Sponsored

newb questions

starrskream

Well-Known Member
First Name
E
Joined
Oct 2, 2023
Threads
84
Messages
669
Reaction score
830
Location
New york
Vehicle(s)
2023 Rubicon
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
Manager
just picked it up today, yes ive searched extensively for these questions. cant find a clear answer and I'm hoping you guys can clear it up.

1. Having owned pickups before, the rear window is an easy point of entry for theft. Is it possible to lock it? I see the latch and something on the drivers side of the window but no clue what it is.

2. not to start a massive thread on this one...but here goes. what is generally recommended as a break in procedure? I don't even have 100 miles on it yet, had to drive highway to get home after i picked it up. never owned a vehicle this new, but very familiar with engine break in periods. though muscle cars tend to be different than modern engines. I do plan to drive gingerly until about 300 miles then run through the gears harder but not to an extreme in manual mode.
is there a better way?

3. anything to watch out for/ need to know in the first 1000 miles?

4 most well liked/recommended tonneau cover?(this will be my first major mod) Idk if i want to go roll bar with tonneau, but for now i need a cover of some type.

5. any good quality of life mods you would recommend


appreciate all the help, and looking forward to modding this one. Yes, i spent 100$ in parts/accessories already. just simple quality of life stuff. storage trays, stuff for the passenger princess, new phone charger etc... haven't even owned it 5 hours at the time of this post...the book mark list of mods is getting insane lol.
i know...its a jeep thing. lol.



Jeep Gladiator newb questions IMG_8404 (1)
?



Jeep Gladiator newb questions IMG_8413
Sponsored

 

PuddleJumper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Cortlund
Joined
Jan 17, 2024
Threads
68
Messages
2,540
Reaction score
3,373
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Vehicle(s)
23' JTM, 22' JTR, 22' F56S,
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
STACK Infrastructure Critical Operations Technician
Vehicle Showcase
1
just picked it up today, yes ive searched extensively for these questions. cant find a clear answer and I'm hoping you guys can clear it up.

1. Having owned pickups before, the rear window is an easy point of entry for theft. Is it possible to lock it? I see the latch and something on the drivers side of the window but no clue what it is.

2. not to start a massive thread on this one...but here goes. what is generally recommended as a break in procedure? I don't even have 100 miles on it yet, had to drive highway to get home after i picked it up. never owned a vehicle this new, but very familiar with engine break in periods. though muscle cars tend to be different than modern engines. I do plan to drive gingerly until about 300 miles then run through the gears harder but not to an extreme in manual mode.
is there a better way?

3. anything to watch out for/ need to know in the first 1000 miles?

4 most well liked/recommended tonneau cover?(this will be my first major mod) Idk if i want to go roll bar with tonneau, but for now i need a cover of some type.

5. any good quality of life mods you would recommend


appreciate all the help, and looking forward to modding this one. Yes, i spent 100$ in parts/accessories already. just simple quality of life stuff. storage trays, stuff for the passenger princess, new phone charger etc... haven't even owned it 5 hours at the time of this post...the book mark list of mods is getting insane lol.
i know...its a jeep thing. lol.



IMG_8404 (1).jpeg
?



IMG_8413.jpeg
I have the soft top so I'm not aware of any rear window locks.

The engine is already broken in, i don't recommend doing 10k on the oil. i did mine at 5. The biggest thing with these motor is making sure they have good clean oil and that your getting it hot and keeping it hot for extended periods of time. fallin short to either seems to cause valvetrain issues but not often. If you want to break in your motor properly, which you don't really need too, these aren't SRT motors. You need to get it all the way up to temp and drive with purpose. good steady loads. then let it cool all the way down and repeat. Oh wait thats just spirited commuting everyday ?. i digress.

These aren't the unreliable, built out of pretzels, garbage cans the internet would have you believe. These are the most robust and capable midsize on the market. Its a beast. The only thing to look for in the first 1-3k is defects like, paint, seals, trim, tires, etc. you get the first 3k as a "it is perfect, there are no flaws" warranty. so a tire that won't balance, or a leaky roof panel is easiest to get corrected in this period.

I dont run bed covers, my aunt has the OE mopar roll up. Its adequate.

Quality of life? Thats subjective, for me its a Tazer JL mini, my tools, and my jerry cans. Things that are 90 percent useless to 90 percent of people here. so a good charging cable?‍♂

Finally, welcome to the club sir. Happy Trails, and keep the tire side down.
 

Glad Jeeper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Patrick
Joined
Sep 6, 2021
Threads
29
Messages
284
Reaction score
446
Location
Longview, Wa
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Mojave
Nice looking JT. I agree with oil comments, I got my first oil change at 3000, probably a bit early but I wanted to get it tested. Besides it was 1 of 3 free changes. I drive less than 10k a year but have it changed at 7000 mark or when we do alot of jeeping in the summer in dust.
This is a great truck:

J= just
E= empty
E= every
P= pocket

Never a shortage of stuff for these Jeeps.
 

GWolgamott

Well-Known Member
First Name
Guy
Joined
Jan 24, 2023
Threads
9
Messages
361
Reaction score
444
Location
West Michigan (LP)
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator
Occupation
Person sitting in the office under the stairs, behind the bathrooms... dispensing unreliable advice based on questionable numbers
It is just a latch that is just a plastic push lock (Doesn't actually lock with a key.) with lever release, so nothing fancy but not sure you could get in easily or unlock it easy from the back. Or fit thru that small window easily. Honestly someone that determined to get in is just going to break a window on the door first anyways.

Tonneau covers? Unless you want a hard one there are some cheap ones that fit nice from places like extreme terrain or even amazon. I have one that cost about 250ish, nothing fancy and keeps out dust and rain for the most part and looks new yet after years of use. Trust it enough to hold groceries in during nasty winter months and keeps out 90% of the dust with what does get in is usually result of trail riding all day.

The others are the normal things, if something seems off take it in while under warranty.

Mods? It's a jeep... everything that is added is quality of life mod to a jeep owner ;)

Personally my first quality of life mod was to get steps so my short legged wife stopped complaining about climbing into the truck. I don't do places with rocks often so took my factory rails off, still have them in basement if I am planning on going anywhere. Easy swap to do when needed, but have never bothered to do so more then once.
 

RdFx21

Well-Known Member
First Name
T
Joined
Sep 17, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
102
Reaction score
256
Location
WV
Vehicle(s)
2025 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
I would suggest replacing the front and rear diff fluids fairly early on. Mine had quite alot of metal build up on the magnets at only 2100 mi.
 

Sponsored

Gvsukids

Well-Known Member
First Name
Justin
Joined
Mar 7, 2020
Threads
26
Messages
7,265
Reaction score
6,901
Location
Grand Rapids
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Occupation
Delivery Driver
not to start a massive thread on this one...but here goes. what is generally recommended as a break in procedure?
It's in your manual. Also, lots of information to search for on here.
 

SREAD

Active Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Sep 8, 2023
Threads
6
Messages
42
Reaction score
66
Location
Richmond, TX
Vehicle(s)
23 Gladiator Mojave
Occupation
retired
Engine break in



If you really want to know the facts about oils, engine wear , change intervals, etc. backed up by real data check out this guys channel - although he also has another channel called "motor oil geek"
 

cranbiz

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Jun 28, 2023
Threads
10
Messages
844
Reaction score
1,245
Location
Wentworth, NC
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTR, 2017 WK2 Trailhawk, 2012 JK
Occupation
IT Analyst, Volunteer Firefighter

Aj58

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2022
Threads
28
Messages
546
Reaction score
714
Location
id
Vehicle(s)
24 Mojave X
Also don’t forget about Facebook marketplace. I’ve found some great deals and ended up meeting some good people.
Sponsored

 
 







Top