Jefe’s Gladiator Rubicon EcoDiesel

[Jefe1018]

Intro Comments:

I’ll never financially recover from this.

Jeep's Nickname: tbd

Model Year: 2021
Engine: EcoDiesel 3.0 V6
Trim: Rubicon
Color: Bright White

Purchase dealer: Peterson Jeep - Nampa, ID
Purchase means: Sold order
Delivery date: 10/28/2021

Factory Options:

8.4 Audio
Aux Switches
Tow Package
Remote Proximity
3 Piece Hard Top
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover


LEGEND:
[+] Done
[*] Done but removed, upgraded or didn't work out
[-] Wanted
[/] In Progress

Suspension:
[+] Mopar 2.0 inch diesel specific lift
[+] Terraflex 1.5 inch leveling spacer
[+] Metalcloak Rear Sway Bar Reinforcement & Repair Bracket

Steering:

[-] Fox Performance 2.0 TS Steering Stabilizer
[-] Durotrak Track Bar, Solid Chromoly, Front, JL Wrangler/JT Gladiator
[-] MetalCloak Chromoly Dog-Legged Tie Rod, JL Wrangler/JT Gladiator, Rubicon

Wheels/Tires:
[+] Warn Jackhammer Wheels - 17 inches
[+] 37/12.5R17 General Grabber ATX tires

Engine/Misc Mechanical Parts:

[/] MBRP Filter-Back Exhaust System XP Series 3" With Turn Down


Drivetrain:


Armor:
[+] Whiteknuckle Off-Road Rubicon Rail Compatible full dimple plated sliders
[+] Rugged Ridge Arcus Bumper
[+] M.O.R.E Rubicon Bed Steps
[+] Rokblokz XL front mud flaps
[+] Supreme Suspensions - Universal Heavy-Duty Multi-Function Hitch Skid Plate with D-Ring Shackle Mount
[+] Rugged Ridge | Rocker Guard Body Armor 11651.75

Lighting:
[+] Oracle Lighting Rear Bumper LED’s
[+] Oracle Lighting Oculus Bi-LED
[+] Oracle Lighting Taillight Set LED Flush Mount
[+] Baja Designs Squadron Pro Driving Combo (using Mopar Mounting Brackets specific for the Mojave and Diesel platform )
[+] Baja Designs Jeep JL/JT Squadron-R SAE Fog Pocket Amber Light Kit
[+] Retrofit Mopar LED DRL and Turn Signals


Exterior:


[-] Rugged Ridge 9-inch AM/FM antenna



Recovery Gear:
[+] Badland Apex 12,000lb synthetic line winch
[+] MotorMic Recovery Strap
[+] Reese Carry Power Tow Strap with Hook
[+] Smittybilt Recoil Kinetic Rope - CC121
[+] Rhino USA Synthetic Soft Shackles

Interior:
[+] Slush mats, MOPAR knock offs
[+] Bulletproof mounting solutions 2 mount holder
[+] Seven Sparta Black Alloy Grab handle
[+] Epic Kraken Air Inflation System with ARB Twin Compressor
[+] Terra Acoustics front speaker upgrade

Comms and navigation:
[+] Baofeng BF-F8HP Handheld radio
[+] Uniden CMX760 Bearcat Off Road Series Compact Mobile CB Radio
[+] Firestik Antenna, 4ft
[+] Firestik Fire-Flex Cable Assembly W/Low-Profile Fire-Ring and Stud
[+] FireStik K-1A Push-n-Twist quick disconnect
[+] Topsy JL Fender Mount CB Antenna Bracket
[+] Jeep Uniqu CMX760 CB Mic + Baofeng Radio holder
[+] CMM JL/JLU Grab Bar Ball Mount


Media from my delivery day:

Wheeling pics:

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[Jefe1018]

And I started installing the mods I purchased over the 10 week period leading up to delivery. I got just about everything done but the headlights and trailer brake controller as I ran out of sun light.

 

[trailless]

Sweet! I'm starting to really like the look of those wheels!

Out of curiosity, what are you averaging for MPG with 37s?

 

[Jefe1018]

Sweet! I'm starting to really like the look of those wheels!

Out of curiosity, what are you averaging for MPG with 37s?

See for yourself below, my trip home to Vegas from Boise. Speed limits between 70-80mph - 21.4MPG.

 

[relayer4u]

Those grab handles look sweet, never seen them before. If you need the lighter tool or a nutsert tool, lemme know. Also have a couple of spare CB radios and antennas if you want to have a look at them.

 

[Jefe1018]

Those grab handles look sweet, never seen them before. If you need the lighter tool or a nutsert tool, lemme know. Also have a couple of spare CB radios and antennas if you want to have a look at them.

They actually bolted right in, feel sturdy. If I could do a pull up I bet I’d be able to do them off of that, ha!

The radios, sound like something we can work out there sir.

 

[Jefe1018]

Okay.. I wanted to install some Oracle headlights and a trailer brake controller today, but instead went on a little trip.

Anyone who tells you the JT Diesel with 37’s needs to be regeared has never driven one off road. With 37’s in 4LO, the gearing felt just right on steep inclines and over bigger rocks but on the smaller stuff, almost unusable - it doesn’t like to go faster than 3-8mph in 4LO. I’m used to trail riding in 4LO up 15mph at times, no go with this motor/gear combo. Which is fine because 4Hi worked beautiful as the motor has tons and tons of torque and rides beautifully, especially in Off-road Plus mode.

Anyone who tells you the JT diesel with 37s needs to be regeared has never driven one daily, on the street or on the interstates. Plenty or power, it’s almost strange how well this thing chugs along with the big tires…. Oh yeah and I’m averaging 22mpg. I see 8th gear stay freeway too….

What I’m learning is that a lot of the complaints from folks and automotive journalists about “too loud inside” or “sound system isn’t good enough” or “it’s an unrefined diesel feel” have never had a true crap box off roader, because I’m in love with everything about my JT.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Nice build.

I love my diesel. Looking forward to the GDE tuner when it comes out.

My soft top is loud at highway speed in traffic or anything reflecting sound. Wind noise doesn't really become an issue until about 70-75+

I'm no audiophile but I find the premium sound system lacking. It's one thing I would check off the list because I'm pretty sure the money would be better spent upgrading the base system.

 

[Jefe1018]

My soft top is loud at highway speed in traffic or anything reflecting sound. Wind noise doesn't really become an issue until about 70-75+

I'm no audiophile but I find the premium sound system lacking. It's one thing I would check off the list because I'm pretty sure the money would be better spent upgrading the base system.

Thanks!

The hard top is similar, it is much nosier at freeway speeds, but I think very much so livable.

Maybe, but the off road pages, built in nav, and myriad of other features to me makes it the head unit to have in a Rubicon in my opinion. I believe moving forward it is actually standard equipment. Take it with a grain of salt though, this is the nicest sound system I’ve had, so I’ve never had very good ones, ha!

 

[Daniel_Pantoja]

How are you feeling about those tires so far? Road noise and off road performance now you've taken the truck out a bit

 

[Jefe1018]

How are you feeling about those tires so far? Road noise and off road performance now you've taken the truck out a bit

I’ve run Duratrac’s and KO2’s quite a bit on other vehicles. So far, these have been way quieter and performed very well off road, even at street pressures.

 

[djthumper]

Nice build, I hope to see it in person sometime.

 

[bleda2002]

Looks great! Glad the wheel and tire combo are working out for you so far! Do you have a picture of the spare? Did it end up fitting?

 

[Jefe1018]

Looks great! Glad the wheel and tire combo are working out for you so far! Do you have a picture of the spare? Did it end up fitting?

Everything I’ve read is that it won’t fit, im planning to get a Patagonia which should fit no problem under the bed.

 

[bleda2002]

Everything I’ve read is that it won’t fit, im planning to get a Patagonia which should fit no problem under the bed.

I've been thinking of giving it a shot since i have the clayton clearance rear track bar, mostly wondering about between the frame rails though.

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