My Jeep Wrangler is GOING ON A DIET!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- For the last five years I’ve been building up my Jeep Wrangler to be able to take me on some awesome off-road and overlanding adventures. During this time the Jeep has gotten heavier and heavier and the performance has suffered, plus the weight has started to take a toll on the components. In this video I’ll share with you what the current weight is, some things I’ve done to lighten it up and what I’ll be doing going forward to get closure to GVWR.
Canvas Top: amzn.to/38eGrvv
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I'm saving up for my first jeep. I've already determined that I want a 2 door Rubicon with a soft top. So many people think I'm crazy for wanting a 2 door soft top for various reasons. But my main reasons for wanting that configuration is because 1) I like the looks of it and 2) I can take the top of by myself easily.
Love your channel bud. Thank you for your service to our country! 🇺🇲👍
I got soft and hard tops when I bought mine. Love them both!
That's the way to go!
I have been waiting for this one !
OVRLNDX you and me both brother!!! 🙌🏽
Awesome Video Brad... Love the Concept of going “Light”... And I totally agree... Since I started building my 16, weight has always been something I kept my eye on... The Market is so full of “Cool Stuff”, and trying to keep it Simple is really Tuff! 😃
I remember when I sold my hard top and got a soft top. Total game changer with going topless. I really don't miss having the hard top at all
Just a couple days in and I'm no missing the hard top yet.
That's funny. I went the complete opposite direction and I do not miss my soft top at all. They are Velcro windows did you really need to slash them to steal my backpack? -__-
@MrCloudseeker maybe she serves bottomless coffee????
Very informative. Thanks for shedding light on a lot of things that i previously took for granted. Keep the videos coming.
Looks BEAST! You provide soooo much information, every video, you rock! Thanks!
Great video Brad!!! It’s everything I have running through my head.... never thought I wanted a soft top until I saw this video.
What a great change. Amazing video as everyone I've seen on this channel. Good luck with trails and vlogs. Joey from Slovakia
My girlfriends first vehicle was a silver four door JK with a soft top. I gotta say seeing your Jeep brought back a lot of good memories. Good luck with your future projects your videos are always great.
I’m glad to see you doing this, is JK people are being left for the JT and JL. 😀
Going back to your roots with this rig. I like it…keeps the rest of us feeling loved! Lol. Cheers 🍻
Love this! Super helpful for my build. Love the look of the soft top too, Brad!
Its awesome seeing you getting back to the basics!
Im already loving this new upload schedule!
Lightweight is going to be my focus on my JL build.
Glad to see a bigger youtuber go with another company other than bestop like everyone else does. Curious to see how it holds up ive been thinking about making the change but kind of on the fence with the harsh WNY winter here
I heard the soft top retains heat a little better than the hard top. I'm not sure how accurate that actually is because I've never had a soft top before lol.
Another great video Brad! Thank you!
Holy crap. This video is a new level of detail and info. Amazing job bud
Just found the added benefit of not having a lot of money. Great video! Had plans for 2021. Now, I'll have to rearrange my thoughts.
I use the DeepSleep mattress for Jeeps to camp inside my Jeep. I love doing minimalist type of camping. A Jetboil, a cooler and my Jeep is all I need. I wish I could run a fridge with my setup, but I just don't get to go often enough to justify it at the moment.
Liking the new look! Clean and simple!
I'm loving this... Brad is going back to the basics.
Please create a separate "playlist" for these types of videos. Thanks!
Getting heavy happens after getting out of the military 😅
*Looks down to see if I can still see toes... ahh crap. 🤣
LOL! Hopefully I will be able to see my toes for years to come!
Well get focused!!! Do Jiu-Jitsu it’s helps!!
Lol... I’m about to do my first Jeep build and move to San Diego... Less than 2 years before I retire from the military. Looking forward to it all!
@@josephdodson3323, congrats on forthcoming retirement brother! Army broke me before I could get that far 😂
Finally! Lightweight is the way to go for a Jeep. I have the opposite issue after installing my AEV lift, once I put 150lbs of weight in the back it rides much nicer
could not agree more with your comment about balance between your two rigs. also love the look with the doors off !
I did the opposite. Although my soft top was super convenient for those nice summer days I sold it and got a hard top.
Digging the new videos with the JK. Looks great with the soft top. Having options is definitely a plus!
Brad,
I'm excited for you. Trimming down on gear and weight has some tremendous advantages. I bought my tank green 2015 with a black soft top, which I love. Of course, I found a brand new OEM hard top at a mod shop for $1200 and snatched it up for winters and long trips.
But that soft top is so much fun.
Awesome video.
Thank you!
Thanks for the reminding on weighing our rigs and evaluating our gear!
Soft tops are awesome! Hahaha I have a silver 2-door with a soft top, and I love it! I find the rain sound on the soft top to be super relaxing!!
Looks Good! I have hard and soft top depending on the occasion the soft is so convenient to fold back. I noticed you hadn't tucked in the top where the back door meets the top, i did the same thing and it took me a couple days driving around with it flapping to realize how to push them around the door surrounds! Hope this helps if you where wondering why it was flapping!
I love the diet look!!😍
Really good decision Brad. You will achieve much better weight for your Jeep.
Looks great with the soft top.
We wanted a hard top when we bought our rubicon a year ago, but after riding with the soft top for a year-were just going to buy the same top you bought! Love the flexibility of taking the top off or just pulling it back and having some fun. It would still be nice to have a hard top but we love the Jeep without it!
Way to go! Doing more with less is a great way to start the year!!
Pretty common theme now particularly here in Australia, we all go a little overboard in the beginning only to want to make our rig lighter. You met Ronny Dahl and he’s a prime example too about the benefits of lowering the weight of your rig.
The more we use our rigs the more we learn!
Wow it looks great with the soft top!!! Love it
Also I’d like to make a suggestion. Look up the Jeep backbone. I use it with my soft top and it’s awesome. You can prevent your stuff from theft and most water situations. I even have my fridge on a slide under the backbone. Great company and great product.
That top looks great...love the tint
Love the soft top!!! Aluminum is always a great weight watching option!!!
The diet is looking good on the Jeep! Nice way to make the most of both of your rigs!
Sweet looking ride Brother 🤘🏽
Loved this vid, for what you do lite is right! I would take out the back seats. When your solo if you can configure to sleep in the back it's an easy camp set up.
I would keep the skid plates. Even if they're the heavy duty steel ones. They will protect the Jeeps vitals better, and lower the center of gravity. Looks good.
It was good how you did this video. Once having a Jeep on thing I use to run was “half doors”. This would cut some weight down. As always Great video Brad. Happy Trails
Its crazy, I saw you make a left at the light with Amelia when I was on my way to the safari park, cool to see such a cool youtuber live in my home town!
I had to put my rig on a diet as well. I ended up swapping out steel for aluminum everywhere I could as far as armor goes...fender flares, rear corners, ditched rear bumper for aluminum fascia. Shedded a lot of weight with Bestop Core Doors. Attempted to lighten up my rubber Patagonias but those tires must be a West Coast thing because they just don't fair well here on East Coast terrain. All in all, I was able to shed 500+ lbs. Definitely feels more nimble.
Go for aluminum, skid plates / bumpers... 6 mm aluminum skid plates its more then enough, in Israel jeep/off road community working only with aluminum as a standard
How about a set of OEM half doors?
Can't wait till I have these issues
jaja thats rad as hell brother : D wish it happens to ya sooner than soon.
The main thing I enjoy about my soft top is, you can fold it back and enjoy the open air, but if the weather changes and/or it gets dark and cold you got all the parts to put it up.
I love the way the wrangler looks with that soft top. It looked like the zippers worked well which can be a pain as they age. Pro tip: wax the zippers with dry lube like beeswax every once in a while to keep them moving smoothly. Great look, Brad.
The recon in that config Master Chief. That weight delta is insane. See you on the trails... Hooah!!!
This re-inspired me to keep my lightweight design idea instead of going mainstream and getting heavy bumpers and stuff "everyone" tells me I need. Winch plate and heavy duty hinges for the tailgate tire carrier here I come.
When I get the funding lol
Great video, thanks brad! Keep up the great work!
Another great video Devil Doc.
Thanks for that info helped a lot
Soft top looks nice, much more convenient to be convertible and lighter. I think I will keep the warmth and security of the hard top though for where I live. Happy trails.
Nicely done, Brad! Answered a lot of questions I had about all the weight we carry around that may not be needed. One reason I bought a used 2005 WK a few years ago is that the 2010 WK was 800 pound heavier! Same vehicle - but FCA added a whole bunch of heavy crap over the years that I haven't missed. Can't "weight' tho see what your next adventures are like! See you at Tierra Del Sol?
Catching up on some of your videos that I didn't have time to watch in the past. One thing about this pandemic is its giving me time to catch up on my favorite TH-cam channels. Your's is one at the top of my list of favorites. I'm a little surprised as handy as you are in the garage that you have not built a pulley system to remove your hardtop. There are several good ones you can buy and/or build that make it a one person job. Maybe now that your a soft top no longer needed lol. . .
Jeep looks great with the soft top Brad!
I got both tops when I bought my TJ, and I would install the hard top for winter and the soft top in summer. But it is a pain to take the hard top off then put it back on a few months later. For the past 4 or 5 years I've just kept the soft top on and it's been fine here in northern California. I also find that placing small polyester blankets on the rear floor/shelf really helps with road noise coming up from the wheels and road surface. Even when the interior is empty, it's barely louder than the hard top. And on any sunny day, I can have the top down in minutes regardless of the time of year.
6,283 pounds loaded for a trip is pretty heavy but... our JKU Rubicon fully loaded for a trip with 14 gallons of extra fuel in cans plus the driver is just under 7,000 pounds. That's with the 3.8 liter engine and four speed automatic transmission. Doh! We like having everything we need though. It's slow but the Jeep was never fast to begin with so... Good luck with the diet!
Love the looks.
Looks much better imo. I feel you have found the balance between your Gladiator & JK. Wait to see more videos with this outfit.
Looks great Brad. I can appreciate the weight savings with a soft top and something I’m thinking about for my 2 dr JK. The BT core doors are appealing too. Pricey...yes...but the weight savings and functionality almost seem worth it.
She looks good with out the doors an top reminds me of a toy Jeep I had as a kid,she looks good with the soft top your a good man brad you admit when wrong an film yourself being wrong on install 😂😂😂 good job as always be safe.........
Thanks for the info! I would like to see how easy/hard it is to open the soft top. I'm thinking about getting one myself. Love your videos!
I’m with you on the smittybilt tops! I’m extra careful with the zippers as I am slightly distrusting, but the initial quality seems 100%
I’m excited for the new rock crawling adventures
Have you looked into the best top core doors , there Aluminum have doors with twill soft top halves
I have the smittybilt premium top and love it it even has pockets in the roof and love them
Seriously you really are spreading adventure viruzes👍🏼😀
I purchased a dual top on purpose back in 2014,
However I will not wheel without the bead locks, also like knowing I have some extra weight on the bottom side.
Great Channel !!
Great info on the vehicle numbers. I like your choice of power tools also. DeWalt all the way.
In 30+ years of owning Jeeps from Arizona summers to Maine winters I have never had an issue having a soft top. You have to care for them differently but that's about it. The only 2 "downsides" are. No rooftop tent with out some weird exo-skelton roof rack frame and no rear wiper :). I love my 2 door JL soft top.
Jeep looks all new with the new soft top and the different rims. Like it.
A pretty big transformation for sure... I'm loving it!
Thanks for another awesome video Brad! I read through the comments and see a lot of people questioning if the GVWR has increased due to your upgrades of axels, suspension, tires, brakes...etc. I see your replys explaining that the GVWR is mostly determined by the chassis and its ability to carry weight. Do you think you could crate another video to put this to bed once and for all? Hoping you can feature one of your Jeep experts that can dig into the nitty gritty with this. Would love to know if there is a possible upgrade that will actually increase the GVWR. Thanks as always!!
Great video as always Brad. It's funny I am doing the exact same thing to monstro. Because we rock crawl I'm trying to get the weight down. I haven't weighed him in a while but last time I did he was at 5600 pounds with all the doors and hard top on and recovery gear. Not sure if they had me on the scale or off the scale so possibly subtract 250 lol. But that was before 37" tires and a lot of upgrades also more skid plates I was just telling my wife I need to weigh it again now. Look forward to see how that soft top does for you we were looking at 1 ourselves.
Master Chief, that is one awesome looking beast!
Thank you!
Great job...jeep looks awesome with the soft top on it...for less weight maybe look into after market half doors and the canvas windows...that should save about 30 -50 lbs per door...
I have a soft top. And I take it down almost every time I go off roading. It's so nice to go topless in a matter of minutes
Helpful hint: the rear brackets go on easier if you slide them on from the side. Looks great man!!
Diggin this! Always try to keep lbs in mind when thinking mods and gear. Wear and tear sure but mostly just nimbler on trail (and as a DD)Now you got we curious. Heading to a cat scale...
Brad thank you for doing this video, it puts things in perspective. Looking at the specs on Jeeps website (BTW they’re not complete across the various configurations) it doesn’t appear Jeeps we’re meant to carry more than four people and a little bit of gear. Seems to me there needs to be more use of aluminum, perhaps carbon fiber but that’s more expensive, so as to make these vehicles more capable of carrying a load...
I’m actually reconsidering do I really need a four door Jeep. I don’t have a Jeep yet, but this just makes me think is the four door even capable of handling all the stuff for overlanding without being over the design limits. Borders on an unsafe situation when any vehicle is overloaded.
Looks great!
Looking really good Brad . I had a soft top on my TJ and I loved it . Then one night someone liked it better than me and stole it . So I bought a hard top and I like it a lot except I like the convenience of removing or putting the top down when I want . So my future plans are to buy a soft top and use it in the nice months and put the hard top on in the winter ( snows here) . I like what you have done and I'm looking forward to seeing your next project on your JK. Until next time take care .
Security is one of the downsides for sure.
Awesome video and i dont even own a wrangler, my future vehicle is the gladiator, hands down....i am in the middle of a daily driver/overland xj, and it will take a gladiator to get me out of the seat of an xj , love the vids, keep em coming.
You could take out the rear seats and drop 95 pounds.... We did that with out 2016 Silver Rubicon. We also added a plywood platform that allows us to sleep in the back and store our gear underneath the platform. Cozy like a RTT but less weight and no additional wind resistance. Most important to us, we can set up camp in less than 5 minutes. Pretty much we can sleep anywhere we can park. That may or may not work for you.
The rear seats are something I use often, so just can't bring myself to pull them out, but I can still sleep in the back of the Jeep with an air mattress and the rears folded down.
J Ad i did just this. Built a whole cabinet system as the sleeping platform. Nothing ever moves as everything has a place. It’s awesome. I only wish my skies fit inside. Building a box for that as we speek.
You do a great job explaining throughout your videos! Thank you.... when is the Alaska trip?
When are you planning on the Alaska trip?
I have got to get my soft top on this year!
Thanks, Brad. I was curious about the road noise. I never even considered a soft top Jeep because I just assumed it would be MUCH louder inside, though I have been told that the quality of the soft top makes a huge difference.
As for weight, this is why I built a camping trailer. I wanted to get the weight out of my Jeep. Instead of 500+ pounds of gear in the Jeep, I’m only adding about 100 lbs of tongue weight. The Jeep actually handles really well with the trailer and off road is excellent. Obviously you can tell you are towing something, but I gained back a lot of ground clearance in the rear. I’m not sure I’d drag it over the Rubicon though. I think, like you, I would whittle down to bare necessaries and go as light as possible.
Good video.
Love all you do with your Jeep! But hey GVWR doesn't matter now since you upgraded axles, suspension, gearing and all that. You can handle much more weight which we've seen with the extra gear and tires with the trails you hit! But still fun to give her a diet and rip it on the trails!!! Can't wait to watch
I agree totally, we get to heavy. The dilemma for me is the cost of steel versus aluminum parts or living with the stock plastic. So far steel has been winning.
Great video thank you!
Brad great work!
Very nice.I always liked the soft top here So Cal.Ohio winters not so much.
Wow, I enjoy every video cause inspiring me of some thing to do or not, glad you have a big GLAD to carry stuff and make dowsize the JK!!! JKU it's my dd but can't resist to put a lot of "sthitng" and transform it in a whale (better a big tanks for Zapocalipse) and in my mustang gt 07 have put rear seat delete kit... I'ts time to sit and take decisiong to where togo! Big thanks Bred, Alessandro
Hey Brad, make sure you tuck those side window rails into the slot of the rear door surround. The window should be tight! Normally you’ll want to only get about 6” of the zipper done then get all the plastic rails into place, then zip it up the rest of the way. Feel free to reach out if you need pics or further assist!