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

[JCappy]

A question to those that have a Sunrider top -

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting one. Sure, them Freedom panels are easy-peasy to remove, but flipping that fabric top back is a whole lot easier !!

I know interior noise will be greater with fabric; I put those 1" thick sound deadening pads on all roof panels, it did make it slightly quieter, but not to the point where you can whisper to your front passenger....lol. I haven't been through a Texas summer yet with the Jeep, it's unknown how well they'll deflect heat. My father-in-law had a JK and I remember touching his Freedom panels in the summer, and jeez-Louise that roof got HOT.

My question is; with the summer temperature here in Texas getting hotter than the door hinges to Hell, will that fabric top make it feel like I have the door open on my kitchen oven ? I'll be honest, I prefer comfort over convenience. If the Sunrider is just going to bake me, I'll leave it on my wish list....

Pretty hot and humid here in GA in the summer. Love mine. Slightly louder than the panels and a little warmer during the hot months. I've heard the headliner for the sunrider helps so I may look into that but I love having the sunrider. Agree the panels are not difficult to take off and put back on but flipping the sunrider back only takes 2 seconds and you don't have to worry about taking up room in the truck or bed like you do storing the panels. I know some have had fitment issues with the newer vehicles but since you have a '23 I would think you would be ok. Win win in my book.

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[Mud Pie]

As far as 3M tape......
I've used it for years on auto trim and other heavier parts. I defy anyone taking things apart without destroying them even after 12 years. I had to leave a couple of things with our 2023 JLU when we traded it. Impossible to remove. The genuine stuff is amazing and literally chemically bonds.

I think a lot of it's effectiveness depends on location (map-wise). My wife's car has a external XM radio mounted in her console cubby. The bracket is held on with genuine 3M tape. I cleaned the area with alcohol applied the bracket on a perfectly flat area and let it sit for 48 hours, no radio, so the glue can set. Clipped the radio on, the edge of the radio lightly resting on the console; no weight or jiggling on the bracket. Very sturdy.

This past Saturday we came back from a week long trip to Mexico. Her car sat in the driveway unmolested and uncovered for a week. Guess where the radio was ? In the bottom of the console, the tape gave out. It lasted for maybe 3 months. I just can't trust 3M tape down here.

It's hard to convey the weather here to those that don't live here. It's insanely hot and humid for months on end. I can leave my air-conditioned house and by the time I make it to my Jeep in the driveway, I already have a bead of sweat running down my back and my forehead speckled with sweat. You can take a brand new hard dry sponge and put it outside. Within hours it will be fat and soft.

I've already told my Texan friends that if my A/C ever dies, I don't care if it's Super Bowl Sunday, somebody is coming to fix it !!

Satan would feel right at home in this Texas heat.

So, move to another state, you say ? Nope. There are SO many freedoms in Texas that other states can only dream. I'm just another transplanted Yankee bitching about the Texas heat.....

 

[WILDHOBO]

A question to those that have a Sunrider top -

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting one. Sure, them Freedom panels are easy-peasy to remove, but flipping that fabric top back is a whole lot easier !!

I know interior noise will be greater with fabric; I put those 1" thick sound deadening pads on all roof panels, it did make it slightly quieter, but not to the point where you can whisper to your front passenger....lol. I haven't been through a Texas summer yet with the Jeep, it's unknown how well they'll deflect heat. My father-in-law had a JK and I remember touching his Freedom panels in the summer, and jeez-Louise that roof got HOT.

My question is; with the summer temperature here in Texas getting hotter than the door hinges to Hell, will that fabric top make it feel like I have the door open on my kitchen oven ? I'll be honest, I prefer comfort over convenience. If the Sunrider is just going to bake me, I'll leave it on my wish list....

I can’t answer to the Texas temps, but get the hotheads headliner for the sunrider and your noise issues are gone. I thank @Mightytalldude for the suggestion.

 

[Mightytalldude]

A question to those that have a Sunrider top -

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting one. Sure, them Freedom panels are easy-peasy to remove, but flipping that fabric top back is a whole lot easier !!

I know interior noise will be greater with fabric; I put those 1" thick sound deadening pads on all roof panels, it did make it slightly quieter, but not to the point where you can whisper to your front passenger....lol. I haven't been through a Texas summer yet with the Jeep, it's unknown how well they'll deflect heat. My father-in-law had a JK and I remember touching his Freedom panels in the summer, and jeez-Louise that roof got HOT.

My question is; with the summer temperature here in Texas getting hotter than the door hinges to Hell, will that fabric top make it feel like I have the door open on my kitchen oven ? I'll be honest, I prefer comfort over convenience. If the Sunrider is just going to bake me, I'll leave it on my wish list....

Have had the Sunrider since January 2020, haven't removed it since I got it, works great but in stock form, it's definitely noisy compared to the freedom panels. Moved to South Texas May '24, got the Hothead Headliner for the Sunrider in '25, and it's night and day difference in road noise and heat transfer. You can have a normal conversation up to about 70mph, after that, the aerodynamic brick of a Jeep takes over. The South Texas heat doesn't come through either. 2 sides to the Hothead Headliner, leave the UV side facing down, Velcro strips visible, so it doesn't fade when you open the Sunrider.

 

[Boosthead]

Took the wings off my front mopar metal bumper to make it a stubby, and replaced the tail lights with Oracles.

 

[Boosthead]

OMG! Squirrels, that’s crazy! You will have to let me know how they stand up. Don’t think our squirrels are that hungry / aggressive here. LOL

That's CRAZY! I had a JKU with an AEV rear bumper and I have similar marks on one of the plastic end tanks. I was convinced a neighborhood kid had practiced whittling with their pocket knife.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Have had the Sunrider since January 2020, haven't removed it since I got it, works great but in stock form, it's definitely noisy compared to the freedom panels. Moved to South Texas May '24, got the Hothead Headliner for the Sunrider in '25, and it's night and day difference in road noise and heat transfer. You can have a normal conversation up to about 70mph, after that, the aerodynamic brick of a Jeep takes over. The South Texas heat doesn't come through either. 2 sides to the Hothead Headliner, leave the UV side facing down, Velcro strips visible, so it doesn't fade when you open the Sunrider.

Come visit in late July, early August. My son's family visited us a couple of years ago in July. The whole time E.J. griped about the humidity here.
(they live in FL, not far from the coast)

5 or 6 years ago I sprayed some weeds in the gravel drive by my shop. A month later, the weeds had not dried up, they were mush, like canned spinach and they turned black and smelly, almost like oil after a while. The yard smelled - rot and mold in the yard. Yeah, we understand humidity - we get the gulf air pumped up here and the corn sweat.

 

[heffercow]

Installed the morimoto flush tails. Love the look. I know it's not the jeep square tail light like it has always been but oh well. Have my factory LEDs tails in the for sale section if anyone is looking.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Got the next “old man” upgrade done. I installed a set of Rokblokz mud flaps. I went with the largest to try to keep the rocks and crap off of the camper. I dig that I can remove them without tools and didn’t need to permanently modify anything.

 

[Viper501]

(Another) new Aux battery, oil change, new KO2’s, and a flush of the brake fluid.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Installed the morimoto flush tails. Love the look. I know it's not the jeep square tail light like it has always been but oh well. Have my factory LEDs tails in the for sale section if anyone is looking.

I am waiting until I jackknife my trailer The spare tire has come REALLY close to busting a taillight a couple of times already. If it wasn’t for the backup camera, it would have already happened.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I think the PSI went a little low on the XJ….

 

[heffercow]

I think the PSI went a little low on the XJ….

What? No... I'm just aired down to help with the all the trails it's seen recently.......

 

[Labswine]

To all youse guys complaining about the noise with the SunRider top installed...I don't get it. I also have one (had it since early 2020) and honestly, mine is no louder than when the Freedom Panels are installed.

My SunRider is in from early April to late October then, it's the Freedom Panels over the winter.

I also don't really notice an increase in cabin temps after sitting in the hot sun, between the two different tops. Mine (probably like most of youse guys) has the standard black hard top so that alone would aid in hotter inside temps all by it's lonesome.

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