Jeeps + Truck Beds = Truck Yeah

Jeep’s trucks have long been the object of affection for offroaders and truck enthusiasts alike. I’m not normally into trucks, but the concept of a Jeep truck peeks my interest. Perhaps much of it has to do with the idea of taking an all terrain 4x4 and giving it a bed instead of the usual concept adopted by Ford and others of putting 4x4s on truck chassis. Now, instead of being a work truck, this is very much a fun truck, or at least a whistle while you work truck. Soon, Jeep will have a new Wrangler based truck after years of truck conversion kits, they will finally give the public what they are asking for, a good old Jeep Truck! So, let’s look back at the storied history of Jeep trucks, and what makes each one special.

The Willys Jeep Truck

The first Jeep truck would come in 1947, fresh of World War 2. The war really helped establish Jeep’s place in the hearts of Americans and gave them a meteoric shoot up to being a full-fledged brand and not just one 4x4 sold to the military. Willy’s based the Jeep Truck after their Willys Jeep Wagon and the CJ-2 Jeep. Not only was it a traditional pickup, the Willy’s Jeep Truck could also be specced much like a Ford, Dodge, or Chevrolet full sized or heavy duty truck, as a chassis cab, stake truck, or bare chassis. Like any real Jeep, it had four-wheel drive standard. The main achilles heal of the Willy’s Jeep Truck was engine choices, as it didn’t even have a six cylinder option until 1954! And these four cylinders were no v-tec double boosted monsters either, they were naturally aspirated with the replacement Hurricane IOE increasing the horsepower from 63 to an eye-watering, jaw through the floor dropping 72 horsepowers. This is in a vehicle which weighed over 3,000 lbs., not heavy for a truck, but it’s more than other vehicles of a similar horsepower like the Volkswagen Beetle. It was not impressive back in the day, and it sure is not much horsepower today. However, the Willy’s Jeep does have style and so does its wagon counterpart. The Willy’s Jeep is a must have for serious classic 4x4 collectors, but it’s not what I prefer.

The Forward Control

Introduced in 1956, the Jeep Forward Control brought a focused small truck utility option into the Jeep lineup. The Forward Control featured a unique cab over design and offered a superior power to weight ratio to the Willy’s Jeep Truck, yet still not a speed demon. The Forward Control could be purchased for municipal, military, corporate, or civilian use due to its versatility. They could be everything from flatbeds to fire trucks to tow trucks to DUMP trucks. The car was designed by Brooks Stevens, an influential independent industrial designer, and graphic designer. He also designed the Jeep Wagoneer, the one, and only Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile, the Skytop Lounge train cars for the Milwaukee to Chicago railway, the Excalibur retro car for Studebaker, outboard motors and boats, Briggs and Stratton Engines and much more. The Forward Control is a cute, memorable design, and makes the work you do with the truck a little more bearable. If you like this truck, check out Jeep’s throwback Mighty FC concept car.

Jeep Jeepster Commando

Introduced in 1966 the Jeepster Commando is unlike the first two trucks in that it was a purely civilian truck. Instead of the bed being to aid in labor, it’s more to make your leisure more practical. The Jeepster is also a convertible, but it’s way more natural looking than the Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet. The Jeepster Commando competed with the Ford Bronco, international Scout, and Toyota Landcruiser. It could be specced as a pickup, convertible, roadster or wagon, reflecting it aims to sell strictly to the civilian market. The Jeepster Commando also started under the Kaiser corporation and was kept by AMC and given new engines until the Cherokee replaced it in 1973.

Jeep Gladiator

The Gladiator was introduced in 1962 as a body on frame pickup based on the Jeep Wagoneer platform. The Gladiator was released in 1962, the last year of Jeep under the Willy’s corporation, and stayed through the transition to the Kaiser corporation manicure. Even before the 1970 acquisition of Jeep by AMC, the Gladiator started using AMC engines in 1965, giving the Gladiator more power than previous Jeep trucks and the choice of a good old ‘Merican V8. A Buick V8 was also offered from 1968 to 1971. The Gladiator could serve civilians well but had lots of utility options such as chassis cab, wrecker, stake bed, camper, step side, and even extended wheelbase. In 1970, an AMC badge was added, the Wagoneer grille adorned the front and the Jeep Truck entered a new era under the American Motors Corporation.

Jeep Gladiator version 2: The "Jeep Truck"

A year after the acquisition by AMC, the Gladiator would see a makeover, and once Jeep’s full sized truck would become simply the “Jeep Truck” designated as the J2000 and J4000 until 1973. After that, AMC gave it’s Jeep Trucks the memorable model names of J10 and J20. What they lost in digits, AMC made up for by adding engine options and eventually a Dana 4x4 system in 1977. From 1974 to 1978, the Jeep Truck gained a 401 cubic inch (6.6L) V8 which had 225 hp and 320 lbs. ft. torque. Those numbers seem pedestrian nowadays, but for the 70s they were top class. It’s hard to say the new Jeep Truck was sluggish like the Willy’s original. When Chrysler bought Jeep in 1987, they, unfortunately, killed off this gallant haggard beast. It was a model ahead of its time in the early 70s but was stale by the late 80s. Chrysler also did not welcome competition with their line of Dodge trucks, so they simply put the good old Gladiator out to pasture and metaphorically took it out back and shot it in the back of the head like the ending to “Of Mice and Men” or “Old Yeller”, ending the Jeep Truck with the 1988 model year. All good things must come to an end…

Jeep Comanche

, but the young son of the Jeep Truck lived on in the Jeep Comanche. This Jeep truck was based on the Second generation Cherokee, in the same way, the Gladiator/Jeep Truck was based on the Jeep Wagoneer. The engines were less beastly, but the Comanche had less weight to deal with. Starting in 1985, this little Comanche set out to compete with the Toyota Trucks and Ford Rangers of the world. Someday I really want to own one of these trucks, as they are good for offroad modding, they are tough as nails, and appear easy on the eyes more than any other small truck. Unfortunately, the world just does not appreciate good things, and by 1990, Jeep-Eagle dealers were clamoring for Chrysler to let them sell the Dodge Dakota instead. Production ended in 1992 and this would be the last Jeep Truck for many years.

The Jeep Scrambler CJ-8

The Scrambler was Jeeps mini truck take on the CJ-7. Even though it’s not very much of a truck, and more of just a long wheelbase CJ with a bed, it does have prime 80s swagger. So much, in fact, that President Ronald Reagan had to have one. The best part about the Scrambler is it’s graphics and wood panels on the side. The Scrambler is the Jeep most similar to the one Chrysler-Jeep will soon release. It never sold quite as well as expected, selling 8,355 in 1981, and winding down to its final year in 1986, in which 128 models were sold as mere left overs.

Modified Wranglers

The Wrangler has never been offered as a pickup, even though it will be shortly, but companies have been selling conversion kits and pre-made conversions for years now. AEV’s kits have been by far the most popular and trusted under the manicure of “Brute” for these kits. They even have a “Brute Double Cab” based off of the Wrangler unlimited. While these trucks are not the best for work, the addition of a bed can come in handy for offroad adventure. It’s a shame for them that their gold mine may soon dry up with the new Wrangler Pickup.

Final Thoughts

I hope you come away with this as interested in Jeep trucks as I am. Jeep is not well known for their trucks, but looking back at their history they have had some good ones, especially with the J-series Jeep Truck and Jeep Commanche. As a person not really into trucks, I wouldn’t mind owning a Commanche, Jeep Truck, or Jeep Scrambler. I hope this opens peoples eyes to look into all kinds of unique vehicles that as a fan of jdm or muscle or hypercars or whatever, you should see if you like other kinds of cars. I had the blessing of never becoming close-minded, but trust me, it’s better to expand the horizons of your automotive interest, or at least try to. A nice car is a nice car, whether they have a roof a bed or a drop top, whether they are jacked or slammed or just stock, and whether they come from Asia, Europe, the Americas, or elsewhere. So just keep beep beeping and don’t give a jeeping truck what the haters think. #blogpost #jeeptruck #jeep