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

[Walter-new jeeper]

Installed my rugged ridge arcus bumper and x-bull 10k winch. Both went together really easy. Only took about an hour and half. The bumper quality seems great. The bar is different than what I was expecting. Most pictures show a round bar the bends forward. This one is stamped steel and hugs the grill. I’m happy about that since it’s completely out of the front camera view. I’ll have to drill holes in it to mount any lights. My fog lights don’t work with it. I need to swap mine for some non-OEM metal bumper ones. Now I just need to go get stuck.

Had the same issue with my rider bar on the Vanator - same rider bar looks like. A bear to bolt down with very little space. And yes on having to drill holes for lights - when the time comes.

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[Angler3]

Took the kids to a pond and ran trough some mud. Then I wash it. Also finished painting the engine skid. Next weekend I will install it

I can only dream of a place like that near me .

 

[Troybilt]

The bar doesn’t seem especially helpful when it’s sitting so far behind the winch.

Any chance it’s on backwards?

Purely cosmetic. No function. China junk.

 

[PDiddy]

Had the same issue with my rider bar on the Vanator - same rider bar looks like. A bear to bolt down with very little space. And yes on having to drill holes for lights - when the time comes.

Yeah, a real pain to tighten. I don’t even have it tightened as much as I would like. I’m going to tighten it some more tomorrow. I ran out of patience today.

 

[PDiddy]

Purely cosmetic. No function. China junk.

Gatekeeper much?

 

[PDiddy]

The bar doesn’t seem especially helpful when it’s sitting so far behind the winch.

Any chance it’s on backwards?

It’s not helpful.

A quick peak at the product page would suggest @PDiddy has it on there correctly:

https://ruggedridge.com/p/rugged-ridge-arcus-front-bumper/v/jeep/gladiator/2020/

Yeah it looks like the AEV one, minus the quality. Doesn’t seem functional to me, except mounting lights on it. I’ll probably put some cheap Chinese lights on it.

 

[Delhux]

My fog lights don’t work with it. I need to swap mine for some non-OEM metal bumper ones.

I thought the Rugged Ridge bumpers came with some sort of plastic mounts that allowed the OEM fogs to fit. I’m considering the Arcus, and want to still use my OEM LED fog lights…

 

[PDiddy]

I thought the Rugged Ridge bumpers came with some sort of plastic mounts that allowed the OEM fogs to fit. I’m considering the Arcus, and want to still use my OEM LED fog lights…

It doesn’t work with the steel modular bumper fog lights. It works with all the others.

 

[Oldman_josh]

Installed KBD flares on the Gladiator today.

 

[Mball488]

The hardware is silver as supplied. I painted everything satin black before installing. I think it looks better than the contrasting silver.

I think I'll do the same. It does make it look way cleaner. They need to include black hardware to begin with.

 

[Tank Concrete]

I think I'll do the same. It does make it look way cleaner. They need to include black hardware to begin with.

What's your process to paint the hardware? Does it scratch off easily? I've found some black replacement parts, but much of what I have is silver. Would love to paint them up.

 

[VolatileA]

T

Well yesterday I refinanced her. Dropped the rate by 3% + they put 2.5% of the loan total into my checking. So with the saving I dropped the hammer on a Aluminum belly skid and UHMW belly skid kit from Next Venture Motorsports. Suppose to ship within five weeks.

This is the way, nice job.

 

[Dakarider]

Installed the Teraflex 1.5" Leveling kit on front. First suspension type thing I've done on a vehicle before and wasn't to bad. Turned out great though and still have about 1" higher in the rear (still stock) on my Sport MT. I'm happy with the stock shocks so not changing them out.

 

[Mball488]

What's your process to paint the hardware? Does it scratch off easily? I've found some black replacement parts, but much of what I have is silver. Would love to paint them up.

I'm going to use 600+ Grit sand paper, automotive primer and satin black automotive paint. I understand its not a full proof plan to avoid scuff marks and chips, but until I get black replacement bolts it should work fine.

 

[MyRight]

Received my Freedom valve stem caps today, so I put them on.
I'm surprised, these things are actually metal.

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