Anyone else notice their bed is not centered?

[ChrisNLA]

They build around 800 Gladiators/Wranglers a day out of one plant. They'll always be some odd and end that squeezes out. Some things will be legit problems and some will be unrealistic customer expectation (not saying that's you - but just a general statement). Do you have pictures of some of the other items?

Edit: Walked out and looked at mine. Bed is very slightly biased to the driver side. I've had it about two months now (ordered it new).

I remember I leaned the back seat down the first day and the plastic cover around the release tether fell off. Looks like the assembly line haphazardly slapped it on and the clips bent. I straightened them up and clipped it back on properly. There is a very minor scuff on the passenger side grab handle cap (close to the door). Noticed that before I left with the truck. The cowl panel in front of the driver door could be adjusted better - sticks out a little. I went around the cab and pushed on all the interior panels and found one or two that 'clicked' in fully that may have been loose. Little things.

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[Staphylococcus0]

Well, you should be able to unbolt the bed from the frame, or loosen it, and shove it so it's gapped correctly, unless they welded the frame tabs wrong.

My front bumper mounts weren't exactly aligned from the factory, they must have had a hell of a time mounting the bumper. Took me 20 minutes with a dremel to fix it. Come to think of it, shoulda spraypainted that spot.

 

[TigerInFL]

every truck including Toyota have their issues like this. coming from 40+ years being a Toyota guy I've seen this happen with the Tacoma and Tundra.

maybe not as bad as the OP's pics, but I have seen it.

 

[Mr.volleyball13]

They build around 800 Gladiators/Wranglers a day out of one plant. They'll always be some odd and end that squeezes out. Some things will be legit problems and some will be unrealistic customer expectation (not saying that's you - but just a general statement). Do you have pictures of some of the other items?

Here are few pictures. I included some of the scratches and scrapes on my frame and underbody (this is a few of very many), included a picture of ground to fender on both rear driver side (has dropped and inch) and rear passenger side as well as the rusted shock reservoir bolt. I will take a few pictures of my bed tomorrow.

 

[chorky]

They build around 800 Gladiators/Wranglers a day out of one plant. They'll always be some odd and end that squeezes out. Some things will be legit problems and some will be unrealistic customer expectation (not saying that's you - but just a general statement). Do you have pictures of some of the other items?

Edit: Walked out and looked at mine. Bed is very slightly biased to the driver side. I've had it about two months now (ordered it new).

I remember I leaned the back seat down the first day and the plastic cover around the release tether fell off. Looks like the assembly line haphazardly slapped it on and the clips bent. I straightened them up and clipped it back on properly. There is a very minor scuff on the passenger side grab handle cap (close to the door). Noticed that before I left with the truck. The cowl panel in front of the driver door could be adjusted better - sticks out a little. I went around the cab and pushed on all the interior panels and found one or two that 'clicked' in fully that may have been loose. Little things.

As much as it irks me to say it - this is the truth in today's world. Especially with how unreasonably fast paced everybody seems to be pushed anymore. If the nation would only slow down some, quality might go up. Overall all it is impressive how fast these things can be pumped out. But, IMHO, quality is more important. But then again if that were the case half of us would still be waiting for a rig. I think the OP has a valid point though that at 40-65K depending on what you got, thats a lot of money to spend for minor issues. It only takes 30 seconds to look at a bed and notice it's not perfect.... But most people I see in the workplace today (no matter how depressing it sounds) are flat out lazy. There are a lot of really amazing people with big passion. But most are lazy and dont care because it doesn't directly affect them. Thats the harsh truth.

Well, you should be able to unbolt the bed from the frame, or loosen it, and shove it so it's gapped correctly, unless they welded the frame tabs wrong.

My front bumper mounts weren't exactly aligned from the factory, they must have had a hell of a time mounting the bumper. Took me 20 minutes with a dremel to fix it. Come to think of it, shoulda spraypainted that spot.

I dont know about this. For those of us with the factory bed liner - they painted over the bolts. Don't the bolts secure the bed from the top down? Or am I mistaken?

 

[chorky]

Here are few pictures. I included some of the scratches and scrapes on my frame and underbody (this is a few of very many), included a picture of ground to fender on both rear driver side (has dropped and inch) and rear passenger side as well as the rusted shock reservoir bolt. I will take a few pictures of my bed tomorrow.

I had similar marks on the frame. There were several threads on this topic about 6 months ago. I made one myself even, having been pretty pissed because its a 'open wound' for rust. The a bunch of other folks chimed in posting pictures of the exact same marks in the exact same places. We all determined it must have been either during the manufacturer process, or shipping the frame to the assembly plant. because they were the same. It is in fact annoying to no end. But the hard reality, is big companies don't care about things like that. So long as it won't cause major problems where they have to do warranty work. A couple thousand engines blow up and they will care. But this, probably not much. But I understand your frustrations, I share them equally. Unfortunately, in todays 'progressive' nation we just have to accept that nothing will be perfect and its up to us to make sure the little things get fixed. Heck...Look at half the house contractors these days. Have you seen the garbage construction of new houses these days? yet they still charge half a million with obvious and major defects.

 

[Mr.volleyball13]

As much as it irks me to say it - this is the truth in today's world. Especially with how unreasonably fast paced everybody seems to be pushed anymore. If the nation would only slow down some, quality might go up. Overall all it is impressive how fast these things can be pumped out. But, IMHO, quality is more important. But then again if that were the case half of us would still be waiting for a rig. I think the OP has a valid point though that at 40-65K depending on what you got, thats a lot of money to spend for minor issues. It only takes 30 seconds to look at a bed and notice it's not perfect.... But most people I see in the workplace today (no matter how depressing it sounds) are flat out lazy. There are a lot of really amazing people with big passion. But most are lazy and dont care because it doesn't directly affect them. Thats the harsh truth.




I dont know about this. For those of us with the factory bed liner - they painted over the bolts. Don't the bolts secure the bed from the top down? Or am I mistaken?

Totally agree, I would rather have wait longer to have reviewed my gladiator with quality a focus. Brand new jeep and I'm spending some much time masking their errors. I do feel like a got the Friday before a long weekend special though

 

[ChrisNLA]

I wouldn't personally stress on the paint damage on the frame, or the one rusted screw on the shock - but again that's totally your call. Suspension lean perhaps, depending on severity.

To be honest I'm not even sure I have looked under mine other than to bolt the rock sliders on real quick. It could look like it was drug over a cheese grader for all I know. Maybe I'll look for giggles tomorrow and report back.

 

[Mr.volleyball13]

I had similar marks on the frame. There were several threads on this topic about 6 months ago. I made one myself even, having been pretty pissed because its a 'open wound' for rust. The a bunch of other folks chimed in posting pictures of the exact same marks in the exact same places. We all determined it must have been either during the manufacturer process, or shipping the frame to the assembly plant. because they were the same. It is in fact annoying to no end. But the hard reality, is big companies don't care about things like that. So long as it won't cause major problems where they have to do warranty work. A couple thousand engines blow up and they will care. But this, probably not much. But I understand your frustrations, I share them equally. Unfortunately, in todays 'progressive' nation we just have to accept that nothing will be perfect and its up to us to make sure the little things get fixed. Heck...Look at half the house contractors these days. Have you seen the garbage construction of new houses these days? yet they still charge half a million with obvious and major defects.

Great comparison as I have heard some horror stories about the construction industry. It's hard as I come from a hard work and you pay for what you get mentality. Many of use are not getting what we paid for and I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around the Friday special gladiator I received.

 

[Staphylococcus0]

As much as it irks me to say it - this is the truth in today's world. Especially with how unreasonably fast paced everybody seems to be pushed anymore. If the nation would only slow down some, quality might go up. Overall all it is impressive how fast these things can be pumped out. But, IMHO, quality is more important. But then again if that were the case half of us would still be waiting for a rig. I think the OP has a valid point though that at 40-65K depending on what you got, thats a lot of money to spend for minor issues. It only takes 30 seconds to look at a bed and notice it's not perfect.... But most people I see in the workplace today (no matter how depressing it sounds) are flat out lazy. There are a lot of really amazing people with big passion. But most are lazy and dont care because it doesn't directly affect them. Thats the harsh truth.




I dont know about this. For those of us with the factory bed liner - they painted over the bolts. Don't the bolts secure the bed from the top down? Or am I mistaken?

I actually haven't looked at the bolts, I assumed they were bolts top down, and there would be nuts at the bottom that could be loosened.

I don't remember seeing bolts on my un finished bed, although that was a year ago and I was too excited to get my jeep.

Also, I would think they had guides to gap the bed at the factory like maybe 3 or 4 different thicknesses and and they'd start with a 2 and of they pushed and it wouldn't align they'd yell 3 and try again.

 

[chorky]

or stories about the construction industry. It's hard as I come from a hard work and you pay for what you get mentality. Many of use are not getting what we paid for and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the Friday special gladiator I received.

Yes, understandable. But at the end of the day these rigs still are super amazing. There's lots of little things bout my rig that eat at me. But when I look at the grand scheme of things - those things, although bothersome, end up not mattering in the long run... Now if there's a major flaw then thats different. I have come to reluctantly accept that todays world is lacking in work quality and it probably won't change.

 

[Jefe1018]

I think lack of giving a damn from the service departments is what is getting OP upset.

Seriously? A brand new truck, I should have checked for rust on the shock bolts? The bed being misaligned is something I’d expect from a vehicle in a wreck, not something I paid $50k+ brand new off the show room floor and htf is an inch difference on either side “within spec”?

These are valid points and I’m sorry you are experiencing it. I’ll have to go check my bed tomorrow.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I actually haven't looked at the bolts, I assumed they were bolts top down, and there would be nuts at the bottom that could be loosened.

I don't remember seeing bolts on my un finished bed, although that was a year ago and I was too excited to get my jeep.

Also, I would think they had guides to gap the bed at the factory like maybe 3 or 4 different thicknesses and and they'd start with a 2 and of they pushed and it wouldn't align they'd yell 3 and try again.

Watch this video at the 5:10 mark.




Its actually really interesting to watch how the bed and cab are set. Two giant robots are used, and they have to jog the bed in place and then lower them both at the same time. So its really not even lining the bed up to the cab. Its line both of them up with each other and with the frame, all at the same time. No human in sight. I guess a real dude probably tightens the bolts but I'd bet readily that Jeep considers the play in the holes to be acceptable tolerance and calls it good. Not defending them, mind you - but I work in an industry that builds new vehicles, and I've had all sorts of experiences on the business and customer side over the years.

 

[Staphylococcus0]

Watch this video at the 5:10 mark.




Its actually really interesting to watch how the bed and cab are set. Two giant robots are used, and they have to jog the bed in place and then lower them both at the same time. So its really not even lining the bed up to the cab. Its line both of them up with each other and with the frame, all at the same time. No human in sight. I guess a real dude probably tightens the bolts but I'd bet readily that Jeep considers the play in the holes to be acceptable tolerance and calls it good.

Wow I never would have thought that they would have automated that fully, I would think they'd use robots but have humans physically checking alignment.

Here I am a machinist doubting what machinery can do. Lol.
Also I miss understood OP's post I thought he was talking cab to bed alignment,
I'd think a rubber spacer could solve his vertical alignment. But why the dealership wouldn't eat this cost just comes down to greed.

 

[chorky]

Watch this video at the 5:10 mark.




Its actually really interesting to watch how the bed and cab are set. Two giant robots are used, and they have to jog the bed in place and then lower them both at the same time. So its really not even lining the bed up to the cab. Its line both of them up with each other and with the frame, all at the same time. No human in sight. I guess a real dude probably tightens the bolts but I'd bet readily that Jeep considers the play in the holes to be acceptable tolerance and calls it good.

Man, assembly lines sure have come a long way since Henry Ford. Look at the 1:37 mark and you can see the frames sitting on the line - could be the culprit of one aspect of frame scratching.

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