friends are already pushing it back up where they were. Idiots in action.

We drove through maybe 4 more of them gullies. Fun.

When we got to the end of the beach, we got back on the road to get lunch. When we parked I noticed my side steps and rear bed guards were thickly coated in beach sand. Apparently I was dragging them in sand going up/down them gullies. No worries, the incoming heavy rain will take care of that.

Today on our way home, driving in heavy rain for 1.5 hours, washed all that sand off.

Still gonna drag it through the car wash tomorrow, make sure all that salt is gone.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

@Mud Pie Sounds like a good time out with the Wife. Glad to hear it!

 

[Mud Pie]

@Mud Pie Sounds like a good time out with the Wife. Glad to hear it!

More eating and drinking than wheeling, but she needed the break and every time we went through high water, she said, "SO glad we got a Jeep !!". She saw a full size Dodge truck making a U-turn (surprising, as the water wasn't that deep at all) and she shouted, "WUSSY !!!! GET A JEEP !!".

I said, "Um, y'know, we're in Texas where everyone packs a pistol.....". She tapped her purse and said, "Yeah. I know.".

I was so proud.

 

[Wmkresse]

Went up to hit a BOH trail in the mountains of western NC. Brown Mountain OHV. Was a blast!

 

[ArcticDreadnought]

Took a day trip to Hope and then drove 1500 ft up some mountains up the Palmer Creek Road trail.

Beautiful little drive all the way to the end, wasn't it? Damn that washout.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Beautiful little drive all the way to the end, wasn't it? Damn that washout.

Yes! Spectacular drive and a shame it wasn’t quite open all the way to the end. Gate was still closed although some contractor looking guys in a pickup did open it and go through when I was there.

The views were spectacular and all the wild lupine growing by the side of the road made it pretty. Somewhat busy too, with a decent number of motorbikes going up and down the trail too.

 

[Mud Pie]

Well, I washed and waxed it today. Got all that sand and salt off (I hope)

I took my time doing it all. Dragged it through the car wash yesterday and dried it off. This morning around 7am, I wiped it down with my California car duster. Put on a coat of Griots Best of Show wax. Went inside and took a break, because I can.

Two hours later I went out and waxed the rims. I HATE doing the rims, but they are done. Went back inside. Took a one hour nap. Naps are wonderful, now I know why old people take them. But I go all-in, no old man chair napping for this boy. Full-out, in the bed, under the sheets nap. Ahhh.

Around 6pm I went out and put a coat on all the black plastic and rubber. My neighbor came home and said, "You were doing this when I left for work !! Have you been at it all day ?" and laughs. I say, "Nope, been taking breaks all day. No rush, it's called retirement !!". He goes, "I'm jealous !". Then my neighbor on the other side while backing into his driveway calls out, "Cleaning it AGAIN ?!? That is the CLEANEST Jeep I've ever seen !!" I laughed and said, "Don't be hatin' because my going to work days are over and I can play with my Jeep !!" He laughed and said, "You are SO right !!".

They weren't being snotty or bitter if it reads that way. It was all good-natured teasing. We all get along well.

 

[ChrisNLA]

This was Saturday but I dont usually catch up till Monday

Threw all my power yard tools in the bed and went to my moms place to get the yard work caught up.

My toolbox that is usually at the front of the bed takes up soo much space. I took it out so I could carry everything easily.

May do some more organizing and locating of things to avoid putting it back in...

 

[SandDemon]

Welp! What did I do with the Gladiator this weekend.

I installed the AEV space kit and correction brackets. 3 hours on Friday evening, for the rear and 4 hours on the front Saturday morning.


Everything went well:

Destroyed a drill bit up. oh well
Axle shifted as I removed the control arms, that was a nervous shift
Dropped the Torque Wrench on my face.

Poured rain as I'm under the Gladiator torquing.
so why not keep going pouring rain sweating dropping wrench on face hitting my head.

But it looks great and if you are questioning if you can do it yourself. yes, you can!

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Welp! What did I do with the Gladiator this weekend.

I installed the AEV space kit and correction brackets. 3 hours on Friday evening, for the rear and 4 hours on the front Saturday morning.


Everything went well:

Destroyed a drill bit up. oh well
Axle shifted as I removed the control arms, that was a nervous shift
Dropped the Torque Wrench on my face.

Poured rain as I'm under the Gladiator torquing.
so why not keep going pouring rain sweating dropping wrench on face hitting my head.

But it looks great and if you are questioning if you can do it yourself. yes, you can!

It does look great, I agree!! Hope your face heals quickly!

 

[SandDemon]

It does look great, I agree!! Hope your face heals quickly!

no helping my face. Just internal bruising.

 

[azmojave]

I had a long day on Saturday. 14 hours in the saddle and about 120 miles offroad. I think I’ll camp out next time. Went the long way to the Verde River near the hot springs

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Gas prices fell so I took 4 5gallon containers down and filled em up to refill my Vevor gas pump. So nice having a truck bed and not having to smell the fuel all the way home on a 40 minute drive 1 way.

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