Jeep patents Gladiator roof panel for storage in a tinted cover.
Removable roof panels are great, and documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in September 2021 indicate that Jeep may be working on a solution for the Gladiator.
The application documents, first discovered by Muscle Cars & Trucks, detail how the Gladiator's roof panels could be stored in a hard tonneau cover, which would be placed over the cargo bed to create a covered storage area.
According to the document, the roof panels would be lined up on the tonneau cover and locked in place using a swivel lever. All components would fit within the footprint of the cargo bed, the document indicates.
The use of a bed means that this setup is unique to the Gladiator, and Wrangler owners will have to find another way to store the panels, even if they decide to drive in the open air. Still, it's a clever idea to take advantage of the available space. After all, the Gladiator does not have a flank that could be used to store the GMC Hummer EV's T-top roof panel.
However, it is unclear if the Jeep bed tonneau cover will be produced. While the patent application does not confirm production plans, it is possible that something like this could appear in one of Jeep's SEMA or Easter Safari concepts as a way to gauge customer interest.
The Gladiator will carry over to the 2022 model year essentially unchanged, with the only real news being the return of the Gobi exterior paint color last offered on Jeep pickups for the 2020 model year.
