Frame flex on JTR? How much?

[chorky]

I read a few posts over the last few weeks and people discussing frame flex on the JT - and how it was designed into the frame. This comes to a huge surprise to me as the purpose for boxed frames was to prevent flex. So, I am unsure if this is true, or not.

Either way, I am hoping those who have absolutely maxed out their flex in hard core off road, or those who have hit bumps very hard could tell me just how much flex they have seen.

I am asking because it would be great to have a RTT centered half way between the cab and bed for better weight distribution and centered mounting for a light weight (60 lb) kayak.

But not knowing how much frame flex there is raises quesitons/concerns about if a RTT or the hard top would be damaged, if at all.

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[Rusty PW]

Easy to measure. Put some painters tape on the cab and bed junction. Next get a straight edge and draw a line across the tape. Find a location that you flex the JT to cross up your axles. Look at the line you drew across the tape to see how much flex there is in the frame.

 

[WhyNotJeep]

The ARE fiberglass shell is close to the cab and I have not herd of any contact.

 

[jac04]

What you are really concerned about is how the cab moves relative to the bed. The cab is on rubber mounts, while the bed is hard bolted to the frame. Frame flex will affect the relative cab/bed positions, but remember that the cab will also move then going over bumps & off-road obstacles.

 

[dcmdon]

Another option, and you see this in work trucks all the time, is a bed rack with a cantilevered section over the cab roof.

 

[D harrison]

Did anyone ever find out how much clearance needs to be on the rooftop tent from the cab of the jeep gladiator

 

[chorky]

Did anyone ever find out how much clearance needs to be on the rooftop tent from the cab of the jeep gladiator

I had about 3/4 of an inch on mine and never had any contact.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I'd say frame flex is pretty minimal. Looking at these pics there was very little weight on the passenger front tire and the drivers rear was hanging way off the ground. Cab to bed lines look even from the side and the body lines look even down the side of the truck viewed from the front. I don't think it flexes near as much as some think.

 

[Terminus33]

Pretty sure it's very little flex if any. This guy made a suburban gladiator or a suburbiator or maybe a gladiurban... lol

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...oneer-spartan-build-7-seater-gladiator.29340/

 

[Minty JL]

Did anyone ever find out how much clearance needs to be on the rooftop tent from the cab of the jeep gladiator

Too many variables to say there is a definitive answer here

 

[Minty JL]

I'd say frame flex is pretty minimal. Looking at these pics there was very little weight on the passenger front tire and the drivers rear was hanging way off the ground. Cab to bed lines look even from the side and the body lines look even down the side of the truck viewed from the front. I don't think it flexes near as much as some think.

But we also have better frames with a JTM > JTR LOL

 

[JTGuy]

IMO, the new frames have 0 flex.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

https://redordeadfab.com/products/gladiator-frame-plates

I haven’t seen anyone post on this, but I am considering picking this up.

I am open to alternatives and am interested in the overloading reinforcement as well as stiffening.

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