The short answer: The Leitner ACS FORGED is the best bed rack for the Jeep Gladiator. One rack covers every Gladiator from 2020 through 2027, since Jeep only builds the truck with one bed length. Three versions are available: Drill ($2,099), No-Drill ($1,999), and Tonneau ($1,950). Only the Drill version includes Leitner's patented sliding rear load bar. One requirement that matters before you order: the rack mounts to the Mopar Trail Rail, so your Gladiator needs to have it.

The Gladiator is the truck people buy because they wanted a Wrangler and needed a bed. That makes it the most overland-minded pickup on the road, and it means the rack needs to be a multi-tasking workhorse, holding a rooftop tent, recovery gear, a bike for the trail, and everything else that would not fit in a 5-foot bed with the tailgate up. Here is what fits, what it holds, and the one thing to check on your truck first.

Which ACS FORGED Fits My Gladiator?

There is only one answer. Every Gladiator has the same 5-foot bed, so every Gladiator takes the same rack.

Confirm fitment for your specific truck at leitnerdesigns.com before ordering.

The Trail Rail Is Required

The ACS FORGED for the Gladiator mounts to the Mopar Trail Rail, the T-slot rail system that runs along the top of the bed sides. The rack bolts to that rail rather than clamping to the bed, which means the Trail Rail has to be on the truck before the rack can go on.

Some Gladiators come with the Trail Rail from the factory as part of a package. Many do not. If yours did not, it is a Mopar accessory that can be added, and it needs to be installed before the rack is installed. Check the top edge of your bed sides: if there is a slotted aluminum rail running front to back, you have it. If the bed sides are bare, you do not.

This is the one thing a Gladiator owner should confirm before ordering. Everything else about fitment is already decided.

What Does the ACS FORGED Hold?

The same numbers apply whether you run the Drill or the No-Drill version. That is worth stating plainly, because plenty of racks give up capacity in exchange for an easier install.

Vehicle manufacturer load limits always govern. Where the truck's rating is lower than the rack's, the truck's rating applies.

The 4.0g figure is the one worth understanding. Most manufacturers publish a load rating without saying how they arrived at it. Leitner validates to 4.0g of force with a 400 pound load, which simulates what a loaded rack actually experiences on a washboard road at speed rather than what it can hold sitting still.

Why the Sliding Load Bar Matters More on a Gladiator

A 5-foot bed is short. A dirt bike does not fit in it with the tailgate up, and neither does a lot of what a Gladiator owner hauls. The Drill version's patented rear load bar slides forward so tall cargo goes in from the rear without unbolting the crossbar, and on a short bed that is the difference between a rack that carries a bike and a rack that has to come off to carry a bike.

One thing to know if you are also to add the GateKEEPER  rear cargo gate. GateKEEPER  is affixed to the rack, preventing the loading of oversized gear, like a motorcycle, and it essentially negates the benefit of the sliding load bar. So, forego the GateKEEPER, if you plan to utilize the sliding rear load bar often.

What Is the Difference Between the Drill and No-Drill Versions?

Less than the names suggest. Both versions mount to the Trail Rail the same way. Neither one puts holes in your bed floor or your bed sides.

The Drill version adds four holes total, two in each D-pillar, to accept nutserts. Those four holes are what allow the rear load bar to slide.

If you want the sliding load bar, you drill four holes. If you do not, the No-Drill version gives you the same mounts, the same capacity, and no holes anywhere. Load ratings are identical between the two.

How Hard Is the Install?

Leitner publishes one to two hours at an intermediate skill level for the no-drill install, meaning basic knowledge of hand tools. The rack is light enough for one person, though a second set of hands makes it easier.

A complete no-drill install uses 62 fasteners, roughly 40% fewer than comparable modular bed racks. The reason is hardware that does more per piece.

There are no loose flat washers in the kit. Leitner uses SEMS fasteners, which carry a captured washer on the bolt itself, paired with flange nuts on the other side. That removes two loose pieces from every joint. Competing kits ship dozens of separate washers.

Thread locker is already applied. Every fastener carries a dry thread locker patch rated for roughly 10 install cycles, so there is nothing to buy and nothing to wait on while it cures. Torque values are set for dry hardware to match.

The hardware is metric Torx. Metric sizing matches the fasteners already on your truck, and Torx resists cam-out better than hex under torque.

What Can You Mount on It?

The rack is built around a universal T-slot architecture, so accessories bolt on wherever you need them rather than only where a manufacturer drilled a hole.

For a Gladiator the obvious first addition is a rooftop tent, and the rack is rated for it. The second is a GearPOD, a lockable storage box that mounts to the top and bottom of the rack at eye level, so gear is reachable from the ground instead of from the bed. The HydroPOD adds pressurized water for rinsing off after a surf or a ride.

Recovery gear, traction boards, fuel and water storage, lights, and antennas all mount to the same architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the ACS FORGED fit a Gladiator without the Trail Rail?

No. The rack mounts to the Mopar Trail Rail. If your truck does not have it, the Trail Rail can be added as a Mopar accessory and the rack installs on top of it.

How do I know if my Gladiator has the Trail Rail?

Look at the top edge of the bed sides. The Trail Rail is a slotted aluminum rail that runs front to back. If it is there, you have it. If the bed sides are bare, you do not.

Does the ACS FORGED fit a Gladiator Rubicon or Mojave?

Yes. Every Gladiator uses the same 5-foot bed, so trim does not change fitment. The Trail Rail requirement still applies.

Can I put a rooftop tent on a Gladiator bed rack?

Yes. The ACS FORGED is rated for it, and a bed-mounted tent keeps that weight off the roof, which on a Gladiator with a removable top matters more than on most trucks.

How much weight can a Gladiator bed rack hold?

The ACS FORGED is rated at 1,400 lbs static, 800 lbs on-road, and 400 lbs off-road, validated to 4.0g of force with a 400 pound load. Your truck's own load limits still apply and govern where they are lower.

Do I need to drill my Gladiator to install a bed rack?

Not with the No-Drill version, which mounts to the Trail Rail and adds no holes anywhere. The Drill version adds four holes total, two in each D-pillar, for nutserts that let the rear load bar slide. Neither version puts holes in your bed floor or bed sides.

How long does it take to install?

One to two hours at an intermediate skill level, using 62 fasteners for a complete no-drill install.

The Bottom Line

One rack, every Gladiator, one thing to check first. Confirm the Trail Rail is on your truck, and the fitment question is already answered.

The ACS FORGED holds 1,400 lbs parked and 400 lbs off-road, validated to 4.0g rather than calculated on paper, installs in one to two hours with 62 fasteners, and it is designed, engineered, and manufactured in Corona, California. All of it ships same day.

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