Im New here. No but really. 2025' Rubicon

[Dano3190]

Nice ride !!! I have the exact same vehicle and also love it. Got it ceramic coated with expel and the shine is amazing. Cleans up with just a water hose. Best of luck with your new vehicle.

Thank you will def look into expel. Im sure its going to be a tough color to keep clean.

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[Dano3190]

Following what was already said, get a feel of what kind of offroading you guus would as a family. Rocks, mud, fire roads, etc. Then go from there.

looking into trying some shorter camping trips not utilizing the jeep completely and seeing what all we can incorporate into the jeep and how we can set up sleeping and things like that. Every thing on you tube looks like a great time but its such a far reach right now. My goal is just to get the 2nd week of august and rip all the doors off and top and go for a ride!

 

[Dano3190]

Very well written post mine are all grandkids now and they love the jeep life the first thing they want to do when we pick them up is strip the truck and vacations have never been this fun whether it's camping, offloading or or just trails for the day they love it. Best of luck and don't worry those kids will love anything you do TOGETHER

My kids want to cut our vacation short to get home to the Jeep. Its already turning into a great decision. Mr. Pat do you have any recommendations aside from the obvious seatbelt to driving with the doors off with you grandkids?

 

[Dano3190]

Dude, welcome to a better life! lol...

Glad you found the forums, and glad. you found Mr. Dale!

Don't modify your Jeep for a while, maybe a few small touches lights or some small stuff. But with all the options, definitely take your time. It'll help you understand what you really need/want AND more importantly, it'll help you know HOW your modifications helped or hurt your Jeep. Going overboard means you won't know what that new noise is or where it came from lol... Frustrating.

Enjoy man, glad. you and the family are now Jeepers! It's a great life. You won't regret it.

thank you for the great advice! So that's what we been planning. just driving doing some Texas hill country trips and things like that. Light camping nothing to serious. My girls aren't the camping type at least not yet I don't think. so I don't want to scare them with a 9 day overland experience or something insane . My son on the other hand he is ready for all of it !

 

[Dano3190]

That color looks SHARP!

I'll echo what others have said... Don't jump into major mods too fast. Take the family out cruising some back roads, go on some fire roads and easy trails, and get a feel for the truck. That will show you what you do or don't want to change. If you can find a wheeling buddy who has a bit more experience than you, but is still patient and won't push you into anything more advanced than you're comfortable with, even better. These trucks are incredibly capable, but it helps to have someone to spot you and offer advice.

Start saving some more $$... you only have about seven years until your oldest is going to want a Jeep of their own. Most important of all, post pics from your adventures in this thread!

I like this idea. So far I have really only purchased things along the lines of a "better" ride and "security" I purchased a
Warn winch with mounting plate and fairlead
ARB dual compressor
retractable rock slider steps so the young one can get in and out easier
some aluminum handles.
storage for the front and underseats.
Killmat,
trail rails
retractable aluminum bed cover
Additional top insulation
A rig to remove the top in my shop and a door stand.
some recovery straps and recovery boards.

not looking to do any lifting or tires or anything along those lines just yet until we are sure of what we want completely

BUT 38s and 17s look fantastic.

 

[Gvsukids]

I purchased a
Warn winch with mounting plate

You'll need to "level/lift" to compensate for the weight you are adding to the front of your Jeep.

 

[RacerAV]

thank you for the great advice! So that's what we been planning. just driving doing some Texas hill country trips and things like that. Light camping nothing to serious. My girls aren't the camping type at least not yet I don't think. so I don't want to scare them with a 9 day overland experience or something insane . My son on the other hand he is ready for all of it !

Hit them with some day trips, lots of fun excursions, then an overnight... keep it fun. My kids love going out! Wife too...

 

[RacerAV]

I like this idea. So far I have really only purchased things along the lines of a "better" ride and "security" I purchased a
Warn winch with mounting plate and fairlead
ARB dual compressor
retractable rock slider steps so the young one can get in and out easier
some aluminum handles.
storage for the front and underseats.
Killmat,
trail rails
retractable aluminum bed cover
Additional top insulation
A rig to remove the top in my shop and a door stand.
some recovery straps and recovery boards.

not looking to do any lifting or tires or anything along those lines just yet until we are sure of what we want completely

BUT 38s and 17s look fantastic.

Great set up! Don't go bigger than 37s for sure.

 

[CreepyJeepy]

Amazing post!

Folks often forget how off road capable a stock rubicon is. Most family adventurers don’t need 37” tires 4” lift kits etc.

Part of the joy of owning a jeep is removing the lid and just going for a drive.

Fully and deeply explore what you have, and focus more on using it as a tool to enable new activities with your family.

Mods are a deep financial hole…..

Remember in a pinch that jeep can do most of the rubicon trail, (although doing this will add a lot of character to your jeep)

Do not sweat the small stuff, shit happens. Scuffs, pinstripes, small dents, etc. These small things add character, and tell stories.

I have a dent on the side that every time I get an oil change (I have a bunch of free ones from the dealer from a fuel pump issue) the dealer sees and points out. It reminds me of a story where I saw one of the most beautiful sunrises while off-roading to photograph a wedding.

welcome to the club

 

[KevinC]

When you get home, just load up everybody, take the freedom panels off, roll the windows down, and go for a ride somewhere nice. You don't need modifications to do that. Just get out and have fun. Everything else will come in time.

 

[Stan H]

Reddit led me here. Sorry for the long post.

We are on vacation this summer and while in Destin noticed a family with 2 teenage boys pull up to the beach where our temporary beach house is, in a quite extraordinary Jeep Mojave pulling an overland trailer. Talking to the dad, they take trips 5-10 days at a time twice a year with the kids and weekend camping once a month alternating between just him and the wife and with the boys.

Been pretty busy last few years and got to the best financial stability I could ever imagine. Set it up to where I can run it from anywhere with zero debt. Set some to the side as a fall back, got income coming in from different sources, and with a lot of hard work and little luck I'm ready to step back a bit. Sucks I didn't realize this sooner but its time to take the load off my wife and be a more present husband and dad.

Well talked to the wife, she liked the idea about possibly owning a jeep, and I jumped off the deep end. I purchased a new 2025 Gladiator RubiconX

I've never been camping in my life. I've never owned a jeep. I've never off-roaded/crawled. I've never been on a mountain or such unless it’s snowboarding/skiing or overseeing the grand canyon. Hell I’ve never even driven more than 12 hours at a time.

Mr. Dale if you are on here. I know you didn’t offer any convincing words or persuade me into anything but I saw something you had that I wish I had with my family and that was a bond that I lost somewhere.

So here I am guys, need all the help I can get. I have this thing delivered and waiting for me back home with a email full of order confirmations on things that I have purchased and planning on taking her out soon when I get everything installed. Don't know where. Don't know how. Don't know with who but the kids, momma and possibly the Hec-Thor our mini aussie will be riding.

And after finding this forum, reading, and reading, and reading some more, and using the search tool. A lot -give or take 60% of the things I bought are going back

So many good knowledgeable people far more than myself on here with Jeep stuff but if ya want some advice on camping hit me up. I have done it for many years. I am the designated camp cook even.

 

[zcashio]

Congrats on the purchase! You and your family are going to LOVE the gladiator. Reading your post made me remember it’s been over a year since the family and I have camped or even gone off road. This gladiator I purchased in October has yet to be off-road… work has taken over to the point I have not done much with the kids besides tell them good morning and goodnight. And they are homeschooled.. and I work from home. Thanks for reminding me time is short and I need to load them up soon to get out. Mine are 10,8, and 2. Looking forward to seeing where your gladiator takes you!

 

[93civej1]

Congrats on the purchase! You and your family are going to LOVE the gladiator. Reading your post made me remember it’s been over a year since the family and I have camped or even gone off road. This gladiator I purchased in October has yet to be off-road… work has taken over to the point I have not done much with the kids besides tell them good morning and goodnight. And they are homeschooled.. and I work from home. Thanks for reminding me time is short and I need to load them up soon to get out. Mine are 10,8, and 2. Looking forward to seeing where your gladiator takes you!

It goes fast. Mine arent home schooled but I work from home so I am with them often. I as well dont do as much with mine as I should, but I am trying to do better. The jeep was one of the things I justified as being a way to help with that, and well ive done it but very little. Just small quick day trips to baby trails. I hope and plan to do more. Time flys.

 

[jhale1800]

Reddit led me here. Sorry for the long post.

We are on vacation this summer and while in Destin noticed a family with 2 teenage boys pull up to the beach where our temporary beach house is, in a quite extraordinary Jeep Mojave pulling an overland trailer. Talking to the dad, they take trips 5-10 days at a time twice a year with the kids and weekend camping once a month alternating between just him and the wife and with the boys.

Been pretty busy last few years and got to the best financial stability I could ever imagine. Set it up to where I can run it from anywhere with zero debt. Set some to the side as a fall back, got income coming in from different sources, and with a lot of hard work and little luck I'm ready to step back a bit. Sucks I didn't realize this sooner but its time to take the load off my wife and be a more present husband and dad.

Well talked to the wife, she liked the idea about possibly owning a jeep, and I jumped off the deep end. I purchased a new 2025 Gladiator RubiconX

I've never been camping in my life. I've never owned a jeep. I've never off-roaded/crawled. I've never been on a mountain or such unless it’s snowboarding/skiing or overseeing the grand canyon. Hell I’ve never even driven more than 12 hours at a time.

Mr. Dale if you are on here. I know you didn’t offer any convincing words or persuade me into anything but I saw something you had that I wish I had with my family and that was a bond that I lost somewhere.

So here I am guys, need all the help I can get. I have this thing delivered and waiting for me back home with a email full of order confirmations on things that I have purchased and planning on taking her out soon when I get everything installed. Don't know where. Don't know how. Don't know with who but the kids, momma and possibly the Hec-Thor our mini aussie will be riding.

And after finding this forum, reading, and reading, and reading some more, and using the search tool. A lot -give or take 60% of the things I bought are going back

I'm slightly jealous of the journey you're about to go on learning not only about your Jeep, but you and your family. We ordered our first Jeep in May of 2019 and had 3 months of anticipation until we were able to pick it up. It sounds like you have a good start on some essentials for your family. Storage will be at a premium for a family of 4 traveling. Consider a Blue Ridge Overland Gear Attic for storing jackets, blankets, and some soft items that won't hurt falling on little heads. You can even rig up a cheaper solution, that might work just as well.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/easy-attic-mod.45379/

I have an aluminum retractable bedcover as well. With the combination of the cover storage box, and the low tonneau height, you are further limiting your bed capacity. If you think you might want a bedrack in the future, you'll want to order your tonneau cover from the shop selling you the rack. Instead of using a standard Gladiator Rack, they might order them slightly narrower to accommodate where the rack mounts. I would hate for you to make that purchase twice...

For one of your small camping trips, plan to take some offroading or Jeep classes that include recovery. Having a trained professional guide your through an obstacle course or some tough trails will give you more confidence and an appreciation for how capable your Jeep really is.

 

[chaosjake]

Consider a Blue Ridge Overland Gear Attic for storing jackets, blankets, and some soft items that won't hurt falling on little heads. You can even rig up a cheaper solution, that might work just as well.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/easy-attic-mod.45379/

I use a "hammock" from a JLU for a gear attic, but it doesn't really work if anyone besides my dog is riding in the back seat. Does the Blue Ridge version tuck up tight enough to the headliner to allow a human to sit under it?

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