Supercharged 2020 Jeep Gladiator "Popeye"

rughboy · Mar 3, 2025

I have a 25 ft. Lance 2185 travel trailer that weighs between 5800 - 6000 lbs. My 2020 Gladiator pulled it ok but I wanted to have just a little more reserve power when pulling up some of the more steeper grades in California and Oregon.

I outfitted the gladiator which my wife has named “popeye” with a Magnuson supercharger, which they claim boosts the output from 285 hp to around 440 hp. The difference in power is really, really awesome the wife says now it’s popeye after eating his spinach! It’s like having a V8 engine in a midsize pickup truck. when the tech at Magnuson took me on the first test drive after the install I about had a heart attack!! He made my truck do some things that I know I’ll never do in it again!

We also installed a flow master high-flow catback exhaust system that makes it sound like a street racer. I am wondering if anyone else have a supercharged gladiator out there?

Jeep Gladiator Supercharged 2020 Jeep Gladiator "Popeye" IMG_3258

Jeep Gladiator Supercharged 2020 Jeep Gladiator "Popeye" IMG_3222

Chapol · Mar 3, 2025

I don't but curious how much was the mod?

rughboy · Mar 3, 2025

Chapol said:
I don't but curious how much was the mod?

Including purchase of the super charger and installation of the unit and adding in the exhaust system I paid just under $15:000.

Greg_L · Mar 3, 2025

54% increase in power....pretty good. I might worry about the stock internals a little when getting into it.

AstroZombie · Mar 3, 2025

what type of warranty does Magnusson have on the internals of the engine?

Couldn't you get increased towing performance changing the axle gears too? I know it's not 54% power increase.

JTdiRtyD · Mar 3, 2025

what'd it do to fuel economy? Obviously towing is going to take a hit regardless how much power you have, but it it takes you from 18mpg highway while not towing to 14mpgs, well, that sucks.

JeepOfTheseus · Mar 3, 2025

Quite a few have supercharged. Quite a few have blown the engine. Maybe getting it tuned by a Magnuson tech directly is the only way.

RoamingGladiator · Mar 3, 2025

15,000? Damn. Personally would rather put that towards an engine swap.... 3.6 internals aren't known to be super reliable.

rughboy · Mar 3, 2025

AstroZombie said:
what type of warranty does Magnusson have on the internals of the engine?

Couldn't you get increased towing performance changing the axle gears too? I know it's not 54% power increase.

No warranty that I am aware of … I guess I could have changed the gearing but to be honest I was just digging on having the extra horsepower! I have been told that there is a chance that the internals could be at risk but I added the supercharger at 27000 miles and I am rolling up on 41000 now with not a hint of trouble!

rughboy · Mar 4, 2025

JTdiRtyD said:
what'd it do to fuel economy? Obviously towing is going to take a hit regardless how much power you have, but it it takes you from 18mpg highway while not towing to 14mpgs, well, that sucks.

Oh the fuel milage sucks whenever I am towing … it went from about 15 highway to around 10-12 while towing on the flats! To be honest neither of my jeeps have ever done really well on fuel mileage with the stock gearing (like so many others I have spoken to) highway anyway! The wife has a 2017 wrangler rubicon and the best we’ve ever done mileage wise is 17 mpg highway!

Panthers65 · Mar 4, 2025

IMO, and I'm just speaking in generalities, There's a reason most companies with towing vehicles opt for the Turbo over the Supercharger. Especially with the 3.6's stock internals the superchargers haven't been identified as a super reliable mod for jeeps that will be worked hard when towing. I looked into it with mine, but something with the computers changed late 2020 or early 2021, and the computer can't be programed on the newer models. Magnuson has a write up on their website about it (https://magnusonsuperchargers.com/p...ADajcjr8tr7lF6ua0lY-UFFMfxWaKKaBoCbwcQAvD_BwE)

Rubicon is good up to 7K lbs, but that's in the perfect condition (180 driver, no passengers, no load, ect...) Everything you add to it drops your rating, and every Mod you make affects that as well. Looks like your tires have been bumped up a size, so that's going to drop your capabilities slightly.

At the end of the day if your wanting it to tow like a full size, it's not going to. My Gladiator pulls my 5K boat/trailer pretty well, but it will never pull it like a full size truck, the length/width/weight is a huge factor and that can't be changed by adding HP or gears.

Rc328 · Mar 4, 2025

Quick question, did you considered a hemi swap before the supercharger?

Sandman 4x4 · Mar 4, 2025

AstroZombie said:
what type of warranty does Magnusson have on the internals of the engine?

Couldn't you get increased towing performance changing the axle gears too? I know it's not 54% power increase.

Oh yea you can raise the performance, but nothing you can do will raise the stock tow rating from the factory, which means the HD Factory installed Towing Package will give you a legal 7,700lbs, or under an overall CGVWR. According to the Jeep Manufacturers site the Gladiator Sport/S has the highest CVWR, that’s the curb weight, 150 allowance for a driver with full tank of gas, with a 7,700 lbs travel trailer. Means a total of 12,850 lbs.

Jeep Gladiator Supercharged 2020 Jeep Gladiator "Popeye" IMG_2160

so you need to load up with everyone and thing as your traveling, then drive on a scale to be sure your not over 12,850 w max tow, or 9,650 without. The supercharger will increase your horsepower to pull easier, but not anymore.

MudderNuker · Mar 4, 2025

Congratulations! I'm sure you love the power. In my case, my JTR is paid off and KBB has it at around $33k average trade. If I were to add $15K to that sum it would put me right at $48K which is what a good slightly used heavy duty truck would cost and can tow double of what the JT can. The issue at hand is that in the JT, even with a supercharger, the tow rating stays the same, legally. That is my main beef with dropping a supercharger. I'm not going to lie, I would love to have one, it just doesn't make any sense to me, well, even if it did, my wife would say no, regardless.

johnchabin · Mar 4, 2025

Awesome

Supercharged 2020 Jeep Gladiator "Popeye"

rughboy

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