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'22 Gladi Rubicon Diesel build (JTdiRtyD)

Discussion in 'Other Builds' started by guaco.supreme, Dec 27, 2024.

  1. Dec 27, 2024 at 6:19 AM
    #1
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    Welp, I traded my Taco for a Gladi. I know I know, Toyota reliability Jeep unreliability blah blah. I loved the Taco, but the lack of power and poor mpgs was killing my enjoyment. I really missed my diesel power, so I traded it for a 2022 Gladiator Rubicon diesel. I like it here at TW so I'll stick around.

    "Base" Rubicon. Cloth seats, no aux switches, no trail cams, but those are things that are easily able to be retrofit (nice thing about Jeep, you can add packages and code them in).


    The plan:

    35x11.5 or 35x12.5
    2-2.5in lift, upgraded springs
    Front and rear bumpers
    Leather seat retrofit
    Trail cam retrofit
    Aux switch panel retrofit (unsure on this one since I have an Auxbeam, but Jeep switches look better)
    Self designed and built extruded aluminum modular cap/GFCamper style RTT
    Rear drawer/kitchen


    Kept from the Taco and will add to Jeep:

    RC 9500lb winch
    Dual batt system with 20a DC-DC
    Wolfbox mirror


    20241220_164124.jpg

    20241220_164138.jpg

    20241220_164157.jpg
     
    .45 Calibear, Road_Warrior and essjay like this.
  2. Dec 27, 2024 at 6:26 AM
    #2
    bkhlrTaco's

    bkhlrTaco's “expletive deleted”

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    And you're from the midwest?
    You disgust me.
    :rofl:
     
    Disgruntled Scientist likes this.
  3. Dec 27, 2024 at 6:28 AM
    #3
    tacoma04

    tacoma04 Retired to the lake

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    Do what makes you happy! Don't worry about others. Good luck with the build.
     
    guaco.supreme[OP] likes this.
  4. Dec 27, 2024 at 7:27 AM
    #4
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    Fair. Theres times I disgust myself, but this isn't one of those times. At least not yet :fingerscrossed:
     
    bkhlrTaco's[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Dec 27, 2024 at 7:30 AM
    #5
    bkhlrTaco's

    bkhlrTaco's “expletive deleted”

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    Lol. Nah, I'm with Tacoma04.
    Drive what makes you happy. :thumbsup:
     
  6. Dec 30, 2024 at 10:24 PM
    #6
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    Been working on the plans for the new GFC style extruded aluminum modular cap/camper. RTT is removable when not needed. I built the cap portion for the Taco but with a welded steel frame, but I don't want steel this time around. Too much of a pain when you want to change things. I'll get the frame corners sent off to my buddy to review and hopefully he says the yare good to go to machine. This one was a little easier to draw up because the uprights don't need to be at as much of an angle for the Jeep as they did for the Taco.

    Jeep-Cap.jpg

    Jeep-Cap-Corners.jpg
     
    essjay and Road_Warrior like this.
  7. Feb 2, 2025 at 6:53 AM
    #7
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    I've got some updates!

    New shoes! Everyone says to go straight to 37's, especially on a rubicon diesel, but I honestly don't have a need for 37's outside of the looks, so I opted for 35's.

    Method 703's, 17x8.5 0 offset
    Toyo OC III

    download3.jpg



    I also received a headliner kit for the top. Normally they are just bare white fiberglass. I installed some 80mil sound deadening under the headliner and it reduced wind noise by quite a bit. I still need to install the rear half, but it's been too damn cold to remove the top and work in the garage. Looks better, holds heat in better, and I can't stick all my patches to it.

    download2.jpg



    I built my rear seat delete platform. Plan is to install my dual battery setup under the passenger side, and under the drivers side will be storage. Also working out some ideas for accessory charging outlets on the back wall. These back panels are much more difficult to remove than the Taco and most guys say you'll break the tabs, so I'm going to leave it as is and probably 3d print some panels that have my USB outlets.

    20250117_220616.jpg

    20250119_195203.jpg

    20250124_185920.jpg

    20250126_110934.jpg



    I scored an awesome deal on a whole package of stuff.

    Decked two drawer system
    JCR Off Road bed rack w/ gull wing side panels
    JCR Off Road half rack roof rack
    JCR Off Road soft topper
    traction boards
    4 gal Rotopax
    axe
    shovel
    Hi-Lift jack
    quick attach mirrors
    two Milwuakee packout mounts (mounted to roof rack)

    All for $1600!

    I am still going to build the GFC type cap/tent, but I couldn't pass this deal up and it allows me to take my time on the build instead of rushing it to finish in time for some expos coming up.

    20250126_192252.jpg

    20250126_195215.jpg

    20250126_194945.jpg




    Next on my radar, get the dual battery setup installed (still need to pick up a lipo battery), and I'm looking at the AEV Dual Sport XP suspension.

    I must say, so far I am loving this truck. Plenty of power and even with 35's and winter blend diesel I'm getting 20mpgs average. There are a few things I miss about the Taco, but I'm very happy with the switch.
     
  8. Feb 2, 2025 at 7:16 AM
    #8
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

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    I’m definitely following along. I was eyeing the gladiator when I was truck shopping 4 years ago but I was too scared of the reliability issues like you mentioned. I still have PTSD from the Ram 1500 I owned before my Tacoma.

    Can’t wait to live vicariously through your gladiator!
     
  9. Feb 2, 2025 at 7:21 AM
    #9
    05Taco4x4

    05Taco4x4 ToyotaHubs

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    FJ Tcase, Manual Hubs, 2017 Head unit, Mirror Riser
  10. Feb 2, 2025 at 11:01 AM
    #10
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    I'm posting this in the "Other Builds" forum which is specifically for non-Tacoma builds. Don't like it then don't look at it.
     
    essjay, BabyBilly, Hogleg918 and 4 others like this.
  11. Feb 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
    #11
    05Taco4x4

    05Taco4x4 ToyotaHubs

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    lol I'm just busting your balls. BTW what's your fuel economy in that? I was considering the 2023+ GMC 1500 in diesel.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2025
  12. Feb 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
    #12
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    With 35s on winter blend and longer idles to warm up I'm seeing 20ish on average. If it's anything like my BMW diesel I had for a while I'm guessing I'll see 23-24 average in the summer.
     
  13. Feb 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
    #13
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

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    That is awesome.

    Do you feel like the interior is comparable in terms of road noise to the 3rd gen taco? It obviously looks like it has a lot more creature comforts.
     
  14. Feb 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM
    #14
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    I think the Jeep has less road noise, but with the fiberglass roof there is more wind noise but I haven't found it horrible. Adding some sound deadening mats and a headliner kit reduces is significantly. Zero extra noise when removing the rear seats, unlike the Taco which sounded like a jet was taking off.

    Comfort wise it's a toss up. The Jeep has more leg and head room in both the front and rear seats, but less shoulder room. Still plenty of shoulder room for me, but I can see someone "wider" maybe not liking the Jeep. Sitting position is more like a truck with higher seats vs the Taco which you sat on the floor. All seats are manual adjustments until you get to the 2024 models IIRC. Panels and overall feel the Jeep feels better built and less plasticky, but there are fewer panels and more exposed body so when it's cold out it feels a little more chilly close to the doors. Again, nothing that bothers me, but the fiancé did mention it's a little colder on her right side. But the heated seats work way better than the Taco, and the HVAC gets plenty warm and cooks me out. The Auto HVAC works much better. In the cold the Taco would fog up windows if I didn't leave it on defrost, whereas the Jeep I just leave on auto and never have an issue.

    One complaint, I can't fit a 32oz Nalgene bottle ANYWHERE. I tried to see if someone made larger cup holders, but nope.
     
    Road_Warrior[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Feb 4, 2025 at 8:29 AM
    #15
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

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    Man that sucks about the Nalgene. Yeah I took the backseats out of my taco and the analogy of it sounding like a jet taking off is extremely accurate lol

    Sounds like you made a good choice! I’ll be interested to see if you run into any reliability issues down the road. That was really the only major turn off for me when I was truck shopping.
     
    doublethebass likes this.
  16. Feb 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
    #16
    doublethebass

    doublethebass aspiring well-known member

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    same here - I then undid it and added a ton of sound deadening and it's made a big difference but not back to seats-in quiet. Might give the doors and possibly headliner a go this summer
     
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  17. Feb 4, 2025 at 9:38 AM
    #17
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    I too focused on all of the bad that I found on forums and such and hesitated for quite a while. It's still on my mind, but learning all I can about how to mitigate or prevent the common issues. When I had my Wranglers I had always wished they still made a truck. Then AEV released the Brute conversion for the Wrangler but it was out of my capabilities at the time. When Jeep released the Gladi I was excited but I don't like buying the first years of a new model.

    I've had three Wranglers in the past and everyone told me to stay away, but they were great vehicles. When I bought my first BMW everyone told me to stay away, but both of my BMW's were problem free for the almost 200k combined miles that I had them. The Jeep brand definitely comes with a history of issues, but most of what I see with the Gladi I'm not overly concerned about.

    When I did the seat delete in the Taco I used sound deadening and stuffed 2 inch thick memory foam inbetween the platform wall and the truck wall. It worked good. I'm glad I don't need to do this in the Jeep because it's really difficult to remove the rear panel without breaking it. Thats one thing I've noticed, all the panels are difficult to remove. Might be a good thing, might not be. Time will tell.
     
  18. Feb 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
    #18
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

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    I don’t want to hijack the thread but I got the same results from sound deadening behind my goose gear seat delete in my taco. I think doors will be next for me too. Don’t have the time or patience to mess with the floor or roof.
     
    doublethebass[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Feb 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
    #19
    Road_Warrior

    Road_Warrior There is nothing on my horizon except everything

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    Man now you’re making me want to start looking again!
     
  20. Feb 5, 2025 at 6:44 AM
    #20
    guaco.supreme

    guaco.supreme [OP] Fk around and find out

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    I will say that part of the reason I made the change was I wasn't very far into the Taco build, so I wasn't having to start over too much. The only thing thats been kind of frustrating is suspension simply because I'm not as familiar with solid front and rear axles with coil springs. I don't really want more than a 2" lift to avoid all the geometry issues you have to make with anything over 2", but I need higher rate springs for the added weight and all higher capacity springs are at least a 3" lift. And most advertised lift amounts are usually about 1" less than you'll actually get, which to me doesn't make sense. Why advertise 2.5" if you'll actually get around 3.5" of lift?

    The Taco was much easier. Icon RXT was great because you could pick what rate you wanted, Eibach front springs were about perfect for the front and I was able to retain factory Fox shocks all around. Simple install and rode great.
     

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