TheTrailGeek - Gator Green Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Build

[JTdiRtyD]

Subscribed. You've got a great build!

I'm seriously thinking of switching from my plan of a home made GFC topper with removable RTT and going with something like your setup and a clamshell tent.

I've been wanting a GFC type setup because of the ability to stand up in the bed and stay out of the elements when needed, but I can't fit in my garage with a RTT above the cab, so it has to be removable and thats proving to be a challenge. With a setup like yours and clamshell I could get the full enclosure system that covers the ladder entrance and still keep it mounted low enough I could fit the truck in the garage. But it's also more setup time having to set up all the walls and such.

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[TheTrailGeek]

Thanks!! I'm super happy with the Roof Space 2. Super fast to setup and tear down. I originally put it on my Rebel Offroad full-size cap, but even at 6'1" I needed a small step to put it up and down. It's so much faster to setup and teardown when you can reach everything from the ground.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Thanks!! I'm super happy with the Roof Space 2. Super fast to setup and tear down. I originally put it on my Rebel Offroad full-size cap, but even at 6'1" I needed a small step to put it up and down. It's so much faster to setup and teardown when you can reach everything from the ground.

Have you had any issues with the gap in tent material at the hinge? I've seen a couple reviews now about bugs getting in. It looks like it would be easy enough to cover it with a piece of material and some velcro.

The Mrs already hates it enough when daddy long legs hide out under the rain fly of our backpacking tents, she would never camp again if she woke up to them inside the tent.

 

[MJDGator]

Did you have to trim the brake shields to fit the Fusion tie rod? My stock drag link end at the pitman is bad so I am looking at different steering upgrades.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Did you have to trim the brake shields to fit the Fusion tie rod? My stock drag link end at the pitman is bad so I am looking at different steering upgrades.

I didn't have to trim anything. To be honest, I'd probably look at RPM if I bought again.

 

[MJDGator]

I didn't have to trim anything. To be honest, I'd probably look at RPM if I bought again.

Why is that? RPM and Fusion are the 2 main ones I'm looking at.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Saw a set of the 2" on a rig the other day. Super beefy and I like the hexed ends on the aluminum. They look way cleaner on the rig.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Installed the American Adventure Labs modular front bumper. Rain moved in so I didn't have time to reinstall the lights so that's a project for another weekend.

Here's the before.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Started cleaning up 4 years of "I'll just wire this in really quick and clean it up later". Don't have room on my new bumper for ditch lights so trying to find a home for them. Not sure if I like them on the side of the pillar or not. Seems like a lot.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Finished the wiring cleanup. Ran into a super weird issue. I had the Voswitch tapped on F52 and my @WOLFBOX mirror power on F102. Every once in a while, my mirror would stay on after I turned the car off and I'd have to turn it on and back off again. I swapped the Voswitch to F102 and it won't shut off when the truck shuts off. I had the Jeep battery disconnected for about 48 hours and I know when you first power them up after a long time without power, weird stuff happens until it fully restores. I'm hoping this is that, but I just disconnected the battery for the evening since it's so late and will reconnect it in the morning when I can check on it periodically. Just glad to have the bird nest of wires all cleaned up. Sadly, she's getting dropped off at the dealer Friday for the good old Gladiator paint issues and to have the front axle vent replaced. They claim it will be done in a "couple days" cause they aren't busy right now.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

More lights wired in. Long way to go.

Baja Design Light Comparison

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Super happy with how this is turning out. I have a half-height topper (American Adventure Labs LBE) and wanted to keep my electronics as high and as far back as I could. I bought 4 of these trail rail mounts from Motobilt and put together some extrusion to sit on top of them. It's not much room, but just enough for what I need. Once I get my Jeep back, I'll make sure it fits in there first (took measurements before I dropped it at the dealer), then cut and felt the plywood to mount everything to.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Super productive weekend. I finally got the extrusion mini-rack installed for my electronics and mounted all the Baja Designs S2 Sports on the canopy and punched the wiring through to the inside. Up next is the Redarc battery controller and the 230ah Lifepo4.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Got the Victory 4x4 slider put together and ready to put in. Got delivered in 3 days, free shipping and seems really well built. I wish the tray was aluminum just to shave a little weight, but I’m super happy with the product so far.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Good progress this week. Got the battery / electronics box fully assembled. I need to hit it with some. black touchup paint in few spots (Just cause the bare wood spots bug me). Got the fridge set in on the slider and got the inverter mounted. Waiting on a Blue Sea systems bus bar and then I just have to mount and wire up the Redarc Alpha 50, the Voswitch and clean up all the wire and I should be good to go! Hoping to have it all wrapped up this week sometime assuming UPS / USPS arrive on schedule. Getting close!!

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