Why Jimmy Lee Put the Banks PedalMonster on His Gladiator, Wrangler 4xe, and 392

Jimmy Lee Moufarrej has a trio of Jeeps: a 2020 Gladiator, a 2021 Wrangler 4Xe, and a 2023 Wrangler with the stout 392 Hemi engine shoved under the hood. All of them had throttle lag issues. But when he added larger tires, gear changes, and lifts, the lag got worse. That was until a chance encounter at an event where Jimmy first learned about the PedalMonster.

Jimmy Lee Moufarrej custom Jeep Gladiator on 40-inch tires and 5.13 gears
Jimmy Lee’s custom 2020 Jeep Gladiator running 40-inch off-road tires and 5.13 differential gears.

“I was originally with a group called SoCal Gladiators, and when I showed off my Gladiator at an event, a Banks employee struck up a conversation with me about the PedalMonster and how it could help out with my sluggish Jeep. My Gladiator is on 40-inch tires and re-geared to 5.13. But even with the re-gearing, my throttle lag was still horrible. When I installed the PedalMonster, the difference was night and day. I could put the performance right where I needed it, at any time.”

Driver operating custom Jeep cockpit equipped with Banks iDash monitor
Inside the cockpit, Jimmy monitors vital powertrain parameters and adjusts PedalMonster throttle sensitivity on the fly.

The next Jeep to get a Banks boost in throttle treatment was his 4xe hybrid, which cut down the turbo lag substantially. “The lag on the 4xe was so bad that I wondered if the PedalMonster would make any difference in responsiveness the way that it did with the Gladiator. Sure enough, it did! It made an immense difference, and I’m running 37” tires on that one. I have an iDash on that one too. I watch the boost, and it pushes like 9.2 psi. I’ll never drive that one stock again.”

White Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe hybrid running 37-inch off-road tires
Jimmy’s 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe hybrid equipped with 37-inch tires and the Banks PedalMonster.

“We installed one into the 392, and it’s so aggressive. It’s so much fun. Even though it’s such a large engine, with it just factory, there was a lag. With PedalMonster, I’m fully in control of the power output. I’m running all-wheel drive all of the time, and it moves!”

Banks iDash SuperGauge interface showing real-time boost pressure and PedalMonster level
The Banks iDash display provides real-time boost telemetry and seamless on-the-fly PedalMonster sensitivity control.

“PedalMonster is the best-integrated thing that you can put on your Jeep,” Jimmy says emphatically.

Why Heavy 37″ & 40″ Off-Road Tires Amplify Electronic Throttle Lag

Installing heavy 37-inch and 40-inch tires increases rotational inertia and rolling resistance on lifted Jeeps. Even after re-gearing axle differentials to 5.13:1, the engine must overcome significant mass from a dead stop. Factory drive-by-wire programming adds an artificial delay into the pedal curve, creating a sluggish disconnect off the line. On heavy trail builds, this electronic dead pedal makes even powerful engines feel unresponsive during low-speed crawling.

The patented Banks PedalMonster removes this digital delay across all modern Jeep powertrains. It transforms pedal sensitivity on the 3.6L Gladiator, 2.0L turbo 4xe hybrid, and 6.4L 392 HEMI V8. Unlike dangerous analog boosters, PedalMonster draws dedicated 12-volt vehicle power through the OBD-II port. This prevents check engine lights and eliminates limp mode failures on remote trails. Furthermore, patented Low-Speed Tip-In Control and Reverse Safety deliver smooth, controlled power modulation during technical off-road driving.