The Gladiator blends truck styling into the proven success of the Wrangler. You can shift that equation more accessories and modifications, and that’s exactly what we did here with the help of Lou Fusz Jeep.
| PART LIST | |
|---|---|
| N-Fab Wheel to Wheel RS Nerf Steps | Window Tint |
| Rough Country Spare Tire Bed Mount | 17-Inch Black Rhino Armory Wheels |
| Armordillo CR2 Chase Rack | Rough Country CREE LED Cubes |
| 2-Inch Mopar Lift Kit | Mopar Rubicon Stubby Bumper with Winch Guard |
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Wheels & Tires
Everything starts with a Mopar 2-inch lift kit designed by the engineers that know Jeep best. The kit includes aluminum body mono-tube FOX Shocks and makes room for the 37-inch Toyo Open Country R/T tire. This 4X4 tire has earned its place as one of our favorites for the Gladiator with its excellent traction, aggressive styling, and 45,000 mile warranty. The Rubicon’s stubby bumper increases the clearance for these huge boys.
The 17-inch factory Rubicon wheel is swapped for a 17×9.5 Black Rhino Armory Wheel. Straight from a battle zone, this wheel is the right weapon of choice for the Gladiator. These military-inspired wheels are available in Desert Sand (as shown) and Gun Black.
Exterior Modifications
It’s difficult to find a chase rack for the Gladiator, but the CR2 from Armordillo fits the bill. Designed by and for the enthusiast, the CR2 chase rack is constructed with premium steel and finished in black powder coat.
Below it sits a bed mounted spare tire carrier from Rough Country. This gives the Gladiator the 5th wheel that has become so iconic for the Wrangler. Paired with the chase rack it feels like a natural addition that every other Gladiator lacks.
We also added the N-FAB Nerf Step RS system. The main bar fits tight to the body, and expanded drop steps provide a platform at each door. The front windows are tinted with Suntek Carbon Series window film to match the rest of the vehicle.
Lighting
Included in the CR2 Chase Rack is an LED 3rd brake light and two rear-facing LED lights. Mounted on top of the chase rack are two pairs of CREE LED cubes from Rough Country. These 4-inch cubes produce 16,200 Lumens, and feature 2 strips of softer lighting to act as a daytime running light.
Potential Additions
If you’re doing a similar build I’d consider upgrading headlight halogen bulbs to LED to match the chase rack lighting. The Super Bright LED upgrade kit is our favorite quick and affordable upgrade. There are also a lot of total replacements options that will give you additional styling as well as LED illumination.
I’d also recommend exploring an extended roof wrap for this build. Choosing a matte black to match the hard top would give it a two-tone look that could be really slick.
