Frame Damage on Newly Purchased Gladiator

[Challenger85]

I’m with you OP, it’s a fuck ton of money, let me fuck it up.

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[Jefe1018]

If/when mine finally shows up, I expect to do at least that much to my underside the first time off road.

Username checks out.

 

[booneja]

Hey guys I do understand that it’s not frame damage in the sense that it should be a write-off. To me it’s damage that should have been at least disclosed to me as there was an inspection done upon receiving the vehicle at the dealership, if this is missed, what else was missed. I live in Manitoba so no there will be no wknd trips to Moab, I just expect to receive what I paid for is all. Also I have been instructed by the dealer not to apply the fluid film at this point until they can inspect it, unfortunately we have just received our winters first snow storm.

good luck with the salt on the roads until this is fixed. You might get just as much undercarriage scuffs on the Manitoba roads as one would in MOAB of other trails south of the boarder. Lived in Winterpeg for a few years and the roads were so bad we had to weave between potholes of replace rims every year, lol....good luck

 

[07052021]

I'll snag some photos in a bit but I also received a factory order Gladiator in similar condition. Looks like Facebook users are reporting similar. I imagine in this COVID world we're in now, we have a lot of fresh new transporters doing things quicker in order to move on to the next job.

 

[Aonarch]

My Gladiator had minor scuffs in front of the transfer case skid on both sides. I assumed it happened during transport.

I just spray painted it and forgot about it.

 

[STLMike]

That VHT paint NachoRuby posted about - GREAT stuff. I have it on my car's lock cylinders to make them black to match the black Jeep door handles I installed on my car. It's lasted over a year with me using a key to unlock the car.
The rust - use Extend Rust Converter after cleaning it up, let it sit 24 hours, then hit it with that VHT

100% agree on the VHT Roll bar paint. I used it on some motorcycle frames. That stuff is fantastic.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

100% agree on the VHT Roll bar paint. I used it on some motorcycle frames. That stuff is fantastic.

I put black Jeep half-door handles in my Eagle SX4 but couldn't find black door locks (besides, mine are new old stock, recently replaced new locks so didn't want to swap them again)
I used that VHT paint on those door locks and 2 years later, it's holding up as if I painted them yesterday. No fading, no dulling, doesn't scratch easily (although I guide the key in very carefully anyway)
I use it on some of the restorations I do - HVAC blower motors for classic cars, Motorcraft wiper motor frames. It holds up very well and is a perfect match for the sheen and appearance I need.

 

[gamorg02]

Just picked up my new '21 Rubicon as well and has identical marks. Asked the dealer to check the lot and they reported all their gladiators have the same scrapes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just picked up my new '21 Rubicon as well and has identical marks. Asked the dealer to check the lot and they reported all their gladiators have the same scrapes.

Apparently the same truck and/or driver delivers every load?

The bent frame horn area around the hole is a different animal and clearly transport issues - at least how I see it having hauled my share of cars and tractors on trailers.

some scraping likely happens on the line at the factory. These are driven by specifically placed fixtures and bound to be some scraping and dragging as they progress down the line.

But ripped holes, bent areas in any place - I'd figure transport.

 

[gamorg02]

Apparently the same truck and/or driver delivers every load?

The bent frame horn area around the hole is a different animal and clearly transport issues - at least how I see it having hauled my share of cars and tractors on trailers.

some scraping likely happens on the line at the factory. These are driven by specifically placed fixtures and bound to be some scraping and dragging as they progress down the line.

But ripped holes, bent areas in any place - I'd figure transport.

Yea or some rubber bumpers really need to be put on the rigs that hold the frames.

For example here are mine:

(freshly washed - ignore the drips)

And a picture the dealer sent me of another one on the lot:

 

[chorky]

Yea or some rubber bumpers really need to be put on the rigs that hold the frames.

For example here are mine:

(freshly washed - ignore the drips)

And a picture the dealer sent me of another one on the lot:

mine had thesame thing. I was pretty angry. But Painted it and hoping for the best. Im still pissed to be honest. But at least its not a bent frame from a bad transport tie down like I have seen others find out

 

[ShadowsPapa]

mine had thesame thing. I was pretty angry. But Painted it and hoping for the best. Im still pissed to be honest. But at least its not a bent frame from a bad transport tie down like I have seen others find out

I simply use a black epoxy paint that matches the undercarriage sheen of most vehicles. VHT makes a great black epoxy paint in a can that matches really well, and Eastwood paints are a good match and often used for restorations.
Frankly, for the frames, if you clean and prep well, your paint will be just as good if not better than factory frame paint.

 

[gamorg02]

Found a few more crawling under today - they look identical to other folks.

 

[Mr.volleyball13]

I know it's old threat but wanted to jump in. Went under to prepare my month old mojave to find the same scrapes on mine. I'm more passed about all the rust and scrapes all over and most of my welds have paint flaking off. The welds on the inner side if my gas tank look like a kid too their grade one paint and slapped it on. Paid over 75,000 Canadian and have to spend a weekend prepping and painting. I also noticed my fox shock rusting already. I feel my jeep was thrown together with used parts. Anyone else have these issues?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's not damage. It's purely cosmetic and would get worse if you actually drove it around where I live.
The fix -Extend rust converter on the rust spots on the frame, wait 24 hours, then spray with VHT epoxy black or Eastwood chassis paint.
It's a truck and frame scrapes will happen loading and unloading and then - take a look under most of the JTs owned by forum members after 1 month and see just how scraped up they are even if not crawling over boulders.

At least it's not actually damaged. You won't find many new vehicle much better unless in the luxury class. It's a truck.

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