Jeep Gladiator

[special-K]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

It would be like if they made another subcompact FWD/AWD and called it a ..... Blazer

That one would have been a good one to bring Vega back with. I doubt they'd ever want to call another car Vega

Looking at that side view you can see the Gladiator is literally a Jeep (think CJ5) with a bed stuck on the tail... and wheelbase stretched. It reminds me of that orange Suburban someone added a long bed straight off the tail on.

I remember when designers were concerned with proportions and creating a generally pleasant aesthetic. This looks more like, "We just got the orders to create a 4dr Jeep with a pickup bed and they need the final design tomorrow"

[burnin oil]

Maybe we should just consider it a UTV that has a bigger engine.

[Dukk]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

I keep expecting some company to come out with a "pickup" with an 18" long "bed"

Hummer H2 pickup?



Speaking of, the Gladiator kind of reminds me of the H3 pickup. Proportions are a little goofy...

[LS short box]

Maybe they hired the same designers that designed the Pontiac Aztek?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Dukk

Speaking of, the Gladiator kind of reminds me of the H3 pickup. Proportions are a little goofy.

WoW! Good point! I forgot all about those. Probably because I have never seen one other than pictures on the internet. Now if you want to do a little market study, study that! That defines a flop. But I have to admit, I think that H3 double door pickup looks 10x better. I don't even hate it

[WyattTX]

Originally Posted by special-K

That one would have been a good one to bring Vega back with. I doubt they'd ever want to call another car Vega

Looking at that side view you can see the Gladiator is literally a Jeep (think CJ5) with a bed stuck on the tail... and wheelbase stretched. It reminds me of that orange Suburban someone added a long bed straight off the tail on.

I remember when designers were concerned with proportions and creating a generally pleasant aesthetic. This looks more like, "We just got the orders to create a 4dr Jeep with a pickup bed and they need the final design tomorrow"

All they had to do was stretch the the area between the rear door and rear wheel well, and stretch the area behind the rear wheel well a few inches. In other words, make another Scrambler based on the JL platform. Making the bed a separate piece ruins a lot of opportunities in the realm of versatility.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by WyattTX

All they had to do was stretch the the area between the rear door and rear wheel well, and stretch the area behind the rear wheel well a few inches. In other words, make another Scrambler based on the JL platform. Making the bed a separate piece ruins a lot of opportunities in the realm of versatility.

Yeah, and they needed to have removeable bulkhead(s) or else one bulkhead that you could install either behind the front seat (2dr p/u) or behind the rear seat (4dr p/u) or not at all ("Suburban" type vehicle). It could either bolt into a narrow flange or just drop into a slot like the washboards on a sailboat hatchway.

And the top half of the doors should be removeable, or optional half doors that you could just drop into the hinges, for when you want a 2dr p/u.

I guess I missed a great second career opportunity designing Jeeps

[burnin oil]

You just described a first gen military Hummer. Before armor they had a bolt in panel that covered the rear door to bed hieght. The seats collapsed and it had a truck bed. Only thing that sucked was the top made the rear of the cab. Dirt and dust would kick up under it and flood the cab at higher speeds. Fixable.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by WyattTX

All they had to do was stretch the the area between the rear door and rear wheel well, and stretch the area behind the rear wheel well a few inches. In other words, make another Scrambler based on the JL platform. Making the bed a separate piece ruins a lot of opportunities in the realm of versatility.

This is what I'm talking about:



I never liked the Scrambler too much, either. I felt they were a poor comeback for the CJ6, which didn't sell too well at the time. But, as a kid I really liked them after seeing the one on the TV show Daktari:



A Scrambler for reference:

[68Timber]

I kinda like them. I wouldn't compare them to a regular pickup though. Think of all the regular jeeps you've seen through the years, you couldn't put anything bigger than a chihuahua behind the rear seat. This will at least haul some weekend gear without a hitch rack. The stock proportions are goofy, but I'd bet they know most of them will end up with a 4" lift and 35's anyway, so the stock tiny tires are for the mpg ratings and CAFE. The concept with the old school gladiator grill was much cooler though.

I almost hate to ask. Anyone know if you can get one with a stick?

[JON67]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

I almost hate to ask. Anyone know if you can get one with a stick?

You sure can. 6 speed manual. one of the last cars you can still get as a stick shift.

[special-K]

I don't care for the design element of this new Jeep product, personally. But that's just me. Last time I checked no one cared about what I wanted when designing vehicles. If they did, they forgot to ask . but where my negativity really comes from in this naming. Just as with all the old names car makers bring back for vehicles with no connection to the original. If you drop a name, leave it dropped. Unless the ideas is to bring back a contemporary version of the same vehicle. I mean, we aren't out of names yet are we? Since this is a completely new configuration never offered before by Jeep, and they wanted a name to link it to the tradition of Jeep by bringing back a name, why not call it a CJ10? They made CJs forever and they made J10s, which is what the Gladiator was. It's a mix of both, uses both names, but is a new name and is 100% accurate in it's simple form. It actually says what this new thing is.

When I hear Gladiator this is always what I will picture, because this is what a Gladiator is, was, and will always be:

[67ChevyRedneck]

I love the movie ground hog day. I thought this was great.

https://youtu.be/AnhzGUcENWo

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I love the movie ground hog day. I thought this was great.

https://youtu.be/AnhzGUcENWo

Okay, that's funny

I was wondering if he was going to drive it off into the quarry and it would survive ??????????

[67ChevyRedneck]

I think the point of this one was that he went from being depressed everyday to being excited it was a new place to take the Gladiator every day. They look good in orange.

I really liked they tossed in a scene with the C10.

[gvw5400]

As far as new "trucks" go, It's interesting that Jeep actually builds something I would consider buying. After all look at what you can buy from everyone else.
Other than Toyota can you get a manual transmission ? nope.
Anyone offer a live Dana 44 front axle ? nope. Front and rear mechanical lockers? nope.
4 to 1 mechanically shifted transfer case ? nope. I could live with the other weirdness
to get some old school equipment goodness. All the best, Dirk

[special-K]

Good points, but I'm a guy who "needs" a truck. So, these are nothing for me to consider. To much of the better old stuff around to need to buy a new one for the good old features I love. The other offerings are great for what the trucks actually get used for. I'm not buying something new for a trail rig. If I buy a truck I need a bed designed to haul building materials and larger items. If I buy a trail toy I need something short and nimble. If I compromise my trail rig it will be a truck so I can do more than just see what I can make it through. I used to follow the CJ5s, Broncos, and Scouts on trail rides in my '69 W200 Power Wagon. They'd get all mad that I was messing up their ruts while making my own

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by special-K

Good points, but I'm a guy who "needs" a truck. So, these are nothing for me to consider. To much of the better old stuff around to need to buy a new one for the good old features I love. The other offerings are great for what the trucks actually get used for. I'm not buying something new for a trail rig. If I buy a truck I need a bed designed to haul building materials and larger items. If I buy a trail toy I need something short and nimble. If I compromise my trail rig it will be a truck so I can do more than just see what I can make it through. I used to follow the CJ5s, Broncos, and Scouts on trail rides in my '69 W200 Power Wagon. They'd get all mad that I was messing up their ruts while making my own

Yeah, IF I was going to buy a new Jeep then I would get the 4 door Wrangler to replace our old XJ for the wife to drive to church and to town for shopping, since the new "Gladiator" is definitely not what I would call a pickup. If I wanted a pickup then I would buy a real pickup with an eight foot bed, not that the Big Three full-size are anything great anymore but I think you can still for the time being special order one.

Back when I bought my new 1973 K20 I took it some places that the Jeep/Bronco/Scout folks couldn't believe. Mostly on rocks, though. There was one place up above timberline where you had to cross a little crick that was coming down a steep draw. The approach was down and cambered out and then you had to make a near 90 degree turn at the crick and steep back up the other side. It looked impossible for a long wheelbase but with careful steering my pickup took it like it was nothing. The transfer case must have been about six feet above the creek at one point

I'm not sure that I'd want to try that in my 89 xcab lwb IFS though!

[special-K]

I decided I'm done with old vehicles. I want new from now on. But I'm still going to wait till they take the Jeep thing to the next level.

[WyattTX]

Originally Posted by special-K

I decided I'm done with old vehicles. I want new from now on. But I'm still going to wait till they take the Jeep thing to the next level.

They can make the body and bed a single piece on that behemoth, but they can't on the Gladiator? What the heck Jeep? If they built a redesigned Gladiator with the bed integrated into the body like the Scrambler, I'd probably buy one. Like another poster said, setting it up to be modular like a HUMVEE would be the smartest design.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by WyattTX

They can make the body and bed a single piece on that behemoth, but they can't on the Gladiator? What the heck Jeep? If they built a redesigned Gladiator with the bed integrated into the body like the Scrambler, I'd probably buy one. Like another poster said, setting it up to be modular like a HUMVEE would be the smartest design.

Yeah they kinda mix-matched the heritage. A truck with separate bed should have been based on the Cherokee and given the Gladiator name. A truck based on the Jeep platform should have had a one-piece tub and given the Scrambler name. I've never owned a Jeep but it bent my OCD up good when they went with the Gladiator name over Scrambler. This is how you know kids are in charge.

[WyattTX]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Yeah they kinda mix-matched the heritage. A truck with separate bed should have been based on the Cherokee and given the Gladiator name. A truck based on the Jeep platform should have had a one-piece tub and given the Scrambler name. I've never owned a Jeep but it bent my OCD up good when they went with the Gladiator name over Scrambler. This is how you know kids are in charge.

Honestly, given the size of the vehicle, the Gladiator reminds me more of a Comanche than anything else. However, the Comanche actually had bed length options that made sense.

[special-K]

They could have made it a 4dr Commando

[71blksuper4x4]

Here is my start to my Jeep truck. CJ10a modified.

[special-K]

Very cool, Trevor. Very very cool! Did you see the thread I started on the CJ10? Many can't get used to that front end, but you took care of that, as I suggested could be done in that thread. You have good taste in trucks