The Best Bed Rack for Your Jeep Gladiator
Intro
The Jeep Gladiator offers a unique combination of rugged utility, authentic Jeep design, open-air freedom and multipurpose functionality. Equipped with a practical 4-door cab, a versatile 5-foot bed, a body-on-frame design, front and rear five-link suspension system, solid axles and electronic lockers, Gladiator is built to handle the demands of an active lifestyle, while delivering an open-air experience and design that are unmistakably Jeep. Leitner engineered the Active Cargo System (ACS) rack to fit the 5-foot bed of the Jeep Gladiator, compatible with all first-generation Gladiator trucks from model years 2020 - 2023 when equipped with the Mopar Trail Rail System.
With accessories ranging from the patented GearPOD XL to the My Medic Collab First Aid Kit, Leitner’s ACS has unmatched adaptability among truck bed racks.
For example, Leitner Designs’ patented side-mounted GearPODs, perfect for Gladiator, deliver unique eye-level storage and come in three sizes to fit specific needs. Whether desert-running through Baja or rock-crawling in Moab, the weatherproof, dust-resistant, locking and padlockable GearPODs for Jeep Gladiator keep valuable gear safe, secure and within easy reach.
As the saying goes, “There’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you’re prepared for the worst.” With the My Medic Collab First Aid Kit, Leitner Designs has your emergency preparedness covered. Sized to ergonomically fit in both the GearPOD and GearPOD XL, the Leitner Designs & My Medic Collab First Aid Kit features all of the emergency essentials when you run into trouble off the beaten path, including gauze, cold packs, splint, blankets, bandages, EMT shears, gloves, surgical tape and clean and prep mods.
Selecting Your Rack
Leitner Designs’ ACS bed rack is a hit among Jeep Gladiator owners because it's just as robust, functional and adventurous as their truck. Leitner CEO and founder Bernhard Leitner, an avid outdoor enthusiast and dirt-biker himself, created ACS to turn his dream bed rack into a reality. Made for off-road enthusiasts, by off-road enthusiasts, the ACS is the strongest and best looking modular rack system on the market, designed and built to withstand anything you throw at it, just like the Gladiator.
Leitner Designs’ Active Cargo System (ACS) offers two models that fit Gladiator: ACS Classic (starting at $1,450) and ACS FORGED (starting at $1,950). Both Active Cargo Systems are designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA, and feature a two-year limited warranty. Compatible with all Leitner accessories, the ACS is designed with a variety of needs in mind, from securely storing fishing equipment or strapping down surfing gear to efficiently organizing overlanding necessities or systematizing a weeklong camping excursion.
Here are two of our favorite rack-and-truck pairings featuring the Gladiator with the ACS Classic and ACS FORGED:
Rubicon 5-foot Bed
For Gladiator drivers who want a truck that can actually conquer the Rubicon Trail, the Rubicon 5-foot bed is the perfect rig. The perfect rack? The ACS Classic. Combining Leitner’s renowned high-quality design and rugged capability with efficient load carrying and flexible storage options, the ACS Classic is the ideal partner to the Rubicon 5-foot bed Gladiator. Pricing for the ACS Classic starts from $1,450.
Which ACS: ACS Classic
Favorite accessory: GearPOD XL - GEN 2. Manufactured from roto-molded high-density polyethylene (same material as your kayak mounted on top of the rack!), the GearPOD XL - GEN 2 offers accessible, side-mounted storage for all your adventures. Say goodbye to your fussy toolbox and say hello to the easy-to-use GearPOD with a full 40 gallons of storage volume.
Hobbies/activities: Rock crawler, National Park explorer, kayaker
Mojave 5-foot Bed
For Gladiator Mojave owners who want to upfit their desert runner with a rack that can withstand high-speed whoops while carrying a week’s worth of gear and supplies, the ACS FORGED is the answer. In the Mojave 5-foot bed Gladiator, a sandy expedition with three of your best buds is called the weekend adventure. Subjected to five years of rigorous testing and hundreds of thousands of off-road miles, ACS Forged is designed to tackle the most grueling mission head on, satisfying the demands of Gladiator Mojave drivers who need the durability and modularity of the original ACS Classic in a sleek, new package. Available for all Gladiator models, the ACS Forged bed rack starts from $1,950.
Which ACS: ACS Forged
Favorite accessory: HydroPOD. Whether you spend a day carving dunes on a sandboard or dodging cacti on an enduro, you’re bound to get some sand between your toes. Fear not, HydroPOD is here to help. The compact, ACS rack-mounted shower system with 4.8 gallons of potable water capacity brings a pressurized wash to wherever your Gladiator takes you. Better yet, the 20-foot-long hose reaches the headlights, even when mounted in the very back of the Active Cargo System.
Hobbies/activities: Desert runners, overlanding enthusiasts, backcountry explorers
Conclusion
Leitner’s patented Active Cargo System (ACS) is the toughest, most functional modular rack-based cargo solution on the market. Equipped with an adjustable sliding rear load bar and ergonomic eye-level storage and accessories, ACS is the utmost lifestyle tool, adaptable to any outdoor activity or adventure that comes its way. The versatility, unrivaled build quality and proprietary features of ACS align perfectly with the Jeep Gladiator, a stout, dependable, multipurpose truck with a go-anywhere attitude.
Whether opting for the proven ACS Classic or the advanced ACS Forged, Leitner Designs’ constructs the best bed racks for Jeep Gladiator. To learn more and see how owners are using and living with their ACS racks, please follow Leitner Designs on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
