BaneKotaKeena
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Figured I'd start a build thread to keep my updates in one concise area vs going back to several threads to post future updates.
Have thought the Gladiators to be very cool vehicles waaaaaay back when and always thought Jeep should bring them back. Was glad when they did but got a RAM 3500 Cummins in 2018 not too long before their debut. Didnt need 2 trucks and we had a 34' toy hauler then so the diesel was a must. Was always interested in them though and how folks mod them and such. Had a 2002 or 2003 Wrangler (the year before the 4 doors came out) but with a new home, 2 small kids and a couple dogs, that vehicle quickly wore out it's practicality and moved into Trucks for the next 20 yrs or so.
During this time I have been a huge Harley Davidson enthusiast. Have had a number of bikes and made 14 consecutive trips to Sturgis from 2009 until 2023, when I missed for first time since going in 09. My bikes have been canvasses to express myself but having those and another vehicle to do that isn't really something that can be done simultaneously for me anyway due to the large expense. Since my Harleys are where I need them to be, and HD seems to be moving into a too futuristic style for my liking, I can see the days of customizing bikes for me in the future are limited.
Over the last 2-3 years my interest in the Gladiators has been steady and finally pulled the trigger in early March when the discounts were just too good to pass up any longer.
Not a rock crawler (yet...) so a Rubicon was not a model I was as interested in as others. I had originally thought I would got the route of the Mojave (and had a deal in principle ready for me to drive 7 hours away to finalize) but found one closer to home.
Went with the HA because I do like leather seats and other creature comforts and the paint matched roof. fenders, door handles, mirrors, etc. is appealing to me vs the matte black versions of those things so I landed on a 2023 High Altitude in white. I was interested in this one also becuase it came w/the capability package (includes the Steel Front Bumper, Front Facing Camera and the Rock Rails).
I plan to upgrade the suspension in the future as that will be necessary to get deeper into the off road aspect of Jeep/Gladiator ownership but for now, the biggest change has been wheels/tires to make it look more Jeep like. The suspension options are vast and expensive (or can be) and whatever I do there, I want to do once, so gonna take my time and buy the right package for my needs while preserving ride quality and geometry.
Been a steady flow of smaller upgrades since bringing it home, except for the wheels/tires. I'll try and recap it all here with some pics but my other posts also show some stuff too.
The first thing I did was focus on the interior a little to provide some additional storage capabilities, a place for my and my wifes phones, stuff, etc and to assist with getting in and out (for her). Will add some type of step in the future (as she needs that) but looking for something that works "with" the Mopar Rock Rails.
Interior Mods to date:
- RAM Mounts Tough-Track for '18-23 Jeep JL/JLU/Gladiator RAM-DT-204-TRACK-A12U Compatible with RAM Track Ball Bases
- RAM Mounts Track Ball with T-Bolt Attachment RAP-B-354U-TRA1 with B Size 1" Ball
- All-Metal Double Heads 1" Ball Adapter Ball Mount Holder Compatible with Ram Double Socket Arm and Other 1'' Ball Phone Holder
I already had the RAM Mounts arms from other uses on my Harleys and liked the X-Grip for those so I combined that with this and another phone mounting system I had in the previous vehicle that was MagSafe.
Also in the pic of the RAM Mounts components at the bottom is the little storage holder that fits behind the grab handle on the dash. This works so well that my wife forgot her phone in it the first time she used it.
next up was some handles and some Rugged Ridge sill protectors. Honestly, I dont love the handles but they do have the rubber grip on them but I barely use it. The handle on the drivers side pillar is all I need but the wife does and others might as the Jeep climbs in elevation in later mods. Also added in the shorty antenna for looks only.
Then I got a couple other things from Amazon that are for future projects to help with sound deadening:
- Canopus Car Sound Deadening Mat
- Roller
Saw some video on youtube about how the windshield contributes quite a bit of noise to the cabin and made sense to me so will try this out once it warms up here in Ohio.
- J&L Oil separator: to help keep the intake clean.
- K&N replacement air filter (this will do for now but may mod out the whole intake to cold air intake later).
From here everything else has been a focus on the exterior.
- Magnetic Keyhole Covers (these look kinda cool but can be pulled off easily, we'll see how long they last once they get on. I thought they would provide a nice contrast w/the paint and the next item.
- Door Hinge Covers: Saw a post on this site about these and will follow the OP's instructions on painting them Matte Black and switching out the tape for 3M.
- Mopar Extreme Recon Fender Extensions: These were a bear to install. Don't know if I did it wrong or the flares on HAs are different than Rubicons/Sports/Mojave's in the plastic riveting but none of the holes lined up as easily as others here have said or youtube videos show. I got it to work but damaged one beyond use and had to resort to self-tapping screws to get them on and solid. The replacement of the rivets or use of plastic Xmas Trees did not go well for me. Admittedly, could have been user error. I do like them though. They stop the wave of debris that gets thrown onto the side of the vehicle really well. May still get some mudflaps to get fuller coverage at the bottom but they work well with the wheel/tire setup I went with (coming up shortly). Will be throwing them on the rear as well once the replacement flare arrives next week.
- JL JT 2018-2024 Grille Winch Brush Guard: This item looks pretty good for a fraction of what Mopar costs. We'll see how well the finish holds up; Fit was perfect.
Lighting:
- Quadratec Pre-Runner LED Light Kit for 20-24 Jeep Gladiator JT - Link to post of mine where I give thoughts on these. I like them and the install wasn't too bad.
- Oracle Rear Bumper LED Reverse Lights with Plug-N-Play Harness: Have these and waiting for waether to improve to install them. Really like the additional backup lighting at nite. Looking forward to getting them on.
- Raxiom Axial Series LED Fender Lights with Turn Signal Function - Just ordered these today and will get those on next week after they're delivered. Will update thread when done.
More Exterior Stuff:
- Bilstein B8 5100 Series Steering Damper - Also ordered today and will provide update after install. I believe this to be an upgrade to the OEM Stabilizer and I know it may not be what I use forever but, with the wheels and tires coming up being on the truck, the steering feedback may be a bit less with this for now.
- RIVAL 4x4 Hood Lifts - Put these on and they work as intended. Need to get a set of hood latch locks too.
- Bushwacker Trail Armor Hood Stone Guard: Have this as well and like many other parts, will install once it warms up a bit. Most folks who have this think it does its job and the contrast against a white jeep should be pretty cool.
- Tazer JL Mini w/extension cable - Got the Cable from Z-Automotive. Initially installed it by itself and it is a PITA until you realize how helpful a long pair of needle-nose pliers are. To avoid that in the future, the extension cable was installed a few days later. Overall, I like the features available in the Tazer (lighting options, ability to switch tire size, etc.).
- Rough Country Low Pro Cover: Cover is nice but fittement could be better. I don't think I have even taken any pics of it specifically but it can be seen in several photos below. Its decent, not a nice as other BakFlips covers I have had on other trucks.
Wheels/Tires:
- Mammoth General Matte Black Wheel; 17x9: Went with these because I really liked the style and they are fairly uncommon in what I have seen around me and online as far as wheel go. They have a -6 offset and I wanted some tire poke but nothing outrageous. These fit the bill.
- Toyo Open Country A/T III Tire: - Have always heard good things about these tires and since my goal was to not go full on into a 2-3"+ lift right out the gate, a 34" tire I knew would fit with the stock suspension. It does and with the wheels it makes it look like a Jeep now. I am happy with it!
I also have the 1.5" TeraFlex spacer kit and the 3/4" Daystar rear spacer kit but right now, I don't "need" to install them. I probably will when it warms up so in the event I get offroad w/the current setup, I'll have a little more clearance. For now though, it rides great as-is. Gas mileage has take a 1-2 mpg hit but its till cold here. Hopefully I'm in the 18-20 range w/these 3.73 gears when its nicer outside. If not, re-gearing is an option if the lift direction makes me go somewhere else with this in the future. For now, its fine.
Will update the thread with other stuff as it makes its way onto the Gladiator.
Pics of most things above... If I missed something, shoot a reply and I'll get a pic for it.
Peace!
Have thought the Gladiators to be very cool vehicles waaaaaay back when and always thought Jeep should bring them back. Was glad when they did but got a RAM 3500 Cummins in 2018 not too long before their debut. Didnt need 2 trucks and we had a 34' toy hauler then so the diesel was a must. Was always interested in them though and how folks mod them and such. Had a 2002 or 2003 Wrangler (the year before the 4 doors came out) but with a new home, 2 small kids and a couple dogs, that vehicle quickly wore out it's practicality and moved into Trucks for the next 20 yrs or so.
During this time I have been a huge Harley Davidson enthusiast. Have had a number of bikes and made 14 consecutive trips to Sturgis from 2009 until 2023, when I missed for first time since going in 09. My bikes have been canvasses to express myself but having those and another vehicle to do that isn't really something that can be done simultaneously for me anyway due to the large expense. Since my Harleys are where I need them to be, and HD seems to be moving into a too futuristic style for my liking, I can see the days of customizing bikes for me in the future are limited.
Over the last 2-3 years my interest in the Gladiators has been steady and finally pulled the trigger in early March when the discounts were just too good to pass up any longer.
Not a rock crawler (yet...) so a Rubicon was not a model I was as interested in as others. I had originally thought I would got the route of the Mojave (and had a deal in principle ready for me to drive 7 hours away to finalize) but found one closer to home.
Went with the HA because I do like leather seats and other creature comforts and the paint matched roof. fenders, door handles, mirrors, etc. is appealing to me vs the matte black versions of those things so I landed on a 2023 High Altitude in white. I was interested in this one also becuase it came w/the capability package (includes the Steel Front Bumper, Front Facing Camera and the Rock Rails).
I plan to upgrade the suspension in the future as that will be necessary to get deeper into the off road aspect of Jeep/Gladiator ownership but for now, the biggest change has been wheels/tires to make it look more Jeep like. The suspension options are vast and expensive (or can be) and whatever I do there, I want to do once, so gonna take my time and buy the right package for my needs while preserving ride quality and geometry.
Been a steady flow of smaller upgrades since bringing it home, except for the wheels/tires. I'll try and recap it all here with some pics but my other posts also show some stuff too.
The first thing I did was focus on the interior a little to provide some additional storage capabilities, a place for my and my wifes phones, stuff, etc and to assist with getting in and out (for her). Will add some type of step in the future (as she needs that) but looking for something that works "with" the Mopar Rock Rails.
Interior Mods to date:
- RAM Mounts Tough-Track for '18-23 Jeep JL/JLU/Gladiator RAM-DT-204-TRACK-A12U Compatible with RAM Track Ball Bases
- RAM Mounts Track Ball with T-Bolt Attachment RAP-B-354U-TRA1 with B Size 1" Ball
- All-Metal Double Heads 1" Ball Adapter Ball Mount Holder Compatible with Ram Double Socket Arm and Other 1'' Ball Phone Holder
I already had the RAM Mounts arms from other uses on my Harleys and liked the X-Grip for those so I combined that with this and another phone mounting system I had in the previous vehicle that was MagSafe.
Also in the pic of the RAM Mounts components at the bottom is the little storage holder that fits behind the grab handle on the dash. This works so well that my wife forgot her phone in it the first time she used it.
next up was some handles and some Rugged Ridge sill protectors. Honestly, I dont love the handles but they do have the rubber grip on them but I barely use it. The handle on the drivers side pillar is all I need but the wife does and others might as the Jeep climbs in elevation in later mods. Also added in the shorty antenna for looks only.
Then I got a couple other things from Amazon that are for future projects to help with sound deadening:
- Canopus Car Sound Deadening Mat
- Roller
Saw some video on youtube about how the windshield contributes quite a bit of noise to the cabin and made sense to me so will try this out once it warms up here in Ohio.
- J&L Oil separator: to help keep the intake clean.
- K&N replacement air filter (this will do for now but may mod out the whole intake to cold air intake later).
From here everything else has been a focus on the exterior.
- Magnetic Keyhole Covers (these look kinda cool but can be pulled off easily, we'll see how long they last once they get on. I thought they would provide a nice contrast w/the paint and the next item.
- Door Hinge Covers: Saw a post on this site about these and will follow the OP's instructions on painting them Matte Black and switching out the tape for 3M.
- Mopar Extreme Recon Fender Extensions: These were a bear to install. Don't know if I did it wrong or the flares on HAs are different than Rubicons/Sports/Mojave's in the plastic riveting but none of the holes lined up as easily as others here have said or youtube videos show. I got it to work but damaged one beyond use and had to resort to self-tapping screws to get them on and solid. The replacement of the rivets or use of plastic Xmas Trees did not go well for me. Admittedly, could have been user error. I do like them though. They stop the wave of debris that gets thrown onto the side of the vehicle really well. May still get some mudflaps to get fuller coverage at the bottom but they work well with the wheel/tire setup I went with (coming up shortly). Will be throwing them on the rear as well once the replacement flare arrives next week.
- JL JT 2018-2024 Grille Winch Brush Guard: This item looks pretty good for a fraction of what Mopar costs. We'll see how well the finish holds up; Fit was perfect.
Lighting:
- Quadratec Pre-Runner LED Light Kit for 20-24 Jeep Gladiator JT - Link to post of mine where I give thoughts on these. I like them and the install wasn't too bad.
- Oracle Rear Bumper LED Reverse Lights with Plug-N-Play Harness: Have these and waiting for waether to improve to install them. Really like the additional backup lighting at nite. Looking forward to getting them on.
- Raxiom Axial Series LED Fender Lights with Turn Signal Function - Just ordered these today and will get those on next week after they're delivered. Will update thread when done.
More Exterior Stuff:
- Bilstein B8 5100 Series Steering Damper - Also ordered today and will provide update after install. I believe this to be an upgrade to the OEM Stabilizer and I know it may not be what I use forever but, with the wheels and tires coming up being on the truck, the steering feedback may be a bit less with this for now.
- RIVAL 4x4 Hood Lifts - Put these on and they work as intended. Need to get a set of hood latch locks too.
- Bushwacker Trail Armor Hood Stone Guard: Have this as well and like many other parts, will install once it warms up a bit. Most folks who have this think it does its job and the contrast against a white jeep should be pretty cool.
- Tazer JL Mini w/extension cable - Got the Cable from Z-Automotive. Initially installed it by itself and it is a PITA until you realize how helpful a long pair of needle-nose pliers are. To avoid that in the future, the extension cable was installed a few days later. Overall, I like the features available in the Tazer (lighting options, ability to switch tire size, etc.).
- Rough Country Low Pro Cover: Cover is nice but fittement could be better. I don't think I have even taken any pics of it specifically but it can be seen in several photos below. Its decent, not a nice as other BakFlips covers I have had on other trucks.
Wheels/Tires:
- Mammoth General Matte Black Wheel; 17x9: Went with these because I really liked the style and they are fairly uncommon in what I have seen around me and online as far as wheel go. They have a -6 offset and I wanted some tire poke but nothing outrageous. These fit the bill.
- Toyo Open Country A/T III Tire: - Have always heard good things about these tires and since my goal was to not go full on into a 2-3"+ lift right out the gate, a 34" tire I knew would fit with the stock suspension. It does and with the wheels it makes it look like a Jeep now. I am happy with it!
I also have the 1.5" TeraFlex spacer kit and the 3/4" Daystar rear spacer kit but right now, I don't "need" to install them. I probably will when it warms up so in the event I get offroad w/the current setup, I'll have a little more clearance. For now though, it rides great as-is. Gas mileage has take a 1-2 mpg hit but its till cold here. Hopefully I'm in the 18-20 range w/these 3.73 gears when its nicer outside. If not, re-gearing is an option if the lift direction makes me go somewhere else with this in the future. For now, its fine.
Will update the thread with other stuff as it makes its way onto the Gladiator.
Pics of most things above... If I missed something, shoot a reply and I'll get a pic for it.
Peace!
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