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

[Shibbyjeep]

Installed the EVO 1/4 pounder bumper. Cutting the frame horns was not that bad but once you do it, you own it going forward. Solved the body roll issue I had with a top bumper winch mount setup.

Nice. Looks so much better now too!

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[professorkx]

Is Fins and Things doable in a stock Rubicon with no damage?

Your Rubicon will do just fine, and you won’t get any body damage on Fins and Things.

I did Fins and Things as my first trail in my 1947 cj2a truck conversation the first time I took it to Moab. my 47 has open differentials and the frame stretch gives me just over 103 wheelbase. My 18 year old grandson took my 47 on Fins and Things that year as his first rock crawling trail, and had never driven a manual before. Of course, the 93:1 crawl ratio in my 47 helps…

The last section on Fins and Things that turns right and crawls up and back on two parallel fins is the only section that gives folks pause, but there is an alternative route that takes you back to the pavement just before the right turn up the last fin section. My wife hates the last fin section, so we always take the alternative route to pavement.

If this is your first time in Moab, you might want to avoid Poison Spider and Metal Masher…two popular and fun trails…, as you might not have the ground clearance to keep from scraping the bottom on a couple of obstacles. There is also a difficult section going to Poison Spider at the top of the initial switch backs that I doubt you will like with a stock rig. IMHO, you really want taller tires and some lift for these two trails, but not needed Fins and Things and a ton of other fun trails.

You can also do Elephant Hill…one of our favorite trails…without risking body damage in a stock rig, and IMHO, it’s a ton more fun than Fins and Things. Here again, I did this trail in my 47, and thought I might have trouble climbing out the last section without at least one locker, but never slipped a wheel. With lockers, your Rubicon won’t have any trouble, just don’t run with lockers on all the time, only when needed…which is rare on most trails.

 

[Rusty PW]

Yesterday, I ordered some tools from RockJock to service the Johnny Joints on my control arms. Need these tools to take apart and put back together again the Johnny Joints. I got the 2" and 2.5" tools.

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9112T

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9110T

 

[Rusty PW]

While I was on the RockJock website. I got these too. Frame plugs.

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/RJ-600000-BDL

 

[bill61]

While I was on the RockJock website. I got these too. Frame plugs.

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/RJ-600000-BDL

Are they aluminum or something?

 

[WILDHOBO]

replace that manual jack with an air assist hydronic with foot pedal control…$120 off Amazon…and you will add so much more capability to your Harbor Freight press. i also built a brake press about 10 years ago out of scrap steel that was a game changer as well…and now you can buy a brake press from a number of sources…. I use my press at least once a week in my shop.

I love that idea. Thanks! Do you have pictures by any chance?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Your Rubicon will do just fine, and you won’t get any body damage on Fins and Things.

I did Fins and Things as my first trail in my 1947 cj2a truck conversation the first time I took it to Moab. my 47 has open differentials and the frame stretch gives me just over 103 wheelbase. My 18 year old grandson took my 47 on Fins and Things that year as his first rock crawling trail, and had never driven a manual before. Of course, the 93:1 crawl ratio in my 47 helps…

The last section on Fins and Things that turns right and crawls up and back on two parallel fins is the only section that gives folks pause, but there is an alternative route that takes you back to the pavement just before the right turn up the last fin section. My wife hates the last fin section, so we always take the alternative route to pavement.

If this is your first time in Moab, you might want to avoid Poison Spider and Metal Masher…two popular and fun trails…, as you might not have the ground clearance to keep from scraping the bottom on a couple of obstacles. There is also a difficult section going to Poison Spider at the top of the initial switch backs that I doubt you will like with a stock rig. IMHO, you really want taller tires and some lift for these two trails, but not needed Fins and Things and a ton of other fun trails.

You can also do Elephant Hill…one of our favorite trails…without risking body damage in a stock rig, and IMHO, it’s a ton more fun than Fins and Things. Here again, I did this trail in my 47, and thought I might have trouble climbing out the last section without at least one locker, but never slipped a wheel. With lockers, your Rubicon won’t have any trouble, just don’t run with lockers on all the time, only when needed…which is rare on most trails.

I’ve done poison spider bone stock. No problem. Friends joined me after and there was a bone stock Willy’s and bone stock Mojave. No problem with either. Just need the right lines.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yesterday, I ordered some tools from RockJock to service the Johnny Joints on my control arms. Need these tools to take apart and put back together again the Johnny Joints. I got the 2" and 2.5" tools.

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9112T

https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9110T

I have one of those. Works great. But I was sick and tired of servicing Johnny joints period, so I switched control arms a while back.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Not my gladiator, but helped a friend take a stock JTR to 3.5” lift and 37’s. Took all of yesterday and some of today. He thought the project out very well, and had a pile of parts to make it perfect. It was great fun.

 

[professorkx]

I’ve done poison spider bone stock. No problem. Friends joined me after and there was a bone stock Willy’s and bone stock Mojave. No problem with either. Just need the right lines.

I stand corrected.

I’ve done both trails something like 20 times in prior jeeps…well and my 47 that I still own… (we spend time in Moab each year), and I don’t think I would attempt either with a stock Gladiator. Then again, my Gladiator had about 100 miles on the clock when I installed the lift, swapped to 37 inch tires and other mods, so I never tested it in stock trim. Quite frankly, I‘ve never wheeled a stock rig in 4 decades…

 

[Rusty PW]

Are they aluminum or something?

Don't know until I get them.

 

[bailer]

I finally got around to installing some Tereflex 1” shims to remove the front end sag. I already had the Mopar lift on my Rubicon, this was just to get it to level. Front end still feels good, not enough to need adjustable arms I guess.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Installed the EVO 1/4 pounder bumper. Cutting the frame horns was not that bad but once you do it, you own it going forward. Solved the body roll issue I had with a top bumper winch mount setup.

That looks so clean! Nice job!

 

[professorkx]

I finally got around to installing some Tereflex 1” shims to remove the front end sag. I already had the Mopar lift on my Rubicon, this was just to get it to level. Front end still feels good, not enough to need adjustable arms I guess.

I did the same thing at the same time I installed the AEV lift. After installing the new steel bumper and Warn winch, it still sags a little, but about level when I load my KTM 690 into the bed, so all good….

I talked about this with AEV customer service, and they were not a fan, but for the low cost of the terflex spacer, it was worth the test. Glad I added the spacers.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I stand corrected.

I’ve done both trails something like 20 times in prior jeeps…well and my 47 that I still own… (we spend time in Moab each year), and I don’t think I would attempt either with a stock Gladiator. Then again, my Gladiator had about 100 miles on the clock when I installed the lift, swapped to 37 inch tires and other mods, so I never tested it in stock trim. Quite frankly, I‘ve never wheeled a stock rig in 4 decades…

I don’t have nearly your experience, but have done it 6 times. My first was the trail that started it all of me.

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