I like it! As you are spot on, there is no ultimate or supertroper, or best. It's all a compromise and therefore a question of priorities. That's what's so good about you, there is no BS! 😊🙏
As an owner of a Gladiator on 35s in the U.S., I agree with your tire size assessment, Dan. I'm actually considering going back to factory 33s because I don't drive my Jeep places where they're needed anymore.
The MPG is a thing to content with. Drove to Tuktoyaktuk this past summer and the price of gas at 14-18MPG ended up taking a good chunk out of my budget... Oh well--can't stop exploring!
Absolutely, on a long overland journey fuel is easily the biggest expense, which is why I simply can't consider a vehicle that gets 14 MPG (ouch!) I am DETERMINED my next vehicle build will be over 22MPG and even over 25MPG.
My high roof Ram Promaster uses around the same amount of fuel as your Jeep with the same engine, and considering the difference in off-road capability, that's not a bad fuel consumption.
Extremely insightful and refreshing philosophy. I have learned a lot more about the realities of modifications from you than possibly the whole of youtube, with maybe the exception of Paul Marsh. Thank you! And thank you for the incredible content. Look forward to your CSR adventure and all future content!
Can't wait to see you do the Canning Stock in the Gladiator. So many Aussie 🔧🔧🔧 think you have to have an LC or a Hilux to do it, wait till they see the Jeep handle it.
100% on tire size. I like 235/85/16 for lower rolling resistance. For the winch on my next build I was considering a hitch mount with a receiver on the front. This way I can keep the weight of a winch low and centralized and even winch backwards but then the down side is dragging the whole thing out when you eventually need it.
I have a 92 GQ Patrol with ls1 and auto with a detriot locker up front and a GU rear LSD my rig has never been bogged and i love it some people don,t like petrol but i think it,s the only way to go.
Another great video Dan (and you're looking well!). It's great to follow along with your learnings in this series - I find this type of content that you create the most valuable in terms of thinking about and balancing out my own build.
Great video! The MPG for what you are doing, with the equipment is actually really good. I know I'd be happy. Looking forward to the review on the rest of the equipment.
I'm heading back to Canada to get my Africa Jeep out of storage... and I'm already working on a new vehicle build and an adventure to an entirely new part of the globe.
13-14l/100 is similar to what I'm getting in my Gladiator as well. Friends with diesel utes are getting maybe 2l/100 better (79s using 2-3l/100 more) so I'm not complaining about it. With fuel price differences, it's about the same to run and cheaper with fuel prices at the moment.
Great video, love the gladiator, I owned one (bought in Canada) but have to sell it because of the import rules her in the Netherlands. I bought now a Iveco daily 4x4 and preparing it for an expedition camper with polyester box. Greetings from the Netherlands. Ps keep up the great work and let the video’s come ………
Great video Dan. I've been toying with upgrading to 35's but my (stock) 33's on my Gladiator have been more than good enough, especially with a 2.5 inch lift. I've been to Moab, San Juans, Mojave, and I might have scraped the bottom twice. That being said, I am overloaded for their rating so I do need to upgrade, but I think I'll stick with the 33's! Also it was really cool to watch the Jeep travel the same trails with a 70's series. 4xOverland always talks about coil springs and leaf springs - it was evident that the coil spring jeep had so much flex compared with the troopy and how it hugged the ground. Excellent real world comparison.
Coil springs and solid axles for series wheeling.....i had jeeps....79 bronco...and nw a 2014 tacoma....first day in moab i busted a leaf spring....and constantly see guys busting those weak cv joints.....stay soild my friend✌
It's been great following your travels! Totally makes sense to sell your JT, but I was a little sad to see it for sale on Expedition Portal. One interesting bit looking at the profile of your truck, the Australian Rubicons must ship with the lower fenders that non-Rubicons have in the states, my US based JTR has an inch higher fender line. I think that's part of the reason everyone here is 37 crazy, it is super easy to throw them on a JTR here without modding the truck much. Still silly, considering what I've done with my stock JTR all over the Western US.
Good eyes Wes, the Rubicon here in Australia do not have the highline fender option. It is sad to move on from the Gladiator, but it was the plan all along, and it will allow me to get cracking on the next vehicle build!
If only Jeep produce 1.5 cab with 6.2' bed version on the same frame! I am not in Australia so RTT does not serve its intentional purpose, so the best option here is to sleep in the bed under a hard shell / canopy. But Gladiator's very short bed is useless for that purpose...
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a single cab Gladiator... but I think it's getting less and less likely as time goes one. Maybe someone will just have to make one?
That mileage doesn’t really seem too bad considering larger than stock tires with lower pressure, and off road driving with all that weight. I have the same engine in my 2018 JKU and just did a loop over the Sonora Pass , returning over the Tioga Pass, and got 24.9 mpg in the mountains, mostly on pavement. ( but not entirely) Will we see a book on this expedition Dan?
Wow, you've gotta be happy with 25mpg in a Jeep! And yes, I'm working on a book about the Australian adventure. I have a LOT that needs to be written though, so it won't be done anytime super soon.
I THINK THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IS NOT GETTING A JEEP WITH A TOTALLY WHITE ROOF OR AT LEAST PAINTING THE ONE YOU HAVE WHITE AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKS WHEN THE ENGINES RUNNING
Is a pressure gauge even needed when you have the display with your TPMS? I know some brands offer to beep the horn when it reaches the right pressure.
@@TheRoadChoseMe good on you for finding it! For me it just never seemed to work, and IF it stayed on, it was letting out the air… Love the videos! Have fun in 2023!
Wow, you have given the term "damning with faint praise" a new meaning! It sure appeared, IMHO, that the Jeep equaled in most instances, exceeded in others, the performance of the other big name cross country vehicles you encountered in your journey! Working a foot in the door with a Toyota sponsorship?
Hey Peter, the Jeep absolutely has been brilliant, and extremely capable and reliable all around Australia. As for what comes next, I'm already well down the path of building something very interesting!
Question: to me the which seems so great that it really enables a lot of travel. With the future of global fuel affairs, would you ever consider changing to a 2wd van which would get better fuel economy and just use the which more when necessary?
It's a consideration for sure Robert, but for now I'm motivated to get to the most remote parts of the planet, and to do that I want as much vehicle capability as I can get
It's straight on the battery, though it has a big switch to turn it on/off, and the pressure switch turns it off after a couple of seconds running if nothing is connected. So it's not a problem.
that's a benefit for electric fans, if you let your vehicle cool before a water crossing the fan won't even be on when you enter the water or you can unplug it or pull the fuse. it doesn't matter whether you have a steel, plastic, electric or mechanical fan they can all fail when they go underwater and the blades get pulled forward when they act like a propeller. and modern electric fans are brushless, sealed and variable speed. they only run when and as fast as necessary and they rarely ever fail.
Looks you used your time in lockdown to spec a pretty good vehicle for Australia Dan, well done. The MPG sounds grim though… I’d love to see you try the Range Rover P400e on the next trip… 85 MPG BTW!
I like it! As you are spot on, there is no ultimate or supertroper, or best. It's all a compromise and therefore a question of priorities. That's what's so good about you, there is no BS! 😊🙏
As an owner of a Gladiator on 35s in the U.S., I agree with your tire size assessment, Dan. I'm actually considering going back to factory 33s because I don't drive my Jeep places where they're needed anymore.
Glad to see you ended up being happy with the Gladiator.
The MPG is a thing to content with. Drove to Tuktoyaktuk this past summer and the price of gas at 14-18MPG ended up taking a good chunk out of my budget... Oh well--can't stop exploring!
Absolutely, on a long overland journey fuel is easily the biggest expense, which is why I simply can't consider a vehicle that gets 14 MPG (ouch!)
I am DETERMINED my next vehicle build will be over 22MPG and even over 25MPG.
My jimny gets 7l's/100km when going 80km 😭. Slow but good for wallet
It's good you stand for balance builds instead of overkill. One's tend to always want the best of the best and that's a mistake
Thanks for sharing yours expirience.
Cheers Dan. 🍻
My high roof Ram Promaster uses around the same amount of fuel as your Jeep with the same engine, and considering the difference in off-road capability, that's not a bad fuel consumption.
Thanks!
Extremely insightful and refreshing philosophy. I have learned a lot more about the realities of modifications from you than possibly the whole of youtube, with maybe the exception of Paul Marsh. Thank you! And thank you for the incredible content. Look forward to your CSR adventure and all future content!
Can't wait to see you do the Canning Stock in the Gladiator. So many Aussie 🔧🔧🔧 think you have to have an LC or a Hilux to do it, wait till they see the Jeep handle it.
100% on tire size. I like 235/85/16 for lower rolling resistance. For the winch on my next build I was considering a hitch mount with a receiver on the front. This way I can keep the weight of a winch low and centralized and even winch backwards but then the down side is dragging the whole thing out when you eventually need it.
I have a 92 GQ Patrol with ls1 and auto with a detriot locker up front and a GU rear LSD my rig has never been bogged and i love it some people don,t like petrol but i think it,s the only way to go.
Always awesome assessments in your vids👍
You have nailed it Dan...
Do just what you need, plus 10%.
On a side note... How is the Didgeridoo coming?
I have to confess I really have not been practicing, and I'm no better than I was in lockdown!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Find a spot for it on your next adventure? It weighs nothing and may come in handy.
Another great video Dan (and you're looking well!). It's great to follow along with your learnings in this series - I find this type of content that you create the most valuable in terms of thinking about and balancing out my own build.
Thanks for the feedback! There are plenty more educational videos coming
Great video! The MPG for what you are doing, with the equipment is actually really good. I know I'd be happy. Looking forward to the review on the rest of the equipment.
That was some pinpoint perfection on the Jeep. Every aspect is fine tuned to ensure maximum efficiency. Kudos.
Where are you overlanding next?
I'm heading back to Canada to get my Africa Jeep out of storage... and I'm already working on a new vehicle build and an adventure to an entirely new part of the globe.
13-14l/100 is similar to what I'm getting in my Gladiator as well. Friends with diesel utes are getting maybe 2l/100 better (79s using 2-3l/100 more) so I'm not complaining about it. With fuel price differences, it's about the same to run and cheaper with fuel prices at the moment.
Thanks Dan,very informative
I must say the Yokohama AT tyres on my ute had much more grip on the tar road than the BFs that I fitted afterwards.
Great video, love the gladiator, I owned one (bought in Canada) but have to sell it because of the import rules her in the Netherlands. I bought now a Iveco daily 4x4 and preparing it for an expedition camper with polyester box. Greetings from the Netherlands. Ps keep up the great work and let the video’s come ………
Wow, the iveco daily will be an awesome global expedition vehicle!
Refreshing to see something other than a Toyota. 😀
Nice as always. Also good choice with the wheels and tires. I have 285/65 18 on the Overlander stock wheels which is almost the same size.
Enjoy the old PentaStar, some sort of Hurricane coming to Jeep - although more batteries.
Great video Dan. I've been toying with upgrading to 35's but my (stock) 33's on my Gladiator have been more than good enough, especially with a 2.5 inch lift. I've been to Moab, San Juans, Mojave, and I might have scraped the bottom twice. That being said, I am overloaded for their rating so I do need to upgrade, but I think I'll stick with the 33's! Also it was really cool to watch the Jeep travel the same trails with a 70's series. 4xOverland always talks about coil springs and leaf springs - it was evident that the coil spring jeep had so much flex compared with the troopy and how it hugged the ground. Excellent real world comparison.
Coil springs and solid axles for series wheeling.....i had jeeps....79 bronco...and nw a 2014 tacoma....first day in moab i busted a leaf spring....and constantly see guys busting those weak cv joints.....stay soild my friend✌
A most interesting post :) I really wish my Troopy had a reversing camera like your Jeep...
And maybe a few more cup holders? 😀
It's been great following your travels! Totally makes sense to sell your JT, but I was a little sad to see it for sale on Expedition Portal. One interesting bit looking at the profile of your truck, the Australian Rubicons must ship with the lower fenders that non-Rubicons have in the states, my US based JTR has an inch higher fender line. I think that's part of the reason everyone here is 37 crazy, it is super easy to throw them on a JTR here without modding the truck much. Still silly, considering what I've done with my stock JTR all over the Western US.
Good eyes Wes, the Rubicon here in Australia do not have the highline fender option.
It is sad to move on from the Gladiator, but it was the plan all along, and it will allow me to get cracking on the next vehicle build!
If only Jeep produce 1.5 cab with 6.2' bed version on the same frame! I am not in Australia so RTT does not serve its intentional purpose, so the best option here is to sleep in the bed under a hard shell / canopy. But Gladiator's very short bed is useless for that purpose...
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a single cab Gladiator... but I think it's getting less and less likely as time goes one. Maybe someone will just have to make one?
I have watched most of your videos, I think all of them in the Yukon and the NWT. You are one handsome man. Greg, Springfield, Louisiana, USA
Wow, thanks!
That mileage doesn’t really seem too bad considering larger than stock tires with lower pressure, and off road driving with all that weight.
I have the same engine in my 2018 JKU and just did a loop over the Sonora Pass , returning over the Tioga Pass, and got 24.9 mpg in the mountains, mostly on pavement. ( but not entirely)
Will we see a book on this expedition Dan?
Wow, you've gotta be happy with 25mpg in a Jeep!
And yes, I'm working on a book about the Australian adventure. I have a LOT that needs to be written though, so it won't be done anytime super soon.
Make a video of plans for next trip
Details are coming to Patreon in the coming months
I THINK THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IS NOT GETTING A JEEP WITH A TOTALLY WHITE ROOF OR AT LEAST PAINTING THE ONE YOU HAVE WHITE AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKS WHEN THE ENGINES RUNNING
Is a pressure gauge even needed when you have the display with your TPMS? I know some brands offer to beep the horn when it reaches the right pressure.
The Gladiator will do that, though I'm old school and happy to do it the old manual way
13:23 that clip never works on any valves on any tyres I’ve ever had.
Don’t think about it too much, probably is a pain to squad too long
Believe it or not I found it again - it does actually work perfectly on my valves.. I just have to not lose it again.
@@TheRoadChoseMe good on you for finding it! For me it just never seemed to work, and IF it stayed on, it was letting out the air…
Love the videos! Have fun in 2023!
Wow, you have given the term "damning with faint praise" a new meaning! It sure appeared, IMHO, that the Jeep equaled in most instances, exceeded in others, the performance of the other big name cross country vehicles you encountered in your journey! Working a foot in the door with a Toyota sponsorship?
they'd have to be paying a lot to take that much of a backwards step.
@@6226superhurricane True dat!
Hey Peter, the Jeep absolutely has been brilliant, and extremely capable and reliable all around Australia. As for what comes next, I'm already well down the path of building something very interesting!
Question: to me the which seems so great that it really enables a lot of travel. With the future of global fuel affairs, would you ever consider changing to a 2wd van which would get better fuel economy and just use the which more when necessary?
It's a consideration for sure Robert, but for now I'm motivated to get to the most remote parts of the planet, and to do that I want as much vehicle capability as I can get
Did you wire your compressor pre or post ignition? I tend to wire electronics post in case I forget to turn them off.
It's straight on the battery, though it has a big switch to turn it on/off, and the pressure switch turns it off after a couple of seconds running if nothing is connected. So it's not a problem.
Why not use the yokohama 255/80r17? The narrower thread may save you a bit of mpg. Its taller size would help too. Tread is a bit aggressive.
Hard to believe it's been a year.
Right! Time always goes much faster than we expect, doubly so since covid
14:45 what is the arm IN FRONT of the skid plate? it this part of the steering?
There is nothing in front of the skid plate - the tie rod is behind and a bit below it (if that's what you're looking at)
Will you be selling the Jeep whan you leave Australia, or ship it on to some other country for the next adventure?
It's time to sell the Jeep and get back to my Africa Jeep in Canada
🍻
Electric fans??? Ive heard horror stories of fan blades bending and hitting radiator....bad rx...🤔🤔🤔
that's a benefit for electric fans, if you let your vehicle cool before a water crossing the fan won't even be on when you enter the water or you can unplug it or pull the fuse.
it doesn't matter whether you have a steel, plastic, electric or mechanical fan they can all fail when they go underwater and the blades get pulled forward when they act like a propeller.
and modern electric fans are brushless, sealed and variable speed. they only run when and as fast as necessary and they rarely ever fail.
Looks you used your time in lockdown to spec a pretty good vehicle for Australia Dan, well done. The MPG sounds grim though… I’d love to see you try the Range Rover P400e on the next trip… 85 MPG BTW!