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

[SloW8]

I also shared this in the Mojave Mod thread but figured it was relevant here as well.

In the middle of having a blast, blasting over the desert, I confirmed my suspicions about departure angle.

Spent half an hour finding and stacking rocks to get through this wash. I had already started stacking in this picture. After I got a decent pile, I had my wife pull on top of them, then I would move the back ones to the front and continue till I got out without tearing up my hitch.

That lead me to look for some rear end protection. Picked up a Rubi takeoff bumper and installed it today.

I like that the side bits and the steel part of the bumper all tie together to make a solid mass. I also ordered a hitch skid that should protect that and become a good point to drag if needed in the future.

Oh, and for the record, DO NOT DO NOT WHAT I DID IN THE PICTURES.
Install the side brackets first. Get all those bolts in but leave them just loose enough that you can slide the bracket up and down. Then install the bumper and tighten it in place. Then install the side skids. I pushed the side brackets as high as they would go and tightened, then tightened the bumper end to skid tie-in bolts, then the bolts from the side skids to the brackets.

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[Clendennan]

So I wrapped up 4th door today. If anyone's planning on getting these Smittybilt hinge steps your gonna need the TT50 craftsman from Lowes. I went through five different t50s and they are all different in size by brand. The TT50 craftsman with hole in middle was so tight at insert it banged in with a hammer like a glove then you have the grip you need to get the bolts loose with a breaker bar.

Thanks for this as it’s in my future

treat me like I’m stupid, I know why you taped around the bolts, but why around the seams of the rest of the door?

 

[Deleted member 30519]

Thanks for this as it’s in my future

treat me like I’m stupid, I know why you taped around the bolts, but why around the seams of the rest of the door?

I stripped a bolt last week with one of those other t50s I had and the breaker bar got away from me and I scraped a 3 inch gash in my paint. I put extra tape near the bolts incase it happened again. I did the rest of seams to hold the door to keep it aligned when removing the bolts. I also used two pieces of folded cardboard for wedges on the bottom.

 

[Delhux]

So I wrapped up 4th door today. If anyone's planning on getting these Smittybilt hinge steps your gonna need the TT50 craftsman from Lowes. I went through five different t50s and they are all different in size by brand. The TT50 craftsman with hole in middle was so tight at insert it banged in with a hammer like a glove then you have the grip you need to get the bolts loose with a breaker bar.

Looks good.

Is the black diamond plate cowl cover a stick-on, or is it a replacement cowl?

 

[Deleted member 30519]

Looks good.

Is the black diamond plate cowl cover a stick-on, or is it a replacement cowl?

Thanks. It's an Amazon stick on. They fit really good.

 

[PhantomChameleon]

Ain’t no way in hell I’d put that on my JT. Begging to be keyed or worse, followed home.

Can't do much about getting keyed really, but it seems stupid to let that get in the way of putting what I want to put on my own vehicle. Fear is what these psychos want to use to control people, and it just isn't something I allow to influence me.

As for getting followed home, unless their plan is to chill and have a beer, it would't go very well for them.

 

[DrJ]

Also had time today to make a shelf over the driver wheel well to store a folding camp table and camping chairs.

Redline Tuning hood lifts installed too..

 

[PhantomChameleon]

Saturday install

OK...the day has come Saturday.

Bumper
10K Warn (adding a synthetic line)
Rigid lights (to replace fogs)
Replacing my 3/4 spacers with Teraflex 1.5" to offset and level the truck. Leaving the 3/4" rears on (truck already has a MOPAR lift).

Red Jeep is just a pic of the bumper...Silver Jeep is mine.

Also decided to add front and rear adjustable track bars. I THINK I might try my hand at centering the axles myself but only for fun...its only 109.00 bucks to have my local Jeep shop align them right. Any tips or suggestions on that, for those who've done it before? Its more of experiment to me but I assumed, without any research yet whatsoever, that I'd just have the truck on jack stands and find the best point to use for fixed measurements from the frame as I could. The truck has a slight pull to the right that I'm tired of.

Love this stance, and Imogene Pass!

What lift/tire size are you running?

 

[Jeepnoob34]

Can't do much about getting keyed really, but it seems stupid to let that get in the way of putting what I want to put on my own vehicle. Fear is what these psychos want to use to control people, and it just isn't something I allow to influence me.

As for getting followed home, unless their plan is to chill and have a beer, it would't go very well for them.

I’d certainly say your more likely to have your vehicle damaged with a pro police sticker than not. As far as being followed home, I get most of us are more than prepared for something like that. I don’t wanna risk some crazy dude breaking in my house when my family is home. Not judging, I’d just hate to see “blm” keyed into the side of my vehicle lol.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

1.75" @Quadratec spacers. Rubi takeoffs and 35/12.5/17 go on tomorrow, getting the spacers settled before that.

If I were keeping stock I'd still do the spacers, way better stance.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Terraflex leveling kit
35x12.5 toyo open country MT’s on stock rims

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The ride height in the front is higher than I expected with the Rubicon suspension swap, but then I realized that the front coils are expecting a 83lb steel Rubicon bumper to be there. I'll get one of those soon enough. Here's before and after images.

Not all Rubicons have the steel bumper............ maybe the springs you got came from one with that, however. Mine has settled in to a bit less than an inch higher now than the Overland springs. I figure I'll lose that with a skid plate and if I ever do a winch up there, or even just a different bumper.
Different Rubicons have different spring numbers.........mine may have come from a lighter Rubicon.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Oh I also straightened the steering wheel a hair. Back to center.

 

[Clendennan]

I’m getting ready to install this Trunk Monkey that arrived yesterday

 

[BLK HOLE]

Love this stance, and Imogene Pass!

What lift/tire size are you running?

Thank you.

In that pic 37s, Mopar 2” with 3/4 spacers front and rear.

1.5” up front now (since yesterday).

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