Nerf bars or sliders & how much is too much with decals

[Like-a-virgin]

Had my JT 2 weeks so far. I’m wanting to do some off-roading, not boulder climbing or river forging, and curious if I need rock sliders or if I can get away with nerf bars with a 2” drop on steps, or if I need those $600+ sliders with removable steps. Going to Detroit Winter Fest at a Badge of Honor site on the 20th with a bunch of old hats and I can’t afford either just yet, but will get one or the other in the near future. 5’8” here, and a step would be nice.

Also, named her Warthog bc I’m a USAF vet and that’s my favorite plane. And like the A-10, I think the JT is so ugly that it’s adorable. Wanting to put my rankUSAF emblems on the doors and WARTHOG on the hood, and a silhouette of the A-10 on my back window or tailgate or bumper. Question is, when is it too much with the decals?

Again, I’m new, so I need guidance.

Thanks!

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[kevman65]

Nerf bars won't protect the JT and may cause more damage than going nekkid.

As for decals, your ride, your canvas.

 

[ALT2870]

I have just the regular sliders on mine and I feel fine with them. (Gives me more confidence in rocky situations for sure.) People are either selling them or giving them away pretty often here so take a look.

Sounds like some awesome decals for that color, I want pictures when you're done.

 

[JAsh1967]

What he said for the decals.

As for WinterFest @ Holly Oaks, it's a fun park the wife and I have been to two of the 4Fest summer events there in our JT. I'm presuming you're still on stock tires with your Gladiator? You'll still be able to tackle most of what's out at Holly Oaks, although if you do the rock crawl section it can be...
Disturbing when you hear parts of your undercarriage scraping across the rocks...

Have fun!

Oh, and if you get the chance, go to Clarkston and get something to eat at Union Woodshop!

 

[Like-a-virgin]

What he said for the decals.

As for WinterFest @ Holly Oaks, it's a fun park the wife and I have been to two of the 4Fest summer events there in our JT. I'm presuming you're still on stock tires with your Gladiator? You'll still be able to tackle most of what's out at Holly Oaks, although if you do the rock crawl section it can be...
Disturbing when you hear parts of your undercarriage scraping across the rocks...

Have fun!

Oh, and if you get the chance, go to Clarkston and get something to eat at Union Woodshop!

215

What he said for the decals.

As for WinterFest @ Holly Oaks, it's a fun park the wife and I have been to two of the 4Fest summer events there in our JT. I'm presuming you're still on stock tires with your Gladiator? You'll still be able to tackle most of what's out at Holly Oaks, although if you do the rock crawl section it can be...
Disturbing when you hear parts of your undercarriage scraping across the rocks...

Have fun!

Oh, and if you get the chance, go to Clarkston and get something to eat at Union Woodshop!

245/75R17 ATs and aluminum wheels. Guess I’ll bring the drone and watch the rock crawl from afar. Thanks! Checking out Union Woodshop now.

 

[JAsh1967]

@Like-a-virgin don't get me wrong, my stock Sport S made it through the rock crawl, but for me, having never had any sort of off-road capable vehicle before, the bangs and scrapes were a bit nerve-wracking and I had a guy who runs back country adventure drive-and-camps as my spotter (it was an off-roading 101 workshop.)

The flip side of course, is don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't feel comfortable doing. When my wife did the same workshop this year (with a different group running hers,) when it got to the rock crawl she opted to not do it. Luckily, both the guy running the group and the group as a whole, accepted her choice (as did I.)

 

[Like-a-virgin]

@Like-a-virgin don't get me wrong, my stock Sport S made it through the rock crawl, but for me, having never had any sort of off-road capable vehicle before, the bangs and scrapes were a bit nerve-wracking and I had a guy who runs back country adventure drive-and-camps as my spotter (it was an off-roading 101 workshop.)

The flip side of course, is don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't feel comfortable doing. When my wife did the same workshop this year (with a different group running hers,) when it got to the rock crawl she opted to not do it. Luckily, both the guy running the group and the group as a whole, accepted her choice (as did I.)

I’m in a 2-week old JT. I’m gonna bawk bawk chicken out in the big ones.

 

[JAsh1967]

I’m in a 2-week old JT. I’m gonna bawk bawk chicken out in the big ones.

Nice looking Gladiator for starts! And yeah, you're tackling it in the same thing I've got, street tires and all (except I've got the stock silver 5-spoke rims.)

Don't worry about not tackling something, if you've never off-roaded before, even what turns out to be easy-peasy stuff is pucker-inducing! OK, except maybe if you take a lap or two around the racetrack up near the front of the park, although getting a little bit airborne is a scary feeling!

 

[Mad Mac]

Take-off Rubicon rock rails are often available for very little.
Don't know where in Michigan you are but here is one example:
Jeep Gladiator Rock Rails ( Mopar OEM ) ~ ~ ~ - $80 (Mukwonago)

A precision sized 5' 6" fat old man, I do not use a step
though I installed a Hide-a-Step on my stock JTR.

A M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal helps lever myself in and out
and provides a footrest. Best bang for the buck in my view.
More than a footrest

As for military decals, you earned them.
Thank you for your service.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

The JT is a long wheel based jeep…. Turning in tight spots often feels like a full size truck could do better.
Personally I went with frame mounted rock sliders to be able to pivot around trees/rocks if needed…. Most of these run $1,000+ but the $400+ extra being spent can be looked at as savings from the body shop if you ever end up using them.

 

[Like-a-virgin]

Take-off Rubicon rock rails are often available for very little.
Don't know where in Michigan you are but here is one example:
Jeep Gladiator Rock Rails ( Mopar OEM ) ~ ~ ~ - $80 (Mukwonago)

A precision sized 5' 6" fat old man, I do not use a step
though I installed a Hide-a-Step on my stock JTR.

A M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal helps lever myself in and out
and provides a footrest. Best bang for the buck in my view.
More than a footrest

As for military decals, you earned them.
Thank you for your service.

Thanks so much for the assist and the recognition.

“Precision sized”. ???? I wish I woulda known that term back when I said 5’8” AND A HALF. Now I just say 5’8”, but I’m stealing that phrase.

So you grab the handle w right hand, then slam that dead pedal with your right foot and launch in? Or left and left and climb? Or something else I can’t quite picture? Bc I’ll def go w just rails instead of nerf bars if I can get in and out of the darn thing w that pedal.

 

[JAsh1967]

Nah, the dead pedal is just a far more comfortable place to rest your left foot when you're driving.

A couple suggestions on making it easier, though, to get in, as my wife is probably about your height and, lets just say it can be entertaining to watch her try to get in without the steps...

First and cheapest, get some grab handles to attach to the roll bar by the front seats. Honestly, for a guy if you're in reasonably good shape, that might even be all you need.
Second, as some have said, NERF bars / steps will not help if you get up on rocks, and might even cause damage getting torn off. I'm looking, in a couple years, most likely, to replace my NERF bars / steps with MetalCloak's Overland Rocker & Flip Step Kit. Looks like it can be a bit of both worlds, a rock slider / side rub rail, or flip the steps over and have steps.

I'd get them now, but, well, new steel bumper + winch kind of blew the budget for now.

 

[kevman65]

There are "stirrups" out there. Attach to front seat frame, open door, pull out stirrup, step in and climb up.

 

[Like-a-virgin]

Nah, the dead pedal is just a far more comfortable place to rest your left foot when you're driving.

A couple suggestions on making it easier, though, to get in, as my wife is probably about your height and, lets just say it can be entertaining to watch her try to get in without the steps...

First and cheapest, get some grab handles to attach to the roll bar by the front seats. Honestly, for a guy if you're in reasonably good shape, that might even be all you need.
Second, as some have said, NERF bars / steps will not help if you get up on rocks, and might even cause damage getting torn off. I'm looking, in a couple years, most likely, to replace my NERF bars / steps with MetalCloak's Overland Rocker & Flip Step Kit. Looks like it can be a bit of both worlds, a rock slider / side rub rail, or flip the steps over and have steps.

I'd get them now, but, well, new steel bumper + winch kind of blew the budget for now.

https://www.facebook.com/share/poRSECW3WKYxb3iA/?mibextid=2JQ9oc

 

[Like-a-virgin]

https://www.facebook.com/share/poRSECW3WKYxb3iA/?mibextid=2JQ9oc

Sorry. Wrong listing. I’ll find the right one.

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