Alongside the reveal of the facelifted 2024 Jeep Gladiator, American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) has unveiled its own take on the seven-slatted pick-up truck. The company specializes in offering “OE-quality off-road parts for recreational driving and overland adventure travel,” and as such, has created three different “upfit” packages for customers to select from, catering to shoppers with different budgets and needs.
The packages, which are named “Upcountry,” “Upcountry+,” and “Level II,” can be ordered via Jeep dealerships, from which point trucks will be sent to AEV’s assembly facility in Toledo to get decked out in their new equipment.
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The entry-level Upcountry package is available for Sport, Willys, Mojave, and Rubicon models of the Gladiator. It adds a 2-inch suspension lift and 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires wrapped around AEV’s Jeep-specific Pintler wheels. An AEV jack base is included to aid wheel changes with the added height. To cover the added rubber, you’ll get JPP/Mopar flare extensions. Changing the rolling radius of the wheels typically necessitates the recalibration of the car’s speedometer. This is where the included ProCal module comes in. This device will correct the Speedo’s output, ensuring that the stability control program, transmission shift points, and engine performance are unaffected.
The changes the Upcountry add-ons make mean that the Gladiator gains 5 inches of ground clearance over the standard Sport and Willys options. You also get a 47-degree approach angle, 25-degree break-over angle, and 33-degree departure angle over the standard Sport’s respective 40.8-,18.4-, and 25-degree angles.
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The Upcountry+ kit (pictured in the gallery) gives you the same goodies as the standard Upcountry package but adds an AEV EX front bumper, non-winch cover plate, and that all-important AEV tailgate badge.
Those who want to do some serious off-road trail-blazing may want to look in the direction of the AEV Level II package. Only available for Rubicon models, the Level II kit adds a further inch of ground clearance for a total of 16. It also improves the vehicle’s approach angle to 57 degrees, break-over angle to 26 degrees, and departure angle to 34 degrees.
There are some interesting comparisons to be made between the Jeep Wrangler, which can also be outfitted with an AEV Level II kit, and the AEV-spec Gladiator Level II. On the Gladiator’s brother, the kit only yields 14.2 inches of ground clearance vs. 16 on the Gladiator. However, the Gladiator only gets 36 inches of water fording ability, whereas the Wrangler can be submerged in up to 37.1 inches.
The Level II Gladiator sits on AEV Savegre II wheels with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires. Also present is a 2.5-inch AEV Dual Sport suspension kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks, an upgraded steering stabilizer, and JPP/Mopar flare extensions.
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This time, the AEV EX front bumper comes with a front skid plate and a Warn Zeon 10-S winch — a crucial bit of kit to get yourself out of some sticky situations. Helping you not get stuck is AEV’s trail camera relocation kit while lighting up the path ahead are AEV 7000 series lights. You’ll also get the obligatory AEV plaque and some special AEV Level II badging for maximum car park points.
“The dealer orderable AEV upfit packages for the new 2024 Jeep Gladiator give Jeep truck owners even more capability and customization choices,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “This selection of upfit packages for the 2024 Gladiator gives our passionate off-road enthusiasts the option to pick the upfit package that best suits their off-roading adventures.”
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