2020 Jeep Gladiator | Canada’s Very Own Bagged Gladiator Dually

Have you ever had the idea of something wild—something so off the wall that some people might even call you insane? Surely, we’ve all been there, but going out and doing something to bring that “crazy” vision into being is something only a small percentage of us have the courage to do. 

Enter Jagraj Singh Grewal, an auto body tech and longtime custom auto enthusiast from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He’s had his hands on quite a few amazing builds in his time, but his latest project has just outshined them all. He’s had his mind set on someday building a couple different types of vehicles, and that’s when the big brainstorm hit.

Jagraj decided to perform some kind of grand mash-up—something that he’s witnessed only in his mind’s eye. For the sake of accuracy, however, we’ll go ahead and give him the honor of describing his own idea in his own words.

“I’ve always loved the Jeep platform,” Jagraj says. “I’ve also loved the look of a laid out dually truck. One day, I just got the urge to merge those two worlds together.”

The Jeep that was selected for the project was a brand new 2020 Gladiator—and yes, Jagraj actually planned on ‘bagging it and making a dually out of it. The job wasn’t impossible, and if done right, would be pretty killer to see something like that actually happen. To put some accountability on himself to get through the build in thorough and somewhat speedy fashion, Jagraj secured a spot at SEMA ’21, which would provide a concrete deadline to ensure he completed the task at hand.

To get the ball rolling, Jagraj enlisted the help of friend James Margeson to modify the Gladiator’s existing chassis. The front end was converted over to an IFS system with custom crossmembers so the upper and lower control arms to operate freely without obstruction. The rear was then C-notched and treated to a heavy-duty universal wishbone suspension package from Texas-based Nfamous Metal. A tucked fuel cell was also required, as was a modified transmission cross member and notched drive shaft tunnel. A lot of meticulous planning and skillful execution went into slamming this Jeep Gladiator truck, but there was still a good deal of work still left to do.

A LOT OF THOUGHT AND HARD WORK WENT INTO THIS ONE, WHICH IS EASILY APPARENT WITH JUST ONE GLANCE, BUT FOR JAGRAJ, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY SPENT DOING WHAT HE LOVES.

The front drive axle was replaced with an ’09-’18 Ram 1500 unit from Phat Phabz, which required some modification to fit into position. To give the rear the dually capability Jagraj was after, he opted for an ’08 Ram 3500 dually rear axle that had to be narrowed 14 ½ inches to work. As for the wheel selection, a set of 22-inch Fuel Forged FF41D fit the look of the Jeep perfectly. A mixture of Nitto INVO and NT420V tires were then brought in to finish off the rolling gear just right.

With the major portion of the truck now complete, Jagraj then turned to Teza Autoworks in Brampton, Ontario, to squeeze some extra power out of the Gladiator’s factory 3.6L V-6. A Magnuson supercharger was added to the Jeep’s arsenal, which obviously increased the engine’s output significantly. For additional gains, a Corsa Performance exhaust with dual rear dumps was also worked into the equation. The Gladiator could now sound and perform as aggressive as it was starting to look.

Speaking of looks, the factory Iconic Red paint was the perfect canvas for Jagraj to throw down some custom ghosting graphics for added appeal. While the Gladiator’s exterior may look to be mostly stock, there are a lot of tweaks that might not get noticed right away, because let’s face it—only Jeep guys would really know every inch of this model’s façade. The front bumper is a Rubicon piece, so we’ll give that one to you, but the grille is a one-off creation, and so is the rear bumper and front and rear fender flares. The roof is also a pretty cool custom piece, as Jagraj incorporated a Wrangler Sky Touch unit onto the Gladiator, which is the only one of these trucks out there to be equipped with one. Add that to the growing list of “firsts” this truck has going for it.

Inside the cab, the factory seats were recovered in premium peanut butter (Mojave) colored skins from Alea Leather. To give the rest of the cab a more uniform plush appearance, the dash, door panels and shifter were also wrapped. A full stereo system featuring JL components exclusively gives the Gladiator a well-rounded audio signal that wouldn’t disappoint even the most discerning of audiophiles.

In just 18 months, Jagraj completely transformed his Jeep Gladiator like nobody else has yet (or possibly ever will). There’s no denying how unbelievably cool this build has turned out, even if this platform isn’t everyone’s favorite pickup model. A lot of thought and hard work went into this one, which is easily apparent with just one glance, but for Jagraj, it’s just another day spent doing what he loves.

“Nothing was easy about this project, but I’ve personally gained a lot from it,” he says with pride. “This build has made me a better welder, I’ve learned how to stretch and shrink metal and how to put together an IFS suspension. Also, there are going to be a lot of times when you want to quit during a job like this. Just make sure you don’t make friends with quitters, and you’ll be just fine.”

TRUCK SPECS

 Owner 

Jagraj Singh Grewal
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Team Mayzn / Lowkey Designs 

Engine 

• Shop: Teza Autoworks – Harmeet/Charmeet, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
• 2020 Chrysler 3.6L 220 C.I. V-6
• 440 HP & torque 380 lb-ft
• Corsa Performance 2.75-inch exhaust system

Chassis

• Modifications done by Jagraj Singh Grewal and James Margeson
• OEM frame
• 137.3-inch wheelbase
• SS7 and SS8 Slam Specialties ‘bags
• Monroe front shocks, FOA rear shocks
• Custom crossmembers for FRT upper and lower control arms
• Custom stabilizer system
• Rear wishbone suspension (Nfamus HD universal kit)
• Tucked fuel cell, modified transmission crossmember, notched drive shaft tunnel, custom skid plate under aluminum fuel cell
• 2012 Ram 1500 steering rack
• Phat Phabz Ram 1500(’09-’18 kit) front drive axle modified to fit
• 2008 Dodge Ram dually rear axle narrowed 14.5 inches, Dutchman axle shafts
• SSBC front brakes, stock Ram 3500 rear brakes

Wheels & Brakes 

• 22-inch Fuel Forged FF41D wheels
• 255/35/22 and 265/40/22 Nitto INVO and NT420V tires

Exterior 

• Acura Iconic Red DuPont paint and ghosting graphics by Jagraj Singh Grewal
• One-off grille
• Front Rubicon bumper, rear custom bumper
• Custom front and rear fender flares
• Twisted Pro LED lighting
• Custom roof, raised bed floor with access panel for air ride, personalized emblems

Interior

• Shop: MC Auto Trim (Carlos), North York, Ontario, Canada
• Factory seats
• Alea Leather peanut butter (Mojave) leather upholstery
• Dash and door trim all wrapped, including shifter
• Air Lift controller sits in a custom pod
• Headliner painted peanut butter colored to tie into Jeep theme
• JL Audio amps, speakers and wiring kits