What Drives the Tool List
The Gladiator is a modern FCA platform with electronic lockers, an electronic sway-bar disconnect (Rubicon), and a steering column that communicates with the ABS and SCM (Steering Control Module) via CAN bus. When you service the brakes, bleed the ABS, or work on the front suspension, a generic OBDII scanner isn't enough — you need a scanner that speaks FCA's proprietary protocols. The Mopar wiTECH system is dealer-level; the Foxwell NT530 or Autel-brand scanners with FCA-specific coverage are practical aftermarket options.
The doors and hardtop use T-50 Torx fasteners at the hinges and mounting bolts. If you remove doors or the hardtop on the trail — or if a hinge pin loosens — you need the T-50 to put things back. The 19mm lug nut is consistent across Gladiator trims; it's not a surprise size, but it's not in every basic socket set.
Build from the base kit below and add the Gladiator-specific items. The scanner belongs accessible, not buried.
Base Kit — All Vehicles
Drive Tools
- 3/8" drive socket set — 8mm–19mm metric, 5/16"–3/4" SAE
- 1/2" drive socket set — 17mm–36mm metric, 1/2"–1-1/4" SAE
- Breaker bar — 18" or 24"
- 3/8" ratchet + extensions — 3" and 6"
- Torque wrench — 1/2" drive, 20–150 ft-lb
- Combination wrenches — 8–19mm metric + 3/8"–3/4" SAE
- Allen / hex key set — metric + SAE
Hand Tools
- Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers — multiple sizes
- Needle-nose, standard, and channel-lock pliers
- Diagonal cutters
- Pry bar — 18"
- Dead-blow hammer
- Utility knife + blades
- Wire strippers / crimpers
Electrical & Repair
- Multimeter
- Fuses — blade, 5A–40A assorted
- Electrical tape + self-fusing silicone tape
- Crimp connectors + wire — 14 AWG, 12 AWG
- Zip ties
- JB Weld
- Hose clamps — 4–8 pack assorted
- Duct tape
Recovery & Safety
- Hi-Lift 48" + base plate
- Tow strap — 20’, 20,000 lb minimum
- D-shackles — 2x 3/4"
- Tire plug kit
- Air compressor — 12V, 35+ PSI
- Tire gauge
- Jumper cables or jump starter
- Fire extinguisher — ABC, 2.5 lb minimum
- Headlamp + batteries
- Work gloves + nitrile
- First aid kit
Consumables
- PB Blaster
- Anti-seize
- Blue Loctite #243
- RTV silicone
- Shop rags
Gladiator JT Additions
- FCA-compatible OBDII scanner — Mandatory for locker diagnostics, ABS bleed, and SCM (Steering Control Module) access; generic scanners do not support FCA proprietary protocols. Foxwell NT530 with FCA license, Autel MaxiCheck, or similar.
- 19mm deep socket (1/2" drive) — Gladiator lug nuts; verify your wheel/aftermarket lug nut spec if you're running non-factory wheels
- T-50 Torx bit + driver (3/8" or 1/2" drive) — Door hinge bolts and hardtop mounting bolts; if you remove doors or the hardtop on trail, you need this to reinstall
- Hinge pin set (2x spare) — Carry two spare door hinge pins; they walk out on rough terrain and are a common trail annoyance
- Spare hardtop bolts (4x) — The hardtop corner bolts are easily lost; losing one on trail means a poorly sealed hardtop for the drive home
Pack Strategy
The FCA scanner goes in the center console or a grab-and-go bag — locker and ABS issues happen mid-trail, not in the garage. The T-50 Torx and hinge pins go with your Torx set. The 19mm deep socket lives with the 1/2" drive set. Hardtop bolts go in a small labeled bag in the center console or glove box.
Why the JT Tool List Looks This Way
The Gladiator's electronic lockers (Rubicon) and sway-bar disconnect communicate through the CAN bus. After any front suspension work, front axle work, or ABS work, the system may throw codes or require calibration. An FCA-compatible scanner reads the specific modules involved — TIPM, ABS, SCM — that a generic OBDII scanner ignores.
ABS bleed on the JT requires a scanner for the automated bleed cycle. You can't do a proper ABS system bleed on this platform with a pressure bleeder alone. The scanner initiates the ABS pump cycle that moves fluid through the modulator. If you do brake work on trail, you need the scanner to complete the bleed.