Sarge Green Build Thread, 42s (2025) max tow... overland etc

[The Gas Man]

I will get some for you in the morning, currently processing photos from today's shoot and it's dark now.

I will say from personal experience that LOD bumpers powdercoating was pretty bad about 5 yrs ago... not sure if they changed their formula yet but my friends front / rear & rails on his jk rusted out after one winter.

Thanks! And no worries about the wait, I’m just happy to get some peeks at it on the Gladiator. Also, thanks for the info on LOD’s powdercoating! I imagine someone on the forum has purchased from them recently, so I’ll see if I can’t find some reviews.

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[rob_o]

Thanks! And no worries about the wait, I’m just happy to get some peeks at it on the Gladiator. Also, thanks for the info on LOD’s powdercoating! I imagine someone on the forum has purchased from them recently, so I’ll see if I can’t find some reviews.

Here's some pictures

 

[The Gas Man]

Here's some pictures

Looks great! I was worried the bull bar would poke to far forward, but it really doesn’t. Thanks for taking the time!

 

[rob_o]

Started getting the graphics applied this past week. Unfortunately the rocker & body panels printed incorrectly so they had to be re-done.

But the hood and tailgate came out good, I outlined them with some silver pinstripe tape to make them pop.

 

[rob_o]

Been gone for a while but got some more stuff in.

23zero walkabout 62 fits the bed perfectly

Also got a fishbone offroad bed rack, in the future I'd like to upgrade to a trailrax but I am waiting for them to finish the rear door upgrade.

 

[Tommyd]

Looks awesome!!!

 

[leopardprey]

Where did you get the graphics from?

 

[rob_o]

Alright I guess its time for the midlife refresh.

Woolwaxed the frame inner / outer and axles.

 

[rob_o]

I also replaced all of my shocks with fox 2.0 and put geometry correction brackets on my truck with mopar .25" longer lower control arms. Part number is 68322798AA My caster is now 8* with a 3.5" lift.

We salt our roads in NY and my joints were seized solid despite greasing them every 6 months religiously.

The mopar arms are solid rubber so I wont have to worry about it ever again. I've always been leary of geometry correction brackets but I really didn't want to cut apart my frame for longarms so this was a nice middle ground.. all I can say is the work great & the ride quality is excellent and improved greatly.

I also decided to mount 42" tires to continue my experiment on axle life.

 

[rob_o]

I forgot to take photos but a couple years back i put motobilt fenders on my truck too. You can see them in the pictures above.

Moving forward here's what 4yrs of NY winters did to my bed rack.. ruined.

I removed it and bought an RSI Smartcap

Found some brackets from motobilt that I ordered years ago with my fenders.. these are from the bed mounted cargo rack.

I asked Dan dubose for just the pair of mounts because I originally wanted to mount my spare onto them.

(Only one is pictured, used for mockup / measurements)

With the RSI smartcap on the way with its gullwing doors I plan to use these brackets to make a shelf for gear. The spare will live tucked away underneath. I took a mockup picture with some scrap particle board. Ill be using 3/4 ply or maybe melamine in its final configuration.

 

[rob_o]

Also i forgot to add, back in 2021 i installed:

5.38 gears
Eaton E locker
Complete synergy HD steering setup & sector shaft brace
Artec truss & gussets to front axle

 

[rob_o]

Smartcap assembled & installed

 

[rob_o]

Update:

Motobilt cargo rails needed a 1" spacer to clear the inner lip of the rsi smartcap.

I made mine with some 1" x 1.75" x 4" bar stock.

Got the platform done as well

 

[rob_o]

Had some time to work on my slide out kitchen. Its about 36*f today so I couldn't bedline it but atleast its assembled and works.

I used 16" vevor locking slides

With my 42" spare in the bed i had to notch the tray so my blackstone would fit. Unfortunately i have to remove the knob to close the tailgate.

I was going to uee turnbuckles & the factory tie downs in the bed to hold it in place but the pair i ordered is too long. 2x4 wedged in place to hold it down for now.

I'm waiting for my lift up top table hinges to arrive tomorrow, it'll act as a nice lid & give me some additional work space that I can move up out of the way.

 

[rob_o]

Used some heaters and got it bedlined. The lift top hinges are too big. Unfortunately ill have to go with a standard opening now.

Still trying to figure out a way to hold this down without drilling into my bed.

Turn buckles just aren't solid enough to hold it in place. Im going to look into some pipe & a push pin mechanism.

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