2020 HOOKSTER 🪝

[XJADDICTION]

Reboot to original build thread I started.

Maximus Decimus Meridius

was a high ranking Roman general in command of multiple Roman legions who served under the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

He later served as a Gladiator in the arena after he escaped Commodus.

This thread build name hits two favorite movies for me;
1- Gladiator
2- John Wick 1 ( Marcus was John Wicks sniper friend that kept him alive in the first movie. Marcus was
Played by Willem Dafoe.

This covers my 2020 Gladiator Max Tow as well.

Here it is stock accept the DIY bed cover and rack.

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[XJADDICTION]

Please
Let me know what you think about the lettering on the hood. Just messing around trying to find something fitting for the Max Tow hood. IMOP Jeep should have put something designating the special nature of the Max Tow JT.

I think the letter size could be a bit larger, so will change that.

I added the black headlight bucket trim as well. I kinda like that.

I’m waiting for my AAL fender chop DRL kit. Headlights are going LED as well as amber Fogs.

Lift will soon be 2.5”s with 37’s. Parts are taking forever to get.

 

[King Nothing]

Is that the original front bumper? Mine doesn’t have the extensions on the ends that come up and meet the fenders

 

[TJRjeepn]

Is that the original front bumper? Mine doesn’t have the extensions on the ends that come up and meet the fenders

That’s the bumper that comes on the Sports. The extension between the bumper and fender comes on them as well but are often removed or cut off.

 

[XJADDICTION]

That’s the bumper that comes on the Sports. The extension between the bumper and fender comes on them as well but are often removed or cut off.

I think it is on all Max Tow JTs something to do with airflow for cooling. I have American Adventure lab Fender Chop kit ordered, they are 5-6 weeks on back order. So, once the AAL gets done those will be gone. I will also be adding a stubby front bumper soon..

 

[King Nothing]

That’s the bumper that comes on the Sports. The extension between the bumper and fender comes on them as well but are often removed or cut off.

I think it is on all Max Tow JTs something to do with airflow for cooling. I have American Adventure lab Fender Chop kit ordered, they are 5-6 weeks on back order. So, once the AAL gets done those will be gone. I will also be adding a stubby front bumper soon..

Guess I got lucky. I have a Sport S with max tow and my bumper doesn’t have those extensions. I noticed all the Wranglers at the dealer had that bumper though

 

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Guess I got lucky. I have a Sport S with max tow and my bumper doesn’t have those extensions. I noticed all the Wranglers at the dealer had that bumper though

What??? You don’t think those fender wings are beautiful? I was thinking curb feelers and whitewalls might look nice with those.

 

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Well since the gladiator towed my friends Jeep YJ 166 miles to my local shop, I have to show the YJ updates to y’all.

The old YJ was in rough shape.

- rear frame railed plated and welded
- new brakes up front
- new axle I-joint
- water pump, fuel pump, shocks... the list goes on

Here she is as of today

 

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Here is the latest addition to the JT adventure build. This is a 1980’s well cared for 18ft x 7ft car hauler. Eventually will haul two jet skis, dirt bikes and 4 wheeler with ladder rack set up for easy removal. All mounts still able to return to car hauler easily when needed.

It has stake sides so that will work for utility duties for mulch and wood for fire pit and fire place. I will fill the center in with stained wood.

Lots of work to do though the trailer is in nice shape.

- needs brakes on all 4 wheels
- center lighting on back of trailer (state law over 6 ft wide)
- Paint and some welding repairs
- spare tires and mount up front for toy fuel, tie down straps and tools.
- rooftop tent

 

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Just wanted to add my purchase of the JTMT over here.

For what it’s worth this is My Experience;

When I bought my JT in October 2019, my dealer I buy from had 3 sport s, one overland with no idea when they would get more and ordering would take even longer. The overland was 57K maxed out with adaptive speed control, leather, safety group really nice, the sport s was stripped (dinky stereo, cloth, no side steps, nothing special only option beside the S package was 8 speed auto.) and priced $46,900. I tried to work a deal with them and they wouldn’t budge.

I went 80 miles to find a dealer with 60 JT’s in stock (un heard of back then, but they are a Jeep and Dodge Truck only dealer at that location, they have other locations for the cars). coming from my Top of the line 2016 JKU Rubicon Hard Rock, 125,000 miles small lift, color matched hard top, cut flat fenders color matched ( also had the original fenders color matched not cut for the dealer) LED lights, soft top, sun screen Carolina Metal Works grab handles and 35’s on stock HR rims (it did have the 6 speed manual and I loved it). My trade in price was $29K on paper I had from previous dealer with no inventory.


This second dealer had a top line launch edition Rubicon lifted with good parts and nice wheels and tires for $77K. They had a second Rubicon top of line launch edition 60 and 80 dynatracs, 6.4 Hemi, bumpers winch, etc ready to Rock for $130+ k
They did all the work and they know what they are doing.

They had one Max Tow Sport S and not many knew what that trim level was back then. This dealer did and ordered with aux switches, 8 speed auto ( I know I thought I wanted a stick again because the old 5 speed auto sucked, but the 8 automatic is awesome! Besides, the Max Tow only comes with Automatic) cold weather package, cloth seats, could only get mid grade stereo with apple car play at the time, but they were able to purchase the Mopar premium top line speakers and sub and installed in their shop, tinted front windows, and the Ceramic Coat (the expensive real deal kind professionally applied by same place they had the front window match tint done) in Red (which was same color as my JKUHR and I love that color) with hard top black and fenders black ( this was the only way to get the Sport S back then) and side steps. Plus the payload and the towing I wanted since it was the Max Tow with a class 4 hitch, 4:10’s, wide HD 44’s, with all the Max Tow upgrades ( I did wonder why it didn’t have a brake controller )!

I had them pull up a Rubicon and the Max Tow in front of dealership parked side by side same color Red.

The Similarly speced Rubicon same cloth, cold weather package, same options mid grade stereo with standard speakers black hard top, fenders, halogen lights I hate the rock rails, my JKUHR has the extra step bar these were base Rubicon rock rails.

The Rubicon was $54K
My Max Tow was $42k

After dealing on price. The Rubicon stayed at $54k they wouldn’t budge on that, the Max Tow went from $44k to $42K. The Max Tow had been on their lot the longest, since late June 2019., remember this is early October when I’m shopping. MYJTMT had 122 test driven miles on it. Their non Max Tow sports, Overland’s, and Rubicons sold quickly.

I decided I had to have this JT MT right then, My JKUHR was out of warranty and showing locker trouble signs again, so I bought the Max Tow on the spot! We wheeled and dealed and they were fantastic! Columbia Jeep Dodge Spring Hill, TN.

I showed them the offer from my favorite dealer Premier Dodge Chrysler, Jeep in Mt Juliet, TN and they added $1000 to their offer which brought my trade in value up to an even $30k. I told them about the rear locker and sway bar DC issues and he said they are used to dealing with that.

When I was leaving my salesperson said we can take your Jeep and drop a Hemi in it for you!

My favorite dealer took me right back with all free services done including adding tire rotation and synthetic oil for no extra cost, all free. I love that dealership, Premier Mt Juliet TN!


Early on the Rubicons were selling like crazy and the difference really was $10k + in my case $12k more.

I have a LOT of room with $12K. Again this is early offering of the JT, today it’s different although I would still get the Max Tow and work a deal.

So yes the Rubicons in October of 2019 were at least 10K more similarly optioned.

 

[XJADDICTION]

Returned my friends YJ yesterday

Before and after photos. Before no interior or dash lights. After LED for interior including roll bar mounted LED lite

- Welded rear frame rails with YJ specific frame rail boxed reinforcements.
- new in tank fuel pump
- new u joint right front axle
- new rotors and pads up fromt
- new shocks
- new center console
- rear tire cover
- new tail light plastic
- new parking/turn plastic
- side marker lights LED
- new windshield seal
- new windshield to cowl seal
- painted hood and front fenders
- good engine clean
- fan belt
- lots of re wire work on dash, someone went nuts under there.
- fixed fan motor/vent position cables
- steering wheel cover
- seats repaired with new foam and seat covers
- new headlights
- LED fog lights to replace old halogen rusted 6” round off road lights
- painted headlight surround with satin black, grill painted gloss black.

 

[XJADDICTION]

I did a front fender chop (light) with American Adventure Lab low 2 piece fender brackets with DRLs.

The fender chop “light” part means I didn’t split the fenders (yet) and retained the stock fender liners.

Not a hard project, but you need take your time if you’re not splitting the fenders.

I trimmed the air dams between the fenders and bumper. Also trimmed air dams off below fender as well. You can do this without taking fenders off and this will leave a cover over the fog lights and wiring. I will replace the bumper with a short width one later. I cut the Max Tow fender light/DRL fender mounts off. Then test fit the AAL light and bracket. Kept trimming until I had a mostly finished look to the trim.

After mounting the AAL DRLs I painted the Red front light mount black.

You do not need to trim much of the fender liner. Take your time and test fit. Most of the front lip of liner will tuck up into the AAL bracket. You will need to trim the front inside part of liner and and a small amount off of the outside. When you do this upgrade you will see what needs to be trimmed.

The stock tires are getting pretty worn at 36,000 miles ... ... I will put a lift, wheels and tires on soon. I am stuck between 35 and 37” just like most everybody else. Probably will do 37” BFG AT KO2’s for this next stage.

 

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A couple of pictures of the fender liner.

 

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Another awesome trip to the UP of Michigan. Drove the JT 850 miles each way in one day trips by myself. The JT is absolutely a joy to drive and comfortable on long trips. My little tires are getting worn after 45,000 miles, but I may get another 20,000 out of them. They performed well in all the conditions Michigan roads have to offer including some deep sand. Soon, once these tires are finished a regear, 37 BFG AT KO’s and new wheels will be added. Definitely replacing halogen headlights with stock LEDs, and fogs to amber LED replacement bulbs.

Here are some pictures of that trip.

 

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Also YouTubed an instructional from Jackson Kayaks to see if there was a better way than wrapping ratchet straps around bumper and putting strap hooks into frame holes.

Pictures of trip up with wrapped ratchet straps, worked fine. Trip home with Much better set up and rope loops hidden under hood ready to go anytime I need them. The bumper hooks face the wrong way for forward canoe/Kayak bow strap attachment, and no way to add a hook without drilling. I Need aftermarket aluminum bumper with tie downs or add some to the hood... but the set up I did in pictures with a loop of rope tied around front radiator frame support under hood, then tucking these into top fender well when finished really works well. Also twisting the straps keeps them from vibrating when driving and heavy winds. I use copious amounts of zip ties from harbor freight as they are inexpensive, to zip any loose ends/make sure straps can’t slide/keep straps if they get loose from falling off trailer/JT and loosing them.

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