Metalcloak 3.5" Gamechanger on a Gladiator Mojave (ep 88)

[@VanagonGeek]

Good looking rig! I love my MetalCloak suspension on my TJ.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

thanks!

[@RaptorMike-Bailey]

Nice upgrades! It’s great to see a family explore and hit the trails together! Looking forward to your next trip out and see how the new setup works for you. You didn’t mention it but the folks running JT’s should get the rear sway bar reinforcement brackets. I know MC has one.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Thanks, and good call on the brackets! Those are a great idea.

[@sassinator21]

Thank you for the video’s. I literally just stumbled into them. I’m now a subscriber. Hopefully will see you out on the Colorado trails. I am a little bit north but I like wheeling around the I-70 corridor. See you guys out there. PS… love the color of your glady!

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Welcome to the FFO family and thanks so much!!

[@dzoto46]

Now to revisit Holy Cross!

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Agreed! Next season for sure.

[@dzoto46]

Rig looks great!

[@MD1936]

Looks good. 45 years of wheelin' with a ton of lifted trucks and to be honest I never had a lift or suspension mod that I didn't like. To a tee they all rode and handled better on and off road but I had to choose my shop and parts with much research. Rubicon Trail is in your future

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Nice Warren! Yeah agreed would love to hit the Rubicon now!

[@DirtRoadJourney]

Looking good see you at Trail Hero.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Thanks ya'll can't wait to meet up!!

[@hahaadventures4838]

Awesome setup! Hey, I’ve seen mini vans and Corrolla’s on Schnebly Hill Road. Next time in AZ look me up and we’ll go on some better trails than that dirt road 😂 I also know THE best Jeep shop in AZ and the one in Peoria isn’t it. 👍

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Yessss sounds good!!

[@StormbornJKU]

With a 13” travel shock on a mid arm setup and a 3.5” lift spring are you actually utilizing all 13” of travel though? Different vehicle and all but I’ve got a 3.5” lift on my JKU and I can only get 11” of travel out of 12” travel shocks on the front and 10.5” of travel on my 11” travel shocks in the rear, before my springs start to fall out.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Really good question, we'll find out pretty quick in the next few days. Would have to think that since the 3.5 is meant to be paired with the Rocksports or 6 packs that you'd use damn near every inch of travel.

[@patrickjamesmcb]

Install spring retainer clips. I run 4-6" shocks with RK 2.5" springs on my JK, without Teraflex spring retainer clips my springs would fall onto the ground when flexed. With the clips, life it beautiful.

[@StormbornJKU]

@@patrickjamesmcb I’m definitely aware of retainers. But at the end of the day that’s still not the answer in my opinion. Before I limited my front end with limit straps I’d get my springs popping every time they’d reseat and I was always nervous they’d do something crazy and damage other things. With that mentality I might as well get something like 14” travel shocks and just let the springs fall out as much as they want because they have retainers.

[@aarongerman7857]

Super curious how the metalcloak works out! It was my backup choice vs Evo. I like how MC has joints that never need maintenance.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

yeah the bushings are a big plus on this lift. Was looking at EVO initially; really easy to spend a lot with that company LOL

[@ruben25900]

I guess will see you guys at trail hero.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Yes!! We'll be here the whole week.

[@kennethschuessler3390]

Which video by Casey 250 talks about the new Metalcloak shocks? I can't find it...

[@FarFromOrdinary]

here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIqzdniQgKyCpaM

[@wilsonpe]

I had the same issue with my 3.5" game changer lift using the metalcloak isolators on a Rubicon JT. I ended up going back to the mopar lower isolators and put a "driver" side isolator on the passenger side to correct the bow and spring to frame spacing. Mopar part # 68342245AC is the part number I ordered to get two driver side isolators.

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Thanks! I've seen this "fix" too but in our case, the coils just come out of the top isolator completely because it wasn't designed to fit a Mojave (something I told the shop repeatedly but they assured me there would be no issues). Metalcloak actually just released the proper top coil isolators designed for the Mojave! We've got them in, and will be making another video covering the fix.

[@patrickjamesmcb]

Basically all aftermarket springs are doing that. The springs are just so long. Nothing to worry about IMO

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Good to know Patrick!

[@brianschurman1388]

Look nice truck 👍🏻 what size tires

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Thanks! We're on 37's

[@ebx2323]

Do you regret buying the Mojave? Curious as to why you bought the Mojave with the suspension that it came with only to take them off for something else? Part of the reason why I bought a Mojave was because of your earlier videos - my question is not coming from a negative point of view. Love the channel!

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Hey Eric! Great question. Def check out our previous video I think that will sum up a lot, but in short, we just needed something to tow behind the RV, and that's what they had on the lot. I don't think we regret it one bit, the beefier frame and steel knuckles are great benefits. We just found ourselves doing more rock crawling than desert running, so we wanted to upgrade the suspension to something that could accommodate that a bit more comfortably. We could have never imagined our Jeep story unfolding how it has, but we appreciate you sticking around!

[@ebx2323]

@@FarFromOrdinary That makes 100% sense! I've only had my Mojave for about a month. I'm coming from a 2017 Tacoma TRD Sport, so everything about the Mojave is an upgrade for me lol I won't be towing anything large and most off road trails that I ride on are similar to what you experienced in Schnebly Hill, mainly to get to different lakes or rivers that most vehicles can't get too. So I more than likely won't be changing the suspension. But would love to see your future mod videos! I'm interested in adding the amber fender lights. Anyways, I'm a huge fan of your channel! Thanks for taking my question positively! I'll be sure to check out that other video that you referenced!

[@jdlt4235]

To go fast off-road, I want one

[@BillyBennecke]

It's looking good! Ah, I gotta budget carefully for these upgrades, so the best of ideas have been put on the back burner- it's weird how priorities change the order of mods from a wish list to an essential list. But just to get to places to wheel has been a major factor. This weekend's wheeling has been a local dirt road rather than the usual SVRA park some 50 miles away. Ah but this to shall pass. I'm going to see if the company will move me to their facility in Utah. Probably won't happen, but a guy can ask, eh?

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Its worth a shot!

[@michaellyden9839]

After doing all the modifications would you have been better off just buying a sport version instead of Mojave and removing all the expensive pieces from the suspension

[@FarFromOrdinary]

@@michaellyden9839 We just needed something to tow behind the RV. Had no idea the Jeep world existed. Mojave is what they had on the lot. We didn't know any better.

[@BillyBennecke]

@@michaellyden9839 the Mojave has something that you couldn't get on any other model, though I too bought the Mojave knowing little about what I was buying. The Mojave and the Rubicon both come with a thicker walled dana44 axle. The Mojave also comes with cast steel steering knuckles and a reinforced frame. When I had it lifted, the shop put Rubicon Express springs (and lower control arms) on it, which I just learned was one of the strongest lifts you can get. So, no, there's no sag from the heavy steel bumpers. It still hops the dunes like a Razer, just a three ton Razor. The 4.11 axles on the Mojave and the Rubicon handle the 37" KO2s just fine and I have no regrets of the build so far.

[@BillyBennecke]

@@FarFromOrdinary I'm in process of getting an extended braided SST brake line. And I've taken into consideration the lift with the fact that the hydrolic bump stops have also been extended which may limit the articulation. I may try removing bump stop extension to check out the potential of the oe shocks. Lots to play with, and like I said, with limited funding, I do only well thought out moves. (I overthink everything anyways, this just gives me an excuse) When I do rhe swaybar disconnects, I'm going to try the Apex Autolynx in front, and the Anti-rock in back. I just have to try to save up 3k. Time to think and rethink this ideal.

[@jayphive2468]

Nice! I’m considering trading/selling my hybrid to get into a Mojave. My vehicle is great for long distance trips on the highway, or putting around town for a month on one tank of gas, but I can’t get off-road or travel far when it’s snowing here in Reno 😢

[@FarFromOrdinary]

Hah! Yeah they are a lot of fun! Just don't run MT's if you live in a snowy area...they....are not fun

[@AllenzKorner]

what tire size you running?

[@FarFromOrdinary]

37's

[@PLT123]

35s or 37s?

[@FarFromOrdinary]

37's