The Jeep Gladiator has been a hit in the USA but, unfortunately, it hasn’t enjoyed the same following here in Australia.

That doesn’t mean the Gladiator isn’t a good thing – quite the opposite, in fact – and Jeep’s ute makes an excellent off-road touring vehicle. And when we say off-road, the Rubicon is built for serious challenges straight out of Toledo. That’s not to say you can’t improve on what Jeep created, and that’s exactly what Vijay has done with this Gladiator Rubicon. At its core, the Gladiator is a long-wheelbase Jeep Wrangler ute – or pick-up in Jeep-speak.

“I’m a fan of ‘beast-looking’ trucks, and I felt the Jeep Gladiator delivers that look, along with the mechanicals to make it a great 4×4 both on- and off-road,” Vijay says.

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Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator is now only available in top-of-the-line Rubicon specification in Australia, and that means heavy-duty live axles with locking diffs front and rear, long-travel suspension, a disconnecting front swaybar to aid articulation, proper rock rails, and ultra-low gearing for superior off-road crawling.

Unfortunately, Australian-delivered Jeeps get smaller tyres than they do in the USA, where 35s are standard on a Rubicon and some models even come off the showroom floor wearing 37-inch off-road rubber. Vijay Kumar didn’t let the smaller tyre size dissuade him from purchasing a new Gladiator Rubicon, as he had bigger plans for his Jeep.

AccuAir suspension transforms capability 

With the help of Bill Barbas from Jeep specialist workshop Double Black Offroad, Vijay has transformed his Gladiator into an unstoppable off-road tourer. We featured Bill’s own Gladiator a few years ago, and it’s the lessons learnt on that vehicle – and other Jeeps – that he now applies when building customer rigs.

A great example of this is the AccuAir suspension system fitted to both Gladiators. This system replaces the standard coil springs with air bellows at each corner. Height sensors work with the onboard air system, allowing the Jeep to be dropped low for easy loading or raised up to five inches above stock to clear obstacles on the track.

The compressor and air tank are mounted under the chassis, and the system is self-levelling when parked on uneven ground or when the load in the canopy changes. It’s a setup that retains excellent wheel travel while adding the versatility of adjustable ride height. Bill also fitted Teraflex HD ball joints and a Synergy draglink to optimise the suspension package.

The AccuAir suspension is a Mopar-approved accessory in the USA, where it can be fitted to a new Jeep at the dealership. Here in Australia, Double Black Offroad is the place to source and fit an AccuAir kit. The state-of-the-art suspension setup works superbly to keep the 34-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tyres planted. Extra clearance at the front comes courtesy of a set of Double Black Offroad front fender extensions.

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Touring-ready canopy and off-grid setup

Jeep Wranglers might be great off-road rigs, but they are limited as touring 4x4s due to a lack of interior and cargo space.

The Gladiator overcomes this problem, but you’re still left with an open and unsecured ute bed at the rear. The best fix – as many Australian four-wheel drivers have discovered – is to ditch the tub and replace it with a service body-style canopy.

“I chose to fit the canopy to accommodate our camping needs and our two fur babies,” explained Vijay.

The Mits Alloy setup on the back of the Gladiator features an aluminium canopy mounted to a flatbed tray, so it can be removed if Vijay wants to use the Jeep as a ute. Inside, the canopy houses a Dometic upright fridge, a slide-out pantry and kitchen, soundbar speakers, Redarc RedVision power management, an auxiliary battery, an inverter, and plenty of storage.

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There’s more storage under the tray in tapered toolboxes, while up top you’ll find a 180-degree awning and solar panels. A bank of KC HiLiTES lights is mounted atop the headboard to illuminate the tracks at night. The Mits Alloy canopy has been set up to support all of Vijay and his family’s needs on camping trips.

“It makes more sense to have a canopy with proper storage so things are convenient at all times,” Vijay said.

Other gear on the Jeep includes an Ironman ‘Raid’ front bumper with a Warn Evo 12 winch tucked inside for recovery duties. The intake snorkel comes from Rugged Ridge, while UHF communications are handled by GME.

The Gladiator build is comprehensive, transforming the Jeep pick-up into an all-in-one off-grid touring 4×4 with exceptional off-road capability, and Vijay couldn’t be happier. It’s still a fresh build, and Vijay says he’s enjoying exploring its capabilities and refining the setup as he heads for the hills in the Victorian High Country and other locations around Melbourne.

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List of mods, upgrades and accessories

  • AccuAir air suspension system (air bellows replacing coil springs)
  • Onboard air system with compressor and air tank (AccuAir setup)
  • Teraflex HD ball joints
  • Synergy draglink
  • 34-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tyres
  • Double Black Offroad front fender extensions
  • Mits Alloy flatbed tray conversion
  • Mits Alloy aluminium service body-style canopy
  • Dometic upright fridge
  • Slide-out pantry and kitchen setup (canopy fit-out)
  • Integrated soundbar speakers (canopy interior)
  • Redarc RedVision power management system
  • Auxiliary battery system
  • Under-tray tapered toolboxes
  • 180-degree awning
  • Roof-mounted solar panels
  • KC HiLiTES lighting (mounted on headboard)
  • Ironman ‘Raid’ front bumper
  • Warn Evo 12 winch (integrated into bumper)
  • Rugged Ridge snorkel
  • GME UHF radio communications system
MORE Gladiator news and reviews!