The Jeep Gladiator has become a fan favorite amongst the mid-size pickup truck market since it’s debut in 2019. From the factory the Gladiator is a capable ‘offroader, but we wanted to give this gladiator some more weaponry.
With a list of accessories longer than the wait at the DMV , we built this Gladiator to tackle the trails and the daily commute.
This vehicle is listed for sale at Lou Fusz Ford. Click here to check pricing and availability.
Wheels, Tires & Lift Kit
Like building a house, any offroad build requires a solid foundation. For this Gladiator’s foundation we opted for a set of Black Rhino Arsenal wheels wrapped in Dick Cepek Extreme Country tires. This pairing not only looks great on the Gladiator, but also increases off roadability!
To squeeze all this new wheel and rubber under this rig we turned to ReadyLift for their Flex-4 Lift Kit. Lift kits are known for increasing ground clearance (and therefore off roadability, but they can also make your ride look better than at stock height.
To make getting in and out of this Gladiator a bit easier, we bolted on a pair of Trail FX Gladiator Drop Steps. The aesthetic they bring to the table is a nice bonus too!
Offroad Bumpers & Winch
With the foundation laid for this Gladiator we turned towards protection. To achieve this we added a Trail FX Winch Mount front bumper. With a sturdy bolt on construction, this bumper is designed to take more of a beating on the trail than your stock bumper can handle.
For some additional utility we added Rough Country’s 9500-LB Pro Series winch. A winch is a must-have for any extreme offroading. They can be used to pull yourself out of a tough situation (or to save your friends from their bad decisions).
Around back we also added a Trail FX Gladiator bumper to match the one up front. Swapping your stock rear bumper is especially important for group trail crawls since light bumper kisses from other drivers are common.
Offroad Lighting
For some additional visibility we opted to give this Gladiator a blinding amount of offroad lighting. Built into our TrailFX front bumper is a pair of Diode Dynamics SS3 fog lights. We’re big fans of Diode Dynamics’ products mostly because of their quality (but also because they’re local to St. Louis like us and made in America)!
For an additional dimension of lighting, we also bolted on a KC Universal Overhead Black Xross Light Mount. Bolted to the crossbar are six Rough Country LED light cubes. This complete package of offroad lighting gives this Gladiator plenty of visibility for a night trail run.
Upgraded Audio System
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy nothing more than listening to music on the commute, or in the outdoors. To give this Gladiator the same liberties, we started a complete audio upgrade with MB Quart’s Stage 6 JL upgrade kit.
We paired the six new MB Quart speakers with a discrete, under-seat MB Quart Dual 8-inch subwoofer system. The combination of these two audio upgrades give this Gladiator an auditory experience that can only be described as astonishing.
To power this new setup we wired in a JL Audio RD900/5 amplifier. Picking an amplifier for your automotive sound system is always a bit daunting. Cartoys.com has an in-depth article on amplifier selection which you can check out here.
Tonneau Cover
Finally, to top off this Gladiator build, we added a tonneau cover by UnderCover to the bed. Bed covers can offer improved aerodynamics to your truck, but I’ve found that the biggest benefit is stopping people from using your bed as a trashcan.
Potential Addons
As always, a great potential addon to any offroad build is WeatherTech floor liners. When offroading your floor can get dirty and stained extremely quickly, which is why floor liners are a solid investment.
In addition to floor liners, paint protection film (or PPF), is also a great way to protect your vehicle from the harsh elements on the trail like tree limbs and bushes!
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