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

[Rcoe]

Last week installed Artec high clearance no-cut rear bumper.

Great product unfortunately it took them almost 2 months longer than quoted.

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[Mud Pie]

Put on new shoes, K03's. As usual, also did a 4 wheel alignment. (I cropped out rear alignment, all normal.) Look how whacked my Toe was !! The thing that grinds my gears is; when I bought it at the end of November (from a Chevy dealership, not Jeep) I asked them to do a front end alignment. I sat there for two hours and waited. If they did it, they did it wrong....

Are my tires huge ? Well, they are 265's, a wee bit larger than the factory 245's, but not impressive in the slightest. But I like them. When the NTB guy re-confirmed that I wanted white letters out and I said, "Of course, I'm Old Skool !!", he smiled and fist bumped me. When they brought it around, he goes, "Good choice. That looks badass withe the blue color of your Jeep.", I said, "Raised whites look awesome on ANY Jeep !!". Another fist bump. He walked around it. "Y'know, it kinda does.". Maybe I converted another to the light side....lol (I was going to say "white side" but that sounded wildly racist....)

I took it on the toll road and went 80 (speed limit is 70, which means everyone goes 80+). I was totally shocked how quiet it was !! Granted, all new tires are quiet, time will tell. Glad the Kenda's are gone. When my wife and I were on 99 going 80 with the Kenda's, our most common conversation was, "WHAT ???".

 

[heffercow]

In full transparency it was actually a week and a half ago but...

Cut a second hole in my rear bumper so I could have two tow hooks instead of one. Swapped my black overland hooks for orange Mojave ones front and rear. And added/wired in some aux back up lights because there just isn't enough light back there when I'm in reverse.

 

[Mud Pie]

Heffercow -

Ya made me go out and look at my rear bumper. It came with two hooks, maybe part of the steel bumper Freedom package ? Dunno. But I have two.... I assumed the Overland package was above mine.

 

[heffercow]

Heffercow -

Ya made me go out and look at my rear bumper. It came with two hooks, maybe part of the steel bumper Freedom package ? Dunno. But I have two.... I assumed the Overland package was above mine.

Yeah that might be it. Seems like rubicons and mojaves always have both, but then the other models only sometimes. Mine did not and it bothered my OCD, so I rectified the issue. Tried to get all fancy cutting it and in the end just whipped out one of my pocket knives and wrapped it in some extra vacuum tubing I had from sealing my rear window. Seriously stupid easy and quick mod. Just wish the stock tow hook bolts weren't $1,232 apiece (exaggeration, but they are very pricey as far as bolts are concerned).

 

[Mud Pie]

I saw the red and the orange hooks (mine are black) and I thought it would make my bumper "pop". I looked them up, something else popped. My eyes. They are SO much money for a bent piece of metal. Then add in the required bolts ?

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Stripped the front end to install the EVO 1/4 Pounder bumper I recently acquired 2nd hand. The seller didnt have the hardware or shims. I had a less than stellar experience with EVO when I called to find out what hardware and the thickness of the shims. The person that answered the phone just said "email tech support". I did that and all the did was reply with a link to a $24 shim(6 required) and a "hardware pack"(8 bolts and nuts) for $78...

So after researching and using some visual aids from some install videos I beleive I have deduced the size of the shims and will be making them at work tomorrow and then I'll figure out length of the hardware on my own as well...

 

[heffercow]

I saw the red and the orange hooks (mine are black) and I thought it would make my bumper "pop". I looked them up, something else popped. My eyes. They are SO much money for a bent piece of metal. Then add in the required bolts ?

Yeah. Got lucky on mine scouring Facebook. Found a guy getting rid of his stock Mojave front bumper and skid for $100. Figured having a metal skid over the plastic overland one was worth it plus I got the hooks and black fog surrounds so I could get rid of my silver ones. And got a buddy that works at a body shop that had a Mojave come in that got a love kiss to the rear end by an Amazon van. Insurance replaced the hooks because the driver side hook got a scratch and when they ordered a new one it didn't match the other so they ordered two! I win. He said they were gonna toss em but knew I would like them. Only issue was no bolts.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I need to look around for another black tow hook for the back. May be time to hit the pik-a-part.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I need to look around for another black tow hook for the back. May be time to hit the pik-a-part.

You need to find an orange one and then paint it black. Take lots of pictures and post them on here.

 

[Freems]

I need to look around for another black tow hook for the back. May be time to hit the pik-a-part.

Nah, DM me and I’ll send you one with the bolts off my stock rear bumper.

 

[heffercow]

I need to look around for another black tow hook for the back. May be time to hit the pik-a-part.

Where you at? you can have mine if you cover shipping.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Where you at? you can have mine if you cover shipping.

Thanks for the offer. I messaged Freems. He’s a bit closer so maybe the shipping will be less. Assuming you’re still in GawGa. My sister lives over there.

 

[Mud Pie]

This morning I woke up, looked outside to make sure no one stole my new tires. Yeah, paranoia.

I make a cuppa Joe, sit down to drink it. I thought I could drag my Jeep through the car wash to get rid of that blue tint on the raised white letters. Then maybe, if I feel like it, take it to the dealer for an oil change. I got the oil changed shortly after I bought it, Jeep site says January. I've only put 4,000 on it since purchase in November, but whadehell, I got that 3 change package already paid for. It's only 4:30 in the morning, I gotta wait.

There is a Buc-ee's down the street from my house, less than a 5 minute drive. I have car wash tickets backed up because if you pay 13 bucks for "The Works", you get the wash, vacuum, tire shine (which I decline) AND .30 cents off per gallon. I have a few tickets in my console, good for 1 year.

Let's see....drag out the hose, bucket, wash mitt or go to Buc-ee's. It's now 8am, I step outside and I presume the temp is already in the 90's. Buc-ee's for the win. I keep a roll of painters tape under the back seat. I remove my radio antenna, my GMRS antenna. I tape over the radio antenna socket, the GMRS mount has a screw on rain cap. I throw a strip or two of tape over my gas flap; their blower likes to flip that thing open every time. Powerful sucker. Makes my wipers shake like a fat kid watching his banana split being made.

Off to Buc-ee's, it's 8:30, all the normal people should already be on their way to work.

No one at the wash. Excellent. I pull out my oldest receipt and pull up to the station to enter the code. Window down, I pull up slowly. I hear the uncomfortable groan of rubber on concrete. Yes, boys and girls, I pulled too close to the island holding the check-in station. That noise was my brand new K03's, raised white letters out, arguing with the concrete and losing. This is where the next county over heard me curse. I back up slowly, enter the code and go in the wash. I pull out and go to the vacuum station. I get out and see what I've done. Less than 24 hrs on the Jeep.

I go home, grab a rag and some Simple Green. I say to the Jeep God's, "Please, please, please.". Squirt some Simple Green onto the rag and wipe. IT CAME OFF !! NO DAMAGE !!" I am once again a happy, fat, old Irishman.

Then I went to get my oil change, but that's for another post; I type too fast as it is and my posts are more along the lines of a short story than a post.

 

[heffercow]

This morning I woke up, looked outside to make sure no one stole my new tires. Yeah, paranoia.

I make a cuppa Joe, sit down to drink it. I thought I could drag my Jeep through the car wash to get rid of that blue tint on the raised white letters. Then maybe, if I feel like it, take it to the dealer for an oil change. I got the oil changed shortly after I bought it, Jeep site says January. I've only put 4,000 on it since purchase in November, but whadehell, I got that 3 change package already paid for. It's only 4:30 in the morning, I gotta wait.

There is a Buc-ee's down the street from my house, less than a 5 minute drive. I have car wash tickets backed up because if you pay 13 bucks for "The Works", you get the wash, vacuum, tire shine (which I decline) AND .30 cents off per gallon. I have a few tickets in my console, good for 1 year.

Let's see....drag out the hose, bucket, wash mitt or go to Buc-ee's. It's now 8am, I step outside and I presume the temp is already in the 90's. Buc-ee's for the win. I keep a roll of painters tape under the back seat. I remove my radio antenna, my GMRS antenna. I tape over the radio antenna socket, the GMRS mount has a screw on rain cap. I throw a strip or two of tape over my gas flap; their blower likes to flip that thing open every time. Powerful sucker. Makes my wipers shake like a fat kid watching his banana split being made.

Off to Buc-ee's, it's 8:30, all the normal people should already be on their way to work.

No one at the wash. Excellent. I pull out my oldest receipt and pull up to the station to enter the code. Window down, I pull up slowly. I hear the uncomfortable groan of rubber on concrete. Yes, boys and girls, I pulled too close to the island holding the check-in station. That noise was my brand new K03's, raised white letters out, arguing with the concrete and losing. This is where the next county over heard me curse. I back up slowly, enter the code and go in the wash. I pull out and go to the vacuum station. I get out and see what I've done. Less than 24 hrs on the Jeep.

I go home, grab a rag and some Simple Green. I say to the Jeep God's, "Please, please, please.". Squirt some Simple Green onto the rag and wipe. IT CAME OFF !! NO DAMAGE !!" I am once again a happy, fat, old Irishman.

Then I went to get my oil change, but that's for another post; I type too fast as it is and my posts are more along the lines of a short story than a post.

There is probably some underlying sidewall damage you can't see with the naked eye. I would even go as far as to guess it has already spread to the other tires. To be safe you better go ahead and take em off, set em by the curb, and I'll come dispose of them properly for you...

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