#teamGF #CDR - JT Gladiator Overland Build (Blucid)

[Blucid]

We did some snow wheeling this weekend, was a lot of fun. A local track, we tried to get to the lookout but it was too slippery so we were just hanging around the mountain.

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[Blucid]

Mod #015 - Lux Lighting Systems Rock Lights - [LINK]
Completed February 24 / 2024

What was Ordered \\
1x Monster LED Rock Lights -[LINK]

Install \\
The install was quite easy, well relatively speaking. Routing the wires through the chassis was a bit of a pain in the ass. But the lights have built in magnets so it was easy to find a nice spot to mount them. Still have to clean up the wiring a bit, got to find a nice bus bar to mount everything too. Also still have to find some good spots for certain lights, like the ones in the front and the one next to the exhaust in the rear. We wired them into the MOPAR Aux switches that came with the Jeep. The lights were kind of a impulse buy, because we bought 3 sets for 3 different vehicles.

 

[Blucid]

Here is the quick update, to the timeline. A bit has changed since I have completely forgot to add some items to the list.

Long Term Goals Updated 2024-2026
2024 - Electrical Build (Getting Ready for Winter Camping 2024)
- Wiring, Battery Setup, Inverter Setup and the Build.
- Goal is about 200AH of Batteries.
- 2000W Inverter
- and some nice feature rich add-ons to help it all come together.
- No solar for now that will come with the Alu-Cab.
[On its Way] Picked up a Pair of Seat Risers as well to make the trips a bit more comfortable.
[On its Way] 813 Fabrication Under the Seat Storage - [LINK] *We went with the 813 Fab Storage box because its more squared and has nicer corners to work with in fitting electrical under the seat.

[MAYBE] AEV Snorkel Kit - [LINK] *This one is still maybe, but the rest is a go this year.

2025 - Suspension + Wheels
- Getting ready for the Alu-Cab, getting the proper suspension and load rating setup.
- Move to 37" Tires
- Get 2.5" Lift & Rake leveling Kit

2026 - Onwards
- Extend Garage to Accommodate Alu-Cab Canopy
- Replace RTT with Alu-Cab Canopy Camper

 

[Blucid]

Been a super busy and un-eventful Summer to be honest. Some breakdown of the timeline. Got a lot of nice needed gear, but also some crap went down. Will explain more.

2024 Goals Update
2024 - Electrical Build (Getting Ready for Winter Camping 2024)
- Missing a few more pieces, but getting ready for install.
- Wiring, Battery Setup, Inverter Setup and the Build.
- [Acquired] 2x LiTime 12V 100Ah Mini LiFePO4 Lithium Battery - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Samplex 3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-Volt 30 DC-DC Charger - [LINK]
- and some nice feature rich add-ons to help it all come together.
- No solar for now that will come with the Alu-Cab.
- [Installed] DesertDoesIt Shorty Front Seat Jackers - [LINK]
- [Installed] Quadratec Driver Side Dead Pedal - [LINK]
- [Installed] 813 Fabrication Under the Seat Storage - [LINK]
- [Installed] Sherpa Sunlight Roof Rack - [LINK]

Decided to pull the trigger on the Roof Rack before the Snorkel. The snorkel in the end would be just for look I know it does have function but lets be honest its more of a aesthetics type of deal.

The lack of maintenance on my part and checking, resulted in my rear brakes being a little poopy and seized. Beginning of July had my rear passenger brakes making a lot of noise, we knew it was the brakes but just took some time to fix. I don't drive the vehicle at all for anything other then Overlanding and Off-Road so pretty much was sitting there.

Then came the weekend of the fix, you know the story how a 30min fix ends up being a 6 hour job. Which is exactly what has happened, and then turned out to be a month long wait. Basically the one of the Caliper pins was seized in the hole and we were unable to remove it. We even snapped the bolt. We tried to drill into it and nothing we were unable to remove it.

Had to order the Caliper Bracket and the pins, because they were everywhere on backorder with no ETA. Took about a month from Mopar to get to me, so the truck was just sitting there at a friends house doing nothing. Kind of upset at Jeep/Mopar for not having these kind of parts in stock. Luckily I don't use my truck for anything so it had the opportunity to sit there.

So basically for about 1.5 months did nothing, but was acquiring other parts so that's good. Other then that brakes are now on the todo checklist / maintenance list. I cant really complain, 60k KM without any real issues is pretty good. Considering its just, Off-road and HWY Driving.

 

[Blucid]

Install pictures and write ups coming up, also if you have any questions regarding any of the items let me know I will give you my honest opinion.

 

[Blucid]

Mod #016 - DesertDoesIt Shorty Front Seat Jackers
Mod LINK // Completed Apr 27 / 2024
The trips were getting longer, and the fatigue was kicking in harder. After reading tons of articles online about the support these seat mods have in all sorts of vehicles, I decided to get some. Got only the drivers side for now to test them out.

Not going to lie, kinda a night and day difference you can actually feel. Install was super simple and I got the molle panel so I can eventually mount my Element Fire Extinguisher to it. I eventually paired it with the Quadratec Driver Side Dead Pedal [LINK] and it made longer trips way more enjoyable.

 

[Blucid]

Mod #017 - Quadratec Driver Side Dead Pedal
Mod LINK // Completed Aug 16 / 2024
Great addition with the Seat Riders, install was super easy and it feels great. Full Color instructions with a 5 min install time. One thing I do have to say, because the pedal is bolted to the firewall. You feel the engine and a lot more of the vibrations within the surrounding area of the pedal.

 

[Blucid]

Mod #018 - 813 Fabrication Under the Seat Storage (Full Molle Base)
Mod LINK // Completed Apr 27 / 2024
I would like to start by saying, thank you @813 Fabrication & Design for amazing products right off the bat. Its not just great products, but the quality and the though behind most of them is there too.

With my 2020 Rubicon, I got the under the seat storage crate. Here is the MOPAR Link - Storage Bin - Mopar (6LT89TX7AC). It does have plenty of room for great storage in there, is sealed and it can be locked as well. But with the thick plastic walls it made the space very limited. You lost a lot of space within the sidewalls. I wanted to maximize the space under the seat and turn it into something useful.

Originally I was thinking of getting the JCR Offroad Underseat MOLLE Storage Basket [LINK] but with the ends being cut at an angle I would be loosing a lot of usable space. So the next best option was the 813 Aluminum Under Seat Storage Bin [LINK]. The Square shape and size of it looked to be bigger. In the end it would be a better option for putting items under the seat or even mounting them.

Install was a breeze, and it opens up the space under the seat significantly. So you may be wondering what I am going to put under there. Well as I mentioned back in March of 2023, I am planning to drop all the electrical under the seat and behind the seats.



Link to that post is above. I have already purchased the Batteries, Inverter (Donation), and the DC-DC Charger. I am missing a few other components but nothing too big. So that install should be happening very soon hopefully before winter. So that I can use the 200AH of batteries that I will have.

I will be starting with 2x 100AH Batteries but there is space for even a 3rd if need be. Dont worry ill be doing a full electric write up once I draw up a few diagrams. If you have any questions regarding the 813 Fabrication Under the Seat Storage please let me know. Once again thank you @813 Fabrication & Design for amazing Jeep and Alu-Cab Products.

 

[Blucid]

Mod #019 - Sherpa Sunlight Full Height Roof Rack
Mod LINK // Completed Aug 28 / 2024
One of the more impulsive buys this year was, this roof rack. This style of roof rack was on my list to purchase but maybe not just yet. This year was the year of gear organization and electrical work. So I figured it would be a good addition to the jeep on longer trips with the family for gear hauling.

Main reasons for getting the Sherpa were, its a split design. The roof rack is split into two so once I purchase my Alu-Cab I will be able to undo my back end of the roof rack and put it aside. They actually do sell half a rack as well in the Moonlight Configuration [LINK]. The quality of the product is great, the install was a bit finicky just takes a lot of time aligning and tightening. But overall very happy with the product.

Here are some pictures of it in action, still looking for nice mount options but it worked out good so far.

To be honest I have not noticed any extra wind noise. I am sure there is but we are driving a Jeep, so im kinda used to it. It doesn't really bother me at all. Let me know if you guys have any questions. Thank you.

 

[Blucid]

Back for a mid 2025 Update, the electrical got super delayed. Just being lazy and the weather was always being super lame to work on wiring and anything. But its all installed and ready to go now. Here is some of the information.

*** Friend that helped me wire everything up has background in electrical so we made it happen, I know a bit about electrical but I can only answer so much on here if anyone decides to ask questions. ***

MID - 2025 Update
2025 - Electrical Build
- [Swapped] 2x LiTime 12V 100Ah Mini LiFePO4 Lithium Battery - [LINK]
--- But a friend bought a LiTime 230Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery [LINK] and then decided to go another route so we just swapped batteries. Which shifted the setup a bit, and the Samplex 3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter could not fit with the new battery.

- [Acquired] Renogy 2000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-Volt 30 DC-DC Charger - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Renogy Battery Monitor - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Blue Sea Systems ST Blade ATO/ATC Fuse Blocks - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Blue Sea Systems 300 Amp m-Series Battery Switch - [LINK]
- [Acquired] T Tocas 200 Amp Circuit Breaker - [LINK]
- [Acquired] T Tocas 120 Amp Circuit Breaker - [LINK]
- [Acquired] Ambuker 2Pcs 300A Busbar - [LINK]
- [Acquired] BOJACK 2 Pcs ANS Car Fuse - [LINK]

and all the corresponding wires that are needed for the wiring.
- [Selling / Saving] Samplex 3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter - [LINK] - Its up for 650 CAD if anyone is interested.

Last year in the summer, we removed the entire plastic backing behind the seats, the only thing left was the sub and the Alpine Portable Speaker. To see how much space we had for the panel and all the wiring.

After the removal we aquired some of the parts and were doing test fitting.

Drilled a little hole to hold the panel once its all bolted down. The ugly wood was there just as a test panel that we used for measuring and test fitting everything.

This is basically how it sits right now, the panel in the back is in a bit of a different layout. You can see in the picture below.

On the passanger side we used a hole saw to cut a nice hole for the Safety Switch, which basically lets me turn off the entire system in case of emergency or if I need to service the system.

Wiring being done, final setup before everything gets plugged in.

After checking everything with the Multi-Meter, it was time to fire up the Jeep. It started charging after a few seconds from the Victron DC Charger, +31.7 Amps going into the battery.

Right now the system is powering the new Fridge I got which sits in the back of the truck bed. We ran the wire for the fridge from the fusebox through the air vents at the back of the cab. Then it enters into the truck bed at the top under the tonneau cover. Once inside it follows the rails and into the back of my Air Up Box that we hooked up.

The Fridge actually has 1x DC plug in the back, and in the front it has 1x DC, 1x AC, and two USB-A.
Before a trip I plug in the AC, in the garage to pre-cool the fridge then when its time to leave just unplug it and turn the Battery system on.

ICECO VL35 ProS 35 Liters Portable - [LINK]

Very happy with the fridge, it works great and has a nice lid setup. Only downfall is its very small, but the plan is to upgrade to a dual zone bigger fridge once the Alu-Cab comes into play.

 

[Blucid]

Future Plans
We are also planning to run a permanent wire setup to the back of the Air-Up Box and hook up a Weather.Proof / Outdoor Outlet. The idea is during winter camping, I can plug a extension cord and run it into the Roof Top Tent. With that extension cord and the power setup I will be able to run a heated blanket inside my sleeping bag for Winter Camping.

I also need a better solution to pulling the fridge out but I will tackle that another day.

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