The Jeep Wrangler Feels the Burn as People Buy MOPAR Parts Like Crazy for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator

There’s no denying that prior to the launch of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, the company had anticipated it to be a runaway success. Similarly, Chevrolet was confident of the Corvette C8 doing well, and it added an extra shift of workforce in its Kentucky factory even before the launch of the mid-engined car. FCA introduced a plethora of add-on accessories through Mopar along with the Gladiator’s launch, and the gamble seems to have paid off. In fact, the success is so great that the Gladiator managed to beat the Wrangler when it comes to the moolah customers spend to buy Mopar accessories for their vehicles.

That’s Quite Some Revenue For Mopar

As it turns out, the average Wrangler customer spends approximately $800 to fit his or her SUV with accessories that Jeep and Mopar have to offer, whereas a Gladiator customer spends around $1,000 on an average. The reason behind this is the availability of accessories right from the launch of the truck. Speaking with Automotive News, Mopar's head of Performance and Accessories, Kim Mathers, said that 90-percent of the accessories compatible with the 2020 Gladiator were available at Jeep dealerships as soon as the truck went on sale.

And, it’s not just the aftermarket support, but also a ton of accessories that Jeep has to offer through Mopar. The 2020 Gladiator’s accessories revolve around truck functionality, lifestyle accessories, and off-road capability. Right from MOLLE bags to axles; you name it, and it’ll be available for your Gladiator. Mopar even offers steel-tube doors, military-grade LED lights, and racks for bikes and surfboards. According to Mathers, lift kits and protective rock rails are the most popular accessories among the buyers. To make sure customers keep coming back to buy more stuff from Mopar, it is working on the feedback it receives at events where the Gladiators dressed up in these accessories are displayed. Events like SEMA and the Easter Jeep Safari bring in a lot of traction and Mopar tends to pay a lot of attention on the feedback that enthusiasts and customers give.

Mopar Accessories for Jeep Gladiator - prices

Jeep® Trail Rated® Winch Accessory Kit	$195
Soft Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover	$595
Hitch Ball	$23.45
Functional Bead Lock Ring Kit	$130
Safety Kit	$116
Jeep Performance Parts Badge	$25
License Plate Frame, Black with Jeep Logo	$36.45
Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) Bags	$145
Valve Stem Caps	$19.05
17-Inch Cast Aluminum Wheel- Silver	$254
Spare Tire Lock	$55
Fairlead Adapter Plate for Centered Winch	$45
Winch Mounting Kit	$345
17-Inch Cast Aluminum- Gear Design	$265
Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover	$950
Roof-Top Cargo Carrier	$350
Molded Splash Guards, Rear	$50
Front End Cover	$140
License Plate Frame, Polished with Jeep Logo	$41.05
Hood Graphic, American Flag	$195
Water Sports Carrier	$200
Ball Mount Adapter	$32.30
Electric Locker Harness Kit	$85
Stainless Steel Door Sill Guards	$145
Hood Graphic, 1941	$195
Bike Carrier	$200
LED Fog Lights	$295
Exterior Mirrors	$172
Jeep® Performance Parts Rock Rails	$950
Cargo Box 17 cubic feet	$595
Cargo Box 15.5 cubic feet	$565
Cargo Box 14 cubic feet	$595
Front Bumper End Caps	$250
First Aid Kit	$115
Sun Bonnet	$250
Hitch Ball	$21.30
Bike Carrier	$175
Ball Mount Adapter	$33.90
Roadside Safety Kit with Jeep® Logo	$145
Vehicle Tracking Silver Package	$166
LED Fog Lights	$295
Roadside Safety Bag with Jeep® Logo (Empty)	$60
Differential Cover	$222
Jeep Performance Front Axle	$4,678
Touch-Up Paint Pen - different colors	$17.20
Touch-Up Spray Paint - different colors	$13.75
Jeep Performance Front Axle	$4,678

After All, The Gladiator Was Anticipated For A Long Time

Another thing that’s clear is that Gladiator customers are generally not the ones who weigh the pros and cons and choose this pickup. They are mostly enthusiasts who are clear that they want the Gladiator. Remember the special Launch Edition Jeep came up with for the truck? Jeep produced 4,190 examples of them with a price tag of $60,800 a pop and still sold all of them within 24 hours! And, according to a May 2019 report, a customer spent around $56,403 when the Gladiator starts from $33,500.

What Powers The 2020 Jeep Gladiator?

Speaking of the Jeep Gladiator, it carries a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine that develops 285 ponies and 260 pound-feet of twist under the hood. An eight-speed automatic transmission is optional. The output figures may not make you go 'wow', but Jeep has focused on low-end torque and a broad torque range, to begin with. The base trims of the Jeep Gladiator can tow up to 7,650 pounds and haul up to 1,600 pounds. The maximum towing capacity on the top-of-the-line Overland trim drops to 6,000 pounds and the payload capacity to 1,140 pounds.

Final Thoughts

Although we’re talking just about the MOPAR sales comparison here, let’s not ignore the fact that this is not the first time Jeep has given the Wrangler the step-son treatment in order to push the 2020 Gladiator. In this year’s Easter Jeep Safari edition, the company brought six concepts in total; all of them based on the Gladiator. This was the first time after many years that the Wrangler was not part of the Eater Safari. Is Jeep playing by the philosophy that it doesn’t matter which vehicle sells as long as the customer stays in the same showroom? I hope not. However, it’s safe to say that Wrangler is not really affected by this because the sales have consistently gone up every month in 2019, barring June where it saw a slight dip.

If you were to buy the 2020 Gladiator, how would you spec it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.