What did you do TO your Gladiator today? [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS, NO GUN TALK]

[chorky]

This weekend we got some graphics tossed on the JT, and got our iKamper Skycamp Mini installed. This week are wheels and tires!

we really dig the graphics - it has a topographic imprint on the graphic and we matched the hood and rear quarter panel graphic with an overlay on all the Jeep emblems. Think it looks

Man I really really like that color. More than my sarge green, and green is my favorite color. Too bad they didnt have them when I got mine or I probably would have gone with that color

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[chorky]

Wired a 12v outlet from the Cascadia 4x4 charge controller to the front of the under rear seat storage. I fused it at 15amp and tested it for charging the Bluetti eb55 battery pack. It worked great. I was getting 35w of input with only that small panel. I then started the Jeep and hooked up dial DC and AC charging (using the Jeep’s inverter) and got a consistent 265w of input charging. Based on the initial numbers, I think the setup is going to work very well.

So far, Starlink Mobility. We can make and receive cell phone calls with zero coverage, and I can probably ditch the sat phone I’ve had for 10 years. And I’m getting 225mbps sitting still, and 100-125 when moving. It’s pretty great. As a network engineer, I can work on customers’ infrastructures in the absolute middle of nowhere globally, and with really good performance.

Dan, I would really like to hear more about this - give me a ring when you have some time after testing it out if you don't mind. I heard some mixed thoughts on the Cascadia system, so have held off on installing it. I do like how it is compact compared to other options though.

I am also curious how the bluetti works for you and how much time of use you can get on your laptop and the starling. I am picking up a detail soon and will be doing some very heavy mapping/modeling but it would be super awesome if I could get a day or two's use. I imagine my network needs might be a tad higher than yours - needing to run ArcPro/Scene through virtual drives and a VDI along with teams and some other programs.

 

[antwon412]

Dan, I would really like to hear more about this - give me a ring when you have some time after testing it out if you don't mind. I heard some mixed thoughts on the Cascadia system, so have held off on installing it. I do like how it is compact compared to other options though.

I am also curious how the bluetti works for you and how much time of use you can get on your laptop and the starling. I am picking up a detail soon and will be doing some very heavy mapping/modeling but it would be super awesome if I could get a day or two's use. I imagine my network needs might be a tad higher than yours - needing to run ArcPro/Scene through virtual drives and a VDI along with teams and some other programs.

Calculate the power draw of all your devices combined, and then divide that by the available power of the portable power pack and you’ll be able to figure out how long it will last.

 

[skadax]

I added Spidertrax 1.75” adapters to my 2020 JTR. I’m keeping (at least for now) the stock Rubi rims and running 35 11.50 Toyo Open Country on them at the moment. I like that slight poke look and no issue here in AZ with that.

And yes, I’m aware of the controversy with spacers. I torqued everything to spec, used the included red thread locker and will be re-checking torque soon and regularly.

Very happy with the look!

Here’s my rim, spacer going on, couple of before and couple of after pics.

 

[chorky]

I added Spidertrax 1.75” adapters to my 2020 JTR. I’m keeping (at least for now) the stock Rubi rims and running 35 11.50 Toyo Open Country on them at the moment. I like that slight poke look and no issue here in AZ with that.

And yes, I’m aware of the controversy with spacers. I torqued everything to spec, used the included red thread locker and will be re-checking torque soon and regularly.

Very happy with the look!

Here’s my rim, spacer going on, couple of before and couple of after pics.

personally I dont like spacers. But done correctly I think they are plenty safe. The reason I dont like them is because a lot of shops flat out wont work with them. I tried having les shwab do a rotation years ago on my TJ and they told me no. When asked it was because I had spacers. And liabilities. Funny thing was they didnt know I had spacers until they already had the tires off. I think they just have a bad name and thus safety concerns. But i see plenty more unsafe vehicles on the road towing massively overweight trailers. I have 1.75” spacers on my TJ for 10 years. No problems so far.

 

[tannerjdixon12]

Man I really really like that color. More than my sarge green, and green is my favorite color. Too bad they didnt have them when I got mine or I probably would have gone with that color

Thanks! We love the color too, especially since you never know what shade it’ll take. Some days it’s almost a flat gray, some days it’s light blue/gray and some days it’s almost a foggy green. We really are happy with it! Bummer they pulled it so more people can’t enjoy it - but good for us I guess!

sarge green would have been one of our next choices, some of the most well done JT’s I’ve seen were sarge green so that’s a good fall back option!

 

[WILDHOBO]

personally I dont like spacers. But done correctly I think they are plenty safe. The reason I dont like them is because a lot of shops flat out wont work with them. I tried having les shwab do a rotation years ago on my TJ and they told me no. When asked it was because I had spacers. And liabilities. Funny thing was they didnt know I had spacers until they already had the tires off. I think they just have a bad name and thus safety concerns. But i see plenty more unsafe vehicles on the road towing massively overweight trailers. I have 1.75” spacers on my TJ for 10 years. No problems so far.

I have them, but I refuse to let anyone touch them but me. Impact wrenches turned up too high can mess up the lugs. I do my own rotations and 99% of all work, so I can control how they’re treated and maintained. I use a manual torque wrench only. If you have others work on them, make sure it’s a reputable shop.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Dan, I would really like to hear more about this - give me a ring when you have some time after testing it out if you don't mind. I heard some mixed thoughts on the Cascadia system, so have held off on installing it. I do like how it is compact compared to other options though.

I am also curious how the bluetti works for you and how much time of use you can get on your laptop and the starling. I am picking up a detail soon and will be doing some very heavy mapping/modeling but it would be super awesome if I could get a day or two's use. I imagine my network needs might be a tad higher than yours - needing to run ArcPro/Scene through virtual drives and a VDI along with teams and some other programs.

Of course. Will do. I haven’t done any real runtime tests yet, but the Starlink has plenty of bandwidth for what you’re doing. But I’m on a plan with priority throughput. I love that it’s month to month and you can pause service during months you don’t expect to use it. It seems to draw about 65 watts. If that remains consistent, I should get 8 hours without charging the 537wh bluetti. But the solar seems to charge it at around 30 watts. When duel charging from the DC charge controller and the Jeep’s inverter, it charges at around 265w. That means short day trips will charge it back up pretty quickly. Depending on runtime tests, I’ll likely add a 120w fold up solar panel to speed up charging on trips where the Jeep will sit for hours or days.

 

[GladLad]

Thanks! We love the color too, especially since you never know what shade it’ll take. Some days it’s almost a flat gray, some days it’s light blue/gray and some days it’s almost a foggy green. We really are happy with it! Bummer they pulled it so more people can’t enjoy it - but good for us I guess!

sarge green would have been one of our next choices, some of the most well done JT’s I’ve seen were sarge green so that’s a good fall back option!

Many of the the colors look different from one pic to the next, which made it hard for me to pick one (blue). From sun to shade, polished to dirty, color matching fenders/top making it pop differently, being next to a different color, etc. They were all inconsistent, bright to dull.

But Earl Gray, that's the most chameleon one of them all. Gray, blue, mint green, bluish gray, mint blue, mint gray, mint blue gray... make up your damn mind. I can see why people like it.

 

[Klicht87]

I added Spidertrax 1.75” adapters to my 2020 JTR. I’m keeping (at least for now) the stock Rubi rims and running 35 11.50 Toyo Open Country on them at the moment. I like that slight poke look and no issue here in AZ with that.

And yes, I’m aware of the controversy with spacers. I torqued everything to spec, used the included red thread locker and will be re-checking torque soon and regularly.

Very happy with the look!

Here’s my rim, spacer going on, couple of before and couple of after pics.

FWIW, I ran wheel spacers on my previous Colorado for years with no issues. Dealership rotated wheels with the spacers installed with no comments. I've heard some places won't rotate your wheels with them on but I've never experienced that. Just make sure they are torqued to spec and you should be good to go. I've been looking at some myself.

 

[Loud Lyle]

Installed an Arcus bumper and 12k Super Winch.

 

[chorky]

Installed an Arcus bumper and 12k Super Winch.

Nice choice of winch!

 

[AlpineChip]

Finally got the rack and tent installed. Wrapped up some minor items and ready to get somewhere in the mountains!

 

[Charles 236]

Installed the Sunrider this morning.

 

[Jglad15]

I banged up my stock sliders pretty good so I bought a set of rock hard 4x4’s angled up sliders. Install was a breeze just had to drill out a bit of the pinch seam holes. Pics don’t do it justice. They look awesome in person and the build quality is top notch. I’m going to wind rock in a few weeks so we will see what kind of a beating they can take!

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