ONE YEAR of FULL TIME LIVING in my OVERLAND JEEP GLADIATOR

I go through all the major 4x4 systems and upgrades to the Overland Jeep Gladiator we've been living out of for the past year, covering more than 50,000kms (32,000miles) around Australia
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/ theroadchoseme
00:00 Introduction
00:52 The Jeep Gladiator
05:00 Tires & Suspension
09:55 Snorkel & Pre-filter
10:56 Aux Fuel Tank
12:33 ARB Air Compressor
14:31 Front Bumper + Lights + Winch
16:32 Conclusion
Renogy Solar - use checkout code "TRCM" for 10% discount on panels, chargers and more!
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The Camera Gear I use:
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Stay in touch:
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❱ Instagram - / theroadchoseme
❱ Facebook - / theroadchoseme
Books I've published about my expeditions around the world:
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❱ The Road Chose Me Volume 2: Three years and 54,000 miles around Africa
375 pages of misadventures, stories, characters, politics and more from driving all the way around Africa!
amzn.to/3pnVKu6
❱ 999 Days Around Africa: The Road Chose Me
75 page full-color photography book from each of the 35 countries I visited in Africa
amzn.to/2H93IUH
❱ The Road Chose Me Volume 1: Two years and 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina
265 pages of adventure, inspiration and antics from driving the length of the Pan-American highway
amzn.to/2vfCYvn
❱ Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Misconceptions and Misnomers
Everything you need to know to undertake your own Overland Expedition in West Africa
amzn.to/2veyQMt
❱ Work Less to Live Your Dreams: A practical guide to saving money and living your dreams
The tips, tricks, ideas and perspectives I've learned to save the money I need to live the life I want
amzn.to/2OD6UtA
#JeepGladiator #4x4 #Overland

[@Berserkeroffroad]

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.

[@Onward4x4]

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!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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.

[@dexterrr9163]

My jimny gets 7l's/100km when going 80km 😭. Slow but good for wallet

[@beatkistler681]

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! 😊🙏

[@Alan.livingston]

Glad to see you ended up being happy with the Gladiator.

[@raulbustamante8337]

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

[@stuartmaclean5572]

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!

[@happycamper1687]

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.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks for the feedback! There are plenty more educational videos coming

[@dlansburg2673]

Thanks Dan,very informative

[@mainelybuds8543]

You have nailed it Dan... Do just what you need, plus 10%. On a side note... How is the Didgeridoo coming?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I have to confess I really have not been practicing, and I'm no better than I was in lockdown!

[@mainelybuds8543]

@@TheRoadChoseMe Find a spot for it on your next adventure? It weighs nothing and may come in handy.

[@duncdunc76]

Always awesome assessments in your vids👍

[@Defender110SLO]

Thanks for sharing yours expirience. Cheers Dan. 🍻

[@andrewmorgan4306]

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.

[@kristopherm5269]

Thanks!

[@questioner1596]

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.

[@petersantulli2337]

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.

[@webersteve1547]

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.

[@desertfox486]

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.

[@m5wm6w]

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.

[@DriftaholiC]

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.

[@Dingocreek]

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.

[@mikehzz9848]

Refreshing to see something other than a Toyota. 😀

[@Alex_556]

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...

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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?

[@Rebel.Matt555]

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.

[@tomkelly3896]

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✌

[@collinsonyango6708]

That was some pinpoint perfection on the Jeep. Every aspect is fine tuned to ensure maximum efficiency. Kudos. Where are you overlanding next?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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.

[@guidok3762]

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 ………

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Wow, the iveco daily will be an awesome global expedition vehicle!

[@spudboy1328]

A most interesting post :) I really wish my Troopy had a reversing camera like your Jeep...

[@mikehzz9848]

And maybe a few more cup holders? 😀

[@wolffo999]

to test your fuel mileage assumption - you should compare your dash odometer to your GPS - do a 10 mile test - if you are running taller tires than stock - you are going further than your dash odo says you are going

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I used a programmer to change the tire size in the Jeep computer to adjust the speedo. At 100km/h (60mph) it's accurate to within 1%

[@wolffo999]

@@TheRoadChoseMe I calculate a 6% pickup in distance with 285s on 4 different toyotas versus stock tires and a 3 mile per hour speed increase versus the stock odo - all else equal - my miles per gallon increases

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Except you're adding weight, rotational mass, higher resistance on the road, and worse wind resistance. There are *very* few vehicles in the world where increasing tire size will increase mileage. It's basically not possible.

[@wolffo999]

@@TheRoadChoseMe - my gps tells me I’m traveling 6% further per tire rotation - the numerator increases in value - you also lose torque - which has the effect of running taller gears and thus a lower engine RPM for a given speed

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

And a lower rpm does not mean lower fuel consumption. Think about what happens when you put a bicycle in the highest possible gear and try to ride up a hill - you have to put every once of strength you have into the pedals.. therefore using tons of energy. When you "lug" an engine exactly the same thing happens, the computer will dump in more fuel to try and get more torque to turn the wheels (which are difficult to turn). Sometimes I would play around with the Gladiator and put it in 8th gear to see if it would use less fuel than in 6th while watching the instant read out from the computer. It does not. There is obviously a sweet spot to aim for, and you might improve a tiny bit in specific circumstances, but remember the OEM did 5+ years of testing and spent hundreds of millions of dollars running the calculations and validating what you're doing on a napkin. If they could have improved the mileage, they would have.

[@yorkchris10]

Enjoy the old PentaStar, some sort of Hurricane coming to Jeep - although more batteries.

[@montechie]

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.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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!

[@aziazeeb6883]

Make a video of plans for next trip

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Details are coming to Patreon in the coming months

[@user-tw9pc7uc2k]

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

[@calsurflance5598]

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?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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.

[@peterhaan9068]

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?

[@6226superhurricane]

they'd have to be paying a lot to take that much of a backwards step.

[@peterhaan9068]

@@6226superhurricane True dat!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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!

[@RelaxedRacer]

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

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Believe it or not I found it again - it does actually work perfectly on my valves.. I just have to not lose it again.

[@RelaxedRacer]

@@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!

[@robertvoss9111]

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?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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

[@questioner1596]

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]

The Gladiator will do that, though I'm old school and happy to do it the old manual way

[@daveweber9737]

Did you wire your compressor pre or post ignition? I tend to wire electronics post in case I forget to turn them off.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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.

[@squatch2461]

🍻

[@gregadams6827]

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

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Wow, thanks!

[@GATORADDAM]

Hard to believe it's been a year.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Right! Time always goes much faster than we expect, doubly so since covid

[@spudboy1328]

Will you be selling the Jeep whan you leave Australia, or ship it on to some other country for the next adventure?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

It's time to sell the Jeep and get back to my Africa Jeep in Canada

[@mrkkiani]

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.

[@eyeswideopen7450]

14:45 what is the arm IN FRONT of the skid plate? it this part of the steering?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

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)

[@tomkelly3896]

Electric fans??? Ive heard horror stories of fan blades bending and hitting radiator....bad rx...🤔🤔🤔

[@6226superhurricane]

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.

[@bob6383]

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!