Just bought my first Jeep and would love feedback

[22_Sarge_Sport]

Not sure I like what I'm hearing with this "grille" talk. I'm sure you're not thinking of an angry birds grille....right....? RIGHT?

Sponsored

 

[Rzrhawg]

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?

Ha almost my exact same list. Just needing to add the Mopar lift, skids, and sliders.

 

[kevman65]

First, it's his ride, if he wants a grumper grill then that's his decision.

Bed liner, price Line-X and Ziebart (Rhino Lining) they both run sales through the year so you can catch a price break. Plus they both have shops near you.

Bed cover, you have to decide if you want more security, or just something to cover the bed. As has been said, tri-fold covers block your rear view if you have them folded open.

If you're NOT going to go serious off road, you don't need a lift. You can do a level kit and get 35" tires on your Sport with a just a little trimming on the fog light close out panels.

Unless you want new wheels, you don't need to buy them to run 35's.

Stereo, you don't say which you have, but for about $160 you can improve 4 speakers with direct fit Kicker speakers. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008I2UYPI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Running boards/sliders, if you just want running boards to help vertically challenged people get in and out, Overland is probably best bet. You can find them for sale here, on Facebook Market, and the Indianapolis Craigslist has them quite often.
Personally, even if you don't plan on off road travels, look at Rock Hard sliders with angled bars (up or down) https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-80106.htm They offer GREAT protection in parking lots. Only place you'll get a door ding is on the sliders/bars.


Most importantly, it's YOUR Jeep, build it the way YOU want and don't worry about what anybody else says, they're not paying for any of it.

 

[Gren71]

there are just tons of options and opinions out there.

But a piece of advice i should have followed…DRIVE IT STOCK FOR A WHILE.

Really get a feel for what it does on its own and that will help guide what upgrades you need and want. Not just what look shiny and neat on the forums.

Especially when it comes to lift/tires. Take your time.

 

[ChrisNLA]

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

My Gladiator (Sport S, Max Tow) should be arriving in the next couple weeks. This is what was important to me to begin living with my new truck as a daily driver, and I am ordering before it arrives:

- Nice floor mats (3W brand from Amazon)
- Phone mount (either Ram to use current accessories or switch to Bullet Point)
- Heavy duty rubber bed mat (did not order truck with a bedliner)
- Dead pedal (very used to having one in my car and JK, Gladiator not comfortable without)
- Door sill protectors

I also have a set of Rubicon rock rails to cover the ugly pinch seams and a set of Rubicon takeoff wheels and tires (Falken AT3W 285/70R17) that I got for a great deal from a friend. I am putting the rock rails on immediately and going to play it by ear on the wheels and tires - I'd like to drive it with the stock AT's and suspension for a bit and just enjoy the truck unmolested. It's perfectly fine for 95% of my needs right from the lot.

Next batch of parts:

- Leveling kit (not interested in big lift, just want a nice level truck)
- LED headlights and foglights OR quality replacement bulbs for both
- Bed cover and trail rail system (coming off another friends brand new JT)
- Organization for my gear in the truck (tools, recovery equipment, day to day stuff, etc).

Down the road...
- Sound system adjustments (install subwoofer from old Jeep, look at speaker options)
- To be determined...

I am not a hard core wheeler, but I do go on camping trips, general adventures, Home Depot, work, etc....so the truck will be very mild but flexible.

As others may have mentioned - just drive it! It will tell you what it needs...

 

[Nebulocity]

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

I agree with your Diamondback comment. I haven't come across anything I couldn't strap to the top. I got the bedrug and my bed has stayed clean still looks new, after 2 years of ownership.

 

[Bonanza]

Do not change the grille. Ever. Don't even think it.



















Seriously. Don't.

 

[Medical_Bartender]

I'll echo what some here have said and suggest you take your time and think through it all. It's REALLY easy to get caught up buying tons of stuff and then before you know it, you've wasted a bunch of hard earned $$$ on stuff you don't really want or need. That said, this was my list within the first two weeks of ownership:

1. Tazer (turn of the start stop system, future plans for bigger tires, LED upgrade, etc)
2. Bedliner (I went with the linex "premium", yea it wasn't cheap but worth it in my mind)
3. 20% window tint all around
4. Muffler delete (just the suitcase muffler to give some audible feedback since mine is a manual)
5. KC hilites LED headlights & foglights (picked these up on sale a month before I got the gladiator)
6. Bolt hood lock (have had one on my JK for years and I like the security it provides)


Oh yea, DO NOT CHANGE THE GRILL!!!!! Unless it's to another 7 slot grill like the mopar satin. Jeeps need 7 slots!

 

[Jteakus]

For that color scheme I would get some tint on the windows, black spray-in bedliner, some Rubicon take off rock rails, and a daystar 1.5" leveling kit OR a 3/4" front spacer if you want to keep some rake. My .02, enjoy your truck. Possibilities are endless.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

For wheels/tires, keep an eye out in the classifieds section for a set of Rubicon or Mojave take-offs.

This, they look nice, run these for a couple years and see if you still require more. You can always go more, but harder to go less

 

[redriderjf87]

Stereo upgrades would be lower on my list personally, if you plan on driving with the top or freedom panels off.

 

[Pigman67]

Check your local Craigslist/classifieds.

 

[Average-Joe]

My first Gladiator accessory was a dead pedal. Absolutely necessary Imo

 

[FLGladiator]

On the speaker upgrade, go with the 6.5" ssv kit and get good 6.5"s rather than just replacing the 4"s way better sound.

 

[Huckleberry_93]

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?

Show pics or it didn't happen

Sponsored