By GoTrendSA 
South African six-wheel specialists Ulterio Motiv have been quietly building some of the most outrageous bakkies on local roads, and they have just added a third to the collection. Fresh off its Ford Ranger 6×4 and Toyota Land Cruiser 79 6×6, the company has now turned its attention to the Jeep Gladiator, bolting on an extra axle to create the Gladiator Maximus 6×6. The result, in Ulterio Motiv’s own words, is more capability, more practicality and a whole lot more presence.
A blank canvas on six wheels
The idea behind the Maximus is not simply to look imposing, though it certainly manages that. By adding a third axle to Jeep’s already highly capable Gladiator platform, Ulterio Motiv has built a 6×6 chassis for buyers who need to carry serious loads without giving up the Jeep’s inherent off-road ability. Think of it as a foundation rather than a finished product: the company pitches it as a blank canvas for bespoke builds, whether that is a kitted-out overlanding rig, a specialist work vehicle or a hardcore off-roader. Customers specify their own suspension, wheels, tyres, bull bars and other gear, and the rear can be configured to suit the job, with a substantially bigger loading bin than the standard Gladiator.
The numbers that matter
The figures are the headline act. The conversion lifts the Gladiator’s gross vehicle mass to 3,490kg, a 690kg jump over standard, and pushes payload up to 1,090kg. The rear bin grows by 1,040mm in length, for a total of 2,530mm, while its width and depth stay unchanged. Here is the clever part for local buyers: because that homologated GVM sits just under the 3,500kg mark, you only need a standard driver’s licence to pilot the Maximus on public roads. No special licence required for a six-wheeled Jeep.
More than a cosmetic job
Underneath, the engineering runs deep. Ulterio Motiv extends the chassis with a new rear frame built to accept standard Jeep suspension and accessories. The original rear axle is shifted to the rearmost position, and a re-engineered centre axle takes its place, complete with drive-through capability and selectable rear-axle engagement. A lot of effort went into making sure standard and aftermarket Jeep parts bolt straight on, so lift kits, big brake kits, larger wheels and suspension components all fit without drama. The load box is extended using CAD-designed custom panels that blend into the standard bin. Spreading the weight across three axles rather than two also makes it a far better platform for hauling heavy equipment or mounting substantial specialist bodies.
Ulterio Motiv, founded in 2022, specialises in exactly this kind of one-off concept for buyers with distinctive requirements, and the Gladiator Maximus 6×6 fits that brief to a tee. Pricing is available on request through Jeep South Africa.