Looking for Jeep pro to help convert my JT back to stock

[ShadowsPapa]

I have to remove:

Rear bumper backup lights,

12v outlets in the bed.

Bed ladder

My home-brew "trail rails" (easy, just unbolt)

Tonneau cover latches I made

All snow plow parts, wiring harnesses and so on - connected to wiring behind fender flares and grill, interior and more - including the handle bolts that are in the frame, accessible only when the bumper is removed. It will involve pulling the grill, headlights, removing the fender flares, to access wiring harnesses

Front bumper - remove steel, put back plastic bumper (remove my yellow fogs from the steel bumper)

Remove winch and all wiring/cables, solenoid and so on,

My fancy funky aux switch wiring terminal

Remove roof to remove spiderweb shade

Remove hood struts

Remove rear spring air bags

I'm also considering taking out the Synergy 2" front springs as once the bumper and winch are removed, it's going to sit higher in the front. I've got 1" springs to put under it that will make it sit about the same height without the extra weight. Then I'd have a pair of 2" springs rather than letting them go with the truck.

I've probably forgotten something of course.

Paying job - or maybe can work something out for the steel front bumper, or extra rear tow hooks and other stuff I have (that won't need)

Tools are no issues - multiple jacks, several sets of jack stands, cordless impact, bottle jacks, 250 ft/lb torque wrench, and I think I might be able to find a 10mm socket or two??

My new truck was ordered yesterday. The dealer says the Gladiators and Wranglers have been averaging 6 weeks, to 8 weeks typical.. So, that gives me until probably the end of April to have this one stripped.
Yeah I can do it - however, multiple things come into play - I've got tons of things I must get done for customers, dealing with my wife's heart stuff, her trip to Europe in April, and my health isn't what it was - not to mention my tremors have gotten pretty bad and I can barely start small screws these days without taping them to the screwdriver.

My wife and I agree - this isn't expected to be a freebie. I know everyone has a life of their own to deal with, travel, and things they'd rather be doing.
However since I'm pretty danged PICKY, even "anal" about how things are done - I don't want the neighborhood kid or shade-tree uncle bubba involved. A person who knows Jeeps well and could actually do it all on their own without hesitation would be best. Yeah, it's going back to the Jeep dealer - but - most of this stuff will go to the new truck, so needs to be removed so it can be reinstalled later on a new Mojito! Mojave X.

My wife didn't want me dealing with taking those heavy RSE power steps off so we made the trade deal with the steps on the truck. I'll get brand new ones for the new JT. She's pretty concerned (yeah, she's a real keeper)

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[ArmyMP]

Bring it to indiana. I can do it

 

[Jteakus]

I can't travel, but if you can make it to NW Louisiana I'll knock it out for you.

 

[Josh00333]

If you were in ID we would get a couple local guys together and whack it out for you in a weekend.

 

[Hootbro]

If it was me, I would remove the snow plow stuff, bumper, winch and let the rest of the stuff go with the vehicle. That is a lot of double work of removing and putting on the new vehicle, especially the wiring stuff out to the bed and bumper.

Hopefully somebody can help you. If you were not half way across the country from me, I would make the trip.

 

[Undecided]

Exciting to hear you got a new color coming! That's a lot of work though.

I am not skilled or close enough to provide help, however if you get desperate there is a shop I could recommend a few hours away from you that is the primary 4x4 shop of a large off road group I am in.

 

[NULL POINTER]

Congrats on the new Mojito Mohave. M&Ms anyone? Too bad you are not nearby, hopefully someone close by can help you out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If it was me, I would remove the snow plow stuff, bumper, winch and let the rest of the stuff go with the vehicle. That is a lot of double work of removing and putting on the new vehicle, especially the wiring stuff out to the bed and bumper.

Hopefully somebody can help you. If you were not half way across the country from me, I would make the trip.

That's one reason Barbara said let the power steps go with the Overland and just start new. They are heavy - 70 pounds each side, plus the BODY BOLTS (LOL, let's not go there), and the wiring is literally all the way around the vehicle, battery to B pillar and on to rear floor pan, across to the left, up the B pillar and on to the OBD port area.
I could get a new harness for about $125 but........

The rails in the back are just some metric screws, easy to remove. I'll take out the rear bumper backup lights but leave the wiring from the aux switches going back there.
Ladder - a half dozen screws.

i need air bags for towing......... but maybe that's also something best just installed new?

The longer LCAs can stay - I can buy new ones reasonable enough - or find someone here selling them cheap from a lift kit.

The snow plow wiring goes from battery, back to firewall making a drop to the right park light and turn signal, across firewall to the driver side, part then goes into the cabin for the control and control switched power, to the park/turn signals on the left, on up to the headlights.
The snow plow wiring requires removal of the fender liners and grill and headlights because it makes connections to both headlights, and both turn signals and parking lights. There's a control box and at least 6 relays that have to come out as well.
It's a massive undertaking.

Some of the relays and the lighting controller and isolator.

More relays. I made the bracket.

 

[NC_Overland]

This your third Gladiator now? I’m still on my OG 2020 Overland. I don’t trust Stellantis. It’s been good past its initial first year issues I just hit 58k miles. I’m surprised that you need airbags. Mine rides level and does great when towing 6k+ lbs. perhaps it’s the take off Rubicon LE Shocks and springs.

What’s the new one?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This your third Gladiator now? I’m still on my OG 2020 Overland. I don’t trust Stellantis. It’s been good past its initial first year issues I just hit 58k miles. I’m surprised that you need airbags. Mine rides level and does great when towing 6k+ lbs. perhaps it’s the take off Rubicon LE Shocks and springs.

What’s the new one?

I had max tow rear springs and Rubicon shocks on my 2020 - and with 500 pounds of tongue weight, it dropped a fair amount and made the headlights almost worthless, besides getting "flashed" even on low beams. it actually sat just a bit lower in the rear, removing all rake and going negative a bit.

I noted the same thing with the 2022 and found with the air bags, it helped enough the headlights were no longer a real issue, and it handled better with the trailer. The overland has a fair amount of rake from the factory - and the headlights are aimed accordingly. Take out that rake and you are hunting coons in the trees (and that's not legal in Iowa unless you have a hunting dog with you)

New is Mojave X and with the cushy soft springs, I'm very concerned about that 500 pound tongue weight taking the thing into negative rake territory. (and the payload o a Mojave X is only about 850 pounds from the factory - so take that 500 tongue weight from the 850 payload, and I'm pretty much done. They certainly aren't good for payload or towing, but I don't tow really often...........)

 

[AmosMoses]

If you were in ID we would get a couple local guys together and whack it out for you in a weekend.

I think he just needs some wrenching done, nothing weird.

 

[Hootbro]

Why the Mojave if you plan to make it a tow and snow plow vehicle and re do the whole suspension?

 

[NC_Overland]

I had max tow rear springs and Rubicon shocks on my 2020 - and with 500 pounds of tongue weight, it dropped a fair amount and made the headlights almost worthless, besides getting "flashed" even on low beams. it actually sat just a bit lower in the rear, removing all rake and going negative a bit.

I noted the same thing with the 2022 and found with the air bags, it helped enough the headlights were no longer a real issue, and it handled better with the trailer. The overland has a fair amount of rake from the factory - and the headlights are aimed accordingly. Take out that rake and you are hunting coons in the trees (and that's not legal in Iowa unless you have a hunting dog with you)

New is Mojave X and with the cushy soft springs, I'm very concerned about that 500 pound tongue weight taking the thing into negative rake territory. (and the payload o a Mojave X is only about 850 pounds from the factory - so take that 500 tongue weight from the 850 payload, and I'm pretty much done. They certainly aren't good for payload or towing, but I don't tow really often...........)

I don’t understand why mine does so well then but I won’t question it.

Mojave is a nice upgrade! What color?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why the Mojave if you plan to make it a tow and snow plow vehicle and re do the whole suspension?

Only air bags in the rear. The springs will stay stock unless I find the snow plow weight is too much for them. Towing will be only 2 to 3 times a year, so really the rear sag is the only real issue. I'll be maxed out on payload, but then can load a few things back onto the trailer or in the car I'm hauling, so should be "ok" there.
The overland front springs had to go because of the added steel bumper and winch. The Mojave X has a steel bumper, so the winch will be the only additional weight up front. The skid plate would likely come off, partially offsetting the winch weight. Skid plate can't be there when the plow brackets are on - so I either remove it, or cut it up. It would have to be cut for the front receiver anyway.

I'm hoping to keep the rear suspension 100% stock with the addition of air bags like with the Overland.
The front - if anything changes, it would be only the springs.
A stock Mojave X sits about the same height as my Overland with the mods (2" synergy springs, steel bumper, winch)
I'm hoping that since the Mojave comes with the steel bumper and the spring rates will be very different from Overland - that maybe it would be fine stock in the front.

Mojave is a nice upgrade! What color?

Mojito.

Since we use my JT for almost all of our long-distance travelling, visiting Florida, going other places, I wanted to concentrate on comfort things. Other than Overland, which you can't get - hoping Mojave has the best ride of the remaining choices of Gladiators, comfort for travel.

It will be very interesting to see how the new 2024 and later grill design does with the snow plow on the front - likely it won't matter.

 

[NC_Overland]

Only air bags in the rear. The springs will stay stock unless I find the snow plow weight is too much for them. Towing will be only 2 to 3 times a year, so really the rear sag is the only real issue. I'll be maxed out on payload, but then can load a few things back onto the trailer or in the car I'm hauling, so should be "ok" there.
The overland front springs had to go because of the added steel bumper and winch. The Mojave X has a steel bumper, so the winch will be the only additional weight up front. The skid plate would likely come off, partially offsetting the winch weight. Skid plate can't be there when the plow brackets are on - so I either remove it, or cut it up. It would have to be cut for the front receiver anyway.

I'm hoping to keep the rear suspension 100% stock with the addition of air bags like with the Overland.
The front - if anything changes, it would be only the springs.
A stock Mojave X sits about the same height as my Overland with the mods (2" synergy springs, steel bumper, winch)
I'm hoping that since the Mojave comes with the steel bumper and the spring rates will be very different from Overland - that maybe it would be fine stock in the front.



Mojito.

Since we use my JT for almost all of our long-distance travelling, visiting Florida, going other places, I wanted to concentrate on comfort things. Other than Overland, which you can't get - hoping Mojave has the best ride of the remaining choices of Gladiators, comfort for travel.

It will be very interesting to see how the new 2024 and later grill design does with the snow plow on the front - likely it won't matter.

It’ll probably fit better. I see reports that winch wiring fits better on the new grille.

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