Gibson Exhaust Rings In 2020 With Jeep & UTV Offerings

Every big name out there has a sweet spot, one that keeps a diehard following coming back for more.

Mattel has Hot Wheels.

Nike has Jordans.

McDonald’s has the Big Mac.

But one of the coolest things about our industry is the fact that multiple juggernaut brands are competing and coexisting in the same segments, yet each enjoys its own loyal fanbase. In terms of exhaust, muscle car owners will love one brand and import guys another—but make no mistake—truck guys love their Gibson.

Who Is Gibson Performance Exhaust?

Gibson Performance Exhaust is a big brand with an even bigger reputation in the truck enthusiast community. While mostly recognized for its fierce cat-back performance exhaust systems for truck and off-road applications, this company has a surprisingly tame, “down-home” origin.

Launched in the early ‘90s, Gibson is the brainchild of Ron and Julie Gibson—two RV enthusiasts who wanted more power and fuel economy for their motorhome at a reasonable price. Finding the aftermarket lacking, they set out to develop their own product. From their success in the division, they were able to ramp up and fuel the development of exhaust systems for trucks and SUVs, eventually becoming the industry’s #1 leading manufacturer of street legal, high-performance exhaust systems.

To read more about Gibson’s background and existing product line, click here.

Why Should You Consider a Gibson Exhaust?

Well, to be frank, I think for a long time running, a lot truck guys have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes their exhaust. Hear me out! Yes, reputable names offer up some nice systems with quite a bite. But—in my opinion—I think many of the products have lacked the finesse that’s traditionally associated with performance car enthusiasts.

Systems are often just big and loud and don’t really seem to focus on much of anything else. Granted, when you have big displacement, you have big noise—but that doesn’t mean it needs to be uncomfortable in the cabin, or that the exhaust can’t be tailored to your off-road needs.

Gibson gets this, so their systems hit a sweet spot between off-road performance and on-road drivability. Well-crafted and engineered for a perfect fit, they also use high-quality materials like aluminized or stainless steel and guarantee a hassle-free, bolt-on installation.

Still, regardless of performance and materials used, anyone with a straight set of bearings will ask: why bother? It’s still going to be thrown into the woods, and it’s still going to risk getting busted or broken. So, why spend the money?

Today’s 4-wheelers are like Swiss Army rigs used for everything from weekend trail rides and errands around town to long hauls down the interstate. You need parts that can perform well in each of these settings. Besides, even if you’re running a dedicated trail-beating 4×4, don’t you want the best airflow possible, to ensure the least amount of strain on an engine that’s already working hard?

What’s New for 2020?

For SEMA 2019, Gibson collaborated with builders to turn out some vehicles that really churn my butter. I have a soft spot for wild/off-beat trucks and man did they deliver. Gibson showed that while truck lovers might enjoy getting down and dirty off-road, the enthusiast segment really runs the gamut. From Gladiator-owning overlanders to the classic C10 and CK faithful, all the way to truly wild 900-hp drifters, Gibson proved it can cater to all aspects of its segment.

Some cool product to debut alongside these wild rides were gray ceramic-coated tips for the Jeep JL—soon to be joined by a full axle-back gray-coated system in 2020. This gives drivers another finishing option outside of polished steel and black powder coating, bumping up the customization.

And for the new year, Gibson fans can expect to see more offerings for the Jeep Gladiator, including the above-mentioned gray coating, as well as more product for the side-by-side (SxS) community. Three new designs are planned for the Polaris RZR and two new designs for the Can-Am Maverick. (Gibson’s continued support of UTV applications is something we should anticipate to see more of across the industry, as other brands look to get in on the expanding powersports market as well.)

So, while 2020 is still a little speculative at this point, we know one thing for sure: truck guys will have even more of reason to love their Gibson.