Just bought my first Jeep and would love feedback

[HoosierDeady]

Just picked up a 2021 Gladiator Sport and it’s all stock.
I shop constantly for “things” to add to it, but here is my priority list and would love feedback/advice on your first time

1. Running boards
2. Bed liner/bed cover
3. Stereo upgrade
4 . Ties & wheels/lift
5. Grill

I’d love to hear about other jeep owners’ experiences

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[Sarge502]

Overall my advice don’t go cheap on anything. I refuse to even if it takes longer to go the route I want.

Bed cover was one of my first major additions myself. Went with Diamondback and couldn’t be happier.


Good luck

 

[jac04]

I prefer OEM stuff.

For running boards, I really like the factory Overland ones that I put on my Mojave.

For wheels/tires, keep an eye out in the classifieds section for a set of Rubicon or Mojave take-offs. Also shop for JL Rubicon take-offs over on wranglerforum.com.

 

[drewcnit]

Overall my advice don’t go cheap on anything. I refuse to even if it takes longer to go the route I want.

This. But most expensive isn't always the best either. Do your research and buy what fits your use case.. If you don't plan to go off-road a bunch, then it's not really sensible to spend $5K on a lift where a cheaper option might work very well for your use case.

Best thing I can tell you is explore each mod you want here on these forums. I bought my Gladiator in March and have spent countless hours researching each addition I've made to my Jeep.

Good luck, enjoy your ride!

 

[Gvsukids]

Just picked up a 2021 Gladiator Sport and it’s all stock.
I shop constantly for “things” to add to it, but here is my priority list and would love feedback/advice on your first time

1. Running boards
2. Bed liner/bed cover
3. Stereo upgrade
4 . Ties & wheels/lift
5. Grill

I’d love to hear about other jeep owners’ experiences

Drive, Research, and then purchase.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Just picked up a 2021 Gladiator Sport and it’s all stock.
I shop constantly for “things” to add to it, but here is my priority list and would love feedback/advice on your first time

1. Running boards
2. Bed liner/bed cover
3. Stereo upgrade
4 . Ties & wheels/lift
5. Grill

I’d love to hear about other jeep owners’ experiences

I did safety and security first because those should be no brainers. The bedcover along with front and rear camera. Then hood locks. Grab handles (paracord). I got the OEM running boards as I did not need rock rails for where I drive off the beaten path. They are nice at protecting all the paint on the side of my jeep from flying rocks and gravel. I keep mine pretty much stock (I have a max tow)because I need it to tow and have as much payload as possible to do so.

Figure out what you are going to do with your Jeep before you start expending money on lifts, tires, winches, recovery gear etc. However I did get basic recovery gear because everyone should have that if they are going off the beaten path regardless.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

Just picked up a 2021 Gladiator Sport and it’s all stock.
I shop constantly for “things” to add to it, but here is my priority list and would love feedback/advice on your first time

1. Running boards
2. Bed liner/bed cover
3. Stereo upgrade
4 . Ties & wheels/lift
5. Grill

I’d love to hear about other jeep owners’ experiences

Came to the right place .. Ive learned so much about the platform its crazy! Coming from the Mustang world I needed the advice ... Tons of reading and research its endless. Congrats love the color!
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

 

[Almost]

For the tonneau cover, I would think long and hard about how you anticipate using your bed.

If you think you are going to be hauling around a bunch of taller objects all the time and still want some visibility I would avoid the tri-fold options since they completely block the rear window when up vs a roll-up. This is a drawback if you need to raise the cover for anything slightly higher than the top of the bed rails.

Also if you are looking for security there are hard rolling covers available (which I have) so you're not forced to go the tri-fold/clamshell route. That said, if you are looking to pile cargo on top of your cover you will need to find a hard cover like a diamondback. Rollup soft covers normally just feature aluminum slats within the cover preventing anyone from cutting through. They can still be pried open, but do offer some level of security and keeps prying eyes out. I don't keep anything real expensive in the bed or anything that can't be replaced.

Another thing to keep in mind is some sit deeper taking up bed space prohibiting coolers from fitting when closed for example since it's already not very deep, and some interfere with bedrails if you have them.

 

[Free2roam]

Stay away from Quadratech.

 

[Puch]

Just picked up a 2021 Gladiator Sport and it’s all stock.
I shop constantly for “things” to add to it, but here is my priority list and would love feedback/advice on your first time

1. Running boards
2. Bed liner/bed cover
3. Stereo upgrade
4 . Ties & wheels/lift
5. Grill

I’d love to hear about other jeep owners’ experiences

I remember when my JT was all nice and shiny new…..?
I was/am new to the Jeep world 3yrs ago. Still learning from this forum all the time. Only advice I’d give you is don’t wast the money on stereo upgrade yet. What you have is good enough for now. Use the money for other cosmetic or performance upgrades. Don’t get running boards if you plan on doing more than parking lot posing and dirt roads. Those things catch on all kinds of obstacles when you’re off-road, IMO.
Here’s my first list, but I was planning on wheeling from the start.
- Mopar 2” lift
- New wheels with 35 AT’s
- skid plate’s. The sport has barely any armor.
- rock sliders
- Tonneau cover. Keep debris out of the bed.
- rubber bed mat. Don’t often haul dirt/rocks or stuff that will damage the bed so bed liner was pointless. The bed it covered by the tonneau so who cares what it looks like. I just washed the interior of the bed for the first time this past weekend.

All the above stuff was in the first year. The spending has only increased over time. Don’t be like me. Seek help before it becomes an addiction! Probably too late?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

DON'T. INSTALL. ANGRY. BIRDS. GRILLE......PERIOD.

EDIT:
I bought my 2020 Rubicon in July last year. It came with Access tonneau cover and I've been pleased with it after having a metal retracting style cover on the bed of my '14 GMC 2500HD Denali before the Gladiator.

I installed trail rails in the bed - have not had occasion to use them yet. A rubber bed mat - because Line-X wanted $650 and I thought that outrageous. Removed the factory rock rails and installed NFab rails - very nice. I have the biggest factory U-Connect radio so not making any change there, it's fine for Dodgers games and Sirius radio. I wish it had a front facing camera - not for trails, just for ordinary parking! But it doesnt and I likely will not install one. Put a small bull bar on factory metal front bumper with big black K-C lights on it.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

X2 on think before you buy a bed cover. I didn’t do that on my last two trucks and was never really happy with either of those setups.

The first one was a vinyl cheapie (just wanted something to keep my stuff out of the elements). The second one was a “nice” hard tri-fold that I had one issue or another with. That and it just didn’t work for how I planned on using the bed (what I really wanted was a camper shell).

On bed covers and camper shells…look used first. I.e. The hard tri-fold that I got to tide me over until my Alu-Cab showed up was purchased from a forum member for less than half the cost of a new one.

 

[BrettWeir]

Don't change the grill!

 

[WetWilly]

Two Facebook Marketplace is a good place to find take offs, I found my wheels and tires there for a good price. Sold my take offs there in two hours after posting them.

 

[817gladigator]

What every you do don’t mess with your grill.! Can’t stress that enough. It constricts air flow and looks ridiculous. But at the end of the day it’s your build and your money and your form of expression don’t let anyone make you think it’s not cool if you love it! Just spend your money somewhere else first the grill will do nothing for you. It’s not a upgrade it has no performance value. Save your money. But if I had to prioritize I’d say… running boards, lift, shocks, wheels, tires, bed liner, grill. And if you really plan on using it off road you need a winch, recovery gear and a dead pedal. But again get a grill if you want just don’t start with it.

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