Meet “GrayBeard”: Our 2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland Build

Every great adventure needs a reliable partner, and ours answers to the name GrayBeard.

GrayBeard is a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport S finished in sleek Sting-Gray (Customer Preferred Package 24S). Far from your standard Sport S, this rig came factory-equipped with a robust MOPAR build sheet that gives it a massive head start on the trails. It serves as our desert gold prospecting hauler, mobile basecamp, and trail explorer.

The Baseline: Factory Specs

Before we turned a single wrench, GrayBeard was already hiding some serious factory hardware under the fenders, ready to handle heavy towing and backcountry exploration.

  • Engine & Transmission: 3.6L Pentastar V6 | 8-Speed Automatic Transmission (850RE)
  • Chassis & Axles: Dana M210 Standard-Width Front Axle | Dana M220 Standard-Width Rear Axle (~66.5″ WMS)
  • Gearing & Drivetrain: 3.73 Gear Ratio with an Anti-Spin (Trac-Lok LSD) Rear Differential
  • Electrical & Cooling: Trailer Tow Package with 240A Heavy-Duty Alternator, Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling, Class IV Hitch, and Factory Dual-Battery ESS System.

The Build: Current Modifications & Field Reviews

We believe in building a rig with intention. Instead of throwing parts at it all at once, we are upgrading GrayBeard systematically to improve ride quality, trail capability, and weight management.

We actively put our equipment through real-world desert trail testing, rock wash navigation, and remote prospecting expeditions. Click the highlighted links below to read our completed in-depth reviews and installation guides.

🛡️ Armor, Bumpers & Recovery

  • Hooke Road HR Guardian Rear Bumper with Bedside Slider Steps (Part #BXG7003 / B7019S)
    • Tested for: Bedside rock protection, rooftop tent access, parking sensor integration, and solving the Sport S frame horn bracket setup.
  • Hooke Road Rock Crawler Stubby Front Bumper (BXG3031)
    • Testing for: Front approach angle, integrated 21.3″ LED light bar + 18W cube pods, skid plate protection, and winch support.
  • Hooke Road Aluminum Inner Fender Liners (Front B7024S / Rear B7025S)
    • Testing for: Engine bay debris deflection and maximum wheel articulation clearance.
  • OEM Mojave Rock Sliders
    • Tested for: Rocker panel defense against boulder strikes and desert ledge washouts.
  • Badland Apex 12,000 lb Synthetic Rope Winch
    • Testing for: Self-recovery in deep sand washes and rocky shelf extractions via wireless remote.

🛠️ Steering & Suspension

  • Clayton Off Road 1.50-Inch Triple-Rate Rear Lift Coil Springs (COR-1510151)
    • Tested for: Sag prevention and load-carrying capacity when hauling the Attica rack, RTT, and desert prospecting gear.
  • Clayton Off Road 1.50-Inch Triple-Rate Front Coil Springs (COR-1508250)
    • Testing for: Front-end stance and weight compensation for the steel stubby bumper and 12k winch.
  • Air Lift 1000 In-Coil Air Helper Springs
    • Testing for: Instant leveling and variable load support when towing our utility trailer with mining gear.
  • Fox 2.0 Performance Series IFP Shocks (0-1.5″ Lift Front/Rear)
    • Tested for: High-speed desert washboard heat dissipation, rebound control, and highway comfort.
  • Fox 2.0 Performance Series TS (Through Shaft) Steering Stabilizer
    • Testing for: Eliminating bump-steer and neutral steering feedback with zero push to either side.
  • Synergy Manufacturing Steering Stabilizer Relocation Kit (Part #8807-03)
    • Testing for: Moving the stabilizer up and out of harm’s way above the factory tie rod.
  • Clayton Off Road Adjustable Front & Rear Track Bars (COR-4509100 / COR-4510120)
    • Testing for: Axle centering with dedicated clearance bends for the front differential and rear spare tire.
  • Clayton Off Road Adjustable Front Upper Control Arms (COR-1709101)
    • Testing for: Dialing in front caster to 5.5° for rock-solid high-speed tracking.
  • MetalCloak Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnect Kit (#7614)
    • Testing for: Trail articulation with a clean, bolt-on installation requiring zero axle bracket modification.
  • Teraflex Progressive Bump Stop Kit (0 to 4.50-Inch Lift) & Heavy-Duty Ball Joints
    • Testing for: Softening severe G-out bottom-outs and strengthening the front C-knuckles.
  • Fox Roost Shield Hardware Pair (Front & Rear)
    • Tested for: Protecting polished shock shafts from flying rocks, gravel, and desert roost.

🛞 Wheels & Tires

  • 2025 OEM Jeep Gladiator Mojave Takeoff Aluminum Wheels (17×7.5 Tech Silver)
  • Falken Wildpeak A/T3W Tires (LT285/70R17, Load Range C): Durable 33″ all-terrain grip across sharp desert scree and highway miles.

💡 Auxiliary Lighting & Switch Control

  • Nilight 12-Gang RGB Switch Panel Circuit Control System
    • Testing for: Clean in-cab switch management with Bluetooth App integration and multi-function circuit control (Constant, Momentary, Strobe, Pulse).
  • ROADSHOCK 3″ LED Flood with Side Light (Ditch Lights)
    • Testing for: Wide 140° peripheral illumination to spot wash drop-offs and desert wildlife.
  • ROADSHOCK 22″ Spot/Flood Combo LED Light Bar (Chase & Rack Light)
    • Testing for: Rear-facing dust penetration and high-output campsite illumination.
  • ROADSHOCK 12V Utility/Rock White LED Lights
    • Testing for: Undercarriage rock and tire placement visibility during night trail runs.

📡 Communications & Navigation

  • AnyTone AT-778UVII Dual-Band 25W Mobile Transceiver: High-power trail-to-trail and repeater comms.
  • Nagoya TB-320A Fold-Over 39″ Tri-Band Antenna (PL-259 Mount): Flexible low-clearance performance covering 2m / 1.25m / 70cm frequencies.

⛺ Overland Habitat & Bed Setup

  • Attica 4×4 Frontier Series Bed Rack
    • Testing for: Ultimate strength and low profile wind resistance. Built from heavy-duty 8-gauge steel, this rack easily handles our camp footprint with its 350lb dynamic and 800lb static weight limits.
  • Cab-Height Hard-Shell Roof Top Tent (RTT)
    • Testing for: Rapid camp deployment, cold-weather weatherproofing, and maintaining a low aerodynamic profile matching the truck cab.
  • Hooke Road Overhead MOLLE Panel System
    • Tested for: Interior real estate optimization, radio mic mounting, and long-term trail durability under continuous vibration.

🔧 Engine & Reliability Upgrades

  • Dorman Aluminum Oil Filter Housing (Part #926-959)
    • Tested for: Bulletproof preventative maintenance. Upgraded to a solid aluminum housing to eliminate the classic 3.6L Pentastar plastic leak point. Paired with a Fel-Pro Viton gasket set, fresh valvetrain lifters/rockers, Valvoline Restore & Protect 0W-20, and a K&N oil filter.

What’s Next for GrayBeard? We are constantly putting these modifications to the test across diverse Mojave terrain. Bookmark this page or follow our blog updates to catch our comprehensive, real-world reviews on how these parts actually hold up to the overlanding and prospecting lifestyle!

Calendar of Events & Runs

The Gear Locker