Next Level Performance
September 27, 2026 • 10 min read
Our Verdict
For a Jeep Gladiator JT that hauls skis, snowboards, and recovery gear all winter, the Road Armor TRECK Adjustable Bed Rack is our top pick — 11-gauge steel, an 880 lb static rating, and three height settings that clear a rooftop tent or a loaded cargo box.
Want the same overland capability with built-in RotopaX and Hi-Lift mounts for less? The DV8 Offroad MTO rack is the value overland pick. For a no-drill budget setup, the Go Rhino XRS bed-rail cross bars carry gear for around $435. All three ship free from our Tampa, FL warehouse.
Shop Our Top Pick →A Jeep Gladiator bed rack is the fastest way to turn the JT's short 5-foot bed into a proper winter gear hauler — lifting skis, snowboards, a rooftop tent, and recovery boards up and out of the way so the bed floor stays free for coolers, firewood, and everything else a snow trip demands. The Gladiator is one of the most capable winter platforms on the road, but its bed is small, and stacking gear on the floor buries your recovery kit exactly when an icy trailhead leaves you stuck. Below we compare three real, in-stock bed racks for the 2020-2022 Gladiator JT — from a heavy-duty 11-gauge overland rack to a no-drill budget cross-bar kit — with the load ratings, heights, and prices you need before ski season.
Why Does a Jeep Gladiator Need a Bed Rack for Winter?
A bed rack lets a Jeep Gladiator carry tall and bulky winter gear above the bed floor, freeing the bed for cargo and keeping recovery equipment reachable in the snow. The Gladiator JT's bed measures just over 5 feet — generous by mid-size standards but quickly swallowed by a ski box, a rooftop tent, and a weekend of gear. A rack moves ski and snowboard carriers, MAXTRAX-style recovery boards, a Hi-Lift jack, and fuel or water cans up onto crossbars, so the floor below stays open and your traction gear is never buried under duffel bags at the bottom of an icy grade.
For winter road trips and ski season specifically, height matters as much as capacity. A full-height rack clears a closed rooftop tent or a Thule-style cargo box over the bed, while a low-profile or bed-rail rack keeps the center of gravity down for snowy, off-camber trails. All three racks here mount without permanent modification to the tub, and each is powder-coated to survive road salt and slush — the two things that destroy bare-steel accessories over a Northern winter.
A full-height bed rack clears a rooftop tent or ski box over the Gladiator's bed.
How Do You Choose a Bed Rack for the Gladiator JT?
Choose a Gladiator bed rack by matching three things to how you use the truck: load rating, height, and mounting style. Load rating comes in two numbers — static (parked) and dynamic (driving). A rooftop tent you sleep in is a static load; skis and cargo bouncing down a snowy forest road are a dynamic load, and the dynamic figure is always lower. A rack rated 880 lb static may only be rated ~440 lb dynamic, which is still far more than a full ski-and-snowboard setup weighs.
Height determines what you can carry. Full-height racks (14 to 23 inches over the bed) clear a closed rooftop tent and let you slide long cargo underneath; low-profile racks (6 to 8 inches) keep weight low for technical winter trails. Finally, confirm the mount: bed-rail cross bars are the quickest no-drill option, while full overland racks bolt into the bed stake pockets or panels. Every rack below installs without cutting the Gladiator's tub.
Adjustable-height uprights and slotted crossmembers accept most accessory mounts.
Road Armor TRECK vs DV8 MTO vs Go Rhino XRS
These three represent the three tiers of Gladiator bed rack. The Road Armor TRECK is the heavy-duty, height-adjustable overland rack; the DV8 Offroad MTO is the value overland platform with the most built-in accessory mounts; and the Go Rhino XRS is the no-drill bed-rail cross-bar kit for buyers who want gear-hauling capability on a budget. Here is how each one stacks up for the 2020-2022 Gladiator JT.
Road Armor TRECK Adjustable Bed Rack — Top Pick
The Road Armor TRECK is the most capable rack in this comparison and the one we reach for on a serious Gladiator overland build. It is cut from 11-gauge laser-cut steel and rated at 880 lb static / 440 lb dynamic when evenly distributed — enough to sleep in a rooftop tent and still carry ski gear on the move. The standout feature is the adjustable height: the uprights set at 14, 19, or 23 inches, so you can run low for a tonneau-friendly profile or tall to clear a closed RTT and slide long cargo beneath. It installs into the bed panels with no drilling, wears a texture-black powder coat that laughs off road salt, and its slotted crossmembers and side rails accept most aftermarket accessory mounts. Priced around $1,364, it is the premium choice.
Key Specifications — Road Armor TRECK
What We Like
- + Highest capacity here at 880 lb static for a loaded RTT setup
- + Three-position height adjusts from tonneau-low to RTT-tall
- + 11-gauge steel and salt-resistant texture-black powder coat
Things to Consider
- – Priciest option, and the JT bracket kit is a separate purchase
- – Heavy steel build adds more weight than a cross-bar kit
DV8 Offroad MTO Overland Bed Rack — Best Value Overland
The DV8 Offroad MTO rack is the overland-ready value pick, and it packs the most built-in functionality of the three. It is welded from 3-5mm steel plate, recommended for up to 750 lb static, and sits at a low-profile 8 inches over the bed to keep the Gladiator's center of gravity in check on off-camber snow. What sets it apart are the integrated mounts: RotopaX fuel/water can mounts, Hi-Lift jack mounts, and hidden LED light-pod mounts are all built into the frame, so your recovery gear and trail lighting bolt straight on. The two-piece design adjusts to fit the JT's bed as well as other mid-size trucks. At around $1,000 with a micro-texture powder coat, it delivers a huge amount of overland utility per dollar — just confirm the fitment for your Gladiator before ordering.
Built-in RotopaX, Hi-Lift, and LED mounts make the DV8 rack recovery-ready.
What We Like (DV8 MTO)
- + Built-in RotopaX, Hi-Lift, and hidden LED pod mounts
- + Low 8 in profile keeps the center of gravity down for snow trails
- + Around $1,000 — the most overland utility per dollar here
Things to Consider
- – Fixed 8 in height will not clear a tall closed rooftop tent
- – Universal fit may need minor adaptation on the JT
Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars — Best No-Drill Budget Pick
The Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars are the smart budget entry into Gladiator gear hauling. This is a no-drill, bed-rail-mounted kit: four corner uprights of 3/16in seven-gauge steel raise the 4-CORE cross bars about 6 inches above the bed cap, so you keep full use of the bed underneath. Fully assembled the system carries 600 lb static / 300 lb dynamic evenly distributed — plenty for ski and snowboard carriers, a cargo basket, or a rooftop tent. Each cross bar uses standard 1/4-20 hardware for unlimited accessory mounting, and Go Rhino backs the kit with a limited lifetime warranty on materials and construction plus a 5-year finish warranty. At around $435 it is the least expensive way to add real hauling capacity to a 2020-2022 JT.
The Go Rhino XRS bolts to the bed rails with no drilling required.
Jeep Gladiator Bed Rack Comparison: Which One Wins?
The table below lines up all three racks by capacity, height, and price. For the most capability and a rooftop-tent-ready adjustable height, the Road Armor TRECK wins; for the most built-in overland mounts at a mid price, take the DV8 MTO; and for a no-drill budget setup, the Go Rhino XRS is the value leader.
| Rack | Static Capacity | Height / Style | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Armor TRECK AdjustableTop Pick | 880 lb | 14-23 in adjustable | RTT + overland builds | $1,363.60 |
| DV8 Offroad MTO Overland | 750 lb | 8 in low-profile | Built-in gear mounts | $999.99 |
| Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars | 600 lb | ~6 in bed-rail bars | No-drill budget hauling | $434.99 |
Match capacity and height to your winter load — RTT, ski box, or recovery gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bed rack for a Jeep Gladiator?
The Road Armor TRECK Adjustable Bed Rack is the best overall bed rack for a Jeep Gladiator JT, thanks to its 11-gauge steel build, 880 lb static rating, and three-position height that adjusts from 14 to 23 inches to clear a rooftop tent. For the most built-in overland mounts at a lower price, the DV8 Offroad MTO rack is the value pick, and the Go Rhino XRS cross bars are the best no-drill budget option at around $435.
How much weight can a Gladiator bed rack hold?
Most Gladiator bed racks hold 600 to 880 lb static (parked) and roughly half that dynamic (driving). The Road Armor TRECK is rated 880 lb static / 440 lb dynamic, the DV8 MTO is recommended for up to 750 lb static, and the Go Rhino XRS carries 600 lb static / 300 lb dynamic. Use the static number for a rooftop tent you sleep in and the dynamic number for gear carried while driving.
Do bed racks require drilling on the Jeep Gladiator JT?
No. All three racks in this guide install without drilling the Gladiator's bed. The Go Rhino XRS clamps to the factory bed rails, while the Road Armor TRECK and DV8 MTO mount into the bed panels or stake pockets using their included or add-on bracket hardware. That keeps the tub intact and preserves resale value.
Can a bed rack carry a rooftop tent on a Gladiator?
Yes. A bed rack is the standard way to mount a rooftop tent on a Gladiator, since the bed rack raises the tent above the bed for a flat sleeping platform. Choose a full-height rack like the Road Armor TRECK (adjustable to 23 inches) so the closed tent clears the cab and you can still slide cargo underneath. Match the tent's closed weight to the rack's static rating, not its dynamic rating.
Will a mid-size bed rack fit the Gladiator's 5-foot bed?
Yes. The Gladiator JT uses a mid-size 5-foot bed, so mid-size racks are the correct fit. The Road Armor TRECK 5-foot rack fits with the JT-specific bracket kit, the Go Rhino XRS lists direct 2020-2022 Gladiator JT fitment, and the DV8 MTO is a universal mid-size platform — always confirm the exact bracket or fitment for your model year before ordering.
Are these bed racks good for hauling ski and snow gear in winter?
Yes. All three racks accept ski and snowboard carriers, cargo baskets, and recovery gear, and each wears a powder coat that resists winter road salt and slush. Lifting gear onto a rack keeps the Gladiator's short bed free for coolers and firewood and keeps traction boards and a jack reachable when a snowy trailhead leaves you stuck. Powder-coated steel handles freeze-thaw cycles far better than bare accessories.
Build Your Winter Gladiator
Shop Road Armor, DV8, Go Rhino, and every bed rack we stock for your Jeep Gladiator at NLP Performance.
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