Jeep Gladiator gets the six-wheel treatment, and it’s absolutely enormous
Ulterio Motiv is no stranger to turning capable vehicles into something considerably more serious. The Pretoria-based conversion specialist has previously worked its magic on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79, the Ford Ranger and the SVI Engineering Max 3.
Those vehicles were already competent off-roaders from the onset, but the firm bolstered a third axle, thus giving them serious payload numbers and the kind of presence that makes people stop and take notice.
This time around, the specialist has shifted focus to the Jeep Gladiator, which it has transformed into a 6×6 bruiser. Called the Maximus 6×6, the conversion is based on the Gladiator platform that makes use of expensive modifications, including a chassis extension, an enlarged load bed and an additional axle. Sounds brutal on paper already.
It’s certainly no longer the Gladiator you and I know. Ulterio Motiv has stretched the wheelbase by a substantial 1,040mm between the second and third axles, taking the overall length to a frankly ridiculous 6,577mm. The load bed has also grown to 2,530mm.
For some perspective, the regular Gladiator measures 5,591mm long, while most of the mainstream double cab bakkies sold in SA sit somewhere around the 5.3- to 5.5m mark. At more than 6.5m long, the Maximus 6×6 is therefore enormous by bakkie standards.
The conversion company says the Maximus 6×6 has undergone significant structural and mechanical changes to cope with the additional size and capability. Payload increases to 1,090kg, up from 693kg, while gross vehicle mass rises to 3,490kg from 2,242kg.
And, because apparently three axles aren’t enough, buyers can take things even further with a range of upgrades covering the suspension, wheels, tyres, braking system and performance. Speaking of wheels and tyres, the Maximus 6×6 can be fitted with either 17-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in all-terrain or mud-terrain rubber. For the adventurous at heart, the specialist offers a variety of accessory packages, including roof racks, bed racks, storage systems, auxiliary lighting, recovery equipment and winches.
Under the bonnet, things remain unchanged. The Maximus 6×6 retains the Gladiator’s 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6, producing 209kW and 347Nm, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It also retains the Gladiator’s Rock-Trac 4×4 system, although with the conversion, 6×6 is probably the more appropriate way of describing it, along with front and rear locking differentials.
It’s a decent engine, but the V6 has never been particularly punchy at the top end, and the torque figure feels like a bit of a letdown in something this big. With all that extra weight and another axle to haul around, I’d imagine it could creep up on its limitations rather quickly. Thankfully, Ulterio Motiv offers an optional supercharger system as part of its performance upgrades, which should give the Maximus some much-needed extra kick.
At R3.5 million, the Maximus 6×6 is far from sensible, but that’s not really the point. It’s huge, over the top and completely excessive, which is exactly what makes it so interesting. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but I suspect that’s not who Ulterio Motiv is building it for anyway.
It’s also worth noting that this is a conversion based on the production Jeep Gladiator, not a factory-developed, produced or validated Jeep model. Stellantis SA says its involvement is limited to providing information about the Gladiator platform, with Ulterio Motiv responsible for the conversion’s engineering, certification, warranty and aftersales support.
