Mike Self March 25, 2024 Jeep
Photos by Braxton Klavis
Jeeps and dinosaurs go together like peas and very aggressive carrots. In fact, Jeep recently released a limited edition Jurassic Park appearance package through its Jeep Graphic Studio program for those who want to feel like they may get physically assaulted by a giant lizard at any moment. Or maybe they just want their Jeep to look like the ones in the movies.
And really, the connection makes sense outside of the world of movies, too. Jeeps are tough, adaptive to their environments, and the battle-scarred remains of both can be found scattered throughout the hills of Utah. Enter one 2020 Gladiator named “Indominus.” If you guessed that that’s the name of a dinosaur, you’d be right. Furthermore, it’s one of the main antagonists in “Jurassic World,” although there’s one major difference between the Jeep, owned by Matthew Heyer, and the lab-designed Indominus Rex—the Jeep is very much real, and potentially better suited at survival. ”
“Matthew’s Jeep got the nod to receive RPM Steering & Suspension’s very first 3-link front/4-link rear triangulated suspension lift kit for the Jeep JT, which was an immediate and vast improvement over the factory setup.”
Matthew is no stranger to building Jeeps, and as thoroughly sorted and diverse as the aftermarket has become with parts and accessories, he found much of what he needed off the shelves of various manufacturers. But, he was also able to infuse some of his own ideas to create a unique build with some one-off features.
Much like an artist painting on a blank canvas, the first stroke is often the most difficult to make, and it was no different for Matthew. For instance, how far would the build go? It’s a crucial decision that pretty much steers the direction of a complete rig build, but in this case he wouldn’t find that out until he got knee-deep and identified the Gladiator’s weak points, and then improved upon them as needed.
That being said, he still planned to go big. In fact, Matthew’s Jeep got the nod to receive RPM Steering & Suspension’s very first 3-link front/4-link rear triangulated suspension lift kit for the Jeep JT, which was an immediate and vast improvement over the factory setup. The front received two sets of Bilsteins—a pair of 12-inch M 9200 bypass units and a pair of 12-inch M 9200 coilovers—while the rear got 14-inch M 9200 coilovers. The 4.5-inch total lift gives enough clearance for the 42-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires, which swallow up the 20×10 Raceline Avenger beadlock wheels.
At this point, it was clear that Matthew’s Jeep was evolving way past the point of “basic,” but with the ball already rolling and picking up speed, he went with it and succumbed to more upgrades—lots more upgrades! And these would be modifications that would leave no doubt as to Matthew’s intentions to hit the toughest trails in his home state of Utah.
“… clearance is no issue for this formerly ass-heavy Gladiator!”
The bed-mounted RPM 26-gallon fuel cell provides a ton of extra room underneath the bed, while an RPM kingpin steering setup with PSC hydro assist beef up the steering up front. As you can imagine, those big-boy 42s added some space between the framerails and the ground but also reduced available space between the body. But now, with the combination of front Krashfab bumper, GenRight rear bumper, Nemesis Industries Ultimate Clearance fenders, and a full foot taken out of the freshly bobbed bed, clearance is no issue for this formerly ass-heavy Gladiator!
With all of this serious hardware now on Matthew’s Jeep, it’d be silly to keep the stock axles, and no one wants silly axles, so they got chucked in favor of Fusion Pro Series fabricated 10-inch axle assemblies front and rear, stuffed with 5.43 gears, ARB Competition lockers, and 13.25-inch Fusion big brake kits.
Rig complete (for now) and ready to rock, Matthew’s been everywhere from Jeep Jamboree to King of Hammers with his JT, but he still has some additional changes planned for it. Definitely a custom roll cage, and possibly even an LS or Hemi swap to replace the stock 3.6L V-6! And with his wife Julie right alongside him in her own Jeep (check it out elsewhere in this issue), you can bet that there’s plenty more fun to be had in this Jeep before Matthew considers it extinct and moves on to his next project!
2020 Jeep Gladiator
OWNER:
Chassis & Suspension:
Wheels & Tires:
Engine & Drivetrain:
Body & Paint:
Interior & Stereo:
Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD Mar/Apr 2024.
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