Ecodiesel Firecracker Sport S Build

[Shadowmaker]

Finally joined the 37" tire club and picked up a few couple more MPGs while doing so. Mounted the new Nitto Recon Grapplers last night before heading home. Although only about 100 miles on them, they are quiet and seem to handle standing water on the freeway really well. I will review them more as I get some time on the dirt, mud and snow in the coming months.

I did not know that tire was available in a 37".... 12.5/17LT? Are they 3peak rated? It will be neat to see how they do in the PNW snow.

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[Nigelcorn]

Amazing build.

I'm curious about your front bumper/lights/winch setup - I have read about even small decreases in air flow to the radiator affecting operating temp of the diesel. Have you noticed any increased temps since putting on this stuff? It all looks incredible.

 

[Steven_B]

Amazing build.

I'm curious about your front bumper/lights/winch setup - I have read about even small decreases in air flow to the radiator affecting operating temp of the diesel. Have you noticed any increased temps since putting on this stuff? It all looks incredible.

I have been watching all the threads about the heating issues as well. I really haven't noticed much on mine, and my default gauge is the oil temp. I'm not towing at all though. I have been in high heat, 107 climbing out of the Death Valley and then we had a 114 degree weather one day during my highway commute. My coolant temp really doesnt climb, and the hottest I got my oil temp is about 257 when I was coming out of Death Valley and was intentionally pushing it to see if I could get it to derate the power. And nothing happened.

 

[Steven_B]

Started getting serious about the interior of the Canopy Camper. This past weekend I built-out an L-shaped frame out of of extruded aluminum. The section against the water tank will be a bench seat with folding back and section next to the side door will be a small coffee/food table top made out of teak.

Under the teak is where the battery will live and I plan to move some of the breakers and behind the scenes wiring from the Goose Gear panel there for easier access. Also, need to find a spot somewhere in this framed section to mount the power inverter.

 

[Steven_B]

Another productive day, installed some ARB Rock Sliders.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

Long story short, I have been a Jeep guy my entire life. After driving and wheeling a Gladiator for work, fell in love with the platform and when I test drove the diesel, I had to have one!

I didn't want all the bells and whistles, but I knew what I wanted. The shortlist was:

- Sport S
- Firecracker
- Ecodiesel
- Hardtop
- LED Light Package
- Heated Seats (for my pup)
- Bedliner

That was it. The problem was, there wasn't one in this configuration anywhere in the country. So on New Years' Eve 2020, I placed my order to add to the fleet of Jeep I already have. (2018 WK2 Hemi, 1993 YJ, 2001 XJ 2WD).

Fast forward 3 months later and it was delivered.

My YJ Is already built for the trails in the PNW, so the plan with the Gladiator build was to make it a long-distance remote camping vehicle.

As of this past weekend, phase one of the build is complete.

Phase One
- 2.5" AEV Dualsport Diesel Suspension
- Method 701 Wheels
- 35x11.50R17 Nitto Trail Grapplers
- ARB Classic Deluxe Winch Bumper
- Comeup RS9.5 Winch
- ARB Solis Intensity LED Lights (Aussie Style)
- Goose Gear Seat Delete
- ARB Portable Twin Compressor
- Factory dual battery delete to single Odyssey battery
- ARB Classic 35QT Fridge Freezer
- Tazer

Phase Two (June-July) will consist of
- Alu-Cab Canopy Camper
- Alu-Cab Shadow Awning
- REDARC BCDC System powering two auxiliary BluOasis Lithium Batteries
- REDARC Tow Pro V3
- Hard mount Solar Panel on camper
- ARB LINX
- 37" Nitto All-Terrains

Phase Three (August) will consist of
- Front and Rear ARB Air Lockers
- Diff Regear
- 35 Spline Rear Axle Shafts
- Hard Mount ARB Twin Compressor

That's about it for now. I will update this thread as I add a new product to the build. If you are going to the overland expo, the Jeep will be in our (Mule Expedition Outfitters) booth.

What gross weight are you anticipating?

 

[Steven_B]

What gross weight are you anticipating?

I don't want to talk about it lol. I will scale it when its "done."

 

[Steven_B]

Lots of cold (down to 10 degrees at one point) of traveling the past couple of days. Super impressed with the Gladiator and tires in the snow and ice. And who would of thought, I got the best highway milage ever while in 4WD. 140 mile drive home yesterday almost all 4H and just tipped the scale at 24 MPG!

 

[3VOLVE]

Time for Nitro Gears and ARB Air Lockers front and rear.

What size did you go with? 4.56?

 

[Mac Attack]

Since Jeep will be getting a bit heavier in the near future with the Alu Cab Canopy Camper and however I decided to build it out (cabinets). I figured I should upgrade the brakes so I went with the brand new Gladiator Powerbrake system. Six-piston caliper, vented larger and wider rotors. Supposed to be here tomorrow, then need to find some time to install the system.

Plus the red calipers are going to mate well with the Jeeps Firecracker Red.

I have the same plans for when my rig gets heavier. There are several 6-piston brake manufacturers for the Glad...why did you choose this one.

 

[Mac Attack]

Another productive day, installed some ARB Rock Sliders.

What rear bumper set-up do you have?

 

[Steven_B]

What size did you go with? 4.56?

4.10. In my opinion 4.56 would be to steep for the diesel and 37" tires. Based on my calculations, 4.10 gears with the diesel and 37" tires would be just about par with a factory diesel Rubicon on 33" with the factory 3.73 gears. So I went with what the engineers were happy with. This motor likes the lower RPMs for sure.

 

[Steven_B]

I have the same plans for when my rig gets heavier. There are several 6-piston brake manufacturers for the Glad...why did you choose this one.

They have a very rich racing background (currently several Dakar Rally Cars are running them) and I've got to know the people in the company over the past couple of years, great people and very educated when it comes to brakes. Plus, still family owned and South African made, where everything 4x4 related seems to made to take a beating and last forever. I can honestly say these brakes hare a huge improvement with all the weight thats been added to my Jeep.

 

[Steven_B]

What rear bumper set-up do you have?

Still the factory.

 

[Mac Attack]

They have a very rich racing background (currently several Dakar Rally Cars are running them) and I've got to know the people in the company over the past couple of years, great people and very educated when it comes to brakes. Plus, still family owned and South African made, where everything 4x4 related seems to made to take a beating and last forever. I can honestly say these brakes hare a huge improvement with all the weight thats been added to my Jeep.

Thanks...and you are still running 17" rims?

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