Gladiator Expedition Rigs

[Mules]

Here's a simple straight up lift mechanism for a pop top. You can get inside and lift yourself or add pneumatic struts to make easier. Looks pretty simple and solid.

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[Mules]

Fill, sand, repeat. No joy. This reminds me of drywalling. I have some ripples on the rounded edges that I wasn't happy with. I'll keep repeating until I'm happy with the surface.

 

[Redruby]

Do you have any air turbulence issues when driving ?

 

[steelponycowboy]

Here is my 2021 JTRD - 2" Mopar lift, 35x12.50x17 Goodyear MTRs, Cargo Glide full extension bed slide, ARE CX HD Cap with R&L "tool boxes", Clearview levitating fridge slide, National Luna Dual Control 72qt fridge freezer, Rhino Rack roof rack, 2-50" light bars, Roof Nest RTT, Midland MXT500 GMRS, Yeasu FTM400DXR Ham Radio, Midland CB, Wilson Cellular boost system, Rockslide Engineering Step Sliders with RotoPak mounts and more..........

 

[Mac Attack]

Here is my 2021 JTRD - 2" Mopar lift, 35x12.50x17 Goodyear MTRs, Cargo Glide full extension bed slide, ARE CX HD Cap with R&L "tool boxes", Clearview levitating fridge slide, National Luna Dual Control 72qt fridge freezer, Rhino Rack roof rack, 2-50" light bars, Roof Nest RTT, Midland MXT500 GMRS, Yeasu FTM400DXR Ham Radio, Midland CB, Wilson Cellular boost system, Rockslide Engineering Step Sliders with RotoPak mounts and more..........

So, re. the "and more"...what front bumper? Your weight? And...your gas mileage? Thanks, beautiful rig!

 

[Mules]

Do you have any air turbulence issues when driving ?

I haven't hit the road with it yet, but will let you know.

 

[Mules]

Here is my 2021 JTRD - 2" Mopar lift, 35x12.50x17 Goodyear MTRs, Cargo Glide full extension bed slide, ARE CX HD Cap with R&L "tool boxes", Clearview levitating fridge slide, National Luna Dual Control 72qt fridge freezer, Rhino Rack roof rack, 2-50" light bars, Roof Nest RTT, Midland MXT500 GMRS, Yeasu FTM400DXR Ham Radio, Midland CB, Wilson Cellular boost system, Rockslide Engineering Step Sliders with RotoPak mounts and more..........

Can you post pictures of all the goodies in the bed?

 

[Redruby]

Mike I should’ve known it was your Gladiator when they said it was spotted in Mesa

 

[Mules]

Well, there's a big decision coming up. Wedge hinge, 6 link, straight up hinge, pneumatics, or even electric lead screws.

Inside or outside hinge and pneumatics: I would prefer to keep the mechanisms inside to avoid the weather and for aesthetics. This causes a problem though. The hinge and pneumatic use valuable living area and you don't want the tent material to get caught in it. Roofnest has a nice straight up hinge solution (shown above). Does anyone have (4) Roofnest springs they want to sell?

There is one other option, but I haven't found what I want. I could go with electric lead screws! Wouldn't it be cool to lift the top by a touch of a button, like G-wagons? Of course I don't have a G-wagon budget. See below. I've looked into building my own but it's tricky to get the DC voltage lead screws to run at the same speed. I think you need a stepper motor, or a feedback control system which drives the price up considerably (I geeked out there for a minute).

A simple push up mechanism is still in my mind. With my tall top, I think the mechanism will stick into my living/sitting area too much when the top is down. Maybe there's a way to tuck it up higher though. It is simple, strong and inexpensive to build.

 

[steelponycowboy]

Mike I should’ve known it was your Gladiator when they said it was spotted in Mesa

What can I say ;-) Have you seen your new rig yet Larry? Is it a diesel ?

 

[steelponycowboy]

So, re. the "and more"...what front bumper? Your weight? And...your gas mileage? Thanks, beautiful rig!

Well there is more to be added yet. Just ordered a Rock Hard overhead sport bar, current has Rugged Ridge front HD bumper but m replacing it with Rugged Ridge Venator front bumper as it is more stylish and lighter weight modular design, adding an ALP propane generator and AirUp/AirDown OBA distribution system with a quad compressor from BullDog Winch, APEX Chassis HD steering system, Hellwig HD rear sway bar, AIRLyft Air Bags in rear, a third 50" light bar and a chaser light system on the rear. With me, I'm probably still not done. I'm still thinking about adding another Rhino Rack platform under the RTT then attaching an 8 gallon Road shower on one side and a 270 degree self supported awning on the opposite side.

Weight, I weigh in full loaded with two passengers and food, water, fuel etc. for a 1000 mile, up to two week overland trip around 500lbs over GVWR., but MOST overland vehicles are over GVWR.

Gas mileage well that is a sore subject. before I hit 8000 miles, I was consistently getting 25+ average (city on road, off road) with this eco diesel. At 8000 miles I had a catastrophic failure of the DPF system and since it was fixed, I'm lucky to get 15mpg. Dealer has no idea why the 10+ mpg decrease.

 

[steelponycowboy]

Can you post pictures of all the goodies in the bed?

Give me a day or so, I'll get some pictures.

 

[Mac Attack]

Well there is more to be added yet. Just ordered a Rock Hard overhead sport bar, current has Rugged Ridge front HD bumper but m replacing it with Rugged Ridge Venator front bumper as it is more stylish and lighter weight modular design, adding an ALP propane generator and AirUp/AirDown OBA distribution system with a quad compressor from BullDog Winch, APEX Chassis HD steering system, Hellwig HD rear sway bar, AIRLyft Air Bags in rear, a third 50" light bar and a chaser light system on the rear. With me, I'm probably still not done. I'm still thinking about adding another Rhino Rack platform under the RTT then attaching an 8 gallon Road shower on one side and a 270 degree self supported awning on the opposite side.

Weight, I weigh in full loaded with two passengers and food, water, fuel etc. for a 1000 mile, up to two week overland trip around 500lbs over GVWR., but MOST overland vehicles are over GVWR.

Gas mileage well that is a sore subject. before I hit 8000 miles, I was consistently getting 25+ average (city on road, off road) with this eco diesel. At 8000 miles I had a catastrophic failure of the DPF system and since it was fixed, I'm lucky to get 15mpg. Dealer has no idea why the 10+ mpg decrease.

Thanks for the honest reply...always good to know the path others have followed and then lived to recommend otherwise to folks like me. I'm still planning my rig and weight is my biggest concern...more than capability...will probably go sport rather than ruby for the weight savings. Hey, Happy Trails!

 

[Mac Attack]

Thanks for the honest reply...always good to know the path others have followed and then lived to recommend otherwise to folks like me. I'm still planning my rig and weight is my biggest concern...more than capability...will probably go sport rather than ruby for the weight savings. Hey, Happy Trails!

AND...that gas mileage decrease is unacceptable. What is Jeep telling you?

 

[Mules]

This is interesting. I could mount the EZ lift on the bed and instead of lifting the bottom shell, add extensions, and just lift the RTT. I don't think it's 17" lift will be enough, but it would be a fairly easy install.

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