Greg75
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Greg
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2019
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 91
- Reaction score
- 334
- Location
- California/Nevada/DC
- Vehicle(s)
- Gladiator Rubicon LE, BMW M2 Competition, MBZ 560 SL, Ducati 851, Ducati 900 SS
- Thread starter
- #1
What can I say? The Gamechanger for me is a game changer. On Wednesday, the good folks at American Off-Road Customs in Las Vegas--Jonathan and Kyle--hooked me up with the lift, suspension, wheels and tires I had imagined would be ideal for my JTR LE. And, I could not be happier with the choices or the quality of the work done to build the Jeep-truck of my dreams.
Now, I had no problem with the way my JTR drove in stock form. In fact, I was thrilled with the ride, the steering, the lack of noise, the way it took on my first off-road adventure...everything. But, I wanted more, as I tend to with just about every vehicle I've ever owned. Jeeps, of course, are usually the most modded vehicles around, with easily the greatest number of choices to make--choices that I understand can significantly improve or really screw up your ride.
Armed with as much research as I had hoped necessary (thanks in no small part to this forum), I decided to take the plunge, even though the one lifted Gladiator I had taken for a test drive in fact drove like garbage compared to the one I purchased—a fact that definitely made me a bit apprehensive. I mean the last thing I wanted to do was spend a bunch of time and money only to ruin my terrific new JT.
What I got?
--MetalCloak Gamechanger 3.5’ lift kit
--MetalCloak HD Chrome Moly Tie Rod & Steering Stabilizer
--MetalCloak HD Drag Link
--MetalCloak 1310 Drive Shaft (front)
--Fox Smooth Body/IFP shocks to match the full range of lift and needed length (recommended by Jonathan and Kyle based on the way I will use the Gladiator).
--Nitto Ridge Grappler 37x12.5x17 tires
--Black Rhino Abrams 17x9.5 (-18 offset) wheels
--Tazer Lite
The result:
--My previously great, tight steering is even better—significantly so.
--My plush but slightly floaty ride is now planted, flat cornering, quick-recovering, and very controlled.
--My quiet freeway/highway cruising is just as quiet as it ever was.
--My great looking JTR LE (subjective, I know) is now so much better looking (also subjective, maybe) that I want to go stare at it, right now.
--And, though I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, my very capable for stock Rubi can likely flex for days and do so much more so much better that I just can’t wait to get it out off the beaten path.
A few things to note about the Gamechanger kit and American Off-Road Customs:
I received the Gamechanger kit just a bit before MetalCloak really had it completely ready to go out to customers. The company had not received the rear springs in time for me to get this installed. I knew that upfront, but I am traveling for the next few months, beginning this weekend, so it was now or some time in the too-distant future, since I was excited to get this on my JT. To accommodate me, MetalCloak sent everything but backordered the rear springs, while Jonathan at American Off-Road Customs volunteered to get a new set of equivalent lift springs from Rock Krawler to install and let me use until MetalCloak got the springs and I could return to have them swapped. Cool!
So, everything was installed Wednesday, exactly as scheduled and promised. While I am no expert when it comes to wrenching on Jeeps, I have done all my own wrenching for years on Ducatis and a variety of sports and muscle cars, and I can tell you that Jonathan and Kyle are as knowledgeable and precise as they come when it comes to Jeeps and off-road suspension. Moreover, they overcame the one glitch in the kit—MetalCloak had supplied rear sway-bar links that were far too short for the JTR. No worries. Jonathan happened to have a new set of longer MetalCloak sway-bar links that were perfect for the Gladiator rear and put those in without blinking, saying he would sort it out later with MetalCloak. Double Cool!
Every connection and bolt was meticulously aligned and torqued and marked. Every piece shown to me and explained. I rolled out of there in a perfectly straight tracking, super-flexy, beastly, terrific looking ride. So great when things go as you planned and hoped they would.
Now for some pics (since it did happen):
Greg
Now, I had no problem with the way my JTR drove in stock form. In fact, I was thrilled with the ride, the steering, the lack of noise, the way it took on my first off-road adventure...everything. But, I wanted more, as I tend to with just about every vehicle I've ever owned. Jeeps, of course, are usually the most modded vehicles around, with easily the greatest number of choices to make--choices that I understand can significantly improve or really screw up your ride.
Armed with as much research as I had hoped necessary (thanks in no small part to this forum), I decided to take the plunge, even though the one lifted Gladiator I had taken for a test drive in fact drove like garbage compared to the one I purchased—a fact that definitely made me a bit apprehensive. I mean the last thing I wanted to do was spend a bunch of time and money only to ruin my terrific new JT.
What I got?
--MetalCloak Gamechanger 3.5’ lift kit
--MetalCloak HD Chrome Moly Tie Rod & Steering Stabilizer
--MetalCloak HD Drag Link
--MetalCloak 1310 Drive Shaft (front)
--Fox Smooth Body/IFP shocks to match the full range of lift and needed length (recommended by Jonathan and Kyle based on the way I will use the Gladiator).
--Nitto Ridge Grappler 37x12.5x17 tires
--Black Rhino Abrams 17x9.5 (-18 offset) wheels
--Tazer Lite
The result:
--My previously great, tight steering is even better—significantly so.
--My plush but slightly floaty ride is now planted, flat cornering, quick-recovering, and very controlled.
--My quiet freeway/highway cruising is just as quiet as it ever was.
--My great looking JTR LE (subjective, I know) is now so much better looking (also subjective, maybe) that I want to go stare at it, right now.
--And, though I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, my very capable for stock Rubi can likely flex for days and do so much more so much better that I just can’t wait to get it out off the beaten path.
A few things to note about the Gamechanger kit and American Off-Road Customs:
I received the Gamechanger kit just a bit before MetalCloak really had it completely ready to go out to customers. The company had not received the rear springs in time for me to get this installed. I knew that upfront, but I am traveling for the next few months, beginning this weekend, so it was now or some time in the too-distant future, since I was excited to get this on my JT. To accommodate me, MetalCloak sent everything but backordered the rear springs, while Jonathan at American Off-Road Customs volunteered to get a new set of equivalent lift springs from Rock Krawler to install and let me use until MetalCloak got the springs and I could return to have them swapped. Cool!
So, everything was installed Wednesday, exactly as scheduled and promised. While I am no expert when it comes to wrenching on Jeeps, I have done all my own wrenching for years on Ducatis and a variety of sports and muscle cars, and I can tell you that Jonathan and Kyle are as knowledgeable and precise as they come when it comes to Jeeps and off-road suspension. Moreover, they overcame the one glitch in the kit—MetalCloak had supplied rear sway-bar links that were far too short for the JTR. No worries. Jonathan happened to have a new set of longer MetalCloak sway-bar links that were perfect for the Gladiator rear and put those in without blinking, saying he would sort it out later with MetalCloak. Double Cool!
Every connection and bolt was meticulously aligned and torqued and marked. Every piece shown to me and explained. I rolled out of there in a perfectly straight tracking, super-flexy, beastly, terrific looking ride. So great when things go as you planned and hoped they would.
Now for some pics (since it did happen):
Greg
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