Kimbo aluminum truck bed camper installed on a jeep gladiator — best camper guide.

Best Camper Guide / Jeep Gladiator

The Best Camper for Your Jeep Gladiator

The Gladiator camper market is its own thing — half rooftop-tent / shell category, half lightweight-only slide-ins. Here's the honest read.

How the market actually breaks down

Gladiator owners face a tighter camper market than any other midsize truck. The Gladiator's 5' bed is the same width as a Wrangler bed accessory, but the truck's payload (1,200–1,700 lb depending on trim) and overall geometry — convertible top, removable doors, narrow track for an off-road platform — push most camper companies toward shell-and-rooftop-tent solutions rather than full slide-ins.

We do install Kimbo 6 on Gladiators, but the engineering review is honest: the Gladiator is a fitment-consultation truck on the /fit/jeep-gladiator page, not a 'preferred' fit. Below is the lineup as Gladiator owners actually shop it — heavy bias toward shell + rooftop tent (OVS MagPak), lightweight toppers (FWC Project M), or Gladiator-purpose-built campers (Skinny Guy 5.0 GLR, Jeep × Addax).

At a glance

The Jeep Gladiator camper market in one table.

Honest comparison: weight, base price, format, and what each one is best at. Kimbo first, alternatives below in the order owners typically cross-shop them.

Camper	Format	Dry weight	Base price	Best at
Kimbo Campers Kimbo 6	Hard-side fixed	830–1,200 lb	$27,990+	Hand-riveted aluminum, four-season, factory-direct service
Overland Vehicle Systems MagPak	Shell + rooftop tent	450 lb	$8,999–10,999	Aluminum shell + integrated rooftop tent — most-installed Gladiator camper
Four Wheel Campers Project M (Gladiator)	Bed-rail topper	352 lb	$12,395–18,995	Lightweight bed-rail topper specifically engineered for Gladiator
Skinny Guy Campers 5.0 GLR	Hard-side fixed	600–780 lb	$29,500–38,000	Hard-side fixed slide-in engineered around the Gladiator profile
Jeep × Addax Gladiator Camper	Modular composite shell	400–700 lb	$4,000–15,000	Brand-approved modular camper system — first Jeep-blessed product
Kimbo Campers Kimbo 6 (consultation install)	Hard-side fixed	830–1,200 lb	$27,990–35,000	Hand-riveted aluminum hard-side — engineering review for Gladiator fit

Prices and weights from each manufacturer's published spec as of 2026 model year. Always verify the current spec with the manufacturer before purchase.

The honest take, one by one

Each camper, on its own terms.

01 // Kimbo

Kimbo Campers

Kimbo 6

Format: Hard-side fixed
Dry weight: 830–1,200 lb
Base price: $27,990–35,000

Hand-riveted aluminum hard-side, four-season, factory-direct service

Kimbo 6 fits a Gladiator on engineering review — the 5' bed, the payload (1,200–1,700 lb depending on trim and engine), and the convertible-top geometry all need to be confirmed before we commit to a build slot. We've installed Kimbos on Gladiators successfully; the work is more bespoke than a Tacoma install. Most Gladiator owners ultimately pick a different category (shell + tent, lightweight topper) — but Kimbo is the answer if you specifically want hard-side aluminum durability on a Gladiator.

Build a Kimbo 6

Overland Vehicle Systems

MagPak

Format: Shell + rooftop tent
Dry weight: 450 lb
Base price: $8,999–10,999

Aluminum shell + integrated rooftop tent — most-installed Gladiator camper

OVS MagPak is the dominant Gladiator camper aftermarket product. Aluminum shell with a hard-shell rooftop tent integrated into the roof. $10,999 typical / $8,999 at some dealers, 450 lb, fits 2020–2026 Gladiator JT 5' beds, 30-second tent setup. The most-installed product in the Gladiator-specific aftermarket because it solves the bed-and-sleeping problem in one purpose-built shell. Trade-off: it's a shell + tent, not an enclosed living space — limited four-season comfort.

Manufacturer page: overlandvehiclesystems.com

Four Wheel Campers

Project M (Gladiator)

Format: Bed-rail topper
Dry weight: 352 lb
Base price: $12,395–18,995

Lightweight bed-rail topper specifically engineered for Gladiator

FWC's Project M Gladiator variant is the lightweight topper with FWC's heritage and dealer network. 352 lb shell, $12,395 starting, mounts to bed rails. Lower profile than MagPak when closed, soft-pop-up sleeping arrangement instead of hard-shell rooftop tent. Strong choice for daily-driver Gladiator owners who camp occasionally and want minimum weight.

Manufacturer page: fourwheelcampers.com

Skinny Guy Campers

5.0 GLR

Format: Hard-side fixed
Dry weight: 600–780 lb
Base price: $29,500–38,000

Hard-side fixed slide-in engineered around the Gladiator profile

Skinny Guy's 5.0 GLR is one of the few full hard-side slide-in campers purpose-built for the Gladiator's 5' bed. Released in 2023 with contoured sidewalls matching the Gladiator's profile (4–6" wider interior bed than the standard 5.0 model). 600–780 lb dry, 77" interior height, 77" L x 46" W bed, $29,500 starting. 5–10 minute setup, 30 minutes to remove from truck. Specialized product for owners who specifically want a hard-side living space on a Gladiator. Cult favorite, smaller company, longer lead times.

Manufacturer page: skinnyguycampers.com

Jeep × Addax

Gladiator Camper

Format: Modular composite shell
Dry weight: 400–700 lb
Base price: $4,000–15,000

Brand-approved modular camper system — first Jeep-blessed product

Jeep × Addax is the first Jeep-brand-approved Gladiator camper system, shipped summer 2024. Patent-pending M-3 Mod System with tool-free, drill-free installation. Base MSRP starts at $4,000 — a retractable truck cap shell with aluminum frame — and climbs from there with optional rooftop tent (175 lb, 6'4" headroom, queen mattress), interior kitchen buildout, and 270-degree awning. Modular components include solar panels, LED lighting, deep-cycle battery, inverter, water storage with filtration, and an adjustable exhaust fan. Strong choice for owners who specifically want a brand-blessed Gladiator-camper relationship.

Manufacturer page: gearpatrol.com

Kimbo Campers

Kimbo 6 (consultation install)

Format: Hard-side fixed
Dry weight: 830–1,200 lb
Base price: $27,990–35,000

Hand-riveted aluminum hard-side — engineering review for Gladiator fit

Kimbo 6 on a Gladiator is a fitment consultation, not an off-the-shelf install. We've done it successfully but each install is bespoke — engine choice (3.0 EcoDiesel vs 3.6 Pentastar) affects payload, top configuration affects clearance, and the 5' bed dimensions are at the edge of the Kimbo 6's installable range. If hard-side aluminum durability is the priority, we're the answer — if you want a more standard install, the products above are better fits.

Manufacturer page: kimboliving.com

When Kimbo is the answer

Pick Kimbo when …

Pick a Kimbo 6 on a Gladiator if you specifically want a hand-riveted aluminum hard-side and you're willing to engage with the fitment-consultation process. Most Gladiator owners ultimately pick a different category (shell + tent or lightweight topper) and that's often the right call — but Kimbo is the answer if you want hard-side durability above all else and the Gladiator is the truck you've already chosen.

Build a Kimbo 6 Talk to us

When something else is the answer

Honest about who else wins.

Most Jeep Gladiator owners don't need a Kimbo. The picks below are where we'd send you instead — by name, by use case.

If you want the most-installed Gladiator camper with a rooftop tent
Pick → the OVS MagPak — purpose-built for Gladiator, ~$11K
If you want a lightweight bed-rail topper with FWC's dealer network
Pick → the FWC Project M Gladiator variant — ~$12K starting
If you want a hard-side slide-in specifically engineered around the Gladiator
Pick → the Skinny Guy 5.0 GLR — Gladiator-purpose-built, $29.5K
If you want a Jeep-brand-approved modular camper system
Pick → the Jeep × Addax — first Jeep-blessed Gladiator camper
If you have a Wrangler instead of a Gladiator
Pick → a rooftop tent (iKamper, Roofnest) — Wrangler doesn't have a bed for a slide-in

FAQ

Jeep Gladiator-specific camper questions.

Why is the Gladiator a 'consultation' fit for Kimbo and not 'preferred'?

Three reasons: payload (1,200–1,700 lb depending on trim and engine), bed geometry (5' is at the edge of the Kimbo 6's installable range), and the convertible-top / removable-door geometry that affects camper-cab clearance. Each Gladiator install is engineering review rather than off-the-shelf.

Can a Gladiator with the EcoDiesel handle a Kimbo install?

EcoDiesel adds curb weight that subtracts from payload — an EcoDiesel Gladiator runs 1,200–1,400 lb door-jamb sticker depending on trim. A wet Kimbo 6 + two adults is right at the limit. Possible, but we run the math on every install.

What's the practical difference between OVS MagPak and FWC Project M on a Gladiator?

MagPak has a hard-shell rooftop tent permanently integrated into the camper roof; Project M has a soft pop-up roof. MagPak is faster setup, more secure, marginally heavier. Project M is lower profile when closed, lighter, and has FWC's dealer / service network. Both are bed-rail toppers, not enclosed slide-ins.

Will any of these affect my Gladiator's removable top or doors?

Toppers (Project M) and shells (MagPak) sit on the bed rails behind the cab and don't interfere with the convertible top or doors. Slide-in campers (Kimbo 6, Skinny Guy 5.0 GLR) sit higher and may interact with cabover-clearance when the top is removed — confirm install geometry with the specific manufacturer.

Engineering-depth fit guide

Want the engineering-depth fit story for your Jeep Gladiator?

Per-generation tier verdicts, payload math, recommended trim, and the gotchas we've hit on real installs since 2016.

See the Jeep Gladiator fit guide →All comparison guides