I just Bought a JT!

[StingGrayRubi21]

Hey Forum People,
I pulled the trigger on a jeep certified 21' JTR w/ 47k miles. I'm new to the jeep community and had sport sedans in the past. I was in the market for a mid size truck and couldn't resist the cool factor of a gladiator. I spent 34k and I considered it a good deal.
I do not commute for work so I don't mind the gas mileage (15.5 mpg mixed in first 100 miles). This JT has every option upgrade including a soft top! I'm super pumped for this summer and an open air experience!
First thing I need to do is ditch the stock shocks, currently looking for a used mojave setup but I just might settle for a 2.0 performance fox, still doing research... I live in the Northeast so I didn't mind going rubicon over mojave (Mojave first choice) I got impatient and I couldn't find a mojave with all the upgraded packages I wanted. I also didn't want to spend over 35k.

Any must know advice and or info for the Gladiator? So far I am over the moon for this truck and started to mod it.

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[KevinM60]

Let the fun begin.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Welcome! Always good to have a new Jeep convert! If you're going to do any real modifications to tire size and the like, I'd recommend starting with a Tazer. That will take care of a lot of small housekeeping items that you will run up against. Also, bonus it will turn off your auto start/stop engine thing and turn off your license plate lights when reversing (such a blessing at night!) for you among other little things.
Second, if you're gonna lift it any more, wait to buy new wheels till after that's done. Also don't skimp on the lift kit.

 

[Okie Gladiator]

Congratulations and welcome to the forum!

If you let folks know the kind of ride you’re looking for, more interested in on-road vs off-road performance, type of wheeling you may do, and whether you plan to lift it any taller and how tall - you’ll find really good recommendations from folks here in return.

Enjoy it! Wishing you great fun and future memories.

 

[Bjeepz]

If you can find Mojave springs and shocks you'll be all set!

 

[HopSlammer]

Congrats!

 

[charliez]

I've enjoyed mine so far. It's really is incredible what these things will go through. I've helped several stuck people and drove right up to them and got them out when nothing else would. And once I got my winch, I've never got stuck. If you team the HF membership along with a sale like labor day or something, you can get some good pricing on a badlands winch. Those things are tough and handy to have around the house for moving and dragging just about anything.

I would recommend the aux battery delete. Pull fuse 42 and remove the negative cable going to it. Seal the end up so it won't touch anything. You can leave the battery in place or take it out, but it can be a pain to get to. Do some learning on this. You'll find everyone hates the auto stop/start and the small battery will die long before the big battery and you won't know it and it will take the life out of your main battery, and one day you'll hop in and your jeep would go crazy. Mine would do one wiper swipe with each button press to unlock the other doors. Complete nonsense and craziness, but funny.

Your visors will break, but there is a set of brackets available on Amazon. I would recommend you get a pair and install them before the visor breaks, to just avoid that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XHTGCZ1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I added these grab handles and I use them a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7BBTNDJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&th=1

 

[DanJT]

Congrats and welcome to the Jeep World!

 

[StingGrayRubi21]

I've enjoyed mine so far. It's really is incredible what these things will go through. I've helped several stuck people and drove right up to them and got them out when nothing else would. And once I got my winch, I've never got stuck. If you team the HF membership along with a sale like labor day or something, you can get some good pricing on a badlands winch. Those things are tough and handy to have around the house for moving and dragging just about anything.

I would recommend the aux battery delete. Pull fuse 42 and remove the negative cable going to it. Seal the end up so it won't touch anything. You can leave the battery in place or take it out, but it can be a pain to get to. Do some learning on this. You'll find everyone hates the auto stop/start and the small battery will die long before the big battery and you won't know it and it will take the life out of your main battery, and one day you'll hop in and your jeep would go crazy. Mine would do one wiper swipe with each button press to unlock the other doors. Complete nonsense and craziness, but funny.

Your visors will break, but there is a set of brackets available on Amazon. I would recommend you get a pair and install them before the visor breaks, to just avoid that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XHTGCZ1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

I added these grab handles and I use them a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7BBTNDJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&th=1

Those grab handles were the second mod i did. Great tips, pulling the 42 fuse will cut the power to the small aux battery? Is it still recommended to pull the fuse even if I drive it weekly? what if I use a tender regularly? I’ll definitely do some research on this.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Welcome!
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

That's a good looking JTR.

 

[panama rubicon]

Congrats! I've Owned mine for about 2 months. It stays in Panama City Panama. I only visit 1 week a month from the US for now. But it gives me motivation to drive it when I am there. It's a good feeling. Good drivn!

 

[imallcrawl]

Welcome and congrats!!

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Welcome and enjoy the journey!

 

[Hootbro]

Hey Forum People, ...............

Made me think of this gem:

Welcome BTW.

 

[Rusty PW]

Welcome to the "Cult".

This should be a stickie for all newbies for what I'm about to say.

"Please post your credit card info. Recommend 2 credit cards. Because they will get smoked in no time. Next, post up a list of all the things you want to do with your JT, and all the mods you want to do. We will then discuss among ourselves on what we think you need. Then we will recommend the need parts to you. If you want a 2" lift. We will recommend a 4" lift. 35" tires will be 37" tires. Buy once, cry once. Then with your credit card info. We will buy the parts for you and have them shipped to you. "


There are some threads about the oem Rubi shocks. You will see that they are valved on the soft side. No one likes them. Best bang for the buck at the moment is the Bilstein 5100. The Mojave shocks are not a straight bolt on. As they use a larger diameter bolt.

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