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Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic

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Rubi_Rhod

Rubi_Rhod

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Ha
I also like how you mounted your Midland. I got one for Christmas and I haven't gotten around to mounting it yet. Does the antenna work well enough off the hood like that? And how is the remote box secured under the steering column - is it screwed to something or just sorta zip-tied in there?

And where did you get all the accessories to mount the radio, antenna, etc.? I see it is Cooltech stuff, but I put four things in my cart and the shipping was $40. There's no way I'm paying that much for shipping a few lightweight items (two cables, the mount, and the 3db antenna). Have they never heard of Priority Mail Flat Rate?
Sadly no field tests yet. Just local in my shop tests.
And I mounted it with the provided mount with velcro and a couple zip ties to the inverter under the column (it’s empty if you don’t have the 120v outlets). As I did that, theres still room to pull it out from the quick disconnect mount and access all the cables and such. It’s not quite as pretty or solid as I wanted, but it’s firmly in place, accessible and got the job done.
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Lucrob

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Camping

This is the fun part. I have for years wanted a Go-Fast camper, and once I decided on the Gladiator I knew it would be the right platform to finally place an order for.

This is a super light, super strong and preserves easy access to the pickup bed. A solid marriage of a heavy duty metal camper shell, and a pop-up hard shell RTT.

Its a year build queue so in the meantime, I got a folding cot tent and a Tonneau to store my gear.


Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 08AC7C7D-695A-4664-990D-EB7EABC90A2C

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 08AC7C7D-695A-4664-990D-EB7EABC90A2C


Not mine, but an example of whats to come:
Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 08AC7C7D-695A-4664-990D-EB7EABC90A2C

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 08AC7C7D-695A-4664-990D-EB7EABC90A2C

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 08AC7C7D-695A-4664-990D-EB7EABC90A2C
I have a GFC build for a Gladiator number 1630 that I'm looking to sell. No profft saught, but no loss either. Let me know if you'd like it.
 
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Rubi_Rhod

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I have a GFC build for a Gladiator number 1630 that I'm looking to sell. No profft saught, but no loss either. Let me know if you'd like it.
Thanks, but I think I am in the same boat, and will be needing to sell my upcoming build, which is like 14xx. I still really, really want it, but life got interesting over the past year, and had to re-prioritize spending.
 

eternus

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Thanks, but I think I am in the same boat, and will be needing to sell my upcoming build, which is like 14xx. I still really, really want it, but life got interesting over the past year, and had to re-prioritize spending.
I would love to step in and snag one of you guy's GFC builds... but man, for the money (and my wife's lack of interest climbing a ladder to sleep) I keep getting pulled back to a trailer. Bummer that both of you will be unable to get the topper, they're so nice. (and huckable.)
 

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Rubi_Rhod

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I would love to step in and snag one of you guy's GFC builds... but man, for the money (and my wife's lack of interest climbing a ladder to sleep) I keep getting pulled back to a trailer. Bummer that both of you will be unable to get the topper, they're so nice. (and huckable.)

Hopefully things change! I too did a cost savings detour and started repurposing old gear and moved my “placeholder” RTT over to my utility trailer and starting a budget Adventure trailer build. At the end of the day, I wanted to get out for longer periods, and really this should solve that by having plenty of space for the gear, water and provisions needed, without dropping serious coin. As I’m not quite a roaming full-timer just yet.


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eternus

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As I’m not quite a roaming full-timer just yet.
This. Though I have a wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a dozen chickens and a mortgage... I don't anticipate ever making it to "full timer" and will either be me and my son for a few days, or me and my wife for longer... which comes back to the trailer thing again. (c: All that being said... you seem capable of turning a wrench... you might look into the DIY GFC project over on the Tacoma forums, it's what I'll be doing when I have a spare 3-4k (vs the spare 9k that i'll never have.)
 
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This. Though I have a wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a dozen chickens and a mortgage... I don't anticipate ever making it to "full timer" and will either be me and my son for a few days, or me and my wife for longer... which comes back to the trailer thing again. (c: All that being said... you seem capable of turning a wrench... you might look into the DIY GFC project over on the Tacoma forums, it's what I'll be doing when I have a spare 3-4k (vs the spare 9k that i'll never have.)

Oh hell yeah!! I’ve been dying to get into fabrication and have many of the tools yet, but that is a huge cost savings and a heck of a lot of pride which I value more than spending for a “perfect” produced good.

Thanks for the share! That might be a solid winter project as I can definitely fit and build in my shop.
 

eternus

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Oh hell yeah!! I’ve been dying to get into fabrication and have many of the tools yet, but that is a huge cost savings and a heck of a lot of pride which I value more than spending for a “perfect” produced good.

Thanks for the share! That might be a solid winter project as I can definitely fit and build in my shop.
I'm in the same boat, i have a full 600 sq ft wood shop, a welder and basically everything I'd need to make that GFC top. The most intimidating part is sewing the fabric for the tent. I was about to start it when I realized I should get a summer of camping under my belt, its been too long since I camped... what if I don't like it anymore? =oP So depending on how truck camping works out this summer, I'll be revisiting it next fall. Seems to be a 2-3 month project for everyone that starts it.
 
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After much self-complaining finally got the stereo addressed.

I was circling around the Alpine setup, but really wanted more than an amp to the small speakers and underseat sub. Especially with the doors off and wind noise, needed some good oomph.

Went with the MB Quart 6 speaker upgrade. It was much work to install, but its a complete system, and should be plenty to grow with as I want.

Also, as it made it easier and have some awesome weather coming up, stripped the doors off and I’m digging it.

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I lied. I got the subwoofers immediately. 😁

It sounds great and am quite pleased.

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Easy add. GPCA Roll Bar grab handles. Nice construction and metal handles in a few colors.

Was worried about the fit with the rest of the crap I got up there, but no issues with the soft topper or the screen. A little bit more difficult to get the velcro on and off, but the little stash pockets are really not for day to day things, just stash a couple bucks or spare key and such in.

Also got the sunglass pouches (not pictured), but affixed them to the passenger grab bar instead.

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Firstly, an introduction

Names Aaron, and just picked up a 2020 Gladiator Rubicon 6MT in Sting Grey. Options are sparse and include the no cost M/T tires, Hard Top, Tow package and the proximity entry.

It’s been named Rubi Rhod by a friend and It kinda stuck. I had a few different nicknames in my notes for the Jeeps I had shortlisted to buy. In this case, I said to a friend “the Rubi” and he came back with a gif of Ruby Rhod, the sassy fictional host in the Fifth Element.

I’m also known as A-rod for I am his doppelgänger. Since 18, if I shave, I get stopped in public frequently. Really, it’s only been the wearing of masks that has stopped it. So, the goofy and charismatic Rubi Rhod just seems to stick.

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 48C37F08-DA71-4300-B23F-150699ED7F2C

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 48C37F08-DA71-4300-B23F-150699ED7F2C



Never owned a Jeep before. But always liked em. As a gearhead and 4x4 enthusiast a Jeep was always a big toy that I wish I had a space in my garage for. But as I don’t really “wheel” or have many trail friends, I wasn’t quite incentivized to hop into a Jeep. But when they added in a pickup bed I was very interested, as what I really use often is a truck.

While I was really excited for em, having been a big fan of the Brute and even the early 2005 JK gladiator concept, my 130 mile commute didn’t allow me the luxury of 15mpg. Well, as our company and my field has basically just gone working remote and not going back, a 4x4 Jeep Truck finally made sense to replace my 85k mile 25mpg all terrain commute truck, without too many penalties.

Was originally scouting for a base sport manual with hard top, LSD and Tow package. But just an hour after I had sold my daily, a 17 Colorado Diesel CCLB, I called to place the deposit on my perfectly optioned Gator Sport 6MT, it was sold from under me!

Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 48C37F08-DA71-4300-B23F-150699ED7F2C


Jeep Gladiator Rubi Rhod - A 2020 Gladiator with flair for the overland-dramatic 48C37F08-DA71-4300-B23F-150699ED7F2C


But not to worry, they had a backup that was exactly the same specs I wanted, just a grand cheaper as it was in a more common white paint. NOPE! That one got damaged in transit and was returned to the factory.

At that point I had only been searching for Sport trims and was going to go DIY over a few years and put in big tires, gears, lockers, as well as upgrades to the infotainment (that 5”base is a little lackluster), and other such things.

Tallying it all up, it was a good whallop. So with the two Sport’s gone, and the other three sport deals I had on the line stalled out, I thought I would look at a base Rubicon that would give me all those upgrades, and a few creature comforts.

I found a dealer in Boise that had not one, but two identical and sequentially vin’d Rubi’s with just the hard top, and tow package, and the bonus keyless unlock. So hoped in with some friends and drove 500 miles to pick one of the twins up. (Its twin I was told was taken up to Alaska by its new owner)

My Build Plan is an overland machine that works great off road, but not too big and ponderous on-road. I enjoy rowing through the gears and having a pleasant drive. I also still have to do truck stuff with it. Home Depot, light duty towing, weekend projects and the like.

Need to do what I can to keep it lean. I I live far out from town, and like to roam out of state, so don’t want too much excess weight and drag killing my performance.

Overall my build plans were really the same had I gotten the Sport. The Rubicon was just a quick way to entry for the chassis and suspension vs for DIY or shops. While I am capable and have done many things to modify my vehicles, axle work is not my forte. I also was coming from my Colorado that I had done sliders, skids, Fox 2.0 coilovers and such to. So making it easy to have like for like, and not have to do it all over again, this Rubi was a good deal for me.

While my Colorado did have ALL the luxury and premium options, I was actually excited to go to something a little more casual and simple. All the luxury in the world won’t get me unstuck, so was a happy trade to feel more confident on the trails.

I will say, proximity entry is really slick. And as it already had Push Start, just kinda completes the whole fob thing. Everything I could possibly want to equip it with (Aux switches, LEDs, leather, stereo) is all just an easy-ish accessory after the fact. And that’s all fun stuff to get as money and time become available.

So to that extent the mods will be focused to make it more practical and fit my lifestyle more than building a Jeep. At least for the near term. I think the best part of a Jeep is that they never get stale. They are a great canvas to build and have fun with, with a healthy mod community across all the generations.
What tent is that?
 
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Excited to be on this stage of my build… Camper!

Order has been placed and awaiting build to start! Dare me red and Tangerine dreams for me!

Planning to do a wrap and some graphics work for the exterior to tone down some of the red and blend it better with the gray. Found a perfect wrap to do it with. Bedrock Gray from Avery. Adds some texture and style, and when the canopy is open, should be a cool custom pop.


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