Roaming Gladiator - Build Thread

[MaximusTX]

Mounted up the scan gauge temporarily on the dash just with some 3M tape. Brainstorming a better location to mount it, trying to minimize things sitting on the dash. I originally wanted to carve out a nice location in the dash for it, but there isn't a lot of real estate that keeps it visible easily while driving.

Not a fan of the window suction mount either. I'm thinking about getting a ball mount for the A-PIllar handle and then using 3M tape to mount a ball mount on the back of the scan gauge and seeing how that works.

Your the second person I have seen with a scan gauge today. I personally have never heard of it. Is there a big difference between it and the iDash?

Sponsored

 

[RoamingGladiator]

Your the second person I have seen with a scan gauge today. I personally have never heard of it. Is there a big difference between it and the iDash?

I would say the Scan Gauge is a little more basic than the iDash, a lot cheaper if I recall as well. I literally just wanted the ability to see my EGR temps, regen status and soot level which the Scan Gauge does great for a sub $200 package. It's really common with truckers, was recommended to me by a family member who is a trucker.

 

[MaximusTX]

I would say the Scan Gauge is a little more basic than the iDash, a lot cheaper if I recall as well. I literally just wanted the ability to see my EGR temps, regen status and soot level which the Scan Gauge does great for a sub $200 package. It's really common with truckers, was recommended to me by a family member who is a trucker.

Thanks, I just never heard of it and then I suddenly have seen it a couple times so I was just curious.

 

[RoamingGladiator]

Another minor mod to the Jeep... installed the Bulletpoint mounting system for my phone/action camera and will eventually add a tablet mount. So far I'm impressed with the quality of the mount and the functionality.

I have a few smaller but pretty important mods happening over the next month, I'm getting surgery in a week for a torn meniscus so anything major will be held off for a few months while I do rehab.

Upcoming minor mods:

- VIOFO A129 Pro 4K Front/Rear Dashcam
- Mopar Door Sill Guards (Getting some scuffing on the door sills since I don't have side steps)
- Carlinkit Dongle for wireless Android auto

I'll be getting the EOC Stage 1 Delete to accompany my EOC Tranny tune in May or June depending on how my meniscus rehab goes. Then it'll be on to a major suspension/steering overhaul, I'm completely replacing all of my steering and suspension with Metal Cloak Rocklander 3.5" lift and all the accompanying bells/whistles. It's going to run me about 15k CAD to my door, so likely will be happening in August or September depending on some work bonuses coming up.

 

[Freems]

Picked up a Teraflex Falcon 2.2 Steering Stabilizer for a wicked deal, so slapped that on today. It's a night and day difference from the stock stabilizer, especially on the firm setting on the highway. Wind doesn't toss you around like cardboard in the wind anymore. Took maybe 45 minutes to install. It's a bit pricey, but I do like the adjustment capability. I can't see myself using firm around town as the rebound is pretty slow, but on road trips that firm setting is a god send. I had my hand off the steering wheel doing 105-110km/h and it was tracking straight as an arrow.

Its made me notice the slop in my steering wheel though. I have the upgraded steering box so might need to do that 1/4 turn to tighten it up.

I have to share on this product you installed, I’ve had one installed for a year now, replaced the stocky on my Sport, read the marketing info but most of my use has been on the medium setting around town and gravel roads, trails the soft setting was perfect. I never really used the firm setting. Since upgrading to 35x1250x17 MTs some mild wind pushing me around and some wandering on uneven pavement I just chalked it up to the first set of MTs on the JT. After reading your post and a quick 450 mile freeway trip to fetch a grandchild from college, I locked in the firm setting and hit the road, a steady 80 mph in ID and 70 mph in OR. Empty going, just me, my power tank, and 40lbs bag of tools. Coming back, loaded back seat area, and bed. Ballpark quess, 500 lbs. The wind was relentless down and back…35 mph gusting, steady 20 mph the entire trip. I was blown away by the Falcon performance!!! It absolutely planted those 35” MTs, no wandering, and a very planted feel in the wind. This product if your running a stock stabilizer should be your next modification!!! OP, THANKS for this post, it got me off my butt to actually use all the features of this product. I ran my usual 36 psi in the 35s and they heat up and expand to 39/40 psi at 80mph.

 

[RoamingGladiator]

I have to share on this product you installed, I’ve had one installed for a year now, replaced the stocky on my Sport, read the marketing info but most of my use has been on the medium setting around town and gravel roads, trails the soft setting was perfect. I never really used the firm setting. Since upgrading to 35x1250x17 MTs some mild wind pushing me around and some wandering on uneven pavement I just chalked it up to the first set of MTs on the JT. After reading your post and a quick 450 mile freeway trip to fetch a grandchild from college, I locked in the firm setting and hit the road, a steady 80 mph in ID and 70 mph in OR. Empty going, just me, my power tank, and 40lbs bag of tools. Coming back, loaded back seat area, and bed. Ballpark quess, 500 lbs. The wind was relentless down and back…35 mph gusting, steady 20 mph the entire trip. I was blown away by the Falcon performance!!! It absolutely planted those 35” MTs, no wandering, and a very planted feel in the wind. This product if your running a stock stabilizer should be your next modification!!! OP, THANKS for this post, it got me off my butt to actually use all the features of this product. I ran my usual 36 psi in the 35s and they heat up and expand to 39/40 psi at 80mph.

Appreciate the feedback! Glad to see its working for you.

Other than throwing on a soft top for the summer, the mod list has been pretty quiet as I continue to recover from knee surgery and going on vacation shortly. I'm still aiming to do my lift this summer, kraken inflation system, and a few other small quality-of-life mods.

Work decided to get super busy real quick, so things slowing down for a bit!

 

[RoamingGladiator]

After two surgeries and a good amount of physio, life is back to normal so wanted to pick up where I left off here. A good chunk of things have changed since taking a hiatus from the forum and wanted to give a little checklist of where we're at and next steps. Will get some photo updates on the Jeep shortly after this post.

The Gladiator has been driving great and really looking forward to continuing the build.

Current Updates:

• Added door sill protection plates after scratching them a good bit, covered up all the scratches perfectly. Just used the standard ones you find on Amazon, nothing special.
• Installed a Wireless Carplay Adapter. This works great, as long as you have bluetooth on when you enter the Jeep it auto-connects pretty much everytime without issue. I've had 1-2 times where I had to replug the adapter after not driving the Jeep for an extended period, but otherwise it was a solid $60 investment for wireless android auto.
• Painted the interior hardtop with black smooth rustoleum bedliner, put kilmat in all the grooves and installed the black Boommat headliner. This has cut down on a lot of the road noise.
• Installed Wolfbox G930s Dashcam (Lots of bad drivers in my area lol)
• Common issue with the Diesels is corrision with the coolant. Did a pH test on it and it was quite low, dud a full flush and its back up to normal levels. Will monitor this yearly now, a good video came out recently by EOC showing this issue. Apparently they're seeing it with a lot of the Ecodiesels.
• Installed Metal Cloak Deadpedal for those longer drives
• Completed fender chop front and rear with the American Adventure Labs lights and new anchors for the fenders, complemented by Metal Cloak Front & Rear Aluminum Fender Liners

Coming Up:

• Ordered Rokbloz Front & Rear Mudflaps. Currently waiting on delivery for those and then I'm planning on using the leftover bracket supports from the fender chop and come up with a solution to mount them in factory location. I've seen a few videos of people being able to re-use the inner fender brackets on the bottom successfully to make this work. They are custom order apparently and take a while to deliver, so just waiting on those.
• Frame is getting completely cleaned up in December from Rust, painted, and then Waxol coated for long term rust protection as I live in a place where salt is heavily used in the winters. They're also PPFing the windshield frame to help with pesky rock chips.
• Ordered a complete suspension and steering upgrade from Metal Cloak (Rocklander 3.5 with the Redsports to start. Will likely up to the adjustable Blacks down the road). Went with the whole shebang. Duroflex axle bushing, sector shaft and trackbar brace, LCA skid plates, etc. That should be here in December and will install after the frame is cleaned up.

Lots of changes coming up to the Jeep early next year, just waiting on a ton of parts currently. Aiming to have it ready for a road trip to the west coast next summer to do some gnarly trails in the Kootenays, etc.

 

[RoamingGladiator]

Been a little busy! Thought I'd update the thread with a few pictures... Rough list of what has been done below.

• Metalcloak 3.5 Rocklander Lift w. Drop Brackets
• Metalcloak Full Steering Replacement w. Falcon 2.1 Stabilizer
• Metalcloak Aluminum Fender Liners
• Metalcloak Aluminum Side Armor
• Metalcloak Rear Sway Bar Link Bracket
• Full Frame Blast & Waxoyl Rust Coating (Live in salt central)
• AAL Fender Chop Lights (Highly recommend against purchasing American Adventure Lab Products - Terrible customer service)
• Rokblokz Front & Rear Mud Guards
• Full Front / Split Rubicon Fenders

Going to be replacing the front driveshaft and adding full MC belly skidplates in the next month or two. Windshield just cracked so replacing that with a Gorilla Glass windshield + Exoshield.

Can't recommend @Metalcloak products enough.

 

[Toothgnasher]

Very nice build! This is sort of what I'm looking at long-term on mine as well. I'm picking it up tomorrow!

 

[Toothgnasher]

Good afternoon folks!

I wanted to get a start on this thread so I can document my poor spending habits. I'm an avid off-roader who swapped from a built out 2015 JKU to a 2021 Gladiator Rubicon Diesel, as I am getting more and more back into camping, fishing, etc and wanted a more suitable vehicle. I'm huge into travel and the goal is to build this vehicle out into an Overlander while maintaining some fairly good offroad capabilities, with the eventual goal to do both the Trans Canada Highway & Pan American Trail.

I'm quite hands-on and will normally do everything myself unless I don't have room due to my other projects (poor spending habits). I've done a few modifications so far, otherwise, the vehicle is stock but I have a very long list of modifications lined up for this thing. Below is what I've done since owning it (February 2024).

• 15% Window Tint (Minor, but necessary!)
• Rugged Ridge Locking Hood Latches (Live in an area where Gladiators are stolen daily)
• Engine Kill Switch (Vehicle will not move unless this switch is activated)
• Rubicon Motor Flip (Did this for bumper clearance... I'm swapping this out later this year anyways)
• EVO 1/4 Quarter Pounder Front Bumper
• Teraflex 1.5" Leveling Kit (Temporary)

I also have 37" Falken AT4/Ws on Pro Comp 17" Steelies that are going on this week. The truck has brand new 315/70R17s on them, but they're going on my other truck so I thought this would be a good time to go up to 37's. I likely will go back down to 35s when aiming to do the Pan American Trail (3-5 Years) but for now, 37s are good for staying within North America.

I'm planning on starting an Instagram and YouTube to document my build and travels... I'm learning cinematography as a hobby right now, so thought it would be a cool way to practice and improve.

(I'm aware its missing a bolt. The bolt came with mangled threads, trying to fix it with cast before contacting @EVO MFG)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Planned Modifications

1. 4K Front / Rear Dash Cam
2. Mopar Door Sill Guards
3. EOC Stage 1 Tune
4. Rokblokz XL Mud Flaps Front & Rear
5. Metalcloak 3.5" Rocklander Lift w. Rocksport Black Shocks / HD Steering System / Baller Joints / Swaybar Reinforcement Bracket / Geometry Correction Brackets / Front Trackbar Brace & Sector Shaft Brace / Front & Rear Diff Covers w. Skid Plates (Along with a few other minor upgrades from Metalcloak)
6. Front & Rear 1310 Driveshafts
7. Artec Apex Front & Rear Truss/Gussets

Completed Modifications

1. 15% Window Tint
2. Locking Hood Latches w. Kill Switch
3. Rubicon Motor Flip
4. EVO 1/4 Front Bumper
5. Teraflex 1.5" Leveling Kit
6. Falken AT4/W 37x12.50R17 Tires on 17" Procomp Steelies
7. Scan Gauge 2
8. Teraflex Falcon 2.2 Stabilizer
9. Bulletpoint Rubicon Grid Mounting System

I mean the trans-Canada will easily be done stock. The Pan-American is one I wanted to run as well, but that needs money and a lot of time.

Sponsored