2021 JT Rubicon - The life of Guido

[vonguido]

Hello all,

I have owned many Jeeps over the years - XJs, TJ an LJ and a JKUR. Loved them all and served their purposes at that particular time in my life.

I purchased a used 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon in October of 2023. Hindsight being 20/20 I should have waited 2 months and looked for a new 2023 that they were doing 15% on…but I digress.
The new to me 2021 Gladiator Rubicon:

The previous owner put a 1” leveling kit on it with some 37” milestar patagonias - hate these tires - but it was great deal at the time and couldn’t pass it up.

The use of the rig:
I have 4 boys the 3 oldest play lots of sports and I coach hockey….so the truck bed is filled with sports gear 80% of the year.
It will see majority of pavement us - trips for sports tournaments out of state, with an occasional trail once every couple of months - I like the Jeep Jamboree events.

The plans for this rig:
3.5” Clayton Overland plus
Falcon 3.3 shocks
SteerSmart complete steering setup
38x12.50x17 Nitto RidgeGrapplers
Method wheels
Rock Slide Engineering sliders/steps
Headliners
Armorlite flooring
KC LED lights
Grimm Offroad winch mount
Warn VR EVO 12s winch
Comm’s - GMRS/HAM
A topper of some kind on the back
A drawer slide setup in bed

Purchased:
Grimm Offroad winch mount
Warn VR Evo 12s winch
Armorlite flooring
KC era 3 lights for A-pillars
Hothead headliners
Clayton 3.5” overland plus lift kit

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the Build

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[Muddyape]

Looks good. I have the Clayton Overland plus 3.5 with all the Steersmart stuff on my 21 with 39” km3’s and I love it. Want to get a second set of rims/tires (38” Ridge grapplers) for the long range stuff. Good luck on the build

 

[vonguido]

Looks good. I have the Clayton Overland plus 3.5 with all the Steersmart stuff on my 21 with 39” km3’s and I love it. Want to get a second set of rims/tires (38” Ridge grapplers) for the long range stuff. Good luck on the build

How's the steering setup with the 39s?

 

[aldo98229]

I owned two Grand Cherokees (a ZJ and a WJ), and nine previous Wranglers; a collection of 2 and 4-doors, Rubicons and Saharas.

Got a (new) 2023 Gladiator Rubicon six months ago; it is totally stock. Love the smooth suspension, the quiet ride on road, the utility and capability. The only drawback is the wide turning radius, but I can live with it.

Haven't had any issues at all --knock on wood.

I have to say this is my favorite Jeep to date!

 

[Muddyape]

How's the steering setup with the 39s?

Great….75-80 on the highway can let go of wheel its pin straight. I did my own tow in, set it at 3/32 difference front to back. When I bought it, it was towed out by an 1/8th inch and wandered a little.

Components are solid

Going to the Fusion 4x4 D60’s that are sitting in crates in my driveway and using same components

 

[vonguido]

The first 2 mods were a tonneau cover and phone mount(s).
Went with the rugged ridge trifold, I plan on using this till I figure out what topper I want down the road.

For the phone mounts I went with 67 designs. Used them before in my JK and worked great.

The middle ball I’ll use for my GoPro.

 

[vonguido]

Have only had time to drive it the past couple months.
Made a decent amount of purchases for parts - Memorial Day sales were big - still need to order shocks/wheels/tires but got the other lift components ordered.

this past weekend my 6yr old “helped” me get the Warn VR EVO 12s winch installed on the Grimm Offroad winch plate.
Also took off the front bumper sides - saved 15+ lbs from getting rid of those.

Bracket installed

all buttoned up - just need to put the end cap bolts back in place for aesthetics.

one piece of advice - when putting the mounting plate on the front of the bumper I would also put on the fairlead - all of the instructions I saw had you add it after the bumper had been bolted back to the frame and getting a wrench into that tight spot is a royal pain in the butt.

 

[vonguido]

Installed the Armorlite Flooring system. Great product, took about 4hrs total because to the stupid trim pieces.
Out with the old…

in with the new

 

[vonguido]

Dropping it off at the dealership tomorrow morning to have them look into issues with a leak at the Transfer case/transmission area.
seems to be a somewhat common issue from the 2021 model years.
I have see folks mention a complete replacement of the transfer case and some mention just a seal so who knows.

 

[Lfmaya13]

Dropping it off at the dealership tomorrow morning to have them look into issues with a leak at the Transfer case/transmission area.
seems to be a somewhat common issue from the 2021 model years.
I have see folks mention a complete replacement of the transfer case and some mention just a seal so who knows.

Just curious, what ended up being the fix for your leak? I also have a 21 Rubicon and currently it's at the dealership. They told me it's a seal but yet I've read about others getting their transfer case replaced.

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