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Does anyone wish the wrangler platform would shrink...

AmosMoses

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Back down to TJ size besides me? I love the jk/jl and jt but I think the wrangler would benefit from getting back down to its roots especially with the notion that power plants will decrease in displacement as well as go hybrid and all electric. Reduce weight and footprint and get better milage. Pretty easy concept.

Trucks and suvs just seem to get bigger and bigger. I would love a 2 door gladiator with the same dimensions as a 2 door TJ brute truck or even an extended cab. Shorter, narrower and less weight. Everytime I see a new truck it just looks like dick measuring contest from the manufacturer. Who can have the biggest grill, widest stance, pretty chrome and flashy stickers. Is there no end to this madness?

It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority.
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Back down to TJ size besides me? I love the jk/jl and jt but I think the wrangler would benefit from getting back down to its roots especially with the notion that power plants will decrease in displacement as well as go hybrid and all electric. Reduce weight and footprint and get better milage. Pretty easy concept.

Trucks and suvs just seem to get bigger and bigger. I would love a 2 door gladiator with the same dimensions as a 2 door TJ brute truck or even an extended cab. Shorter, narrower and less weight. Everytime I see a new truck it just looks like dick measuring contest from the manufacturer. Who can have the biggest grill, widest stance, pretty chrome and flashy stickers. Is there no end to this madness?

It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority.
I loved my TJ.
 

TomH

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I feel the same way. I loved the old mini trucks of the 70's and 80's. Even the "little" Ford Maverick is big. I've owned an 80 Toyota, several TJ's, a Samurai and a 45 MB. All of those were small and fun.
 

DocGladiator

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I loved my TJ too! Would love to get another one some day…

But I have a family of 5 now and the extra space of my Gladiator makes it a realistic family vehicle for me.

I definitely don’t like that vehicles continue to get bigger and heavier, yet here I am with a Gladiator…
 
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AmosMoses

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I feel the same way. I loved the old mini trucks of the 70's and 80's. Even the "little" Ford Maverick is big. I've owned an 80 Toyota, several TJ's, a Samurai and a 45 MB. All of those were small and fun.
Yep, I had a geo tracker that I made spring spacers for and put 31" tires on. I once drove it through a creek deep enough to barely cover the headlights. It was a fun little 4x4. Suzuki makes the jimny but it isn't imported here. It looks like a fun little suv.
 

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AmosMoses

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I loved my TJ too! Would love to get another one some day…

But I have a family of 5 now and the extra space of my Gladiator makes it a realistic family vehicle for me.

I definitely don’t like that vehicles continue to get bigger and heavier, yet here I am with a Gladiator…
I think that is why they've gotten so popular since the jk entered the market with the jlu and so on. More interior space, better ergonomics and ride quality etc. Jeep would definitely lose buyers by going back down a size like the tj was.
 
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AmosMoses

AmosMoses

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Side by sides have now moved into the small suv market you dream of.
I know it's ridiculous. I saw one in suburbia a couple months ago. Sounded like it was going 100 mph just to keep up in 45 mph traffic.
 

Old Young Man

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I had a 84 Ranger 4x. I think it was my favorite truck of many, despite the mechanical troubles I dealt with.
the 2.8 v6 was better then the 2.9, but the manual trans was a problem. Nice bed length. Great in the woods, good on gas. Hate 4 door pickups, but the Gladiator is a compromise since we are down to one vehicle.
 

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Back down to TJ size besides me? I love the jk/jl and jt but I think the wrangler would benefit from getting back down to its roots especially with the notion that power plants will decrease in displacement as well as go hybrid and all electric. Reduce weight and footprint and get better milage. Pretty easy concept.

Trucks and suvs just seem to get bigger and bigger. I would love a 2 door gladiator with the same dimensions as a 2 door TJ brute truck or even an extended cab. Shorter, narrower and less weight. Everytime I see a new truck it just looks like dick measuring contest from the manufacturer. Who can have the biggest grill, widest stance, pretty chrome and flashy stickers. Is there no end to this madness?

It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority.
If I recall - the never ending incremental size increase that is especially prevalent in trucks and SUV's is somewhat driven by CAFE standards. You can get away with slightly worse numbers because the physical foot print of the vehicle is increasing.

That's why mid-size trucks you see these days are nearing the size of full size trucks from the 90's, and full size trucks are practically a new league.

At any rate - I personally wouldn't want the Wrangler/Gladiator to be any smaller than it is. But, I specifically moved up to a Gladiator because I wanted the largest 'real Jeep' that was sold. I was sick to death of driving a cramped vehicle with no space for gear or passengers (my previous 2 door JK).
 

ScottBeach

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Just wont work. Fuel reg is based on footprint. Larger not smaller is the only solution. Now cj5 sized with eletric motor would be amazing
 

Jeepasaurus_Rex

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I first started off-roading in a suzuki samurai. I love that thing. It would go almost anywhere. Granted, i've gone way further and cooler places now with Jeeps. But still... that thing was a blast.

Plus, I never knew when it was going to die on me out in the mountains, so there was a good amount of fun in that, too. I see some every now and then, and I get really excited when I do.

My hometown has a lot of lifted samurai, geo trackers, and xj's. Heck even lifted kia and hyundai's. Pretty cool.

I'd love for Jeep to go back, but I know they never will. They aim to please the majority, not the minority. Plus the United States is largely obese (I think we are in the top 10)... so vehicles getting bigger makes sense. ;)
 
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AmosMoses

AmosMoses

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Unbelievable, except it isn't.

Abandon all hope
 

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Side by sides have now moved into the small suv market you dream of.
Haha, yep. I'm as likely to look at a SxS to replace my '05 LJ as getting a JL.
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