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Ryan Robertson

@mr_robertson1

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Building a JT on Super Duty 1-Tons
🔧 @mtn.adv.outfitters
🤝 Build Partners
@mevotech_parts | @r1concepts | @diodedynamics
👇 Build, Gear & Adventures

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It’s official—the Gladiator is getting one-tons.

I’m going with a Super Duty Dana 60 up front and a Sterling 10.5 out back. There’s a lot to do before they are ready to start welding in trusses and regearing.

I’m going to document the entire conversion—the parts, fabrication, problems, costs and everything I learn along the way.

Part 01 starts now.

Next: Why Super Duty axles instead of bolt-in one-tons?

#JeepGladiator #JeepJT #OneTonSwap #Dana60 #motobilt @mtn.adv.outfitters by @mr_robertson1

I would call it nerve-racking not miserable 🤪. Awesome time with the @mtn.adv.outfitters gang yesterday. #cloakedrepublic #jeepgladiator #offroad

Current setup:
@metalcloak 3.5” Game Changer
@dirtylifewheels Beadlocks
@ruggedradios
@bulletpointmountingsolutions
@genesisoffroad
@fullthrottlebattery
@factor55
@warnindustries
@motobilt_inc
@grimmoffroad
@mtn.adv.outfitters

.

Next phase loading… 🐺 by @mr_robertson1

O|||||||O

Built for the trails.
Built for the miles between.

.

Current setup:
@metalcloak 3.5” Game Changer
@dirtylifewheels Beadlocks
@ruggedradios
@bulletpointmountingsolutions
@genesisoffroad
@fullthrottlebattery
@factor55
@warnindustries
@motobilt_inc
@grimmoffroad
@mtn.adv.outfitters

.

Next phase loading… 🐺 @jeepgladiators @warnindustries @factor55 @metalcloak #cloakedrepublic #teammetalcloak #jeep #offroad #4x4 by @mr_robertson1

🎮 DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?

The 2” cast collar on the driver’s side of the Dana 60 is FINALLY gone. 💪

Now comes the fun part…

How many @benchmarkabrasives flap discs will it take to smooth this thing out? 😂

Drop your guesses below! 👇 Closest guess wins absolutely nothing but bragging rights. 🏆

#Dana60 #JeepGladiator #OneTonSwap #BenchmarkAbrasives #JeepBuild by @mr_robertson1

Well, I was warned that building these axles meant spending half my life cutting off everything Ford welded to them. @cmoore224 wasn’t wrong.💀

At this point, I’m not even sure who’s winning… me or the Dana 60. 😂

But hey, progress is progress. 🔥

#JeepGladiator #OneTonSwap #Dana60 #JeepBuild #DIYOffroad by @mr_robertson1

The unglamorous side of a one-ton swap.

Axle prep means hours of grinding before anything pretty happens — knocking off years of rust and scale so this housing is clean and ready for what’s next.

Put the @benchmarkabrasives flap wheels to work today. They’re cutting fast, holding up, and not gouging the steel — exactly what you want at this stage.

Progress is progress, even when it’s covered in dust.

What grit are y’all running for cleanup like this?

#HowlerJT #OneTonSwap #JeepGladiator #Dana60 #AxlePrep Fabrication BenchmarkAbrasives by @mr_robertson1

The Jeep is still at the dealership.

The bank account is under investigation.

But the @mickeythompsontires 42s showed up, so I’d say things are going pretty well. 😂💸

#JeepGladiator #JeepBuild #42s #OffroadLife #mickeythompson by @mr_robertson1

POV: You bought a Jeep to make memories on the trails… 🏔️

Now your camera roll is 90% rusty axle parts, questionable financial decisions, and pictures of things you took apart three weeks ago. 🔧💀

At this point, I have more pictures of my Dana 60 than my actual Jeep.

Anyone else have a camera roll that looks more like a mechanic’s evidence locker? 😂

📲 Send this to the friend whose camera roll looks just as bad.

#JeepGladiator #JeepLife #OneTonSwap #OffroadBuild #HowlerJT by @mr_robertson1

The @harborfreight Hercules Portaband deserves a redemption arc. 😂💪

After our first round of technical difficulties, I gave it another shot while stripping the factory brackets off the Super Duty Dana 60.

And this time? It absolutely ATE. 🔥

Even made quick work of cutting through the cast sections! Three minutes of cutting, grinding, and turning this old axle into something ready for the Gladiator.

Turns out the problem might not have been the tool after all… 👀😂

The one-ton swap continues! 🔧

#JeepGladiator #OneTonSwap #HarborFreight #HerculesTools #JeepBuild by @mr_robertson1

🔩 STUBBORN BALL JOINT: 0. ME: 1. 🏆

After entirely too much fighting, a few questionable life decisions, and finally introducing that stubborn ball joint nut to a cutoff wheel… WE HAVE VICTORY! 😂🔥

The last knuckle is officially OFF! 🙌

One more battle won, one step closer to getting these one-tons under the Gladiator! 💪

Sometimes progress isn’t pretty… but man, it feels GOOD! 🤘

#JeepGladiator #OneTonSwap #Dana60 #JeepBuild #BuiltNotBought by @mr_robertson1

Three SS5s. One CrossLink. A whole lot of LIGHT. 🔥💡

The JT is getting another upgrade! This time we’re installing the @diodedynamics SS5 CrossLink system, turning three individual SS5 lights into one seriously clean bumper-mounted light bar.

I’ve always loved the modular design of the SS5s, and the CrossLink takes it to another level. Clean fitment, aggressive looks, and enough lighting to make the sun question its job. 😎

One more piece of the Howler build coming together! 🐺

What do you think of the CrossLink setup versus a traditional LED light bar? 👇

#diodeambassador #DiodeDynamics #JeepGladiator #HowlerJT #OffroadLighting by @mr_robertson1

🚨 THE HOWLER JT ONE-TON BUILD IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! 🐺🔥

We’ve been cutting, grinding, tearing things apart, and occasionally questioning our life choices… and now you can watch 13 minutes of it all in one place! 😂

Our FIRST full-length YouTube build episode is officially LIVE!

We’ve combined the journey so far into one video, including extended footage you haven’t seen in our Reels!

From picking up our Dana 60 and Sterling 10.5 axles to tearing them down, mocking up components, and fighting our way through fabrication, we’re bringing you along for the entire build.

This is just the beginning. We’ve got big plans for the Howler JT, and things are only going to get crazier from here. 🔧💪

🎬 WATCH NOW ON YOUTUBE!
📺 @howlerjt
🔗 Link in bio!

If you’ve been following the build, head over, check it out, and hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Every view, like, comment, and subscription helps us keep this project rolling!

42s, one-ton axles, and questionable financial decisions. What could possibly go wrong? 😎

#HowlerJT #JeepGladiator #OneTonSwap #Dana60 #JeepBuild by @mr_robertson1