If Jeep could make a full size pickup what direction would they take?

[kmass5050]

Ever, since I've been able to go to a car lot and buy a brand new truck I've been robbed of the ability to buy a brand spanking new Jeep truck. While I can say that I got a lot of good work done with my Chevy there was always that yearning for a Jeep in the back of my mind which made me make a mistake when purchasing my next vehicle which was a Wrangler. I had figured that I could just buy a trailer to do hauling jobs and such but that maneuver ended up being more trouble than it was worth. I'm currently working on putting a J-10 back together as a daily but of course its used and been used a lot. All, I want is the ability to come out of my house in the morning and fire a brand new Jeep full size truck up and take off.
With that dream in mind I have pondered for hours on how this could happen and what would a modern full size Jeep look like. As far as the happening probably not in the near future., as I understand it would take from Dodges cut on the truck market so I don't see it happening. Not to mention I don't think Jeep could start such a bold venture at this juncture in the economy. So that said a full size right now is clearly not going to happen.
This comes to my main topic of this little thread what would one look like and just were would it fit in. I believe we can still remember the first time we saw pictures of the Gladiator concept and said that's cool cant wait for that I'll get one. But, still no Gladiator and that is not a full size anyway so crap still waiting for a Jeep truck. While, I believe the Gladiator or something from the Wrangler stable will come this way Jeep really needs a full size for people who have to do some work that requires a spacious bed and is able to haul a load of gravel with out a grunt. Basically a work truck nothing more nothing less.
As far as styling I looked at two of Jeeps larger SUVs and thought which one would be adaptable to a truck conversion. Those being the Commander and the Grand Cherokee to me the Commander won. If the Commander was beefed up in some areas. I believe it would look great as a truck from the front bumper to behind the cab. But, that is my opinion to others the Grand Cherokee would work but some major mods would have to happen to both bodies. For instance a extended cab and crew cab would have to come into play. In my opinion the Commander would give a Jeep truck a great focal point to start from and it kinda would resemble a J-truck in some respects.
Powertrain would have to be Dodge truck equivalants it would only be natural. Just think of a Jeep truck with a factory Cummins man that would be awesome. Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rearend or something with that type of strength would be nice to. Throw a locker in and other options and I believe a great truck could be made.
Would it sell I think so I don't think it would be a niche sell or anything. I know lots of people who would buy something like this but they just dont have that option. A truck with good off road abilities and plain toughness would be right up a lot of peoples alley. From commercial duties to a daily driver I believe there would be a calling.
What do guys think what would you like to see in a new full size Jeep truck. What things would you like to see. Do you think people would buy it. Any thoughts just right about them. Be cool Hope to hear from you.

[HI-TECH REDNECK]

Jeep really needs a full size for people who have to do some work that requires a spacious bed and is able to haul a load of gravel with out a grunt. Basically a work truck nothing more nothing less.

Would it sell I think so I don't think it would be a niche sell or anything. I know lots of people who would buy something like this but they just don't have that option. A truck with good off road abilities and plain toughness would be right up a lot of peoples alley. From commercial duties to a daily driver I believe there would be a calling.
What do guys think what would you like to see in a new full size Jeep truck. What things would you like to see. Do you think people would buy it. Any thoughts just right about them. Be cool Hope to hear from you.

not trying to take this off topic right away but my opinion is that the only market for "a work truck nothing more nothing less" that still exists today is in the commercial/large business industry's (landscaping, construction, company fleet vehicles, etc). sure it sounds like the majority of people on this site are looking for something like what you describe, but in all reality we are the minority in this country (unfortunately). in order to make a full size that is competitive with the current market it will need to offer all the comforts and amenities of the current full size competition for the average joe to want it over the competition (unless he is drawn to the jeep name).

personally and honestly, i would be worried about jeep trying to bring back a full size pickup. the best thing they could do to revive the jeep trucks would be to start reproducing them how they made em before, only with modern fuel injected engines and modern sheet metal and frame construction (NOT UNI-BODY & keep the original jeep truck body lines). my issues with this would be the use of dodge transmissions (at least for automatics). i hate anything Chrysler. i know I'm gonna get flamed for this but i don't even care for post 80 FSJ stuff that much, mainly when it comes to automatics and t cases, and body lines (axles and motors really didn't change much).

i guess I'm more of the purist type who would rather see the jeep trucks go down in history as the wonderful things they were and let them have their dignity and awesome reputation they deserve. bringing them back in a modern restyle will be VERY hard to do and not have it be a disgrace to what the jeep trucks were.

i just have no faith in Chrysler to correctly bring back vehicles from the past, especially since it looks like they are going under anyways. look what they turned the "Cherokee" into......a sorry excuse for a jeep if you ask me. (granted they have their staple qualities like the 4.0 HO that runs forever, but the whole uni-body thing just kills it along with the undersized axles)

i know i may be a bit biased against Chrysler so go ahead and flame me if you like, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it .....when they can make vehicles that don't rank last for durability i will start thinking about owning one of them, maybe .....

[jaber]

With the money they want for a new truck, I could build 2.

Why not "build" what you want. The blue prints are right here on this sight.
You want 4 doors, its been done...
You want Cummins, its been done....
You want offroadability, its been done.... HERE!!!

I have a hard time replacing American steel for airbags, so I am collecting the parts to build what I would have wanted new. Rebuild them parts and I'll have a truck worthy of my day to day trials and will last like a new truck.

I did like the Glad concept, but untill I can walk around it and feel how much of the bumper is steel and how much is that million $ spaceage plastic that will split the first time it meets a rock, I'm still on the fence.

I guess I'm more of a hands on guy and the newer ones just aint my cup o tea. I believe in "built not bought". I think I would be leary of a "new" Chryco, Jeep truck......

[incommando]

They should re-badge the Power Wagon. That is arguably the best combination of street & off-road ability in a new truck ever. I'd say only the original Power Wagon could give it a run off-road bone-stock, or maybe an M715, but when you consider power, modern axle strength versus the old stuff, and comfort while doing the same obstacle, the new Power Wagon wins by a large margin.

If you want a trucklette like the Gladiator concept, that is something else. The truck version of the new 4dr JK that they sale to foreign militaries is probably the place to start.

[JeepBountyHunter]

I think in some ways bringing back a truck would save the Jeep brand...and to whomever gets it after Chrysler...

[HI-TECH REDNECK]

im with jaber, id rather build a truck to my liking than buy one with IFS or 4 wheel independant suspension in it and thin sheet metal. the only good thing about all that plastic is you minimize rust by putting plastic in the rust prone areas, however as jaber stated that plastic doesnt hold up to physical impacts like steel. he is also right that most of us can build our rig to our liking for less than the 50k or so a new truck costs......

besides, if i bought a new truck what would i have to spend time doing? i wouldnt need this site anymore, then i would go crazy having nothing cool to read

[incommando]

Are you familiar with the Power Wagon at all?

[HI-TECH REDNECK]

Are you familiar with the Power Wagon at all?

you asking that of me?

[Daddio]

Personally, I'd like to see a serious mid-size 30+mpg turbo diesel truck. I don't need a truck capable of towing 12K, that's been done over and over. It has been years since there was a 1/2 diesel truck on the American market and it's time to try it again.

Combine it with serious 4x4 drive train, no plastic body parts and it would sell like crazy.

[incommando]

id rather build a truck to my liking than buy one with IFS or 4 wheel independant suspension

Yeah. Many new trucks still have SFA's, not IFS and IFS/IRS is unknown to me in an actual truck. There might be some SUV's or something out there, MAYBE a trucklette, but no actual truck worth the name "truck" with IFS/IRS here. I'd bet the Power Wagon has better axles than any jeep product had, as the d60/70 combo of the M715 is not quite equal to the later Dana axles. I'd bet a modern D60/D60 combo is a pretty good bit ahead of the old coarse splined stuff.

I hope the Power Wagon survives the redesign in 2010. Then, can it as a Dodge, give it some unique sheetmetal and call it a Jeep. Bring in the 2dr truck version of the Unlimited JK ( D44f/d60 rear) as the downsized version. Can the patriot/compass/caliber things, kill the Commander, and call it a day. ( I like the Commander, Jeep's line-up has to many vehicles.)

[incommando]

Personally, I'd like to see a serious mid-size 30+mpg turbo diesel truck. I don't need a truck capable of towing 12K, that's been done over and over. It has been years since there was a 1/2 diesel truck on the American market and it's time to try it again.

Combine it with serious 4x4 drive train, no plastic body parts and it would sell like crazy.

If you meant 1/2 ton, Both Dodge & Ford will have large V6 and/or V8's diesles in 1/2 tons buy 2011 if they do not run out of money. I do not know about the Dakota.

[littlebuck23]

I agree with Jaber as well.


With the money a new pickup truck costs at the chevy or ford store one could buy a j 20 take it down to frame. Weld and gusset the snot out of the frame. Re assemble with all rebuilt components, drop a cummins engine in for real power and in the end still have all the air conditioning,power locks, remote start goofy gadjet crazy features the new guys have and be dollars ahead.

If you can spend that sort of money you can get what ya want and not have to wait for Jeep to go out on the limb with a new model in rough economic times.

[HI-TECH REDNECK]

incommando, no im not familiar with a new powerwagon vehicle i think you are speaking of. post some links i can clicky i need some truck porn....

also, you and i have slightly different definitions of "truck". yours is more literal than mine im sure, but probably because we have different needs. i consider my explorer a truck because it suits all my offroad/onroad needs. sure it wont tow a FSJ on a trailer accross country or a ton of dirt or gravel or whatever, but i dont need to do that. if you do, great you need a bigger truck with a bed and a solid axle out front.

i agree though, inedpendant suspension should not be in trucks (its the only thing i want to change about my explorer actually). but i know chevy has ifs in its 1500 and 2500 level trucks, ford does in the f150 for sure, cant recall on the f250 off the top of my head or not. i consider those real trucks compared to my vehicles and they have ifs; but that does not mean i like the fact that they are ifs equipped trucks.

im not saying your wrong on the powerwagon thing, i just havent seen it i dont think. im curious now

If you can spend that sort of money you can get what ya want and not have to wait for Jeep to go out on the limb with a new model in rough economic times.

precisely.....

[red mistress]

Jeep Truck

Chrysler build speciality cars better than ANY of the other big 3.

Look at their success of: Viper, Prowler, PT Cruiser, Charger etc...

I think the only reason why Chrysler hasn't built a Jeep Truck yet is competition within their own product line of Dodge.

It's the same reason the J & Commanche were dropped in first place.


Anything new has to be built to Government safety, MPG, emmissions etc.. So nah... it won't be built as tough as our Jeep Trucks..... But as with most all modern vehicles they are comfy and require very little maintenance in 150K miles.

I'd be satisfied to buy even a rebodied Dodge truck with Jeep lines and character.
Dodge has best running gear & diesel, but worst interior in durability. Chevy has lousy running gear but best interior. Ford has best running gear with worst engine.

Wonder if Chrysler made good profit on their speciality cars???
Bet so or they wouldn't of kept doing more models like they did.

[JPSwapMohn]

I will toss this out there:

If they had built the Rescue, it would lend itself naturally to a full sized truck version.

The original concept was considerably larger than the wrangler even though it obviously shared some cues. Heck, the thing sat on 37" tires if I recall correctly and was on a frame..

Those design plans should still be in a drawer somewhere in the Jeep HQ..