BlueAF Gladiator Build

[97TJGUZZY]

Long time coming on this one. When the Gladiators were released in 2019 I knew i wanted one, and I said i would wait till they worked the kinks out. Then last year when the diesel came out I realized I had to wait yet again to see how they worked out. I didn't want to be the guinea pig for them. Well, the JK was getting up over 100k and I was really jonesin for a diesel. With the used car market like it was, I was able to make a great sale on the JK, and I placed an order for a Hydro Blue Rubicon with Quality Chrysler in Greenwood with @jimbo92. Ordered on 6/16 and just took Delivery on 8/27. I had ordered a few things before she arrived, but I waited to order any big stuff till we had her landed here in the south.

First Look at the new girl.


Interior still in ship mode






Made specially for ME!


Ship mode, you only get speed and gear selection


First stop after pickup - Sports Break! dang good food in Greenwood


Eventually averaged 28mpg on the way home taking back roads from Greenwood to Chapin.


First Mod - Rokblokz Grampa mud flaps to try to save the paint.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

Mounted a bullet point accessory bar on the dash last night to mount my ram ball phone holder.

 

[Fenrir]

I put the same one in my JK. Been happy with it so far. Only thing to be careful is on super hot days the glue for those pads will let go a bit and move.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

I put the same one in my JK. Been happy with it so far. Only thing to be careful is on super hot days the glue for those pads will let go a bit and move.

yeah, i had the phone mount in the JK and the TJ. The TJ one the rubber has loosened up, on this one its still fine. I was wondering why they sold replacement rubber pads when i ordered mine. These are Tackform from amazon which was a little cheaper than the 67 designs mounts. I like that you can order them with ram balls instead of the 20mm balls.

 

[jimbo92]

Looks great. Glad Sports Break was tasty. What did yall get?

 

[Weldin Rod]

I’m so jealous of that gas mileage.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

Looks great. Glad Sports Break was tasty. What did yall get?

some sort of chicken wrap, some wings, and the freedom fries or something covered in cheese. it was freaking awesome.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

I’m so jealous of that gas mileage.

I'm not sure how we got that the whole way home, now its stuck around 25.5, I hope it stays around there. I have had it idling with the AC on a few times with the dogs in it when i ran into a store Sunday.

 

[YJeeper]

I know its personal preference, but one thing I absolutely cannot stand is that dang accent red dash and all that they put in the Rubicon models. I guess I'm just not a color red guy.... But otherwise, that's a sweet Gladiator.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

I know its personal preference, but one thing I absolutely cannot stand is that dang accent red dash and all that they put in the Rubicon models. I guess I'm just not a color red guy.... But otherwise, that's a sweet Gladiator.

I'm the same way, i have been doing some research on how to vinyl wrap the panels. Or looking to find some from a sahara to trade.

 

[LBarr2002]

I don’t understand why they don't make that a selectable option. With tan/brown interior it changes to gray dash.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

Yeah, we actually thought about brown leather, but they didnt offer it in the upgraded leather option, only the leather trimmed seats. I knew after our last jeep that we didnt want the factory leather, its to thin. The Upgraded "mopar" leather is made by Katzkin and is much thicker and higher quality.

 

[rolledxj]

Great color, especially to those of us that are color blind!

 

[97TJGUZZY]

ordered a brake controller for the truck... its taken an wild ride on the USPS train. Why is it in MA on the way to SC?

 

[LBarr2002]

ordered a brake controller for the truck... its taken an wild ride on the USPS train. Why is it in MA on the way to SC?

View attachment 22063

What did you get? Over the past couple weeks I've seen several of the automotive shows pushing Redarc products and they have a pretty neat remote mount controller.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

What did you get? Over the past couple weeks I've seen several of the automotive shows pushing Redarc products and they have a pretty neat remote mount controller.

https://redarcelectronics.com/products/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller, this is the one I bought. It had good reviews and can be installed easier on the dash permanently.

 

[LBarr2002]

What happened to the factory integrated controller that was supposed to be available? In 2020 pre-orders you could select it but I guess it never happened?

 

[97TJGUZZY]

it was on indefinite backorder and its like $350, its available now, but it takes the place of your 12volt outlet up front, and with the redarc it does the same thing but I can keep the 12 volt outlet.

 

[97TJGUZZY]

Picked the truck up from LineX of Columbia and I think it turned out really good. No overspray and it looks even.

 

[Weldin Rod]

it was on indefinite backorder and its like $350, its available now, but it takes the place of your 12volt outlet up front, and with the redarc it does the same thing but I can keep the 12 volt outlet.

Mine is due for service and I’m going to see if the dealer can install the mopar break controller for me.