The original SJ-series Jeep Gladiator was produced from 1962 - 1988. Positioned as a full-sized pickup truck based on the Jeep Wagoneer, it had become quite popular over the years and with its disappearance from the market, Jeep stalwarts quietly - and sometimes not so quietly - pined for its eventual return. Through a confluence of factors, not the least of which was the strong interest in SUV's, crossovers, and off-road vehicles more generally, their pleas were answered.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/steelcraft-jeep-gladiator-build-sema-2019.23937/

Starting in 2019, Jeep has been rolling out the JT-series Gladiator based on a stretched version of the Wrangler JL, which itself is a thoroughly revised variant of the foregoing model. The mid-size Gladiator represented Jeep's return to the pickup truck sector since it departed over a quarter century earlier with the Commanche. In exterior looks, interior appointments, engine options, and accessories it mirrors offerings found on the JL-series Jeep Wrangler in production since 2017. With a range of options from the Sport at $33,000 on up to the Rubicon at $43,500 it offers something for everyone.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jl-gladiator-build-sema-2018-jlwf-coverage.17723/

But that's never enough, now is it? With SEMA 2019 in full swing, it seems to be the year of the Supra on the sports car side, and the year of the Gladiator for trucks, pickups, and etc. Everything possible that one could imagine being done to the Gladiator is being chopped, channeled, bolted-on, customized, lifted, stretched, beefed-up, and blown.

RELATED: Jeep Gladiator Gets Mil-Spec Makeover As XMT Light Tactical Truck

As a group the results are impressive with a great deal of innovation, style, and (im)practicality on display. There are tents and push bars, skid plates and neon graphics, body kits and plastic surgery, bike racks and crate motors, and winches and custom trailers. Some effectively bring together all the components into a unified whole but others seem more to be experiments in excess and thus don't cohere well as a package. But to each his own.

https://thenewswheel.com/motoring-research-says-jeep-gladiator-rubicon-is-a-top-choice-for-summer-travel/

The aftermarket really has something for everyone and even if your pocketbook is light, tasteful and targeted mods can be outfitted if you're smart with your money. The featured pics represent a small sample of the cars on display in Las Vegas this week. Check out the video below for more. Buckle up.

(via Four Wheeler)

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