The Rocinante- a workhorse for a hatchback guy

[BaliMawr]

I mean, if we're to the point of sharing nerdy shit, this is my edc (laptop) bag that I have to take to work in my Gladiator (in a parking ramp) every day ?

Nice. And yeah, definitely reached the "nerdy shit" point. ?

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[BAT]

Just so you know where I'm coming from, I don't want a truck, I need a truck. If I didn't need a truck, I'd still be driving a MINI. I've got 5 acres and have to haul wood, trash, and motorcycles. I started with a '91 Commanche, and then drove a first-gen Honda Ridgeline for about a decade. (That's going to my son, next.) Several years ago, we bought a pop-up camper, which the Honda hauled just fine, but then we upgraded to a Rockwood Roo, which comes in around 4500. THAT meant borrowing my FIL's RAM 1500. I really didn't like driving it. It was too big, with tons of space I didn't use (bed), and not enough that I did (rear seat of cab).

Enter the Gladiator. I wanted it as soon as I saw it. Test drove one of the first at my local dealer. Wasn't in the cards, then. Now? I love it even more. The goal from the beginning is to set it up as a comfortable daily driver and trailer/toy/gear hauler. So, no lift, OEM size wheels and tires. Ordered on 1/15, picked up on 2/12, she's a Max Tow Sport S, because she had to be. LEDs, cold weather, hard top, aux switches, full radar/safety suite. Here she is, fresh off the truck.

Dang they still using them trashy rims (LOL). If they would just be black or something else. Other than that the truck looks great

 

[BaliMawr]

Dang they still using them trashy rims (LOL). If they would just be black or something else. Other than that the truck looks great

Yeah. Not my choice. No amount of money could get black wheels from the factory with the other options I needed. To be fair, as much as I railed against them, they look MUCH better in person. She'll be getting a set of black Willy's rims in the near future, once my buddy gets around to upgrading his Wrangler.

 

[BAT]

Yeah. Not my choice. No amount of money could get black wheels from the factory with the other options I needed. To be fair, as much as I railed against them, they look MUCH better in person. She'll be getting a set of black Willy's rims in the near future, once my buddy gets around to upgrading his Wrangler.

Yea I jumped on a set of Rubicon rims as soon as possible. Made a world of difference in look

 

[BaliMawr]

Seat Covers! Because Cloth+Dog+Teenager+Camping=trashed.

 

[BaliMawr]

Today? Redarc Brake Controller. I got the Tow-Prow Elite V3, which comes with the rectangular switch plate, which I thought would work. As soon as I got to looking at the Power outlet, I knew that it wouldn't. I read up on pulling the power outlet and made myself a tool out of a piece of garden stake. Yee-haw. It worked! Unfortunately, the universal plate is too small, so I ordered the proper round plate . (Link HERE)

Meanwhile... Mounted the Unit....

...right on top of this handy metal plate. No drilling, no cutting. 3M double sided tape and zip ties. That thing is not going ANYWHERE.

 

[Mac]

Seat Covers! Because Cloth+Dog+Teenager+Camping=trashed.

Those look nice who makes them?

 

[BaliMawr]

Those look nice who makes them?

Diver-Down from Quadratech. about $200 for front and back. I'm pleased.

 

[BaliMawr]

Today, I got the Firestone Coil-Rite air spring bags in. That was more difficult than EVERYTHING I read lead me to believe. Thread the lines onto the bag before you put them in. Max Tow Springs (grey) have tighter coils than Standard springs (blue). I put the truck up on ramps at alternate corners to give me working height and expand the spring.

The passenger side was a son of a bitch. Even with the axle dropped enough to allow movement in the spring, I don't think the space between coils was as wide.

I ended up removing the air line, because I was afraid of breaking it off. Bad idea. Because of the tight coils at the top, it was a PITA to get back on. There was a lot of swearing.

I put split loom over the air line and ran the driver side over across that rearmost black frame member to a T fitting, with one line leading back to the rear. I may relocate this at some point, but for now, it's mounted tot he tow hitch below the passenger side bumper.

Ready to set up the WDH this week for inaugural trailer tow (@ 50mph break-in speed, UGH) this weekend.

 

[TexasLEO]

Those bags look awesome. That’s exactly what I was looking for

 

[BaliMawr]

Those bags look awesome. That’s exactly what I was looking for

Yeah, I just did the basic setup for now- T firing to a s shraeder valve, but I really want to get a guage and up/down toggle installed eventually. Just working through different options.

 

[TexasLEO]

Yeah, I just did the basic setup for now- T firing to a s shraeder valve, but I really want to get a guage and up/down toggle installed eventually. Just working through different options.

That’s what I was thinking as well. If you don’t mind me asking, what did all that set you back?

 

[BaliMawr]

That’s what I was thinking as well. If you don’t mind me asking, what did all that set you back?

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Jeep/Gladiator/2022/F29ZR.html?VehicleID=20225002197

 

[TexasLEO]

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Jeep/Gladiator/2022/F29ZR.html?VehicleID=20225002197

You think it will work with a 2.5” lift

 

[BaliMawr]

You think it will work with a 2.5” lift

They go inside the coils, so I can’t see that they’d work with taller springs. I seem to remember someone saying that a kit for a different vehicle wood work…

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