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

[JCappy]

Swapped out the common windshield lights brackets for Maximus Side Shooters.

Needed extra PPF under the brackets but so far for for looks and light pattern it’s much, much better than the windshield mounts.

I like those. Should cut down on hood glare with some lights. I'll have to look into those. My luck they won't fit a Mojave like many other products.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Pulled the thing all apart.
With Jerry's help, bumper off, DD Sport yellow fogs installed.
Snow plow brackets on the frame (took a very long time to get the frame holes enlarged for the snow plow handle bolts)

Had to think through the shock reservoir bit - and the hoses to same, but it was a ton easier than feared! Didn't even need the relocation brackets. Just relocated the hose routes. Still need to strap them a bit but will be fine.

Box of a half dozen big wiring harnesses for the plow and lighting. That's going to take time more than anything.

 

[JayP13]

Finally made some upgrades. Fuel Shok rims 17" X 9 -12mm, with Micky Thomson's 35' tires. Gladiolus "Gladiator" tailgate mod. Had a AEV Mojave 2' spacer lift.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

PS - credit to Jerry for coming up with the hose route idea between frame and snow plow frame brackets............

 

[jsturges18]

I like those. Should cut down on hood glare with some lights. I'll have to look into those. My luck they won't fit a Mojave like many other products.

The TYRI website where I bought them from showed them on a Rubicon. They don’t touch the hood or windshield cowls, so it shouldn’t be an issue on Mojave. Other thing I can see is the higher fender blocking the pattern a tad bit.

https://tyrioffroad.com/products/si...ytgsy-ZNDot1R7IND4aGRbQwSSFa3ozXIBUfUEhI8ijFh

 

[JCappy]

Finally made some upgrades. Fuel Shok rims 17" X 9 -12mm, with Micky Thomson's 35' tires. Gladiolus "Gladiator" tailgate mod. Had a AEV Mojave 2' spacer lift.

Looks good. I may go larger tires when the originals wear out. What part of CHS? That's my home town and visit often.

 

[JCappy]

The TYRI website where I bought them from showed them on a Rubicon. They don’t touch the hood or windshield cowls, so it shouldn’t be an issue on Mojave. Other thing I can see is the higher fender blocking the pattern a tad bit.

https://tyrioffroad.com/products/si...ytgsy-ZNDot1R7IND4aGRbQwSSFa3ozXIBUfUEhI8ijFh

Thanks. Appreciate the info

 

[RudeJeepin]

And I also notice that there was a certain point in the overtime hours that if you went above you would jump up into more taxes with held and I seem to remember its around 20 hrs.

Seems like less than 4 is a waste because of taxes also. Sweet spot is 8 to 16 or so.
Luckily my work does comp time if wanted. Like this week, we worked 30 minutes over on 3 different days. 1.5 hrs OT wouldn't pay, but that's time off I can use later.

 

[ALT2870]

Tightened down my very loose front track bar on the axle side. Read on for fun story or see some crazy pictures at the end.

Spoiler: The Story

So a few weeks ago did a camping trip followed by some moderate offroading over Mosquito Pass. Not going to say I took it easy but nothing too to crazy. Get back onto pavement and fill up with air in Leadville, everything feels fine. Get back to the interstate and still fine. However about 15 minutes down the road I start really fighting to stay in my lane, way more then I'm use to. (Speed limit is now 75. There are occasional tugs left and right as well. I have a RTT on and this is the first time really spending some times at highway speed so think it could be that. Get home and park it in the garage. (I have a separate car I do most of my around town driving in.)

I take off the RTT a week later as other vehicle is having some engine problems and see what happens. The steering wheel seems to be dead in the middle and "catches" when I get 10-15 degrees off center. Very strange and happens at all speeds. Depending on the curve in the road sometimes the wheel doesn't even go past center even when it is in the opposite direction. Not good so I decide to call up a shop to see what goes on. Decide on an alignment first to see if that helps. Shortly after the call I decide to do what I probably should of done earlier and look at the front. Sure enough the toe out is so bad you can see it. And yes, the picture below is as bad as it looks. Get the alignment and drive it back home, seems to be fine. Side note asked them to toe it in as much as factory specs allow but they did not.

A few days later I'm driving down the interstate and start having the exact same issue with the wheel, not as bad but very sloppy steering. Take it back to get the alignment checked again. This time I'm more aggressive on the toe in but I also ask them to check all the bolts on the front end to make sure they are torqued properly. I said I'll pay extra whatever but feel like something is loose. Reiterate this several times and they said no problem. Get vehicle back and sit was slightly toed out before hand but nothing crazy. Toe was slightly out again afterwards but in spec. Alignment guy when dropping off keys didn't look too happy that I brought it back so soon but counter guy could care less. We talk about it and he figures it's the tires. (They are 11.5.) I don't feel like arguing but I know it isn't as tight as it was before. I ask one more time making sure they got everything tightened up and he confirmed. This was all on the alignment rack so I was highly doubtful. Drive away and slight improvement but slop still there.

Flash forward to today. Heading out of town going 35 and suddenly got an intense death wobble, and I mean intense. It only last for a couple seconds then gone. Go down the highway and still sloppy steering. Come home on a dirt road to avoid traffic and it continues and low speeds (25-35mph). As I was backing into the garage as I did a small shimmy to line up I heard a slight clunk. I then really shimmied the wheel very slightly and just kept hearing a small clunk. By chance my neighbor who is very vehicle savvy (has a couple early Jeeps) is out with a friend so I ask him to come and listen/look. Shimmy it some more and bingo, they see the bolt for the panhard bar (you learn some new term every day) at the axle just dancing around. They show me as well and got a good picture of the flag nut just straight up. They were worried that it might be bottomed out but it was not. (The friend was worried if it was tires or a lift but it's not lifted and the tires shouldn't be an issue.)

I was able to get a torque wrench on it and tried for 110 but it's been a long day. Needless to say I'm looking forward to see this thing not trying to kill me going down the road. I'm partly disappointed in Jeep as I feel it wasn't torqued to spec and knowing this is an issue that's why I wanted the shop to check everything. But that brings me to the shop not doing what I asked and offered to pay for. I'm debating swinging by tomorrow just to talk to them but honestly I'm over it at this point between that and the toe which I know is easy anyway.

Congrats if you made it to the end. Figure it give some people a good read. I know two things now, check the front for alignment off the rip and get everything torqued and marked so I know if it loosens. The second part I'm not sure how I will go about but will figure it out.

 

[loganjeeps]

Was that you I saw on Hembree Rd today around 3 pm? Red Gladiator running around topless.

Possibly so, I am up in Alpharetta often.

 

[Stan H]

Tightened down my very loose front track bar on the axle side. Read on for fun story or see some crazy pictures at the end.

Spoiler: The Story

So a few weeks ago did a camping trip followed by some moderate offroading over Mosquito Pass. Not going to say I took it easy but nothing too to crazy. Get back onto pavement and fill up with air in Leadville, everything feels fine. Get back to the interstate and still fine. However about 15 minutes down the road I start really fighting to stay in my lane, way more then I'm use to. (Speed limit is now 75. There are occasional tugs left and right as well. I have a RTT on and this is the first time really spending some times at highway speed so think it could be that. Get home and park it in the garage. (I have a separate car I do most of my around town driving in.)

I take off the RTT a week later as other vehicle is having some engine problems and see what happens. The steering wheel seems to be dead in the middle and "catches" when I get 10-15 degrees off center. Very strange and happens at all speeds. Depending on the curve in the road sometimes the wheel doesn't even go past center even when it is in the opposite direction. Not good so I decide to call up a shop to see what goes on. Decide on an alignment first to see if that helps. Shortly after the call I decide to do what I probably should of done earlier and look at the front. Sure enough the toe out is so bad you can see it. And yes, the picture below is as bad as it looks. Get the alignment and drive it back home, seems to be fine. Side note asked them to toe it in as much as factory specs allow but they did not.

A few days later I'm driving down the interstate and start having the exact same issue with the wheel, not as bad but very sloppy steering. Take it back to get the alignment checked again. This time I'm more aggressive on the toe in but I also ask them to check all the bolts on the front end to make sure they are torqued properly. I said I'll pay extra whatever but feel like something is loose. Reiterate this several times and they said no problem. Get vehicle back and sit was slightly toed out before hand but nothing crazy. Toe was slightly out again afterwards but in spec. Alignment guy when dropping off keys didn't look too happy that I brought it back so soon but counter guy could care less. We talk about it and he figures it's the tires. (They are 11.5.) I don't feel like arguing but I know it isn't as tight as it was before. I ask one more time making sure they got everything tightened up and he confirmed. This was all on the alignment rack so I was highly doubtful. Drive away and slight improvement but slop still there.

Flash forward to today. Heading out of town going 35 and suddenly got an intense death wobble, and I mean intense. It only last for a couple seconds then gone. Go down the highway and still sloppy steering. Come home on a dirt road to avoid traffic and it continues and low speeds (25-35mph). As I was backing into the garage as I did a small shimmy to line up I heard a slight clunk. I then really shimmied the wheel very slightly and just kept hearing a small clunk. By chance my neighbor who is very vehicle savvy (has a couple early Jeeps) is out with a friend so I ask him to come and listen/look. Shimmy it some more and bingo, they see the bolt for the panhard bar (you learn some new term every day) at the axle just dancing around. They show me as well and got a good picture of the flag nut just straight up. They were worried that it might be bottomed out but it was not. (The friend was worried if it was tires or a lift but it's not lifted and the tires shouldn't be an issue.)

I was able to get a torque wrench on it and tried for 110 but it's been a long day. Needless to say I'm looking forward to see this thing not trying to kill me going down the road. I'm partly disappointed in Jeep as I feel it wasn't torqued to spec and knowing this is an issue that's why I wanted the shop to check everything. But that brings me to the shop not doing what I asked and offered to pay for. I'm debating swinging by tomorrow just to talk to them but honestly I'm over it at this point between that and the toe which I know is easy anyway.

Congrats if you made it to the end. Figure it give some people a good read. I know two things now, check the front for alignment off the rip and get everything torqued and marked so I know if it loosens. The second part I'm not sure how I will go about but will figure it out.

I hit the button seen how long it was skipped to the end . Glad ya got it resolved

 

[YGBSM]

Working two overnights in a row, on top of my double overtimes last weekend.

Hey gov guys (I don't want to sound too political by naming fucking MTV's Sean Duffy or our entirely incompetent union president Nick Daniels' name) You keep talking about retention in the FAA, paying bonuses to those that are eligible to retire, paying the trainees more. Pay us that are actually working more, you dumb fucks. We're losing employees to Australia. I'm doing ok but I won't put up with this shit much longer before I go work for a machine shop. Pilots I'm talking to that don't know what the fuck they're doing are making 3-5x what I am. I'm getting paid a quarter what some widebody captain is to babysit him and 25 other pilots at the same time and tell them there is indeed a thunderstorm in front of them that was there when they took off two hours ago. Wtf is dispatch doing?

Anyway I came home from my mid-shift and mowed the lawn, hit a bees nest. Mowed the lawn hit a bees nest. Mowed the lawn hit a bees nest. Mowed the lawn hit a bees nest.

Then I flipped the PSC ram. Cool.

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT! Pay the people who are working the traffic EVERYDAY!!! Put all the staff and management back on the GS scale but don't let them come back to the floor because they suck! Stop AJI from dumbing down the program. I know AJI2 and he was only on the boards for 6 months after CPC before he went to staff. Now he's deciding how we should hire and train? The last few years they've been adding 20 points to certain candidates for hire. 20 F'n points! When I hired on you had to have at least a 98 on the entrance exam. Now they've lowered the grading guideline to "everyone gets a trophy" status. Two people are being sent to the field from the last class that can't separate flies with a screed door!

Rant over. Only 14 hours to go to finish this 82.5 hour work week.

Nice Jeep!

 

[BlueScapegoat]

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT! Pay the people who are working the traffic EVERYDAY!!! Put all the staff and management back on the GS scale but don't let them come back to the floor because they suck! Stop AJI from dumbing down the program. I know AJI2 and he was only on the boards for 6 months after CPC before he went to staff. Now he's deciding how we should hire and train? The last few years they've been adding 20 points to certain candidates for hire. 20 F'n points! When I hired on you had to have at least a 98 on the entrance exam. Now they've lowered the grading guideline to "everyone gets a trophy" status. Two people are being sent to the field from the last class that can't separate flies with a screed door!

Rant over. Only 14 hours to go to finish this 82.5 hour work week.

Nice Jeep!

There has been a sharp and notable decline in the quality of trainees and the standard for certification.

It's a broken system they keep making worse while simultaneously publicly claiming they're making great strides in improvement. And nobody will call them out on it. There can be a lot of parallels drawn here but I want to be clear, given the strict no-politics rule in this forum - this isn't political. This is a bipartisan safety and staffing issue that the entirety of the public should have a great interest in. A lot of stuff isn't made public or doesn't catch the media's attention. There's been a distinct uptick in incidents.

Anyway to keep this post vaguely on topic, started this morning by pulling the fenders and liners to work on the antirock installation. All 46 fasteners. Then it started raining, so letting air out of the tires so I can back it in the garage. A lot of work to do still, Moab on the 1st.

 

[Stan H]

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT! Pay the people who are working the traffic EVERYDAY!!! Put all the staff and management back on the GS scale but don't let them come back to the floor because they suck! Stop AJI from dumbing down the program. I know AJI2 and he was only on the boards for 6 months after CPC before he went to staff. Now he's deciding how we should hire and train? The last few years they've been adding 20 points to certain candidates for hire. 20 F'n points! When I hired on you had to have at least a 98 on the entrance exam. Now they've lowered the grading guideline to "everyone gets a trophy" status. Two people are being sent to the field from the last class that can't separate flies with a screed door!

Rant over. Only 14 hours to go to finish this 82.5 hour work week.

Nice Jeep!

I had a job where I was under paid under appreciated, and over worked 84 hrs. Work weeks. So I told em to

 

[WILDHOBO]

So with the ram the correct way the nut on the drag link rubs the ram body at full left lock. I'm not sure what the solution is here. Flip the ram back the way it was, I guess. Or come up with new mounting locations entirely. Or I guess a longer rod end. Running out of time to get this done.

Is the drag link flipped? Could that help?

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