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

[jwilson2899]

I plan on installing mine tomorrow - any helpful tips / tricks?

I had a friend help me, and it wasn't too bad, here are some pointers from my install:

1. The instructions only say to remove the lower shock bolts, but I removed the sway bar link bolts too
2. Even with both unbolted the springs, especially the driver's side still didn't want to come out. I had to convince them to come out. See step 4 for what I think would make it easier.
3. I fed the hose down from the top, put the spacer in place, attached it to the bag, then put all of it inside the spring
4. Putting the springs back was a chore, The axle didn't want to drop down enough to get them back in there. Plus the rubber isolator on top has to go in a specific spot because it has it's on locating pin, and the spring indexes into that. Trying to hold all of it in there while fighting the axle made me invent new curse words. Finally my buddy had an idea and we used a small bottle jack placed on the bumpstop pad and pushing against the metal cup for the bump stop. With this setup we were able to push the axle down in a controlled manner, easily get the pieces in there, and then let it up slowly while holding everything in place. I recommend putting the drivers side one back in first, then passenger.
5. Since I was installing in the gas filler area, I run my lines all to the drivers side. I left enough slack that when I was done, I tucked them in behind the fender linter. They are out of sight, but I could loose the bolts and pull them down if they need to be serviced in the future.
6. If you do the gas filler spot I did, you'll have to reach in under the fender liner and up to it. Also, it's a softish rubber, so I added a couple of fender washers to give it some backing and keeping it from flexing as much when taking the coupler on and off.

Hopefully that helps some, good luck with the install.

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[Deleted member 30519]

Phone cam took a terrible shot but added the Wilco spare tire mount I bought at a pretty substantial discount... not sure how I feel about it yet but glad to have the spare out from under. Now I just need another Rubi wheel to replace the stock spare.

This thing looks awesome. I wonder if it's legal in New York to put a 35" in the same spot. Probably way too big.

 

[Mopar King]

This thing looks awesome. I wonder if it's legal in New York to put a 35" in the same spot. Probably way too big.

They mandate what you put in your bed in NY?

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

They mandate what you put in your bed in NY?

Probably something to do with limiting rear-window visitiblity, if I had to guess...

 

[Mopar King]

Probably something to do with limiting rear-window visitiblity, if I had to guess...

Man I suppose....around here they sell brand new vans with no rear windows and etc. Crazy to me that they are that nit picky! I couldn't deal !

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Man I suppose....around here they sell brand new vans with no rear windows and etc. Crazy to me that they are that nit picky! I couldn't deal !

Same here, but up north they got some weird laws.

 

[BLK HOLE]

I also have a sign above my front door that says “house”. :D

 

[Jeepnoob34]

Got my first Jeep wave oil change/tire rotation today. When I first brought it in the service guy was asking why I was here since it only has 3400 miles on it. He seems perplexed as to why I wouldn’t wait until the 10k recommended mark. I don’t know much about cars, but waiting till 10k to change the original oil just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Plus, why not, if I’m getting 2 free for the first two years.

 

[mcolbyb]

Little saturday project !! Homemade Cargo box CO2 Bottle rack !!

Thats awesome. I want to do something similar for a 5lb propane tank for camping.

 

[LostWoods]

This thing looks awesome. I wonder if it's legal in New York to put a 35" in the same spot. Probably way too big.

That's exactly what that is. It's supposed to handle up to a 37" but as is, I'm still looking to reinforce it before I wheel too much. On the Tacomas these things caused cracks when off road a lot and there's definitely some wiggle with all the mounts along a single line. Those trucks had the issue of the bed itself flexing but here it seems to all be in the rail.

It just needs a simple bracket to stop the rail from flexing but I don't have access to a brake to make one. Just need to measure and send out to have it made then I'll be plenty happy. Just want to get my cap on there first to make sure it all plays nicely before making that investment.

 

[Mopar King]

Got my first Jeep wave oil change/tire rotation today. When I first brought it in the service guy was asking why I was here since it only has 3400 miles on it. He seems perplexed as to why I wouldn’t wait until the 10k recommended mark. I don’t know much about cars, but waiting till 10k to change the original oil just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Plus, why not, if I’m getting 2 free for the first two years.

They want you to go through the "break in" period first. It used to be 5k miles. With full synthetic 3500 miles is too early but I agree...10k miles seems a bit crazy.

 

[tweak89]

I added some extra storage with some add on "pockets" off of Amazon. Great for those little things that you may want quick access too. They come with rubber inserts that fit into the bottom of the pockets as well.

I also installed the Mopar rear (fronts were installed earlier the previous week) splash guards. These are specific to the Sport S with Max Tow (I bought a front and rear set of the standard ones, but the rear is designed differently). Unlike the front, which required only 1 new hole to be drilled, the rear requires 3 new holes.

 

[Dwosgood]

Not today, but yesterday I installed an AEV ProCal SNAP to adjust my speedo for new tires.

Also, not today, but Friday, I threw some Kenda Klever 35x10.50r17s on my JT. It looks so much better now with the 1.5" level and 35s. I'm one of the weirdos who actually think the stock Sport S wheels look good, and I like them for now, but I'm going to be swapping them out in the next few months for something. I'm over the blacked out look, so I will either be going with a gunmetal or a bronze wheel. I'm happy for now though.

 

[bastage]

Dropped it off at the shop for a few upgrades. Few sneak peek photos.

I am looking at having the PRO-X installed. Waiting for a buddy who works at 4wp t

Not today, but yesterday I installed an AEV ProCal SNAP to adjust my speedo for new tires.

Also, not today, but Friday, I threw some Kenda Klever 35x10.50r17s on my JT. It looks so much better now with the 1.5" level and 35s. I'm one of the weirdos who actually think the stock Sport S wheels look good, and I like them for now, but I'm going to be swapping them out in the next few months for something. I'm over the blacked out look, so I will either be going with a gunmetal or a bronze wheel. I'm happy for now though.

This is what stock should of looked like

 

[Dwosgood]

This is what stock should of looked like

Agreed. I understand why they don’t do it, but man I wish they did.

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