Yes, a properly equipped 2026 Jeep Gladiator can pull a 3,000- to 5,000-pound loaded travel trailer, and the Sport S with Max Tow can pull up to 7,700 pounds. Jeep requires the trailer to have its own brakes above 2,000 pounds loaded and recommends them above 1,000 pounds. Jeep lists a factory trailer brake controller as an option on the 2026 Gladiator, and adding a Redarc controller and harness to a tow-package truck is about $225 in parts at regular prices.
By Jeep Portsmouth
Key Numbers
- Sport S with Max Tow has room in its 7,700-pound rating for a 5,000-pound loaded camper, subject to the truck’s carrying limit.
- A loaded camper weighing 2,500 pounds needs working trailer brakes under Jeep’s instructions.
- The factory controller is option XHC. Budget about $225 for the cited Redarc parts on a tow-package retrofit.
- A 7-pin plug at the hitch still needs a controller upstream to operate an electric-brake trailer.
- Starting at 2,000 pounds loaded, Jeep recommends a hitch that spreads the load across the axles.
When does a camper need its own brakes?
An electric-brake camper loaded to 1,500 pounds is already in the range where Jeep recommends using its brakes, and that becomes a requirement once it passes 2,000 pounds. The electric setup needs a working controller in the Gladiator. A hydraulic surge-brake camper applies its brakes when it pushes against the hitch, so that setup uses a different kind of actuator.
A 4,000-pound electric-brake camper needs its brakes working before a trip along Route 101 near Exeter or through summer traffic around Hampton. The Mopar service department can check the truck-side wiring and controller before a camper trip from Dover or Rye.
Does the Gladiator offer a factory brake controller, and what does a retrofit cost?
A Gladiator with option XHC comes with the controller fitted. A tow-package truck without it can take an aftermarket unit using the harness under the dash. The cited Redarc unit and matching harness make up the parts estimate before labor. The round 7-pin plug carries the brake signal to the trailer once a controller is installed. A four-pin lighting connection handles the basic lights.
The 2026 manual identifies a gray four-pin connection under the dash for an aftermarket controller. The Jeep service shop can check that connection and the 7-pin plug at the hitch before a run down Lafayette Road. At a loaded weight of 4,000 pounds, the example camper is also well within the range where Jeep recommends weight distribution. The hitch needs a rating that fits the camper and Gladiator.
What size camper can a 2026 Gladiator pull?
With Max Tow, a camper weighing two tons on the road uses a little over half of the Sport S’s trailer rating. The weight it puts on the hitch uses up part of the same carrying limit as passengers, hitch hardware and gear in the bed. The Gladiator towing chart gives the rating for each setup.
The camper's empty weight leaves out water, batteries, propane and the gear you take for the weekend. A 3,500-pound trailer plus 500 pounds of cargo and supplies weighs 4,000 pounds on the road. A scale reading with the camper packed gives you the number to compare with the truck’s rating. The manual limits a bumper-mounted ball to a 3,500-pound trailer, 350 pounds of tongue weight and 20 square feet of trailer front area. The Gladiator specifications include its 3.6-liter V6, rated at 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
How do I tell if the Gladiator’s trailer brakes are working?
A low-speed test with the camper attached should show the trailer brakes applying before you reach the highway. Test on a clear, level surface and follow the controller’s directions to set how strongly the trailer brakes apply. Check again when the load changes. Running lights, brake lights and signals can all work even when the electric brakes need attention.
If the controller never recognizes the trailer or the trailer brakes fail that test, have the plug, wiring and brake equipment checked before towing it.
Can I buy a Max Tow Gladiator online and have it delivered?
Jeep Portsmouth offers 100% remote shopping and coast-to-coast delivery, including for a Gladiator Sport S with Max Tow. Jeep Portsmouth is part of Premier Companies, locally and family-owned since 1979. The Premier Pure Promise includes Premier Pure Price, a negotiation-free price since 1995. The group checks its pricing against CarGurus, Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader.
Premier Transparency puts Kelley Blue Book trade values and available rates, rebates, residuals and incentives online 24/7/365. Premier People Promise means a commission-free sales staff and the same treatment throughout ownership. Premier Personalization, Pure & Simple offers three ways to shop: in person, 100% remote or a hybrid of the two. You can shop online, value your trade and apply for credit from home. Premier can deliver anywhere, coast to coast.
Jeep Gladiator camper and brake FAQs
Can every Gladiator pull 7,700 pounds?
Jeep gives that maximum to the properly equipped Sport S with Max Tow. Check the rating on the truck you are buying before committing to a camper.
Do electric brakes work just by plugging in the camper?
A controller and a working electric-brake circuit are both needed. The 7-pin socket can power the lights on a trailer even if that brake circuit has a fault.
What counts toward the Gladiator's carrying limit?
Passengers, cargo, hitch hardware and the weight the camper presses down on the hitch all count. The label on the truck gives its combined allowance for people and cargo.
Is Jeep's 2,000-pound brake rule a state law?
It is Jeep's requirement for the truck. Trailer brake laws can also apply in the states you travel through.
Can I buy a Gladiator online and have it delivered?
Premier Personalization gives you a fully remote purchase option, including an online trade value and credit application. The Premier People Promise keeps the sales team commission-free whichever way you shop.
Contact Jeep Portsmouth with your camper's loaded weight if you are shopping for a Gladiator. Owners from Exeter or Hampton can book a service appointment for a brake-controller and wiring check.