A real head turner. This Gladiator JT has all you need to disappear into the mountains for a nice weekend get away. In this article we will give you the full rundown of this trail beast, and maybe give you some ideas on how to build your own.

Getting Down To Business

This Gladiator is hitting trails with confidence with the AEV 2.5” dualsport RT suspension, giving this build a smooth ride to and from work on top of a durable suspension for those weekends on the trail. Holding on to the suspension are the 17” KMC machine finished grenade crawl beadlocks that are designed to grip the tire in order to keep it from sliding around the tire during low PSI crawling. These wheels are locking on to some Nitto ridge grappler 40inch meaty tires, made with knobby walls and a mud-terrain pattern, this tire is designed to grip rocks when climbing and prevent slipping in mud or slick terrain while still having a well mannered on road feel. You can’t run 40s without regearing. Both of these axles are geared to 5:38 to reduce the strain on the suspension, keeping this Jeep running smooth on the trail and on the road. On both sides you’ll notice the Rockslide Engineering power steps, used on a lot of our Jeep builds. Providing easy access in and out of the vehicle and 10 gauge steel protection against rocks and debris you typically encounter on a tougher trail. RSE steps are the only true powered step that doubles as rock sliders. The steps deploy a full 12 inches from the body, automatically opening and closing with the doors of the Jeep.

Must Have Accessories

All gladiator builds aren’t complete without some add ons. This one is no exception. We’ll start with the smart cap EVO that is made of stainless steel instead of fiberglass, making it weatherproof, strong, and a perfect pick for someone who is just getting into overlanding! Another big thing you’ll see is the Addictive Desert Designs rock fighter front and rear bumpers that have a hammer black powder coat finish and a satin black powder coat panel finish, this stubby and durable front end provides a ton of protection and you can mount up to 5 cube lights or a 20inch light bar with the universal fitments on the front bumper. The owner used that to his advantage and added the Baja Designs LP4 pod lights with amber lenses that provide 6,885 forward projecting lumens and an additional 1,972 lumens of peripheral light so you can see more on the trails. To help with cold air intake we converted the hood to a Mojave hood. Road Armor front and rear fenders help give this Gladiator an aggressive look. The statement piece on this rig would be the limited edition Shreddy X Baja Designs XL pro LED light pod pair that are custom with a blue and purple paint splatter design and caps you can only get with these lights, resembling Blake Wilkey’s iconic Baja Bug trophy truck.

Best Of Both Worlds

This JT belongs to one of our employees and it is on our lot everyday showing off our bread an butter, well mannered on road builds that are ready for anything on the trails. We’ve seen this build drive around and conquer trails, there’s nothing this JT can’t do! View some of our other or upcoming gladiator builds on our website!