Jeep Gladiator (SJ)

The Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Pickup or J-series is a series of full-size pickup trucks based on the large Jeep SJ (Wagoneer) platform, which was built and sold under numerous marques from 1962 to 1988. The Jeep Gladiator/Pickup design is noteworthy for remaining in production for more than 26 years on a single automobile platform generation. The Gladiator was the basis of the first post-war U.S. Army trucks designed to be civilian vehicles and adapted to military use. Numerous versions of the Jeep pickup were built in other markets, including Mexico by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) and Argentina by Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA).

The Gladiator nameplate was revived on a midsize pickup truck based on the fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler (JL). It was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018.

Gladiator 1962–1971

Introduced in 1962 for the 1963 model year, the Gladiator was a conventional body on frame pickup design that shared its basic frame architecture and front end with the Jeep Wagoneer four-wheel-drive station wagon.

Gladiators were available in RWD and 4WD, with optional dual rear wheels. A remarkable innovation was the available independent front suspension (IFS) instead of a solid front axle on the 4WD half-ton Gladiator trucks. It was a simple IFS design with a Dana 44 center section, that proved troublesome, did not sell well, and the option was deleted in 1965. Most likely very few were produced with this option.

Gladiator trucks were available as: Cab and Chassis; Wrecker; Stake Bed; and chassis-mounted campers with extended wheelbases. The load bed options were Townside, Thriftside (a conventional bed, similar to a Ford "Flareside" or Chevrolet "Stepside"), and Stake Bed, with up to G.V.W. and almost two-ton payload capacity.

A new overhead cam Jeep Tornado engine straight-six producing was standard. It was the first production overhead cam engine in an American light truck or SUV and one of the first OHC engines offered by an American manufacturer.

Further innovations for four-wheel-drive pickups included optional automatic transmission (an industry first), as well as power brakes, power steering, and just like early post-war Jeeps a power take-off for numerous accessories that included snow plows and push plates.

In early 1963, Willys Motors changed its name to Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

During 1965 the AMC V8 engine became available. It produced and of torque at 2600 rpm. The standard Tornado engine was replaced by American Motors' OHV inline six.

In 1967 all (RWD) two-wheel drive versions, except for the J-100 panel delivery, were dropped due to poor sales.

For 1968, the flared-fender Thriftside models were dropped while a new camper option was added for the J-3600. From 1968 to 1971 Jeep pickups offered the Buick Dauntless V8 as an optional engine.

American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased the Kaiser Jeep operations in 1970 when Kaiser Industries decided to leave the automobile business. The Jeep trucks moved to all AMC engines to improve performance and standardize production and servicing. The Buick engine was replaced by the or AMC V8s.

In 1970, the Gladiator's front grille was changed to the same design as the Jeep Wagoneer SUV. This was the truck's first styling change since its introduction. An AMC badge was also added on the grille.

Jeep pickup 1971–1988

The Gladiator name was dropped after 1971, after which the line was known simply as the Jeep pickup, or J-series. The pickups were designated as J2000 and J4000 models (the 3000 series was dropped in 1971) until 1973, then as J10 and J20 models from 1974 to 1988.

From 1971 to 1972 Jeep pickups offered the AMC V8 as an optional engine.

The AMC I6 engine was introduced in 1972 and offered through 1988. The engine produced and of torque.

The AMC 360 cu in (5.9L) was offered in 1971 and through 1988. Producing in early versions and of torque. Later 360s produced and of torque.

The model designations were simplified for 1974, with the J-2000 and the J-4000, which designate wheelbase, being swapped out for the J-10 and J-20, designating payload capacity. Larger brakes were made standard and the turning radius reduced. The Quadra-Trac system was now available with all engines.

The AMC was offered from 1974 through 1978. These engines are known for their toughness and excellent power output. The 401 produced and of torque.

For 1977, Jeep J-10 pickups included Dana's manual four-wheel-drive system, a more powerful six-cylinder engine, and heavier axle tubes, while power front disc brakes became standard equipment and the considerably greater GWV capacity J-20s included AMC's V8 engine. The engine was optional, as well as full-time Quadra-Trac and both automatic and manual transmissions.

1983 saw the new full-time four-wheel drive system, Selec-Trac, replace Quadra-Trac.

From 1981 to 1985 a rebodied version of the J-10 was built and sold as the Jeep CJ-10, featuring a CJ-like nose and cab, as well as a very boxy redesigned rear truck-bed, somewhat resembling that of a Land-Rover.

Chrysler bought out AMC in 1987. The full-size Jeep Pickup line was not only an aging model, but also competed directly with the broader range of Dodge trucks. Chrysler discontinued the full-size Jeep trucks, but continued to build the luxurious and highly profitable Grand Wagoneer, which shared the chassis with the large pickups.

After the Chrysler buyout, the compact Jeep Comanche pickup (based on the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) platform) received only minor changes and its production continued until 1992.

Military versions

Military versions of the civilian Jeep pickup included the M715 and M725, built from 1967 to 1969. They were built under contract for nations in addition to the United States. The idea was to reduce costs by starting from a civilian truck and sharing parts with normal production-line truck, like the later "Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle" (CUCV) for the military as a ton tactical vehicle.

The Swedish Air Force acquired 450 Gladiator vehicles in the early 1980s. They were given the local designations ''Klargöringsbil 9711'' and ''Klargöringsbil 9712'', with the latter variant being equipped with a hard cargo bed top. The vehicles were modified to be used by aircraft groundcrew for mobile flight line operations in the Swedish Bas 90 system, and could carry trailers with equipment and tow aircraft. It is often informally referred to as "The Dallas Jeep".

The Lebanese Armed Forces acquired a number of both the M715 and Gladiator SJ versions in the early 1970s, which saw extensive use during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). Many of these vehicles fell into the hands of the various competing Lebanese militias, who either used them for logistical and transport operations or modified them to be used as technicals, fitted with heavy machine guns or anti-aircraft autocannons.

File:Jeep M725, military ambulance.jpg, U.S. military M725 ambulance
File:Klargöringsbil 9711 med amsläpkärra.jpg, ''Klargöringsbil 9711'' of the Swedish Air Force

Trim packages

From 1975, Jeep tried making their pickups more "car-like" and appealing to consumers, starting with the Pioneer package, featuring a fancier interior, woodgrain interior and exterior trim, chromed front bumpers, window moldings, and wheel covers, dual horns, and other “car” features.

From 1976 to 1983 the "Honcho" trim package was offered on the J10 pickup. It consisted of bold striping and decals, and was offered with factory extras such as the Levi's interior or a roll bar. The content of the Honcho package varied from year to year, but "always included the wide-track look of the Cherokee Chief."

The Honcho was one in a series of special decal packages offered for J-Series trucks in the mid to late 1970s, which included the 1977–1979 Golden Eagle and the 1978 "10-4" version which offered an optional Citizens' Band radio along with the decals. The Honcho package was only available on the sportside (stepside) and short bed trucks. Between 1974 and 1983, only 1,264 Honcho package trucks were produced.

Decal packages were available for many of Jeep's vehicles in the 1970s, including a package for the Jeep Cherokee called the Cherokee Chief. The Golden Eagle package was also available for both the CJ and the Cherokee.

The 1980 (1981 model year) Laredo package was perhaps the most luxurious one, including leather bucket seats, and leather-wrapped steering wheel, chrome interior trim, and a state-of-the-art Alpine sound system.

Jeep truck concepts

Jeep has shown numerous concept pickup trucks, and officials at the automaker have "expressed interest in putting such a vehicle into production."

2003 small pickup truck

A production-ready version of a Jeep Scrambler pickup was shown in 2003 at the North American Dealers Association, but was pulled after a few hours. According to ''Motor Trend'', there might be a "production Jeep pickup truck in the works".

2005 Jeep Gladiator

In late-2004 a new Jeep Gladiator concept was introduced. While not officially intended to be sold, it was used as a demonstration "that a Jeep pickup was in the dark recesses of DaimlerChrysler's brain trust".

The Gladiator concept features an open-air canvas roof, fold-down windshield, removable doors, and has an expandable truck bed. The Gladiator has a 2.8-liter, 4-cylinder common-rail turbo diesel engine that provides and of torque. The truck has a 6-speed manual transmission. Ground clearance is , with a break-over angle of 23.2°, an approach angle of 47.6° and departure angle of 38.0°. Front and rear tires are and are mounted on 18x8-inch wheels. The Jeep Gladiator has a payload.

A "midgate" made the concept Gladiator truck closer to an imitation of the Chevrolet Avalanche, "than an attempt to revive its namesake's glory."

The 2005 Gladiator Concept was also a preview of the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler (JK) and Jeep Wrangler (JK) Unlimited, and featured nearly identical exterior and interior styling to the production model of the 2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler (JK).

2012 Jeep J12

In March, Jeep announced a revealing of a new concept at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The J-12 is based on a modified Wrangler Unlimited chassis with a frame extension allowing the use of a load bed. The styling resembles the classic 1960s-era Jeep Gladiator truck and features "old-school" 16-inch smooth steel wheels with 36-inch tires, as well as a full bench seat in the cab.

2016 Jeep Crew Chief 715

At the 2016 Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, Jeep revealed seven new concepts including a Crew Chief 715 pickup with four-doors and a 5-foot cargo bed. The design was inspired by the Kaiser Jeep M715 military vehicle from the late 1960s that was based on the regular civilian production Jeep Gladiator pickup. The Jeep Crew Chief concept rides on 20-inch beadlock wheels, and 40-inch military tires, but is mostly based on a Wrangler Unlimited stretched to a wheelbase.

See also

*Weapons of the Lebanese Civil War
*Jeep Comanche pickup

Notes

External links

Wagoneers.com Full Size Jeeps since 1995

International Full Size Jeep Association

JeepTruck.com for Jeep Truck enthusiasts
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