The Ultimate Jeep Gladiator: 37s, Big Plans & a Garage Full of Good Decisions
You bought a Jeep Gladiator because you wanted Jeep attitude with a truck bed. Sensible enough.
Then you saw one on 37s with the right stance, a proper bumper and a bed rack, and suddenly the stock truck started looking like the before photo.
Welcome to the garage. Clear some space. The cardboard situation is about to get serious.
At Merrick Motorsports, we sell the parts to turn that idea into a proper build plan: SoFlo and ICON lift kits, lighting, steel bumpers, 5x127 mm wheels, also called 5x5, 37-inch tires, an illuminated bed rack and steps that keep getting into your truck from becoming a competitive event.
This is our ultimate Gladiator inspiration board, not a one-click, pre-verified package. Pick the parts around your exact year, trim, engine, load and intended use. Especially if the words Rubicon or Mojave appear on your hood.
1. Start Underneath: Choose the Lift Before You Choose the Parking-Lot Pose
A good-looking Gladiator starts with a suspension plan. Not a guess. Not your buddy measuring the wheel gap with three fingers and saying, “Yeah, four inches ought to do it.”
Here are two stand-out directions from our catalog: a taller SoFlo build and a lower-lift ICON system. They are alternatives, not parts to stack together.
SoFlo 4-Inch Lift Kit: The Big-Build Starting Point
The Jeep Gladiator SoFlo 4-Inch Lift Kit, listed for 2020–2026, is the first option we would put on the workbench for a taller, fully planned build.
The listing includes four progressive springs, four 2.5-inch-diameter shocks, control arms, bump stops, relocation brackets, an adjustable track bar and a steering stabilizer. That puts the conversation beyond simply lifting the body farther away from the tires.
Have your installer verify the exact components for your trim and engine, required geometry corrections and the clearance plan for your chosen 37s. Added bumper and rack weight belong in that discussion, too.
Four inches on the label is not a guarantee of no rubbing. Full steering lock and suspension compression get a vote. They usually vote louder than the guy leaning on the toolbox.
SHOP THE SOFLO GLADIATOR 4-INCH LIFT KIT →
ICON 2-Inch Stage 2: A Different Kind of Serious
The ICON 2-Inch Stage 2 Suspension System is worth considering when suspension design matters more to you than chasing the tallest number.
The listing describes front dual-rate springs, rear triple-rate springs, 2.0 Aluminum Series shocks, front bump stops and adjustable sway-bar end links. It specifies approximately 1.5 inches of rear lift over stock.
Read the application carefully: the product title says 2020–2023, while the current fitment table lists selected 2020–2022 Gladiator applications and does not list Mojave. Confirm your exact application with ICON before ordering.
This is an alternative suspension direction, not a claim that this kit alone clears 37-inch tires on every Gladiator. Have the complete tire-clearance and bump-stop plan checked before committing.
SHOP ICON GLADIATOR STAGE 2 SUSPENSION →
2. Wheels: 5x127 mm, 5x5, and Zero Room for “Close Enough”
The wheel pattern we are shopping here is 5x127 mm, equivalent to 5x5 inches. Both wheel options below are 17x9, keeping the wheel diameter consistent with the 37x12.50R17 tire options later in this post.
That is the beginning of the fitment conversation, not the end. Confirm offset, center bore, load rating, lug-seat style, brake clearance and the tire manufacturer's approved wheel-width range. A matching bolt pattern does not magically settle the rest.
Weld Off-Road Ridge: Bronze with a Black Ring
The Weld Off-Road Ridge brings a satin bronze face and black ring to the build. This listing specifies 17x9, dual 5x114.3/5x127 drilling, -12mm offset and a 78.1mm center bore.
It is a strong visual direction for a truck with black armor and a purposeful stance. Treat it as a candidate for manufacturer-confirmed Gladiator fitment, not an automatic fit just because 5x127 appears on the box.
SHOP WELD RIDGE 17x9 5x127 BRONZE WHEELS →
Dirty Life Canyon Pro: Matte Black, No Beadlock Assumptions
For the black-on-black crowd, the Dirty Life 9309 Canyon Pro listing specifies 17x9, 5x127, -12mm offset and a 71.5mm hub bore. Its current fitment table includes multiple Gladiator applications.
This specific listing is marked not beadlock. Do not infer beadlock functionality from the wheel's appearance or from another version with a similar name.
Confirm your exact trim and year, the wheel load rating and the complete hardware and clearance requirements with your installer.
SHOP DIRTY LIFE CANYON PRO 17x9 5x127 WHEELS →
3. The 37-Inch Tire Conversation: Big Rubber, Bigger Planning
Yes, 37s give a Gladiator the look. They also deserve more thought than “those will look mean.”
Our two options here are for 17-inch wheels. They are separate tire listings, not mounted wheel-and-tire packages. The wheels pictured in the tire catalog photos are illustrative.
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T: Aggressive without Skipping the Daily Drive
The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T in 37x12.50R17LT 124Q belongs on the shortlist for a Gladiator that needs to look ready for the trail without pretending the highway does not exist.
The listing highlights an asymmetric tread design and a balance of on-road use and off-road traction. Compare its specifications, approved rim widths and load requirements against your actual truck and driving.
SHOP MICKEY THOMPSON BAJA BOSS A/T 37s →
Toyo Open Country A/T III: Another All-Terrain Build Direction
The Toyo Open Country A/T III in 37x12.50R17 128S gives you a second all-terrain option from our catalog. Toyo's listing emphasizes wet performance, durability and on-road handling alongside off-road traction.
Do not treat its load and speed specifications as interchangeable with the Mickey Thompson above. Have your tire specialist confirm the right specification for your Gladiator.
SHOP TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A/T III 37s →
Before mounting: have a qualified shop check clearance through steering and suspension travel, bump stops, fenders, brake hoses, gearing, braking needs, speedometer calibration, TPMS and a workable spare-tire plan. Include the weight of your finished build. The fifth tire should not become a surprise engineering project after the first four are installed.
4. SoFlo Baja Front Bumper: Give the Front End Some Purpose
The Jeep Gladiator Baja Steel Front Bumper with Three LED Lights puts steel construction and lighting into one front-end upgrade.
The listing describes a powder-coated steel bumper with integrated D-ring mounts and three center 6-inch lights with backlit and full-LED settings. It also describes compatibility with factory fenders without modification.
Fitment detail: the title says 2020–2026, while the description states 2020–2025 all models. Confirm 2026 fitment directly before ordering. Check package contents, recovery-hardware requirements, sensor provisions and the full tire-clearance plan with the installer.
Do not assume every accessory in the photograph comes in the box. A bumper photo is inspiration, not an itemized packing slip.
SHOP THE GLADIATOR BAJA STEEL FRONT BUMPER →
5. Steel Rear Bumper: Finish Both Ends of the Truck
The Jeep Gladiator Steel Rear Bumper, listed for 2020–2026, keeps the rear of the build from looking like the budget ran out at the front axle.
The description specifies steel construction, Armor Black powder coating, two tow-hook mounts, hitch-receiver compatibility and a relocation bracket for the tow-package connection and pins.
The catalog photo shows a custom-colored build; the listing describes an Armor Black finish. Confirm included hardware, factory equipment compatibility and any recovery-use requirements before installation.
SHOP THE GLADIATOR STEEL REAR BUMPER →
6. Lighting: See the Trail, Not Just the Switch Panel
The bumper's center lights are one piece of the lighting plan. For additional forward auxiliary lighting, we also carry the 52-inch LED Light Bar with Aluminum Brackets for the Gladiator.
The listing includes the 52-inch bar and aluminum brackets with an Armor Black powder-coated finish.
Important: it lists 2020–2026 Gladiator applications excluding Mojave. Mojave owners, this is not the light-bar kit to assume will work.
Plan fused power, switching, wire routing, aiming and potential windshield glare with your installer. Use auxiliary lighting in appropriate off-road settings. The goal is seeing the trail, not making every person at the gas station see their ancestors.
SHOP THE GLADIATOR 52-INCH LIGHT BAR AND BRACKETS →
7. Diode Dynamics IBEX A2 Bed Rack: Give the Bed a Promotion
A truck bed is useful. A properly planned bed-rack setup is where the whole weekend starts getting organized.
The Diode Dynamics 2020–2025 Jeep Gladiator IBEX A2 Bed Rack combines Kuat's aluminum IBEX rack with Diode Dynamics lighting. The package description includes an SS10 chase light and Stage Series bed-light kit.
It offers full-height or mid-height configuration, adjustable telescopic crossbars and T-channels for accessories. That gives you room to plan storage and lighting around how you actually use the bed instead of treating it like a giant junk drawer with a tailgate.
The listed rack capacities are 1,200 pounds static and 300 pounds dynamic. Those are rack specifications, not permission to exceed vehicle, bed, mounting or accessory limits. Confirm the applicable rating for your configuration and terrain with the manufacturer, and keep the finished truck within its own limits.
Before adding a tent or tonneau cover, verify mounting compatibility, clearance and the total loaded weight. Select lighting modes appropriate to where you are driving.
SHOP THE DIODE DYNAMICS GLADIATOR IBEX A2 BED RACK →
8. Steps: Because the Build Should Not Require a Running Start
Lift kits and 37s are fun until a passenger looks at the door opening like it is the final obstacle on a television competition. Choose a step system around access, existing rock rails and trail clearance.
SoFlo 6-Inch Powersteps: Deploy, Step In, Carry On
The Jeep Gladiator 6-Inch Powersteps Running Boards, listed for 2020–2026, use automatic door-triggered deployment and retraction, aluminum construction and three brackets per side.
The listing describes a 6-inch drop from the pinch rail and a non-slip stepping surface. This is the powered option for a cleaner tucked-away appearance when the doors close.
Installation caution: the description flags a front-rail/crash-bracket issue on certain 2026–2027 high-end models. Have the manufacturer and a qualified installer resolve your exact application before purchase; do not remove structural or crash-related equipment based on a general product description.
SHOP GLADIATOR 6-INCH POWERSTEPS →
RealTruck Growler Sport: Fixed Steps, Practical Attitude
Prefer a fixed board? The RealTruck Growler Sport Running Boards for the 2020–2026 Gladiator JT Crew Cab offer textured-black aluminum construction, an all-weather traction surface and RightHeight mounting brackets for step-height adjustment.
The listing describes factory mounting points with no drilling required. Confirm trim-specific mounting and compatibility with any factory or aftermarket rock rails.
Running boards help people get in. Do not assume that makes them load-bearing rock sliders. Your knees and your rocker panels have different job descriptions.
SHOP REALTRUCK GLADIATOR GROWLER SPORT BOARDS →
Build It in the Right Order, Enjoy It for the Right Reasons
Our preferred approach: decide what the truck needs to do, choose the suspension for that job, then confirm the complete wheel-and-tire plan. Add bumpers and a loaded-bed plan to the weight calculation before finalizing spring and shock choices. Finish with lighting and access equipment that suit the actual build.
For a bold starting direction, put the SoFlo 4-inch kit, a manufacturer-confirmed 17x9 5x127 wheel, your choice of 37-inch all-terrain tire, steel bumpers, IBEX A2 rack and suitable steps on the same planning sheet. Then have a qualified shop verify them as a system. That is a build concept, not a promise that every linked part fits together unchanged.
The ultimate Gladiator is not the one with the longest receipt. It is the one that looks right, works for your driving and gets built with a plan instead of a series of midnight shopping decisions.
Merrick Motorsports has the parts. Bring your model year, trim and build goals, shop the linked options and get the details right before the first bolt comes out.
And label the hardware bags. “I will remember where these go” has never aged well.
Product images may show additional equipment, illustrative wheels or custom finishes not included with the featured item. Confirm current availability, exact manufacturer fitment, package contents, installation requirements and compatibility before ordering. Lift height alone does not guarantee 37-inch tire clearance.