Jeep Wrangler JL and Gladiator Dash Mount Install: Step by Step, Doors Off
Doors off, top off, windshield folded: everything else on a Wrangler moves. The dash stays, which is why the Mountech Jeep JL phone mount bolts to it at factory hardware points instead of clamping a grab handle or sticking to glass. This is the install, start to finish, for the 2018-2023 Wrangler JL, the 2021-2023 Wrangler 4xe and the 2020-2023 Gladiator JT. One kit covers all three.
Before You Start: Does It Fit
| Jeep | Years | This kit |
|---|---|---|
| Wrangler JL | 2018-2023 | Yes |
| Wrangler 4xe | 2021-2023 | Yes, same dash |
| Gladiator JT | 2020-2023 | Yes, same kit |
| Wrangler or Gladiator | 2024+ | Not yet. The dash changed; run the vacuum cup base until a kit lands. |
| Wrangler JK, TJ | 2007-2018, older | No. Different dash. Vacuum cup base or an AMPS ball base on an existing bracket. |
If your year is not on that table, we have not verified fitment, and we would rather lose the sale than ship you a maybe.
What Is in the Kit
The Jeep dash mount kit is the vehicle-specific base: it picks up existing factory hardware points on the JL and JT dash and carries a 1" (25.4 mm) SpinLok ball. No drilling, no adhesive pads, no tension rods wedged into trim. Above the ball you choose the arm and the holder, and the product page lets you add them with the kit.
Pick the Arm First
Arms come in 1.5", 3" and 6" socket-to-socket lengths, billet aluminum with stainless hardware and one adjustment knob. On a Jeep, shorter wins. Every inch of arm multiplies the leverage that washboard puts on the joint, and the dash position already puts the phone within reach. The 1.5" arm is our pick for a trail rig; the 3" arm if you want the phone a little higher or closer. Save the 6" arm for a tablet, and only on pavement.
Pick the Head
The magnetic, MagSafe-compatible holder is the fastest one-handed option and the popular choice in a JL. The spring-loaded cradle grips mechanically, and it is the one we would run on a hard trail day with the top off, or with a thick case that has no magnet ring. Both clamp to the same ball, so you can change your mind later for the price of a head.
Step by Step: Installing the Jeep Dash Mount
- Park on level ground with the phone you actually run on hand, in its case. You are going to set the angle for that phone.
- Follow the install guide for the kit to locate the factory hardware points on the dash and set the base. Basic hand tools, no drilling.
- Thread the SpinLok ball into the base and snug it. The locking pins stop it spinning loose later; you do not need to crank on it.
- Open the arm knob, seat one socket on the ball, seat the holder ball in the other socket, and bring the knob to finger tight.
- Put the phone in the holder, set height and angle, then tighten the knob. One knob sets both joints.
- Snap cable clips on the arm and route the charge cable so it never crosses the screen.
- Drive the first gravel road with the doors on. Check the angle once, retighten once, and it stays.
Doors Off, Top Off
Rain and dust get to everything in an open Jeep. The base is bolted to the dash structure, the ball and arm are 6061-T6 aluminum with stainless hardware, and the SpinLok interface resists backing off under vibration. For a rough day with the top off we would swap the magnet for the cradle; the magnet is fine for the drive to the trailhead.
Jeep JL Dash Mount FAQs
Does the Gladiator use the same dash mount as the Wrangler?
Yes. The JL and JT dashes share the same mounting points, so one kit covers the 2018-2023 Wrangler and the 2020-2023 Gladiator.
Does it fit a Wrangler 4xe?
Yes, 2021-2023. The 4xe shares the JL dash.
Do I have to drill into the dash?
No. The kit mounts at existing factory hardware points.
What about a 2024 Wrangler or Gladiator?
The dash changed for 2024 and the JL/JT kit does not fit it. A direct-fit kit is in development. The vacuum cup base carries the same arm and holder in the meantime, and they move over when the new base ships.
Which is the best phone mount for a Jeep Wrangler JL?
The one bolted to the dash, with the shortest arm that reaches and the head that matches your case. Grab handles move and sit in your sightline, and a windshield mount in a Jeep is a phone waiting to hit the floor.
Related: JK vs JL vs JT, and dash vs grab handle vs windshield and the arm length guide.
Bolted to the one thing that stays
One kit for the JL, the 4xe and the JT, installed at factory points and backed for life.
