2015er
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Jim
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2018
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 238
- Reaction score
- 109
- Location
- Glenville, NY
- Vehicle(s)
- 2015 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4
I agree - engineering changes to accommodate a smaller cab and longer bed is no easy undertaking. The question becomes is it worth it to do so. I obviously contend that it would be as evidenced by all the other manufacturers and the varied formats offered with their mid-size trucks. I think Jeep has taken a very pragmatic approach towards designing and launching the Gladiator. That's why the offering of only one single format. And once again, good for the people who want this truck in this format - I genuinely am happy for them and I am excited that their need is met. I hope that Jeep continues to monitor the market and can move to offer additional formats that expand the appeal of the Gladiator.Someone needs to poi t out that the whole, "they put a JLU body on the Gladiator frame" is incorrect. They did not in fact put the JLU body on the Gladiator fre, they put what amounts to a modified JLU body on the Gladiator frame. The Gladiator cab is a chopped version of the JLU body. The fact people keep saying it is that simple is ridiculous. At least be accurate when minimizing the ount of work that goes into designing a new vehicle.
That being said, putting a JL body on the Gladiator frame would get an extended cab without too much modification but you would end up with a truck that you have to climb in behind the front seat to get in the back. If you wanted half doors then there is a new cab development required for that and then they need a supplier to build their longer boxes and extended cabs.
As for the straight 2 door idea, that adds both a new supplier or having suppliers develop new lines to produce the Gladiator reg-cab and the Gladiator long box.
I think it would be great if they offered those setups though I have no interest in owning one myself. The problem becomes the added cost for FCA to add additional assembly lines to take on the new models, the cost for the suppliers to put together new assembly lines for the different boxes and cabs and if we want a reg cab Short box then a new frame and complete redevelopment of the entire vehicle, minus the doors forward basically.
It would be awesome to see these made but please, stop trying to minimize the amount of work that goes into designing and developing these. It's not as simple as slap a different body on and weld some more metal to that box.
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