Why Wasn’t I Warned? The Hidden Costs of Installing a Harker Outdoors Camper on a Jeep Gladiator —Losing Jeep Factory Functionality
I went into my purchase of a Harker Outdoors, LLC camper for my Jeep Gladiator with high expectations. I figured I’d be set up for off-road adventures with all the convenience and tech I rely on—SiriusXM, Uconnect, and all the functionality I paid a premium for. But instead, I got radio silence. Literally. And the worst part? It seems Harker Outdoors knew this would happen all along and chose to stay silent.
Roo Dealing With POS Harker Outdoors Camper And Satellite
Here’s the conversation that played out once Bits and Bobs discovered his Gladiator’s factory satellite features were compromised by the Harker Outdoors, LLC EXO camper:
Bits: ...I am also experiencing a loss of Sirius Radio and Uconnect functions...
Harker Outdoors: There's an easy relocate I've heard of people doing. I'll see if I can find it online tomorrow.
Bits: Not interested in relocating while the Jeep is under warranty.
Bits: So am I assuming correctly that without relocating my factory satellite receivers, they will always be severely compromised with the camper on the bed?
Harker Outdoors: Yes, the antenna is in the roof between the speakers, I believe.
Harker Outdoors: The relocate isn’t bad, and you can always undo it if you have a warranty issue. It just extends the wire run and puts it over the sun visor.
Harker Outdoors: The other solution is to download the SiriusXM app and use your Starlink to stream.
Bits: Why wasn’t I told that prior to having the top installed?
Bits: Seems like the customer should know that
Three weeks later I still have no answer to this question.
The Reality Check After Installation
Four months into owning my 2024 Jeep Gladiator, I shelled out for a Harker Outdoors, LLC EXO camper, only to immediately lose core functions of the Jeep I counted on—like SiriusXM and Uconnect. When I reached out to Harker Outdoors. LLC, their “solution” was to relocate the antenna to the sun visor area, which would likely void my warranty, require drilling into my new vehicle, and downgrade my Gladiator’s resale value. Apparently, these were just inconvenient details I wasn’t supposed to care about.
The Bigger Problem: Blatant Lack of Transparency
It didn’t take much digging for Harker Outdoors to finally admit they’d installed campers on over 100 Gladiators and knew perfectly well that putting their camper on this model would make satellite functions almost useless. Even worse, the Harker Outdoors, LLC owners actually own Gladiators with their own campers installed on them, so they’re fully aware of this problem. Despite knowing that their camper offerings blocks satellite functionality, they’ve apparently chosen not to tell their customers before making the sale.
The Questionable Ethics at Play
It’s tough to see this as anything other than a deliberate decision by Harker Outdoors to keep buyers in the dark. If they’d disclosed this known issue prior to a sale, it might have cost them a sale or two. But by withholding it, they’ve taken money from unsuspecting customers who end up with a partially disabled vehicle. Instead of honesty, they have offered a hefty bill and a dismissive shrug.
Their Laughable “Solution”? Spend Thousands on a Starlink Subscription.
When I questioned the idea of relocating my antenna, Harker Outdoors quickly pivoted to another “solution”: use Elon Musk’s Starlink system to stream SiriusXM data. That workaround costs $2,000+ annually, meaning over $10,000 over five years. So now, in Harker Outdoors’ view, I’m supposed to pay thousands of dollars extra to patch over the functionality their product destroyed in the first place. This isn’t customer service—it’s an insult.
Why This Matters to Every Gladiator Owner
Harker Outdoors claims to have put campers on over 100 Gladiators and still can’t be bothered to inform new buyers that their product will cripple the Gladiator’s satellite functionality. Anyone who relies on their Jeep SiriusXM, and satellite-based features should take this as a glaring red flag. There’s no excuse for the secrecy, the lack of accountability, or the absurd workarounds they peddle. And the cost of Harker Outdoors’ silence is one you’ll feel every time you lose signal or have to consider drilling holes in your vehicle.
A Hard Lesson Learned
For anyone considering a Harker Outdoors camper, let my experience serve as a wake-up call. We trust businesses to be honest upfront about known issues, especially ones that will directly impact our vehicles’ core functions. Harker Outdoors’ failure to disclose this issue when their campers are coupled to the Gladiator are not only frustrating but a major breach of trust—one that should give everyone serious pause about ever purchasing or recommending Harker Outdoors products to anyone looking for a truck camper for their Jeep Gladiator or Toyota Tacoma.