MC&T Staff 
The Jeep brand is one of the most loved and historic in the United States. Whether it be the Willys that liberated Europe or the new JL Wrangler, Jeep has always been known for their vehicle’s ruggedness and off-road capability. It is the latter that has made the Jeep a legend in its own right, and the reason that they are some of the most popular vehicles to modify on or off the road today. While the Jeep Wrangler seems like it would receive the most attention from the Mopar parts catalog, the new Jeep Gladiator has just surpassed its platform-sharing twin in terms of money spent on these parts.
On average, Jeep Gladiator owners are spending $1,000 on Mopar accessories to modify their off-roader ready trucks, while Wrangler owners are spending $200 dollars less. To be fair, the difference is not massive, but it is worth noting considering how popular modifying the Wrangler has always been.
In an interview with Automotive News, Mopar’s head of performance and accessories Kim Mathers said that more than 90% of the items compatible with the Jeep Gladiator were available at dealerships from day one. These parts range from something as simple as a $13 hitch receiver plug, on up to the mega Jeep performance front axle for $4,678. This was not done by accident, and is likely a big part of the reason why Mopar’s Gladiator parts are selling so well.
The pickup truck market is the most personalized vehicle segment in America, and the Gladiator is indeed very much a pickup truck. So perhaps this isn’t as big of a surprise as it would initially seem.
Mathers also said that Mopar plans to bring more accessories and performance parts for the Jeep Gladiator to the market as time moves on. We like the idea of being able to buy accessory parts that were designed alongside the vehicle you’ve bought, but the aftermarket is vast when it comes to Jeep products. While the Gladiator is ahead of the Wrangler in Mopar’s own catalog, we are almost certain that the Wrangler is still on top in terms of what owners are spending to customize their vehicles in the aftermarket. At least, for now.
