BlueAF Gladiator Build

Dropped the JT off at the dealer last week while I was in San Diego for work and had them do my second oil change, tire rotation, fuel filter and perform the TSB for the Bottom out. I'm happy to note that after the TSB there is no more bottoming out. It has a bit less floaty feel and rides great even over big bumps now. This is how it should have come originally for sure. This is with the 1.5" teraflex budget boost still installed to make up for the heavier front bumper and winch. I'm happy with the updated suspension for sure.

Cheers to 15k miles. All trip and weekend miles other than the two weeks of driving to work.

Headed to Big Bend in April and wanted to put on a skid that I know I have needed since I bought the truck.

The diesel fuel filter hangs down as low as the frame rail and is one of the first things to drag on the truck. I hit it on the first trip we took the truck on to the Daniel Boon Backcountry Byway. At that time I didn't know what it was.



Potential damage





So I just ordered an ASFIR fuel filter skid to fix the problem.

Clean little piece there. I don't think any emissions equipment is as poorly mounted as the def tank on a duramax. It hangs like a dang foot.

Got the skid mounted and also found a cap for the back for a good deal. This should help out a lot on road trips and keeping things dry.

Once you cap you can't go back

Those of you other grampas that have a shell on your truck, did you wire lights inside? if so, did you put a switch in the shell?

I had the harness to do it, but never did. My fancy grandpa truck had under bed rail lighting so it wasn't as critical.

If possible I'd put it on a courtesy light or puddle light circuit so you can remote activate it, not sure the Gladiator has that. Would need to make sure it doesn't come on with running lights or anything.

Ideal situation would be a 3 position switch for manual control or courtesy.

Dropped the jeep off today for its last jeep wave oil change…. The exon Valdez has landed in the parking lot. You can’t make this shit up.

this is where it was parked in the pickup area in the dealership service center. I’m pissed…

Not worth the headaches. Never used the Jeep wave I just do them myself. Even though the diesel is a more expensive oil change I sleep better at night knowing it was done right! Lol

Yeah that was my last one. Evidently when they are in a rush its easy to spill a lot of oil on the frame rail. I'll be doing it in the future. They did degrease it and pressure wash it after I brought it to their attention. The service manager did it personally. He said he had to do it 3 other times that week because the service guys had fawked it up that many times.

We had a mega bonehead at work that did this stuff all the time. Hes gone now. Luckily the guys back there now are pretty solid. Our CDJR store and body shop have a fantastic staff currently.

Couple of recent pics of the “truck”

Good times with this truck all over the US. And now as I’m changing the oil and fuel filter it makes me appreciate that fuel filter skid!


this thing has seen some shit!

I was getting some clunking from the shocks bottoming out at full droop and i had some serious butt dragging going on when anything was in the bed. I happened upon an AEV 2" kit and picked it up for a decent price. No more saggy rear end and it seems I have fixed my shock clunking at full droop as well. I'll snag some pictures when I'm back at the house.

I've got 1.5" front and 3/4" rear spacers for a gladiator if anyone is looking.