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

[BlueScapegoat]

Looks good! I’ll be by so you can cut mine too.

I think I'll pass. Thanks though!

These are the tools I used if it help anybody else. Seeing people do it with a sawzall looks crazy to me and just asking for a bent bedside or cracked paint. The mini reciprocating saw is so fast it just cuts through like butter with no vibration or anything like that. Then I cut some of the interior structure with the cutoff wheel. An angle grinder seemed too unwieldy and I didn't want to visibly burn the paint.

Also some people gave me shit when I was bitching about how far off Mopar's own touch up paint is. I was told it's touch up paint and it's not going to be perfect, and it's just the lighting in the photo, blah blah blah.

Well here's the Mopar Gobi paint next to the Gobi from Automotive Touchup.

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[BourbonRunner]

i spent too much money on Memorial Day sales.

 

[Clamcakes]

Put on my Tyger T1 tonneau cover in between rain drops!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Trussed the front, regeared, new MC ball joints, and relocated my diesel fuel filter (iron rock) and made a skid plate. And when I say did, I did the grunt work (disassembly , assembly, sanding, cleaning ect..) and my buddy who does this stuff daily did the technical work like the welding and setting up the gears. The man is a wizard.
FYI, my camera sucks, its 1 step up from a potato.

That thing will be a damn tank. I dig it.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Done. Ended up with a bit of an uneven tapering gap between the side pods and the cut in the bed. There's enough adjustment I could make the gap even by lowering the leading edge but I opted for a bit of extra clearance.

That’s excellent work. And a sweet ass bumper.

 

[Supazuk]

So on Monday the JT hit 66,666!!!! and It must have been an omen
Because I got the first death wobble on this rig the next day!
Full disclosure I knew it was coming, my tie rods were flopping around, my front shocks were leaking, and when I hit anything worse than a wash board the truck had auto lane shift.
Lucky for me I had New parts on the top of the tool box (been waiting since march) ready for me to install

Friday (may 22) I had my birthday off and weather was nice it was time to upgrade some steering ( I always pick out the perfect gift for myself!)
I Put the JT up on stands Measured my tow in / out then took the wheels off.
Did shake and brake check. Well bakes and ball joints looked good, so I have that going for me.

My drag link joints were showing some wear, However since it was already the Tera flex HD Drag link only had to adjust it. I backed out the set screws and set joint preload with the special Teraflex tool provided and grease

Took the factory tie rod out and they were worse then I thought... opps
Now before I tossed it in the scrap metal pile, I measured the old tie rod assembly
Now to set up the new Tera flex HD Chromoly Tie rod kit mmmm Beefy!!!!!
made sure I anti seized the threaded ends care (don't want to become the tin man) set it the same length as the OEM

My OE stabilizer was all banged up so since I was there I planed the up grade: Fox Performance series 2.0 IFP Steering stabilizer

PlusI installed 4 new Fox Performance series 2.0 Shocks at the 4 corners

Finished off with a nice tire rotation I set the toe, locked it all down then Took out for a test ride wow nice and smooth!

and then it was birthday Beers.. I'll tell ya my Body was aching When did 50 show up so fast!

 

[Supazuk]

Done. Ended up with a bit of an uneven tapering gap between the side pods and the cut in the bed. There's enough adjustment I could make the gap even by lowering the leading edge but I opted for a bit of extra clearance.

I really like that setup I just wish there was one with a receiver with a flip up plate or somthing, since I tow with my truck

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I really like that setup I just wish there was one with a receiver with a flip up plate or somthing, since I tow with my truck

The plate does flip up and they make a receiver to put behind it. That's my eventual plan but I need to chill with the wallet at the moment. It's the only reason I went with this bumper vs one that's even higher clearance that relocates the plate to the bed

https://artecindustries.com/product...MCMEEn_8z0V_gWu-fI1VGPH6C23caOSuxrhJg_0dvoBrJ

 

[Supazuk]

The plate does flip up and they make a receiver to put behind it. That's my eventual plan but I need to chill with the wallet at the moment. It's he only reason I went with this bumper vs one that's even higher clearance that relocates the plate to the bed

https://artecindustries.com/product...MCMEEn_8z0V_gWu-fI1VGPH6C23caOSuxrhJg_0dvoBrJ

that's awesome

 

[gladdys]

Installed the 2.5 Clayton overland lift with new wheels and tires

 

[Supazuk]

Installed the 2.5 Clayton overland lift with new wheels and tires

what wheels are those???

 

[WILDHOBO]

So on Monday the JT hit 66,666!!!! and It must have been an omen
Because I got the first death wobble on this rig the next day!
Full disclosure I knew it was coming, my tie rods were flopping around, my front shocks were leaking, and when I hit anything worse than a wash board the truck had auto lane shift.
Lucky for me I had New parts on the top of the tool box (been waiting since march) ready for me to install

Friday (may 22) I had my birthday off and weather was nice it was time to upgrade some steering ( I always pick out the perfect gift for myself!)
I Put the JT up on stands Measured my tow in / out then took the wheels off.
Did shake and brake check. Well bakes and ball joints looked good, so I have that going for me.

My drag link joints were showing some wear, However since it was already the Tera flex HD Drag link only had to adjust it. I backed out the set screws and set joint preload with the special Teraflex tool provided and grease

Took the factory tie rod out and they were worse then I thought... opps
Now before I tossed it in the scrap metal pile, I measured the old tie rod assembly
Now to set up the new Tera flex HD Chromoly Tie rod kit mmmm Beefy!!!!!
made sure I anti seized the threaded ends care (don't want to become the tin man) set it the same length as the OEM

My OE stabilizer was all banged up so since I was there I planed the up grade: Fox Performance series 2.0 IFP Steering stabilizer

PlusI installed 4 new Fox Performance series 2.0 Shocks at the 4 corners

Finished off with a nice tire rotation I set the toe, locked it all down then Took out for a test ride wow nice and smooth!

and then it was birthday Beers.. I'll tell ya my Body was aching When did 50 show up so fast!

Lots of work. Great job. And to answer your question, no idea, but mere months away for me as well.

 

[Supazuk]

Lots of work. Great job. And to answer your question, no idea, but mere months away for me as well.

I really wish i did this day one, because the front tires were cupped, I have never see a tie road that bad on that was only on the road for 2 years (bought a 23 left over in 24) granted i do drive the wheels off it, but the stock tie rod was dry!!!!!

 

[WILDHOBO]

I really wish i did this day one, because the front tires were cupped, I have never see a tie road that bad on that was only on the road for 2 years (bought a 23 left over in 24) granted i do drive the wheels off it, but the stock tie rod was dry!!!!!

They take so much stress with bigger tires. And a decent amount with 33’s. My 2.5 ton tie rod I think is finally bent. It’s on my list. I had to adjust the drag link to the end of adjustment to get the wheel almost straight.

 

[Mud Pie]

Got the same shirt. Got it last summer at Buc-ee's in Armadillo Texas.

I have the same T shirt, also. Except I didn't get mine at Buc-ee's (a mainstay here in Texas and one down the street from me), I got mine in Pigeon Forge, TN when my wife and I did a Pink Jeep Tour last year.

Buc-ee's does have an amazing amount of Jeep gear for sure. My wife has picked up a Jeep pullover and two Buc-ee ducks.

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