Author Topic: AEV Gladiator Rubicon (Read 24392 times)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #500 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:00:17 PM »

I fished the wire down to a position below the steering wheel, which was easy.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #501 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:01:20 PM »

Then I snapped the lower and upper switch/control panels back into place.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #502 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:02:45 PM »

The bad part comes next.

You will be working in a difficult-to-see area that is pretty crowded.

The next job is mounting the new controller.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #503 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:06:17 PM »

The brake controller receptacle is already hanging right there. You simply have to attach a supplied adapter cable and plug that cable and the one from the switch into the module, and mount that module to finish the job

But mounting that module is very difficult.

It mounts in the area I circled.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #504 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:07:53 PM »

I would like to know if anybody has been able to mount it with the two supplied bolts. I found it impossible to catch both of them, so I just used one along with some zip ties.

Here is mine mounted. The large arrow points to the center of mass of the module and the small arrow indicate the single stud I was able to put a not onto.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #505 on:** March 08, 2023, 05:09:37 PM »

And just like that, I was finished!

Now when I mash the brakes, my window washer activates and the radio tunes to my favorite country station where Brooks and Dunn are always singing, "My Maria."...Really!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #506 on:** March 08, 2023, 08:37:58 PM »

To be fair it is a Mopar. Lots of them guys can only read picture books anyway. They are just playing to their user base.

And you now have two lol

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #507 on:** March 08, 2023, 08:54:22 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on March 08, 2023, 08:37:58 PM

To be fair it is a Mopar. Lots of them guys can only read picture books anyway. They are just playing to their user base.

And you now have two lol

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Well, from what I can see so far, the thing is very well-built. And the interior puts the GM's I was looking at to shame.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #508 on:** March 08, 2023, 11:49:04 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on March 08, 2023, 08:54:22 PM

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on March 08, 2023, 08:37:58 PM
To be fair it is a Mopar. Lots of them guys can only read picture books anyway. They are just playing to their user base.

And you now have two lol

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Well, from what I can see so far, the thing is very well-built. And the interior puts the GM's I was looking at to shame.

now your tellin jokes!!

No one will buy a fiat was put together better then an gm or ford vehicle.

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #509 on:** March 09, 2023, 08:51:46 AM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on March 08, 2023, 11:49:04 PM

Quote from: Flyin6 on March 08, 2023, 08:54:22 PM
Quote from: Bigdave_185 on March 08, 2023, 08:37:58 PM
To be fair it is a Mopar. Lots of them guys can only read picture books anyway. They are just playing to their user base.

And you now have two lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well, from what I can see so far, the thing is very well-built. And the interior puts the GM's I was looking at to shame.
now your tellin jokes!!

No one will buy a fiat was put together better then an gm or ford vehicle.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would disagree my friend.

Car manufacturers ebb and flow. They will rise, riding a wave of growing successes, most stemming from quality improvements. Then once they get those sales numbers up, they oftentimes fail to maintain quality, or another manufacturer ups their hand. It's all cyclical. Everyone currently has a good product.

The Italians are the leaders in interior design followed by the Germans. We Americans are far, far behind. Look at the Ram/Chrysler product after Fiat purchased them. The interiors improved greatly. Now you get stitching in the dash, several different types of leather in your seat, good padding and gone are the GM and Ford great expanses of plastic.

I realize we were discussing a jeep, but things in my Ram look better than in the AT4 I had it parked beside. In the end, for me, the decision came down to one of the two of those trucks. But with the AT4 coming at almost $14,000 more for the same truck, it was not a hard decision.

The Cummins powerplant is legendary. The Chrysler transmissions, once wrought with issues have come around and now carry very long warranties.

No sir, I disagree, GM is not what many of us think it is. But more to the point, not one of the big three has an offering that really trails the others. They all seem to be good trucks.

The 6-cyl Ram does seem to have better fuel economy numbers than the rest. The Duramax sadly seems to be way off from what it was. I routinely get 17-18 mpg from my deleted D-max, but I hear the new 3500s are more like 12-13 mpg. I am currently getting in the 19's. Hard to argue that and with all the grunt this truck offers.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #510 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:42:33 PM »

Today I added some spendy "Boom Mat" sound deadener and headliner material.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #511 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:45:19 PM »

You begin by reading the directions

I did not complete step one, and therefore had to repeat steps 2-3-4-5.

The first thing you add is the foam backing strips that fit into the recesses in your roof panels. It makes for a flatter surface to later apply the final thick headliner panel on top of.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #512 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:46:52 PM »

The top layer panel is one piece and perfectly cut even to the angle of the fiberglass to create a nearly perfect fit. It really is very good!!!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #513 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:49:06 PM »

Top panel installed

Flyin6 · « **Reply #514 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:50:32 PM »

Once I finished with the front, I moved on to the rear. First, I applied the side pillars foam trim. This stuff reduces interior noise up to 4db. I probably added 3-5 db by bolting on that exhaust, so this will be welcomed.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #515 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:51:48 PM »

Next, I applied the foam filler strips to the recessed panels in the aft roof structure, then test fitted the two large rear panels.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #516 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:53:52 PM »

The rear panels were also perfectly cut

Flyin6 · « **Reply #517 on:** March 11, 2023, 02:55:05 PM »

I just realized I did not take any pics of the side pillar trim, but they tucked right in there perfectly...Just like the factory would have done.

JR · « **Reply #518 on:** March 11, 2023, 04:07:59 PM »

Looks good, should quiet it down nice.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #519 on:** March 11, 2023, 04:32:00 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 11, 2023, 04:07:59 PM

Looks good, should quiet it down nice.

So, yes it did!

I took it for a test ride and I have to say I am surprised by the result of this addition. The Jeep is for sure quieter than it was before. Gone is the "Tinny" sound the exhaust note seemed to resonate in the cabin. It now sounds like a respectful swarm of bumble-bees as it should. Yes, I do like how this turned out.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #520 on:** March 17, 2023, 03:00:46 PM »

The JT is on its way to becoming less and less an AEV product

The bumper is gonna go bye-bye

This new one saves around 50 lbs!

JR · « **Reply #521 on:** March 19, 2023, 04:55:48 AM »

But is it strong enough for mall mulch??

Flyin6 · « **Reply #522 on:** March 19, 2023, 08:48:30 AM »

Quote from: JR on March 19, 2023, 04:55:48 AM

But is it strong enough for mall mulch??

That remains to be seen...Probably ought to add a rear bumper winch before attempting something like that ;-)

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #523 on:** March 19, 2023, 09:46:27 AM »

That begs the question. Would you have been better off buying the non AEV and doing what youre doing?

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #524 on:** March 19, 2023, 06:09:12 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on March 19, 2023, 09:46:27 AM

That begs the question. Would you have been better off buying the non AEV and doing what youre doing?

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Without a question, YES.
But I started with an AEV just thinking it was fine as is and I'd use it once in awhile.
When I took it off roading the first time I was hooked again, and I could see stuff I didn't like.
I think I would have been $15K ahead if I would have just started with a stocker.
But then again, this one had been sitting at AEV for a good 6 months and then there was another few months to get the ordered unit from Chrysler. In that time Jeep had a bunch of price increases, so I actually purchased the AEV for a lot less than I could have that day starting all over.
I'll sell some of the stuff, I am doing that now, and this AEV stuff fetches a lot of $$$
Example: The stubby bumper cost me $670 delivered. I can sell the AEV RX bumper for $1200...already have a fella looking. The lights retail for nearly a grand. I purchased the amber replacement lights last night for $150. I'll sell the AEV units for $500-$600, hopefully, and on and on.
So yes, I would have been better off, but I would still have had to spray the whole interior, spray the grill, and other cool things which I like that make it look better. But it would have just been a Rubicon, whereas I do own a serial-numbered and registered JT-370 AEV truck. It will always fetch more than a stocker.
Bottom line, I suppose is I like it, I enjoy doing the mods, I can afford it, and it makes me happy.

JR · « **Reply #525 on:** March 19, 2023, 06:17:59 PM »

Buy cheap, $$ to modify which you will do anyway!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #526 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:06:08 PM »

I mentioned I would be removing that big/heavy AEV bumper to make room for something lighter and more to the point, in my view.

I did weigh everything that came off that Jeep, so now I finally know just how much weight it was heaving around up front.

But first, I finished my "I love me" ceiling. THere are some, but not all of the unit patches of outfits I served in up there.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #527 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:07:50 PM »

So let's get started. First off were the heavy lights...Way overkill!

A 10-pound savings just by switching lights...crazy

Flyin6 · « **Reply #528 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:10:22 PM »

More parts coming off. It is slow going because, for one, AEV does not use captured nuts, but old-school bolts and nuts (That you can't get to)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #529 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:12:24 PM »

The wings were 13.13 each

The clevis mounts were 11.72

and the plastic bezels came out at 1-pound

Flyin6 · « **Reply #530 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:14:13 PM »

Next the outer shell came in at 12.65

and the hoop trim pieces weighed 2.26

Flyin6 · « **Reply #531 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:16:11 PM »

The big boy inner bumper weighed 48.53 pounds

Flyin6 · « **Reply #532 on:** March 20, 2023, 06:20:56 PM »

Finally, it was down to the winch cradle which weighed 19.46

So the AEV RX modular light weight bumper is not lightweight at all unless you are considering a loaded dump truck to compare it to.

The bumper without a winch or lights weighs 102.42 lbs

With the winch plate, it weighs 121.84

Add their bowling ball lights and you have 136.12 pounds upfront.

Now let me see if I can whittle that number down some with this new bumper...

JR · « **Reply #533 on:** March 20, 2023, 07:41:52 PM »

Your stopping there?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #534 on:** March 20, 2023, 08:54:15 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 20, 2023, 07:41:52 PM

Your stopping there?

No, tomorrow I'll start installing the new stubby bumper, or a railroad cross tie, whichever I think may be lighter ;-)

JR · « **Reply #535 on:** March 20, 2023, 08:59:29 PM »

If you can lift a RR tie, bolt it on!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #536 on:** March 20, 2023, 09:40:14 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 20, 2023, 08:59:29 PM

If you can lift a RR tie, bolt it on!

They come with winches, right? ;-)

Or is that, "wenches?"

(Oh no!)

JR · « **Reply #537 on:** March 20, 2023, 09:42:43 PM »

Can't lift either of them,,,,

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #538 on:** March 20, 2023, 10:00:42 PM »

Not casting aspersions at all Don. Just a curious question. I totally get the pay for what you want and like. I’ve got so much money in the Bus that I can’t bear to think about selling it.

It’s a strange emotional attachment that I can’t explain logically.

CM sir. You are on a roll.

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JR · « **Reply #539 on:** March 21, 2023, 01:15:56 AM »

Besides the $$$ in, replacement is crazy. Didn't you just get a new Sub?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #540 on:** March 21, 2023, 09:46:23 AM »

Quote from: JR on March 21, 2023, 01:15:56 AM

Besides the $$$ in, replacement is crazy. Didn't you just get a new Sub?

No new Suburban, not sure where you're getting that from.
I recently purchased a new Ram 3500 diesel 4X4
Still have the old D-max (Hasn't sold yet)
I have the 02 Suburban which I rather fancy keeping
and I have the Gladiator which is a good platform for a V8 transplant some years from now.
Other vehicles, She drives a 2022 Cadillac XT6 AWD, the pre-ranger drives a BMW 335I, and I still have the Kawasaki KLR-650...Oh and the tractor and SVL-97...and a mower, and a...
No new Suburban

JR · « **Reply #541 on:** March 21, 2023, 11:11:08 AM »

I was reffering to TRN. You kept the bikes, sool.

Still trying to see you driving a Ram, but you did have the old 50k Dodge at one time.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #542 on:** March 21, 2023, 04:50:48 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 21, 2023, 11:11:08 AM

I was reffering to TRN. You kept the bikes, sool.

Still trying to see you driving a Ram, but you did have the old 50k Dodge at one time.

In the past I had several W150's, all square fender, and a Ramcharger with a built 360. I have had other Mopar products. I favor them over Ford with Chevy being my favorite brand.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #543 on:** March 21, 2023, 04:51:37 PM »

Time to build some more

Here's the bumper stuff:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #544 on:** March 21, 2023, 04:54:33 PM »

It's a Rugged Ridge product which seems to be popular.

I'd classify it as a medium quality, say a solid 6-7 that is priced right and accomplished the primary goals I set out to achieve.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #545 on:** March 21, 2023, 04:57:00 PM »

This one had fewer, lots fewer parts than the AEV unit it replaces. That means less weight and less complexity.

Speaking of weight, the first thing to add is the winch plate which comes in at 22.1 lbs

It went in very easily with only two bolts initially. That's where you permanently install the winch which was a five-minute job for me.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #546 on:** March 21, 2023, 04:58:39 PM »

The over-rider hoop mounts were next, and they were light at less than a pound for the pair.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #547 on:** March 21, 2023, 05:00:43 PM »

The bumper clevis/hook piece was not light @ 10.36lbs ea or 20.72lbs for the pair.

That is 1" thick steel!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #548 on:** March 21, 2023, 05:02:57 PM »

The outer bumper shell is next and all the previous things go on together at the same time, and that IS NOT EASY!

It weighed a paltry 15.91lbs

Oh, the fog light mounts are only 2.27 for the pair.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #549 on:** March 21, 2023, 05:03:49 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 21, 2023, 01:15:56 AM

Besides the $$$ in, replacement is crazy. Didn't you just get a new Sub?

Yes, but the Yukon XL Denali. We don’t want to talk about what those are going for nowadays.

Here’s a random thought. Don’t has a penchant for taking brand new vehicles and modifying them in a very thoughtful and appealing way.

If he had a contract with a local dealer to modify factory new vehicles and put them back on the dealer lot for sale there might be some money in that. Kids willing to finance all their mods in with the new truck are in plentiful supply.

I could see it now. Instead of an AEV it would the RMTW Edition….it could work.

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