2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build

[Erievon]

Good CS goes a loonnnng way.

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[Flyin6]

Today I started installing my new MetalCloak rear bumper.

I liked their design for its simplicity and the reasonable price I paid for it on Labor Day.

 

[Flyin6]

I will retain the factory Rubicon rear bed side guards because they are free and they work. I yanked the old bumper off first

 

[Flyin6]

I will be doing something different with this installation. That is eliminating the rear tow hitch assembly. I never use it, it's dead weight and it reduces departure angle, although I don't think I have scrapped it yet...just looking ahead.

 

[Erievon]

I will be doing something different with this installation. That is eliminating the rear tow hitch assembly. I never use it, it's dead weight and it reduces departure angle, although I don't think I have scrapped it yet...just looking ahead.

I always figured the rear hitch was a free slider, but I'm guessing the metalcloak bumper would probably hold up better to being drug across a rock then the factory bumper. Looks simple but effective.

 

[Flyin6]

And here is how it worked out with respect to weight:

Stock bumper: 38.9
New bumper main body: 35.5 lbs
End pieces: 9.1 ea X 2 = 18.2 lbs
Total new bumper: 53.7
Minus the cut-out hitch section: 20.4 lbs
Total new bumper weight: 33.3 lbs
The bumper mounts and the side rails all remain the same, so with all things considered, the new MetalCloak bumper, as installed, reduced the vehicle weight by 2.2 lbs...Call it a wash.

 

[Flyin6]

I always figured the rear hitch was a free slider, but I'm guessing the metalcloak bumper would probably hold up better to being drug across a rock then the factory bumper. Looks simple but effective.

I guess I'll find out. I will add some structure to the inside later on to beef it up a bit

 

[Stan H]

And here is how it worked out with respect to weight:

Stock bumper: 38.9
New bumper main body: 35.5 lbs
End pieces: 9.1 ea X 2 = 18.2 lbs
Total new bumper: 53.7
Minus the cut-out hitch section: 20.4 lbs
Total new bumper weight: 33.3 lbs
The bumper mounts and the side rails all remain the same, so with all things considered, the new MetalCloak bumper, as installed, reduced the vehicle weight by 2.2 lbs...Call it a wash.

Now you can't eat that double decker bacon cheeseburger and french fries. Chicken and rice now

 

[Flyin6]

Finished the bumper installation this PM. Well, finished for now. Having looked at it, I believe I will add a stiffener to the lower edge since I "X-ed" the tow hitch, which also serves to brace the stock bumper. It's good for the trail as is, but I may still have to protect against being rear-ended.

 

[Flyin6]

I now have a clear 28" below the bumper's lowest point. Couple that with the recent 1.3" additional lift, and I should be sittin' in tall cotton on those steep exit stream crossings

 

[Flyin6]

Overall comment: I have now installed products from many excellent manufacturers, Clayton, Teraflex Metal Cloak, and others.
Speaking strictly for the MC folks, they are right up there at the top of the heap. Aren't we lucky to have manufacturers like them supporting us in our pursuit of Jeep fun/adventure?!!!

 

[Flyin6]

I finally took the thing to the dealership.
They are going to run a full diagnostic, give me the anti-lock brake bleed, look at stability control, and do an alignment.
Driving it down to the dealership along a twisty back road was pretty dicey. The Jeep wanted to dart around and felt very unstable.
I attribute most of that to the DIY alignment, but something else may well be in play here.
Oh, and the brakes??? Whew, they're touchy. When you press the pedal, you definitely know you're slowing or stopping. "Grippy" is a good word to describe the feeling.
Hopefully, I'll get word later today on what they found.

 

[ModdedJK]

Any updates / upgrades lately on own of my favorite JT build threads I follow...

 

[Flyin6]

Any updates / upgrades lately on own of my favorite JT build threads I follow...

There are a bunch coming.

I just reactivated my thread.

Some of the things I built or am working on:

Ripp Supercharger
Rock Slide Engineering sliders/steps
Pritchett Canyon U-weld-it bumper

 

[Flyin6]

Going way back to when I stopped posting, the alignment was quite the experience for the alignment guy at the dealership.

He spent the better part of half a day on it. He was removing and changing control arms and all manner of steering changes.

The bottom line is he got it right. We kept the 5.5 degrees positive caster, and that, along with the new steering and Steer Smart parts, just changed everything about how the JT drove.

Having said that, I raised it another inch when I last played with the suspension, and the added height, along with the TerraFlex inverted sway bar, has increased the body roll more than I like.

This one has me thinking. Honestly, the thing wasn't bad at 3.5" lift, so that I could go back to the lower lift. I don't have any options for stiffer springs, and I have adjusted the Falcon 3.3's six times now.

I would be best served by lowering it a tad and leaving it alone...But that's just not me. Nossir, if you have something performing correctly, why not just go ahead and change it all up again?

It's not the dead of winter yet, but I keep reading about long-arm suspensions...Nuff said on that mark.

;-)

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