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

[Puttyandnapalm]

Today (well yesterday now) was a good day for the gladiator. Scored a twill sunrider (no easy task right now) and installed it. Also finished up painting the grey dash panels and steering wheel trim blue and reinstalled.

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[Mark Doiron]

For the past couple months have been working on videos of my still photos from the cutting room floor of my overlanding travels. Finally finished those, so have a couple mods that have been setting for a while to take care of. Yesterday installed the Genesis dual-battery try and two Odyssey batteries ....

Here's the motorcycle battery in its hidey-hole. Gosh am I glad this will be gone and replaced with a proper battery for real service and backup ...

The area is ready for the new tray install ...

During the install you pull this spring clip from the old, plastic tray to use with the new one. Don't do like Mark did: Used pliers on the back of it to squeeze it so it could be easily pulled from its hole. That thing shot off like a SpaceX rocket launch! Fortunately, I had it pointed horizontally, so it did not end up in orbit. But it did end up behind one of my workbenches, taking a while to find, then retrieve with a magnetic retriever ...

Here is the finished install ...

After the install, I thought everything was working fine. Checked the winch, air compressor, comm rack, as well as the infotainment system. Only negative at first blush was the infotainment had lost my customizations on menu settings. Figured I'd straighten that out later. Got in Jeep to back it up and park where I normally do when I got this screen. Also same screen for the front camera ...

Was wondering on a FB group of overlanders if this was related to reported issues with SiriusXM screwing up backup cameras on a variety of vehicle makes. Friend of mine in Las Vegas who had installed the Genesis kit said his did the same thing. He suggested pulling the battery cable for a few minutes, then reconnect and don't put in reverse until the infotainment has fully booted. I wanted to catch the SpaceX launch, so put that on hold for a bit. About an hour later went back to the Gladiator, and this time all of my custom screen settings were restored, and the cameras worked fine. No disconnect/reconnect of batteries needed. I guess it just takes time for the system to recover its configuration info .

Final thoughts: This is a nice kit. I do have two worries, however. First, some of the wiring is much closer to the engine. I'm always concerned about electrical fires (about 55 years working with electronics, including 27-1/2 years in USAF as avionics tech where much of that was spent working with government contractors to design computer and comm systems for the battle management aircraft that I flew on). The Gladiator does have a higher quality loom designed for high temp applications than the JKs did (and people ask why the JTs and JLs are so expensive--it's subtle upgrades like that which are beneficial, but not free). But the Jeep engineers did provide aluminum loom for one cable, and now all of these other cables run where that even higher temp rated AL loom was used. My second concern is also heat related: The factory put aluminum insulation around one corner of the bracket for the circuit breaker box (is it still called a TIPM like on the JKs?). That is now gone, and the box is moved lower, thus closer to the engine. And there was probably some insulating value from the OEM plastic enclosure, as well as the AL pad. All of that is replaced with metal. I wonder if in the distant future there will be weird problems associated with the TIPM (I'll use that name until someone corrects me, I guess) as a result of excess heat. I keep my vehicles for a long time--My JK is an '07 and still going strong at 268,000 miles.

Anyway, next project is to install lights on the bumper, but need to design and fabricate a bracket to hold them low and as much out of the way of the trail camera as feasible.

BTW, if you're interested in those videos, here is a playlist for them. Couple things to note: They are 100% still photos, unlike most content on my channel. They are about the photography I previously rejected, not about the adventures. But if you turn on subtitles, you'll learn how to find the full videos about the trips. And the subtitles include a lot of other info about the photos, as well. And the videos run a bit long. And, since I did one for each calendar year starting in 2012, I haven't yet done one for 2020. Which means JKs and lots of other cool rigs (6WD Pinzgauer, anyone?), but nothing with my Gladiator since its first run wasn't until this past January. There is a Gladiator on the last trip of 2019, however, to New Mexico. Anyway, playlist is here. Individual video descriptions do have info about what is shown on that video, if you're interested in a particular area I may have traveled ...

 

[mx5red]

Do you have a link? Checked Ebay and Amazon for sanicaps only found gas cap covers and interior door lock covers. Nothing for the exterior keyhole lock that he plastidipped. thanks!!

Did the same thing. Search for “Santi’s caps” or Jeep lock covers.
Covering the lock threw me off, but I guess I never use them anymore anyway due to remote unlocking and/or proximity entry..

 

[Jimmij]

Here is the link for the caps

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Santi-s-Caps-18-20-Jeep-Gladiator-Door-Lock-Caps-/184054115464

 

[Moe_Fugga]

Installed some goodies today. Teraflex Falcon Nexus 2.2 steering stabilizer, a much needed upgrade to stop the steering wander. S-V.4 headlights, and what would have been the S-V.4 fog lights, but dummy me ordered the JL version instead of clicking the extra link to get the right JT ones. I'll get that sorted out Monday and get the right ones ordered.

Also have a Tazer mini on order, to add the extra programming touches like turning on the hood alarm option and who knows what else I might turn on/off. Finally some factory LED taillights arriving next week, that I'll have to turn the option on through the Tazer too. Extra Launch Edition rim also coming next week, to add the spare into the tire rotation. Last task, trimming the Euro bumper fillers to cover the back of the new fog lights and reinstall them as I've been running without since day 2.

Edit: using the Tazer to turn off the blinding licence plate lights when in reverse, as I see that's an option. =)

The fog lights are the same for JL and Gladiator. If you bought from Headlight Revolution the only difference in the “vehicle specific” fog lights for the Gladiator vs the JL is the addition of the PWM modules. If you don’t want to hassle with sending the fog lights back just buy the PWM module. I did this same thing myself. I ordered the yellow fogs (only selectable using the JL option) and purchased the PWM separately. Prices are all the same. You don’t save any money buying the Gladiator “bundle”.

https://headlightrevolution.com/gtr-lighting-pwm-interface-module-5202-2504-style-connectors/

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Which settings and sub-settings do you go into to turn off the license plate lights while in reverse? I need to do this, mine has horrible glare at night.

 

[RatZer0]

Which settings and sub-settings do you go into to turn off the license plate lights while in reverse? I need to do this, mine has horrible glare at night.

It's in ver 11.2.1, says it's automatic.

https://www.zautomotive.com/tazer-jl-updates/

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Was the update released recently?

 

[Mightytalldude]

The fog lights are the same for JL and Gladiator. If you bought from Headlight Revolution the only difference in the “vehicle specific” fog lights for the Gladiator vs the JL is the addition of the PWM modules. If you don’t want to hassle with sending the fog lights back just buy the PWM module. I did this same thing myself. I ordered the yellow fogs (only selectable using the JL option) and purchased the PWM separately. Prices are all the same. You don’t save any money buying the Gladiator “bundle”.

https://headlightrevolution.com/gtr-lighting-pwm-interface-module-5202-2504-style-connectors/

The orientation tabs on the side are different. I tried both sides just to make sure I wasn't missing something.

 

[tweak89]

I installed Mopar front splash guards. Why only front? Because Jeep, in their infinite wisdom made the Sport S Max Tow rear fender liners different than every other model. Why?? From my investigation there is no mechanical reason due to the components of the max tow package. It's smooth, unlike the liner of the other models, so maybe some sort of consideration for mileage (like the pieces that cover the space between the fenders and bumper up front that are also unique to the Max Tow Sport S). Anyway, installation is easy and required the drilling of one new hole. It uses plastic rivets, so keep that in mind (I had to buy a plastic rivets tool). I had to order the rear, which I should have by Tuesday.

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

I was running Tazer 11.2.0 version. So, I just did the Tazer 11.2.1 update, maybe the backup light thing will be a huge difference...It should be.

I hope the update makes it easier to turn off the Auto-Park feature. If not, I hope the next Tazer update will fix the turn-off Auto-Park feature to where it actually TURNS IT OFF!

 

[Fortes89]

First post since I bought it about a week ago. This is a lease haha however had to do tires, got a good local deal on some maxxis bighorn mt 285 70s for 500 installed. Kept factory rims installed and yesterday I painted them black (plasti dip) decided to use the metalizer after, still not to convinceed on the sparkly look. Also got a stubby antenna off of autozone for 9.99 works great.

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Welcome to the club.

Mine is a lease too....For now...Because the Rubicon prices are ridiculous. But I ended up liking it so much, that I plan on buying it at the end of the lease for a much lower price (the residual left over) than what it will still be worth in 3 years. That's why I'm not afraid to mod mine.

 

[Fortes89]

Welcome to the club.

Mine is a lease too....For now...Because the Rubicon prices are ridiculous. But I ended up liking it so much, that I plan on buying it at the end of the lease for a much lower price (the residual left over) than what it will still be worth in 3 years. That's why I'm not afraid to mod mine.

Mine is no Rubicon but too early too tell if will keep this, I've owned other jeeps in the past but the olders. 92 yj and two cjs one 1980 and a 1977. I can't seem to keep a car for over 2 3 years. I had financed a cts v coupe which thought would be my dream car and after two years just traded it in for a sport s haha what a change...

 

[Moe_Fugga]

The orientation tabs on the side are different. I tried both sides just to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Ok. I spoke to them on the phone when I ordered to ask questions and tell them what they were going on, so maybe they sent me out some that were actually for the JT? I didn’t have that issue.

I bought some cheap used V.4 fogs on here from a member as spares and they fit too. Those were on a Gladiator as well. Hope it all works out! You’ll love the output!

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