Honcho or NOT????

[loyd]

What makes it a Honcho? I have an '81 Stepside that has a lot of toys on it It doesn't say "Honcho" I was just warndering.

P.S. Sorry if this is the wrong post.

[Bob Barry]

The big "Honcho" sticker on the side, and some trim items that could be ordered separately or which came in other packages.

A lot of people refer to all J-trucks as "Honcho"'s, but it was specifically an option-package on the short wheelbase pickups. If the stickers were removed or painted over at some point, I don't know if there's any way to determine whether or not it was a Honcho.

[ColeTrickle]

What Bob said...I believe Laredo's were also introduced this year and included everything the Honcho had and more. Like vinyl buckets and chrome wheels and rear bumper.

Here's the '81 Honcho Sportside Ad:
"The boldness of "Honcho" is also available with Sportside styling. Honcho Sportside includes everything in the Custom Sportside package plus: special decals on the balloon fenders in addition to basic "Honcho" striping; wood box side and front panel rails; contoured roll bar; Western weave fabric clad bucket seats with matching door trim; and a soft feel sports steering wheel." -1981 Jeep Corporation Brochure Ad

[ September 29, 2002, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: ColeTrickle ]

[UnkleMunky]

Bob's right on it being a trim option and with the bold Honcho decals. I'd gather you "could" order a J10 that'd be identical to a Honcho package, but not be the Honcho. May depend on years some too, but by early 80s, there were a number of packages to choose from, so maybe you got another one?

Bob's also right that some people will call "any" or "nearly any" J-truck a Honcho. I think some people consider the OLD(Rhino grill ones) as Gladiators and any other is a "Honcho" due to Honcho's being fairly popular in late 70s/early 80s. I even had to explain to my brother that yes, early 70s with razor grills were called Gladiators for a couple years! Oh well.....

[tc]

I thought that a honcho was a short bed. I beleive it is like a 6 or 7 foot bed. one of my brothers had a honcho and another had a j-10 and the beds were different.

[kyjman]

According to my new book "The Standard Catalog of 4X4's 1945-2000" 1980 was the first year for the Honcho. It was offered in the Sportside AND the Townside beds. Wheelbase had nothing to do with it being a Honcho. There were special stripings and on the Sportside it had wood box side and front panel rails. There was a "roll bar" also. Really more of a light bar. I own a 1982 Sportside with some striping and the "roll bar" . The main identification clue would be the big "HONCHO" on the Door. Also 1980 was the first year the Larado package was offered. Hope this helps

[kyjman]

Further research indicates that 1980 was not the first year for the Honcho package. sorry

[UnkleMunky]

ALL Honchos, and most if not all of the "special packages" like that....Golden Eagle, etc...were "shortbeds". J-truck shortbeds were 7-foot boxes. Longbeds were 8-foot. I've got 3 J10s that are longbeds, and the Honcho is a shortbed. You could get J10s in short or long beds until about '85, then all were longbeds(and no Honchos, etc. anymore). J20s were always longbeds only.

The 80 models I think returned the stepside format, so the "sportside" may have been noted as new in '80...that coulda been what you were reading above. Honchos themselves debuted during the '76 model year....like in January or so. I don't know exactly how long they ran....til about '83 or so, I think though.

Anyway.....All Honchos are J10s, but not all J10s are Honchos...kinda like squares and rectangles! smile.gif

Take care...