If you were in Jeep Management, what changes would you make to the Gladiator?

[Sweetums]

"I-6 makes more torque!"

What displacement? What timing? What bore? What stroke? Overhead cams or pushrods? Aluminum block or cast iron? Ported heads? What cam profile? Forced induction? How much timing advance? What fuel? What density altitude? What temperature?

There are way too many variables for a simple reductive statement to be universally true.

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[jpjeepster]

Factory trailer brake controller

 

[Cpt Adama]

Factory option for Dana 60’s

 

[GROGG]

So Stellantis announced some changes to a few positions in the Jeep Corporate offices. With that being said, some are saying there should be some changes made with the Gladiator. If you were the Director of Engineering and Design, what changes would you make. Or what do you think would make the Gladiator a better truck?

More adjustments in the seat.
Locking Hubs.
Curved Windshield.
Build a full size model like the J-10 and J-20 and the Cherokee.
Dressed up interiors like the Ford King Ranch.
Steel Bumpers as standard equipment.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I was in Jeep management, and I can only reiterate so many times, they don't care about any pie in the sky BS.

They don't care about anything but moving more units.

No V8's (they don't have one anyway), no long travel, no bigger sizes... All the changes coming are literally the opposite of everything people are posting here lol.

 

[sharpsicle]

I was in Jeep management, and I can only reiterate so many times, they don't care about any pie in the sky BS.

They don't care about anything but moving more units.

No V8's (they don't have one anyway), no long travel, no bigger sizes... All the changes coming are literally the opposite of everything people are posting here lol.

Yep. And it's because of a few things that often get overlooked in threads like this:

#1 - This forum is filled with enthusiasts who are usually on one side of the "customer base" spectrum. So saying "we're the customer base, give us what we want" is a bad representation. We're just a rather small fraction.

#2 - Economics of regulations, scale, manufacturability, and profitability all need to be there. It's easy to say "Do this!" but a lot of analysis needs to not only be done, but also be supported. And there's only so much customization that can be had before costs get out of control. This is why Toyota doesn't do custom orders anymore.

#3 - Alignment with the product line roadmap also needs to be maintained. You don't want to go making changes to a platform that don't align with the strategic vision for it, and then find out you're just wasting money on retooling all the time and your development costs are jacked up because you have to un-do what you just did.

And there's more....

 

[Greg_L]

"I-6 makes more torque!"

What displacement? What timing? What bore? What stroke? Overhead cams or pushrods? Aluminum block or cast iron? Ported heads? What cam profile? Forced induction? How much timing advance? What fuel? What density altitude? What temperature?

There are way too many variables for a simple reductive statement to be universally true.

YUP. I can actually come up with more cons than pros if we're talking inline's torque capabilities.

For example...one factor that is inarguably true is the fact that displacement has more to do with torque than anything else. So, something like a 1:1 ratio of lb/ft per Cu in is easy to achieve with a V. A Pontiac 455 cu in V8 makes 455 lb/ft of torque without even thinking about it. I use the Pontiac example because while a 455 is a huge engine, they're actually pretty poorly designed as far as horsepower goes. But that torque....a wheezy stock 455 makes its size in torque no sweat. In order to have an inline 8 cylinder of the same displacement and torque potential you'd have to have a huge engine bay, one huge cylinder head, similarly huge intake and exhaust manifolds, etc. And the worst part...one huge very long very heavy and very twisty crankshaft. The harmonics and oscillations and sheer twist imparted into a crankshaft that long will actually hurt torque. Just considering the moving parts, a V is a better design when you're getting into large displacements.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

People have a hard time removing their emotions from their statements I think.

People say a lot of things, talk is cheap.

"I'd buy a 2 door in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a 5.7 in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a Hellcat in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a Cummins R2.8 in a heartbeat"

And that's just specific to this, in every group, it's some dude going, what should I do, and five more people going, man I wish I was closer, I'd slap a Hellcat in that!

The reality is, the data is there, less than 10% of Wrangler orders are 2 doors. They're not selling the Wranglers with Hemis in them now. The diesel didn't sell well either. The focus groups think the Gladiator is slow, loud, poor on mileage, and hard to get in and out of.

You'd need to cast a net of 1000 people going, "I'd totally boy I tell you whut", to actually catch even 1 who would show up at a dealer for it.

 

[Greg_L]

Yep. And it's because of a few things that often get overlooked in threads like this:

#1 - This forum is filled with enthusiasts who are usually on one side of the "customer base" spectrum. So saying "we're the customer base, give us what we want" is a bad representation. We're just a rather small fraction.

THIS! ^^^^^^^

A bunch of crusty off-road enthusiasts that still long for the days of zip-up windows and zero electronic anything are not the target demographic for modern Jeeps.

 

[guntrust]

Offer 5.13 gearing and 37's with V6.

 

[BlackRuby23]

A hard top where the back window doesn’t leak.
A transmission dipstick.
Hood locks on all Gladiators

Yeah, this leaking rear window thing is complete bullshit. Mine was probably leaking from new but I never caught it until I kept wondering why my Jeep was transitioning from that new car smell to a wet sock smell. I kept looking for a food related item or something. Then, finally, I realized the carpet was soaked.

Jeep needs to refine what they currently do before embarking on grand plans to offer more/different options. How is a faulty window allowed into production for over 5 years, and how can they continue to use the same window as if there's nothing wrong? F*** you, Jeep, for this window thing alone.

 

[Redfour5]

So Stellantis announced some changes to a few positions in the Jeep Corporate offices. With that being said, some are saying there should be some changes made with the Gladiator. If you were the Director of Engineering and Design, what changes would you make. Or what do you think would make the Gladiator a better truck?

Let people order things like "Selec Trac" full time four wheel drive in lower trims. Maybe even things like lockers. But certainly limited slip and Selec Trac auto 4WD. These are safety items in many areas of the country. Even Ram is putting it as pretty much standard on trim levels like Bighorns 1500's.

 

[Reddog]

So Stellantis announced some changes to a few positions in the Jeep Corporate offices. With that being said, some are saying there should be some changes made with the Gladiator. If you were the Director of Engineering and Design, what changes would you make. Or what do you think would make the Gladiator a better truck?

I'd start by putting GM LS or LT engines in them. Lighter than Hemi's, better HP to weight ratio, easier to work on.

 

[Supazuk]

5 piece hard top (rear section lift off too) with a rear removable window

 

[Hootbro]

People have a hard time removing their emotions from their statements I think.

People say a lot of things, talk is cheap.

"I'd buy a 2 door in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a 5.7 in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a Hellcat in a heartbeat"

"I'd buy a Cummins R2.8 in a heartbeat"

And that's just specific to this, in every group, it's some dude going, what should I do, and five more people going, man I wish I was closer, I'd slap a Hellcat in that!

The reality is, the data is there, less than 10% of Wrangler orders are 2 doors. They're not selling the Wranglers with Hemis in them now. The diesel didn't sell well either. The focus groups think the Gladiator is slow, loud, poor on mileage, and hard to get in and out of.

You'd need to cast a net of 1000 people going, "I'd totally boy I tell you whut", to actually catch even 1 who would show up at a dealer for it.

Talk is cheap comment is right.

I have done more than a few group buy coordination on other forums over the years for things like patches, stickers, challenge coins and similar. In every case in the feeler threads created about people saying they are in for getting this or that, you could easily count on 50% of the blowhards to never cough up the money and fade into the background.

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