by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
In the ancient Roman empire, Gladiators were fierce competitors to entertain the rich and powerful. Fighting, usually to the death, and putting on a show soon became their mantra.
Out on the trail, the Jeep Gladiator puts on a show. This isn’t a battle for power or money, but a show of strength, agility and courage. Different, sure, but still a performance.
The number of Gladiators on the trails in Moab, Utah, as well as in off-road parks across the country, has certainly exploded over the last few years.. The look and stance of these vehicles are striking a desire to have the true off-road capability of a Jeep Wrangler combined with the working payload of a truck. With its cross-functionality, the Gladiator JT is definitely finding a home on the trail.
More and more manufacturers are designing, creating, and releasing parts and components to beef up Gladiators in a way Wranglers have been modified for years. In fact, Gladiator owners spend more to modify their vehicles than any other vehicle class in Stellantis’ stable.
Some of these components were easy choices as Gladiator shares its front half design with the Wrangler. Things like wheels, tires, front bumpers, winches and many more front half components are all universal and can just be added to the Jeep truck without much thought. Just figure out the look that you want and go.
But, a bit more consideration needs to go into lifting or adding a suspension to a work on this type of vehicle; the weight of cargo in the bed, pulling power, towing torque and its extended wheelbase. So, suspension companies got busy and there are now more lift kits and components for the Gladiator than ever.
While attending this year’s Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, the increasing popularity and versatility of Gladiator appeared clear. The sheer numbers out on trails and in town was much higher than ever.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Quadratec JTe is a custom, two-door Gladiator concept project managed by Eric Ammerman, the company's creative content director, and built by Unofficial Use Only owner Greg Henderson. This is a vehicle designed not only for looks but functionality as well. This purpose-built, one-of-a-kind Gladiator is a rolling billboard to celebrate Quadratec's 50 for 50 Trail Improvement Stewardship Program in partnership with Tread Lightly!, and can often be found on trails around the country during work projects.
Not only it is a visual stunner, but it is a workhorse. The JTe carried more than its fair share of ten-foot lumber rails from the Klondike Bluff trailhead north of Moab, to a staging area about four miles into the trail where Tread Lightly! was looking to protect historical dinosaur tracks.
When not under a cargo load, the JTe climbed everything in sight, including Hell’s Gate, Metal Masher and Moab Rim. This isn’t just your daddy’s weekend show vehicle.
After the JTe, I caught sight of Rock Slide Engineering’s head-turning Firecracker Red Rock Gladiator. And this is another awesome vehicle that feels just as comfortable on the trail as on the showroom floor. Initially released at last November’s Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, this JT has been tried and tested on trails in Sand Hollow, Utah as well as all over Moab.
It stands above the rest on just 2.5-inch coil springs, but utilizes 74Weld portal axles for game-changing clearance and performance. Additionally, when the engine turns over, it is clear this isn’t a standart JT 3.6-liter Pentastar. Nope, press the starter and a swapped 6.6-liter LX3 Bruiser Conversion engine roars to life — forcing you to understand power will never be lacking in this beast. Of course, the Gladiator is adorned with plenty of Rock Slide Engineering accessories like bumpers, tailgate table and the brand’s popular, well-known third-generation Step Sliders.
Moving on, David Howard’s WideLoad is a force to be reckoned with — trail or no trail. This 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport has left its Sport label way behind. With Super Duty one-ton axles and a massive 4.5-inch Rock Krawler suspension lift, there are not many vehicles that offer a beefier stance that screams “I am ready for anything.”
One of the best parts of this JT is the MotoBilt bobbed bed that makes the most out of departure angles so this mechanical beast can walk up walls, or over boulders, without getting hung up. Plus, Howard did all the work in his garage, which is certainly impressive.
Quadratec’s Video Manager, Rob Jarrell, hauled his personal Rubicon Gladiator out to Moab this year to show off its prowess and a few Quadratec goodies. Jarrell’s JT sports a 3.5-inch Rock Krawler suspension that simply eats up most terrain.
During the week, it quickly made easy work of Moab’s meatiest trail obstacles with not much more than a soft sigh. Jarrell’s driving skills, paired with his Gladiator’s strength and flexibility, demonstrated that even with a longer wheelbase, the JT is more than capable as a serious off-road machine.
This Stringray-colored Gladiator utilizes a Carnivore Stubby Front Bumper for protection, with matching accents topped by a Res-Q 10,000-pound winch. Above the cargo bed sits a Lost Canyon mid-height rack that allows the use of a roll-up tonneau cover. Additionally, the truck bed is complete with recovery gear and an ARB Fridge Freezer to store cold beverages and lunches.
Here are my other favorites:
Magnuson’s Super Charger Rubicon Gladiator. The folks at Magnuson Superchargers know a few things about going really fast. But this beast is at its best in crawl mode. With the added supercharger, the vehicle is capable of over 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque — nearly 59 percent more than the standard V6 Pentastar. And while the eye-catching white, red and gray graphics don’t add any additional power, they sure make the Gladiator pop out against the Moab landscape's muted reds, browns and tans.
Oracle Lighting’s Rubicon JT is a standout thanks to its abstract graphics and obvious lighting details. The products displayed on this rig make it a premier night trail riding monster. With the brand’s LED Off-Road Side Mirrors and Flush Mount Tail Lights, this Gladiator shows off some great products and looks right at home out on Hell’s Revenge.
Obviously, with more than 20,000 people crowding Moab during this year’s EJS, there were so many amazing Gladiators that it would be impossible to discuss them all. Even with Jeep itself bringing out seven new concepts and some 2024 production vehicles, it is clear Gladiator has captured the imagination of all its owners.
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