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

[JTdiRtyD]

Got its 6th windshield installed, including the factory original. Oem, non-gorilla. I’m finally going to learn. Exoshield goes on next weekend if I can last that long without breaking it.

I've had a few good rock hits on the glass but no cracks or knicks yet, but I've been waiting. My local glass installer knows us by name because our BMW's have had a few windshields replaced over the past... 6(?) years. I had 3 replaced, fiancé is now going on her 2nd. I don't know what it is about their glass, but it cracks if you look at it wrong...

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[Mightytalldude]

You suckered me in. T said she’d like it quieter and trusts your opinion

Put the thermal side down in the summer when you're using it, as the headliner side is not fade resistant.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I've had a few good rock hits on the glass but no cracks or knicks yet, but I've been waiting. My local glass installer knows us by name because our BMW's have had a few windshields replaced over the past... 6(?) years. I had 3 replaced, fiancé is now going on her 2nd. I don't know what it is about their glass, but it cracks if you look at it wrong...

Same. Our family owned glass place now gives us deductible discounts. They replaced one on my wife’s car last week.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Put the thermal side down in the summer when you're using it, as the headliner side is not fade resistant.

Awesome tip. Love it.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Finished up the rear electrical. Used some .125 alum sheet I had laying around and cut a panel to fit the shape of the inner bed side and used rivnuts to secure it. Auxbeam and accessory outlets installed in the access panel I built into the enclosure. Exterior lights (once I get some), bed interior lights in both white and amber, accessory outlets and air compressor (SB120 connector) will all be controlled from the Auxbeam. Need to tidy up the wiring a little better, too spaghetti looking for my likes.

Auxbeam mount is 3dprinted from TPU. Not sure how long the TPU will maintain shape but this a temporary solution. My original plan was to have the Renogy battery monitor in here as well, hence the big wasted space above the Auxbeam, but after moving the house battery into the cab I decided it was easier to put the monitor in the cab as well vs wiring up an extension and plug for it, so now I have this big blank space glaring at me when I open the panel. I think I might re-print the mount in ASA and add an SB50 connection point. What for? No idea, but it'll be available if I ever need one. Or better yet, maybe a solar panel or trickle charger hookup. That would probably make more sense.

I also realized my Wolfbox camera hotswapping idea isn't going to work as I have it because I didn't pay attention to the connection types, they are both female ends! So I have an male/female extension cable on the way that I can use to make it work. Right idea, wrong execution!

 

[Hootbro]

Certain satisfaction of no longer carrying a note and owning your ride outright.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Certain satisfaction of no longer carrying a note and owning your ride outright.

Congratulations!

 

[Jaxmax]

Certain satisfaction of no longer carrying a note and owning your ride outright.

I know the feeling Don I just paid off my 2021 early in four years, along with my wife’s Wrangler couple years early. Sort of back fired cause my bride likes boxey off-road trucks and dealer had a very nice Wagoneer with Hemi and 22,000 miles. I didn’t even get the title back and she is off looking!…..Jack
Did not get Wagoneer as it is sort of the same as my parade of Tahoes and a Suburbsn over the years , she likes the Bronco sport , or Jeep Recon look, and our dealer said Recon is coming out as a hybrid in the next year or two. Until then I’ll stick to the back roads avoiding dealers lots!

 

[WILDHOBO]

I know the feeling Don I just paid off my 2021 early in four years, along with my wife’s Wrangler couple years early. Sort of back fired cause my bride likes boxey off-road trucks and dealer had a very nice Wagoneer with Hemi and 22,000 miles. I didn’t even get the title back and she is off looking!…..Jack
Did not get Wagoneer as it is sort of the same as my parade of Tahoes and a Suburbsn over the years , she likes the Bronco sport , or Jeep Recon look, and our dealer said Recon is coming out as a hybrid in the next year or two. Until then I’ll stick to the back roads avoiding dealers lots!

Dealer lots are dangerous.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I know the feeling Don I just paid off my 2021 early in four years, along with my wife’s Wrangler couple years early. Sort of back fired cause my bride likes boxey off-road trucks and dealer had a very nice Wagoneer with Hemi and 22,000 miles. I didn’t even get the title back and she is off looking!…..Jack
Did not get Wagoneer as it is sort of the same as my parade of Tahoes and a Suburbsn over the years , she likes the Bronco sport , or Jeep Recon look, and our dealer said Recon is coming out as a hybrid in the next year or two. Until then I’ll stick to the back roads avoiding dealers lots!

Come this Wednesday, I might find out if Craigslist is dangerous. No spoilers until it’s real.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Certain satisfaction of no longer carrying a note and owning your ride outright.

We never take "loans" full term. We mainly do financing for convenience, and it helps keep the credit rating over 815 or so.
We usually go for long terms, but pay way ahead. That way if anything happens (like back in 2001, job loss) you can drop back to the lower payment until things improve again, and get back to paying early.
Love have a folder of titles in a safe. Hate it when someone else holds that paper.

 

[RudeJeepin]

We never take "loans" full term. We mainly do financing for convenience, and it helps keep the credit rating over 815 or so.
We usually go for long terms, but pay way ahead. That way if anything happens (like back in 2001, job loss) you can drop back to the lower payment until things improve again, and get back to paying early.
Love have a folder of titles in a safe. Hate it when someone else holds that paper.

We do the same thing. I think my Gladiator loan is 72 months. At 2% interest why not. We'll should have it paid off in 4yrs or so.
I almost always take the longest term as long as it doesn't adversely effect the interest. It's easier to pay extra every month than try to ask for a lower payment for a month or two if needed.
I was in home construction way back and business slowed almost to a stop. I was off more than on for nearly a year. No jobs of any kind where hiring in the area, the economy was crap all around. Money got super tight and we almost lost my wife's car. Loan officer didn't want to help, just said make payment or turn the car back in. Finally found a steady job turning wrenches.
A good friend that was older and much smarter with money suggested the long loan terms and pay extra every month. Made sense, now that what we do. We also found Credit Unions usually beat bank loans. Been using the same CU for 20yrs. I call, they say yep, how much do you want.
CU just facilitate a student loan for your youngest. Best deal he could find.

 

[JCappy]

Certain satisfaction of no longer carrying a note and owning your ride outright.

That's awesome. Best mod in my opinion. Paid my '23 off when I got it. Greatest feeling ever.

 

[JCappy]

You suckered me in. T said she’d like it quieter and trusts your opinion

Let me know what you think after install. Been also thinking about this but still don't have my issue resolved. Been 2 weeks since last response from Bestop. Also sent a message to @Bestop on here and didn't hear from them either and that's been over a week. Guess once you buy they don't care.

 

[shockingtruth22]

Dumped the break-in differential fluids today and replaced with 75W-140 after about 600 miles on Dana 4.88s. Also replaced the stock covers since the covers were coming off anyways.

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