What are the "MUST HAVE" mods after buying your Gladiator? ($5,000 starting budget)

[BAT]

Hey everyone,

Excited to be part of the Jeep community!

I recently placed an order for my Sting-ray Gray Mojave, I loaded it out minus leather seats and adaptive cruise control.

Big thanks to everyone here who recommended the Gupton route, y'all the real MVP's.

From experience of the owners already, what are the "must have" mods or accessories to install on your Gladiator?

I know this can be subjective to your needs and use of the truck itself but let's just say from an overall everyday perspective (no commute tho since I work from home) with camping/adventure trips in the mix.

So far I'm instantly thinking about tires, AEV spacer kit, CAI, front bumper/bar, tint, bed rack, extra lights.

Utility based mods are appreciated vs purely vanity.

Thank you all!

Well take if from someone who bought early last year and went in with the same plan as you. Double your budget at least (LOL). Every time you add or change something the counter effect is then you need to change something else. I changed my bumper and now its like well crap I need a winch. I got a new bumper and winch but my lights and fogs look like junk have to change those. Now I need some nice sequential DRL and Turn to go with those super nice new lights (LOL). it just goes on and on. Best thing I could tell you is if you have factory plain jane tires find you some Rubi Take offs or other cause changing your times and rims will be the number one best change you can make. Everything after that is just gravy. Oh yea go ahead and lift it cause even if you aren't your going to be asked 1000 times when are you going to lift it (LOl)

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[Sarge502]

Only had my Gladi for 3 full weeks. My first immediate mods have been as follows....

-Stubby RedRock 4x4 13 inch Antenna (got rid of that god awful stock one which is why this was my first mod)
-Mopar All weather mats
-Technically not ON the Gladi but, FOR it...a homemade hoist for hardtop in the garage (works like a charm too)

Next up...
-Line-X Spray in bed liner since that's literally the only thing that my Overland didnt come with that I wanted.
-Bigger tires for the stock Overland wheels
-Diamondback HD Tonneau Cover
-Teraflex 1.5 leveling kit

 

[MOPAR Boy]

Whoops, wrong button

 

[mdyucca]

Lift, tires and wheels.

 

[Choatecav]

Pedal commander or any throttle controller, makes it way more livable for day to day driving!

Preach it, brother..........

 

[Mkcagle]

There are no “must haves” only “wants”.

 

[Sazabi19]

I know you want to mod your truck but please do yourself a favor and just wait and see what you like about your truck and what you don't. a lot of people on here are telling you to put stuff on there that you either don't need, or may never use. I put a few simple ones on my truck and haven't needed more. If I'm going to offroad more I'll want a few extra things but my truck is leased so I'm trying to crawl with mine. I got seat covers in case I'm caught in the rain with top/panels off (so far I haven't cuz I watch the weather), stubby because I didn't like the orig antenna metal whip, and a dead pedal because I like how that feels.

Trust me, I know how having that much in your pocket can feel like burning a hole, but don't blow it just to blow it. I know some of these guys can make it seem like you HAVE to have it and Jeep made a huge mistake by not including it, but just try it for a while and see. Nothing like kicking yourself in a month and giving your mod away to someone one else on the forum for 1/2 price. Bumpers/tires add weight and decrease mileage (if you care). I wouldn't mind some metal bumpers but I've not had a need yet. Tires are only a need if you're either not driving right and overstretching yourself and your truck, or if you're doing SERIOUS offroading. Other than that you're just someone who wants to look cool and like you do offroading. If that's your thing then good on you.

Some people may tell you get a Tazer or pedal commander or whatever, I say drive your truck for a while. Despite what they say this ISN'T A PERFORMANCE VEHICLE, please do yourself a favor and see how it drives first! Again, nothing like pissing away your money and realizing it later that 1) you have to take it off any time you go to a dealer (if you do that) or 2) it wasn't needed in the first place! I drive my truck as DD every day, it's more than adequate if you don't like wasting fuel for no need and just slamming the accelerator so you can slam on your brakes in 300 ft.

TLDR, it's your money and you can spend it how you want, but I'm just trying to help you with a few pitfalls from the forums, be careful. Some people have a real hardon for shit they don't need in here and will try to tell you that you NEED it, or maybe you aren't a man if you don't get it. Enjoy your truck.

 

[River2016]

A dead pedal and some type of bed cover are number one in my list and money well spent. A close second is a shorter antenna for the radio and some extra storage compartments for the interior. All the other stuff is subjective to your tastes but to me these items make it much more everyday friendly.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

For me I say:

1) Bed liner
2) Bed cover
3) Window tint
4) Brighter headlights/reverse lights
5) 33s or bigger (no Gladiator should come with smaller than that in my personal opinion)
5) Level/lift kit
6) Upgraded speakers
7) Stubby antenna! (I added this after reading someone else’s haha)

 

[Fizzy Logic]

In Economics they've got this term, Utility, the happiness we get from the product/service we swapped our cash for. My must have's are things I know I'll get Utility from immediately.

My Overland Must Haves
- A 4WD driving and recovery course so I can be useful and not dick myself or others
- Lights 'cause I live in forested hills with suicidal wallabies, wombats and deer
- New Offroad Animal front bar for the lights (and it looks cooler than stock)
- AT Tyres and new, smaller, 17" wheels for them tyres
- Rear seat covers for the doggos

All the other stuff is stuff I won't buy until it becomes obvious I need the stuff, probably suspension is next.

 

[hazards280]

Mud flaps. I drove around for 2 weeks in my Willys after I bought it and immediately realized I was going to lose a lot of paint after our sandy and salty slush winters with the MT tires. I may even try to find some black JL or Jk take offs and put ATs on for winter driving. Really would like the truck to not start disintegrating at least for a good 5 years if I can help it.

I'd like to echo this. After a 1 mile drive down a dirt road by the house I had two large stone chips in the rear fenders, and a chipped door hinge. Thankfully they installed a plastic stone guard in that spot, but both stones hit hard enough the plastic is now white where it hit. Immediately following this I installed mud flaps and am happy with the aesthetics overall.

If you're at all concerned about the long term condition of your paint, this is a must have.

 

[Deleted member 30519]

Bestop Sunrider is a must. Unless you like the growl of CAI it really adds nothing to the performance. I am about to remove my S&B CAI and put on a Hauk snorkel. The S&B intake actually takes away about 20HP over the stock intake. The Hauk will at least provide improved fording capabilities and give me my stock HP back Get the touch screen glass for your dash. Makes a massive difference in the feel and cleanliness of the screen. Go with 37's if you are debating between them and 35's. Then you don't have to sell tires for 1/2 the price 2 months later to get the 37's.

Do you have a dyno to support this CIA claim ?

 

[VolatileA]

Do you have a dyno to support this CIA claim ?

Mustang dyno for the heart breaker numbers haha.

 

[VolatileA]

Must have's:
Rockblokz, especially on the mojave. best mod Ive done.
phone mount - I prefer magnetic - I went with bulletproof.
I got a backseat cover for the kids/dogs as well.
Although I havent done this yet, some sort stand for the doors when off. It sucks having to lean them on something and it becomes a hassle trying to think where to put them and before you know it you never take them off.
lastly a sunshade, sometimes you want the top down but dont want the sun baking you for hours either.

Must have mods on a loaded Mojave, the truck is very capable of what you described doing to start with ,run it awhile and see what you need, MY MUST HAVES on my nicely equipped Mojave where:
1.) RokBlokz mudflaps cause I have a 800 foot stone driveway up a hill, tires pick the stones up, I actually ordered before getting Mojave and put on right away, rear fenders have clear protection on front from factory.
2.) Rear lower control arm skid plates from Rusty’s, they are so low, even a casual guy like me saw the need.
3.) I’m Papa Jack, six year old grand kids and five foot wife required Rough Country Contour steps, kids love them and were thrilled I put them on.
4.) RSI bed cap, I surfish a lot and kayak a lot, needed to carry up to 12’ kayaks and 12’ one piece surf rods. Need dry and secure storage plus I have slept in it for turkey season already.
5.) No lift or big tires for me, I tow things and 4.10 gears and factory tires are giving me good handling, power and ride.
Do yourself a favor when driving the Mojave home, look for every speed bump and railroad crossing and hit them fast and hard, the suspension is insane, my grand kids ride in the vack arms in the air screaming faster faster…you will see!
Welcome to the Jeep world!…..Jack

Good call on the mudflaps fellas, thank you for that idea. Good utility and aesthetics.

Also the lower control arm skid plates is smart, added to the list.

Any sunshade recommendations?

That's the exact same one I have. It doesn't set off my sensors. With the bad departure angle, your hitch will be one of the first things you slam on and slide off of rocks. I highly recommend getting one before doing any serious offroading.

Added to the shopping cart, thank you!

The negative offset wheels give you more clearance for wider/taller tires and look cooler. People do fit 35s on Mojave's all the time though on the stock wheels with no issues

So basically if you go 37" different wheels should be used?

A really good warranty and a dealership you trust. But I digress
Quadratec super tweeter speakers shorter antenna
Treatment for the hard top seals
Weathertech floor Mats
Honestly it's hard to stop getting " essentials" for a jeep lol

Yeah I have a feeling it never ends haha.

Any reason why you mention a "really good warranty?"

Added the tweeters to the cart as well, that was one thing I noticed while test driving, even with the premium audio, it was missing those higher frequencies.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Do you have a dyno to support this CIA claim ?

Would like to know as well. That is a huge number to throw around as a claim. Mine felt a bit peppier after installing this intake, some of which could be attempting to justify the cost - but it sure wasn’t 20 hp *less*

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