Ragbagger’s 23 Sport S

[Ragbagger]

Small update. I installed the Teraflex Uinta cargo bed rails yesterday. Super easy to do, I used a tap I found for a couple bucks at the hardware store to clean the bed liner material out of the predrilled holes in the bed, then installed following the Teraflex instructions. I gotta say I really am impressed with the quality. The hooks seem really beefy.

My wife bought some whip lights for our Jeeps, and we put them on for a Jeep event last night. I could take them or leave them honestly (a little flashy for my taste), but they did draw a lot of looks and will be fun at Jeep events and during the Mardi Gras season etc. Instead of hard wiring the whip lights, I powered them off a portable battery bank.

No, I didn‘t get the rails just to add whip lights, haha. I’ve been giving my bed a lot of thought, and the rails are the first part of my build out. I’m 99% sure I’m going to put a full height rack on it. Still debating whether or not I want to pair that with a soft topper.

Maintenance note: I changed the engine and cabin air filters this week, they were both really dirty from riding dusty trails.

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[Reddout99]

Looking good.

 

[Ragbagger]

I changed out the gear oil in the rear diff today. We’ve done several water crossings recently and I guess I’m being a little paranoid. After pulling the fill plug and inspecting, it was obvious it didn’t need it, but I wanted to inspect the internals anyway. Lots of gray goop on the magnet, but no chunks or flakes. Oil was a bit dark but not bad. Everything inside looks great to my shade tree eye. Cleaned up and reinstalled per owner’s manual.

After pulling the front diff fill plug, I opted to not drain it. Very little metal on the magnet and the oil is just about as clear as the new stuff in the bottle, level is good. Cleaned up the magnet and reinstalled plug.

~8k miles on the truck.

Note to self: I also did the front and back on the Wrangler, which just crossed 60k miles.

 

[Ragbagger]

The Softopper arrived today. Being the OCD person I am, I used Woody Wax on the framework before assembly. I’m hoping it will keep the tubing and all fairly bright for a while. We’re under a Tropical Storm warning and already getting rain from Francine, so I installed the frame in the rain:

It’s an easy install, I just snugged up the hardware a little bit assuming I’ll need to adjust it some once I put the top on. I laid the top out in the house, inside out, and applied seam sealer to the seams. Should help with water resistance I hope, but the seam sealer says it needs 24 hours to cure before you get it wet. Maybe tomorrow evening I can get it on. Depends on the storm and how long it takes to pass though. I’m in coastal Alabama so we shouldn’t see much more than rain I hope.

 

[Ragbagger]

I “finished” the Softopper install yesterday and today. I stuck velcro on the front trail rail for the front panel (closest to the cab) but I didn’t want to stick Velcro on the tailgate, instead I added neodymium magnets inside it:

And along the bottom of the softopper back panel, using a strip of the “soft side” of the Velcro as a buffer. It works ok but I was expecting to have more force holding the back flap down.

Here’s a couple of beauty shots:

And one more since it’s almost spooky season:

I might revisit the magnets after I see how they do. But we have events all weekend, plus the FedEx lady brought my next project today so I’m gonna call this one done. Next upgrade, OEM Aux switches.

 

[Ragbagger]

I installed the Mopar Auxiliary Switch Bank yesterday. It was a bit of a chore, but it works. I used JScan to activate it. There is a small write up here: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mopar-auxiliary-switch-bank-installed.85497/

 

[Ragbagger]

I installed some rock lights yesterday. We are involved with several groups that participate in various events like Trunk or Treats, Christmas and Mardi Gras parades, etc, and being totally honest that’s pretty much the only reason I wanted them. For one, I’m too old to hang out with the teenagers and their squatted trucks in the walmart parking lot. Second, if I were using them for true offroad rock lights I would have gone a different direction.

For those reasons, I didn’t want to spend a lot. I went with Mictuning C2 Max RGB+IC Chasing Color LED Rock Lights - https://a.co/d/0YxNAR4

They are plenty bright for my purposes. They do all the fancy RGB and chasing stuff the kids like, but I just did white (ish) for these photos.

Were they worth it, will they hold up? Time will tell. But after install, I’m quite pleased for the price point. We‘ll see how I feel in a few months.

 

[Ragbagger]

I’ve ordered the MP Concepts aluminum bumper and am prepping for that install.

A while back I picked up a stock plastic bumper for free on marketplace. Today I disassembled it, and cleaned up the parts I want to keep. The LED fog lights and harness will go in the new bumper so I’ve cleaned them up.

I’ve decided to use the OEM tow points as well, so I painted them today. Paint color is Rustoleum Sunrise Red.

I also installed a quick disconnect for the anti swaybar:

I bought a Rubicon antiswaybar motor assembly for $100 off marketplace, took the motor module off and added a Evo No Limits manual disconnect. https://evomfg.com/products/nolimit...-gXRAMKVjTmJLn_yvr1ygJoiQB9IBRBlGQLkzJ4lSfvDl

It was an easy swap, the hardest part was contorting myself and my torque wrench around to torque the bolts to spec on reinstall.

Crappy picture, sorry. I didn’t think to take one before I installed it.

 

[Ragbagger]

I finally got my new MP Concepts Aluminum bumper installed. I ordered it from extreme terrain when it was on sale, but they accidentally sent a windshield for a YJ in it’s place. While it was annoying, they made it right so I appreciate that.

Installation was kinda rough, mostly because I have big hands and you have to get into some tight spaces to get things tightened down. The fog lights aren’t aimed quite right, so I’ll have to get in there and adjust them a bit.

I had hoped to have both the bumper and winch ready for a trail ride last night, but due to the shipping delay with the bumper I didn’t have time to get the winch installed. Predictably I got stuck, . The Gladiator in front of me was kind enough to give me a tug out. You can see the mud caked up in the front wheel and caliper in this picture from where I slid in the rut. No big deal, I just found it kinda ironic.

Love the bumper now that it’s on. I’ll add the winch sometime this week.

 

[Ragbagger]

I’m a bit behind on my updates. I did install the Badland Apex 12k winch a few days ago, including rerouting the wire out the side of the control box (well documented on this forum and elsewhere). I used a cheap step bit from Harbor Freight to drill the new hole, and found a grommet to fit in a kit I had laying around.

Overall I’m pleased with that install but it is TIGHT in the MP Concepts bumper. I should take some better pictures. I didn‘t need to use any spacers and the clutch handle just clears the bumper without any issues. I took my dremel to the plastic trim cover on the front and cut a slot in it to match the fairlead, so that plastic cover is now sandwiched between the fairlead and the bumper - if that makes sense, this picture kind of shows it:

That’s just for looks, to hide the extra holes in the front of the bumper.

After installing the new bumper and winch, the front end was sagging pretty significantly. So today I added a Teraflex 1.5 inch leveling kit to bring it back up.

The install should have been straightforward, and it was….. until I test drove the Jeep after I thought I was done and felt/heard a clunking sound when braking. After a few choice words, and more or less going over the entire install again I discovered I had neglected to retorque a couple bolts on the control arms.

After I corrected that mistake, I double checked every bolt to make sure I didn’t miss any others and now everything seems good. My wife came out and helped me recenter the steering wheel. I think we got it right, but I’ll have to drive it a bit more to make sure.

Note to self: Adjust headlights down a bit.

For the headlights, while the Jeep was still stock I measured from 25’ away to my garage wall and marked the pattern height on the wall. After adding the bumper and winch the beam pattern was displaying a good bit lower. Now that I’ve added the leveling kit it’s a little too high, and I don’t want to be THAT guy on the road blinding everybody.

Per the Teraflex instructions I’ll drive about 300 miles and then retorque everything. Overall it was a fun little project, and I think the Gladiator looks much better.

 

[danimal2000]

I have the same mirrors, and really happy with them. I replaced the bolts with these so no more Allen key needed to attach or remove. Just a suggestion since you mentioned they might be stripped

CoCud Knurled Clamping Knobs, M6 x 20mm Male Thread 21mm Head, Thermoset Plastic Thumb Screw Grip Bolt Knobs Black - (Applications: for Lathe Machinery), 4-Pieces https://a.co/d/1fqqJYi

 

[Ragbagger]

I have the same mirrors

Love that idea. Bookmarked. Thanks.

 

[Ragbagger]

Been a while since I‘ve done anything to my Gladiator. I’ve just been driving and enjoying it. It’s got a few more scratches since my last post, running the trails in a forest tends to do that, but everything has been great with it.

My wife bought a Bulletpoint RubiGrid mounting system as a little present for me. Darn nice of her. It came in today so I put it in. Install was easy and only took about 15 minutes.

Now my handheld radio mounting solution looks janky in comparison. Might have to get the arm for it too.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Great job on the journal! I’ve been eyeing the bulletpoint mount. Not sure if that’s the one I’m going to go with but it’s on “the list”.

 

[Ragbagger]

It’s solid for sure. obviously well made. All the components have a nice “feel’. One little detail I really appreciate is the hardware. You know how when you buy cheap stuff and the black paint immediately comes off the screws? I hate that. Not sure what they did different but all the screw heads are still black and look nice after being unscrewed and screwed in a couple times.

I really appreciate my wife buying it.

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