Why the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Will Be the Perfect Overlander
Jeep’s Gladiator is ready to do battle in the arena and with nature’s bountiful trails.
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator will hit showrooms sometime in the second quarter of 2019. The second one of them rolls into a customer’s driveway will probably be the exact moment people start modifying the all-new truck. Many will customize it cosmetically. Some will prepare it for Moab. Others will buy a Gladiator and modify it into their ideal overlanding vehicle. Here are some things that will make the Gladiator a great rig to use as a home away from home…and the rest of civilization.
Basic Shape
Overlanding isn’t just for SUVs. A lot of people use the midsize Toyota Tacoma as a starting point. The Gladiator is a midsize pickup, too. While the fact that it’s only a four-door may be a bummer to many of you, that quad cab means the Gladiator has enclosed room for gear and supplies. Plus, there’s a five-foot bed behind the cabin to hold even more stuff. Throw a truck cap over that and you’ve got flat space for a pop-up tent.
Powertrain Options
Low-speed traveling over difficult terrain can impact driving range, so fuel efficiency is key. Luckily, the Gladiator is available with gas and diesel engines. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 generates 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, which it routes through either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. In 2020, Jeep will offer a next-generation 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque; the eight-speed auto will be the only transmission choice for it.
Factory Equipment
Getting away from it all may be as easy as putting hundreds of miles of flat ground between you and the city. It might require crossing streams and crawling over rocks. Either way, the Gladiator will be ready to get far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sport and Overland models come standard with the Command-Trac 4×4 system and heavy-duty Dana 44s front and rear.
The Gladiator Rubicon also has heavy-duty Dana 44s, as well as 33s, the Rock-Trac 4×4 system, Tru-Lok locking diffs, and an electronic sway-bar disconnect feature for improved articulation. Throw in more than 11 inches of ground clearance and up to 30 inches of water fording capability, and it’s clear the Gladiator will be able to battle the elements and emerge victorious.
Given how much extra gear overlanding requires, payload and tow ratings take on an added importance, especially if you decide to tow a trailer with a pop-up tent in it. The Gladiator maxes out at 1,600 pounds and 7,650 pounds, respectively – well above what the gas-only Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 with the Double Cab and long bed offers. The Gladiator also has a higher payload rating than the diesel Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 with the Crew Cab and long box, but their tow capacities are almost the same.
Built-in upfitter switches make installing equipment such as an air compressor or auxiliary lights that much simpler and easier.
Mopar
The Gladiator wouldn’t be a Jeep if it couldn’t be extensively modified. Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) will offer a variety of upgrades engineered to make sure the Jeep pickup can keep on truckin’. They range from heavy-gauge steel rock rails to a two-inch lift to 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels to winch-capable steel bumpers to a truck bed storage system with dual lockable, sliding drawers.
Other Aftermarket Providers
If Mopar prices seem a little high, there are always aftermarket parts companies. Always. Jeeps are big business for them, especially these days, when people can’t seem to get enough trucks and SUVs. As of right now, Jeep doesn’t have an official rooftop or bed-mounted tent, but that will probably change. Even if it doesn’t, there are droves of aftermarket companies that will be happy to provide their own for the Gladiator – for a price, of course.
Enthusiast Community
Before starting on any vehicle project, it’s a good idea to check with people who have completed a similar build before. Knowledge truly is power and can make a specialty vehicle more capable, reliable, and user-friendly. There’s plenty of knowledge and people willing to provide it in the various forums of JK-Forum. And there will be plenty of advice and tips related to the Gladiator soon after it comes out next year.
Join the JK-Forum now!
