Fully Enclosed Gladiator

[tommytrax]

Great idea to recreate the Landcruiser Troopy. I would love that, a pop top would be a cool bonus too. Reminds me of the Jeep Africa concept from a couple years ago. I have no solutions for tying the bed to the cab but your idea of welding it seems reasonable. I imagine any body on frame SUV has to overcome that flex too. The Troopy itself, what did Toyota do differently on that vs the trucks builds on the same frame?

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[enrico_pallazzo]

Any problems after you removed the bulkhead from your Scambler? Yeah, I'd settle for either a D110 or a Landcruiser Troopy if they were realistically in the marketplace. However, the money and/or the hassle of acquisition is prohibitive. I don't even know if they make a Troopy that is left-hand drive. I drove a Troopy for a month in New Zealand and loved it. The Gladiator is actually longer than both of these, which for me, is a plus.

No problems at all. The Scrambler bulkhead is actually just sheet metal bolted to the body, it’s not like a truck bed. Very easy to remove with negligible effects on flex (mostly because the whole vehicle is just sheet metal on a frame).

 

[Krag]

Updated with link to build thread:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...oneer-spartan-build-7-seater-gladiator.29340/

In the TFL video below, they interview a guy who turned his Gladiator into a 7-seat SUV by enclosing the whole thing. Its pretty cool how he did it all. However, he left the bulk head in place, so his kids have to crawl over the bulk head to get to the third row of seating in the way-back. I also want to fully enclose the Gladiator, but I want to cut out the bulk head between the cab and the bed, remove the back seats, and have a 7-foot bed. I understand that sounds a little crazy, but I have my reasons. The end product would be similar to the Toyota Landcruiser Troopy - but longer (the Troopy is not available in North America). I know that the cab and the bed in a pickup truck are designed to articulate independently, but the guy in the video said they only got 1/8 of an inch of disarticulation, so there is not a lot of independent movement between the cab and the bed in a Gladiator. The guy in the video welded a roll cage into the back (to protect his kids), and welded that rear roll cage to the existing one in the front to create greater torsional rigidity and reduce the independent movement between the front and rear of the truck. Would it be possible to weld the bed to the cab after removing the bulk head, and reinforce it somehow, or would the movement of the rear end rip apart the weld?

Is this a totally absurd idea? Has anyone ever tried to do this? Does it make more sense to look for an SUV and do a solid front axle swap? Most of the SUVs that are as long as the Gladiator (I want a 7-foot long flat space behind the front seats) are much wider, and will not fit as well on Colorado trails. As far as I know, there hasn't been an SUV sold in America with a solid front axle since the 1991 Chevy Suburban. The Gladiator is perfect for my intended use, except that 5-foot bed.

Thanks for any advice, and no, I am not sniffing glue right now

https://tfloffroad.com/2021/04/video-this-7-seater-jeep-gladiator-is-the-ultimate-off-road-minivan/

Stick Shifter,

The build was a lot of work, but 100% worth it, and the original target was to cut out the rear bulk head, but there are a few issues that made me decide I would leave it in mine. If you go that rout, here is what I decided would need to be done:

1. There are a lot of electronic harnesses on that back wall that would need to be moved to a water save place after you cut the wall out.
2. The middle row is latched to the back wall, if you remove the wall I would recommend switching out the middle row for the back row of the JLU, I decided that was my main reason NOT to cut the wall out. Being a kid of the 90's I climbed over the middle seat plenty of times in our suburban, and decided my kids can do the same while they are small. This is a weekend vehicle, not a daily, so the kids can ride in the Van on a daily basis for ease.
3. The side walls of the bed will need some strengthening once they are not connected across the bed. This could be done with an over the top roll bar connection, and would be fairly easy.
4. For the Extending of the bed... I am not sure what to do there. The 5ft bed allows a lot of space for gear but I have not tried to do a road trip with the fam yet. I think there are enough straight lines on the bed that a body shop could extend it. Stradman extended his on teh 6x6 build and it looks good. The shop is local here in SLC and I could get you a connection if you are interested. I did run a JKU with a 3rd row for a few years, and it was really tight and not any luggage room. The Gladiator is a lot better.
5. The added internal cage really stiffened up the ride and I think did help a lot with body flex, and would recommend it on your build as well. I went with the top cage from a JLU to keep a stock look, but to save a lot of $$ a standard tube cage would have done the job.

Over all the Gladiator has been my favorite Jeep I have had, Drives on road amazing, and climbs everything, departure angle is not great though. I would not want a Grand Wagoneer, and after looking at them in person, I would go with an Ford Expedition and a lift if it, I were to buy a unibody off road family vehicle. But the Gladiator still will go a lot more places that the unibody SUV's ever will. So having a big Jeep with solid axels, or an SUV with a lift is the real question, Which is more important for how you will use it.

 

[WhatExit?]

Stick Shifter,

The build was a lot of work, but 100% worth it, and the original target was to cut out the rear bulk head, but there are a few issues that made me decide I would leave it in mine. If you go that rout, here is what I decided would need to be done:

1. There are a lot of electronic harnesses on that back wall that would need to be moved to a water save place after you cut the wall out.
2. The middle row is latched to the back wall, if you remove the wall I would recommend switching out the middle row for the back row of the JLU, I decided that was my main reason NOT to cut the wall out. Being a kid of the 90's I climbed over the middle seat plenty of times in our suburban, and decided my kids can do the same while they are small. This is a weekend vehicle, not a daily, so the kids can ride in the Van on a daily basis for ease.
3. The side walls of the bed will need some strengthening once they are not connected across the bed. This could be done with an over the top roll bar connection, and would be fairly easy.
4. For the Extending of the bed... I am not sure what to do there. The 5ft bed allows a lot of space for gear but I have not tried to do a road trip with the fam yet. I think there are enough straight lines on the bed that a body shop could extend it. Stradman extended his on teh 6x6 build and it looks good. The shop is local here in SLC and I could get you a connection if you are interested. I did run a JKU with a 3rd row for a few years, and it was really tight and not any luggage room. The Gladiator is a lot better.
5. The added internal cage really stiffened up the ride and I think did help a lot with body flex, and would recommend it on your build as well. I went with the top cage from a JLU to keep a stock look, but to save a lot of $$ a standard tube cage would have done the job.

Over all the Gladiator has been my favorite Jeep I have had, Drives on road amazing, and climbs everything, departure angle is not great though. I would not want a Grand Wagoneer, and after looking at them in person, I would go with an Ford Expedition and a lift if it, I were to buy a unibody off road family vehicle. But the Gladiator still will go a lot more places that the unibody SUV's ever will. So having a big Jeep with solid axels, or an SUV with a lift is the real question, Which is more important for how you will use it.

Wow. Good for you that you did that. It's people like you who push the envelope and ensure that not all Jeeps/vehicles look the same.

 

[stickshifter]

Stick Shifter,

The build was a lot of work, but 100% worth it, and the original target was to cut out the rear bulk head, but there are a few issues that made me decide I would leave it in mine. If you go that rout, here is what I decided would need to be done:

1. There are a lot of electronic harnesses on that back wall that would need to be moved to a water save place after you cut the wall out.
2. The middle row is latched to the back wall, if you remove the wall I would recommend switching out the middle row for the back row of the JLU, I decided that was my main reason NOT to cut the wall out. Being a kid of the 90's I climbed over the middle seat plenty of times in our suburban, and decided my kids can do the same while they are small. This is a weekend vehicle, not a daily, so the kids can ride in the Van on a daily basis for ease.
3. The side walls of the bed will need some strengthening once they are not connected across the bed. This could be done with an over the top roll bar connection, and would be fairly easy.
4. For the Extending of the bed... I am not sure what to do there. The 5ft bed allows a lot of space for gear but I have not tried to do a road trip with the fam yet. I think there are enough straight lines on the bed that a body shop could extend it. Stradman extended his on teh 6x6 build and it looks good. The shop is local here in SLC and I could get you a connection if you are interested. I did run a JKU with a 3rd row for a few years, and it was really tight and not any luggage room. The Gladiator is a lot better.
5. The added internal cage really stiffened up the ride and I think did help a lot with body flex, and would recommend it on your build as well. I went with the top cage from a JLU to keep a stock look, but to save a lot of $$ a standard tube cage would have done the job.

Over all the Gladiator has been my favorite Jeep I have had, Drives on road amazing, and climbs everything, departure angle is not great though. I would not want a Grand Wagoneer, and after looking at them in person, I would go with an Ford Expedition and a lift if it, I were to buy a unibody off road family vehicle. But the Gladiator still will go a lot more places that the unibody SUV's ever will. So having a big Jeep with solid axels, or an SUV with a lift is the real question, Which is more important for how you will use it.

Thanks for your reply, and for your helpful advice!

I think the work you did on your rig is pretty amazing.

Just to be clear - I have no intention of extending the bed to the rear- i.e. making the Gladiator longer. The goals are to (1) fully enclose the Gladiator, (2) take out the bulkhead, and (3) remove the second row of seating. The end product would be a 2-seater, with approximately 7.5 feet of enclosed flat space behind the two front seats (that's the existing 5-foot bed, plus the space that is occupied by the stock second row of seating). I think I'm going to find that its not worth the money (at least for me) to make these modifications, but I'm going to keep working the problem until I make that final call.

The closest comparison is the 78-Series Landcruiser Troop Carrier or "Troopy" (pictured below), which is not for sale in North America. The Troopy is a fully enclosed SUV; the base model comes with just two front seats, and about 6 feet of flat space behind the front seats. Its similar to the Gladiator in some ways: similar width (little narrower), solid axles, front & rear lockers, manual transmission & transfer case. Its different in some ways: its shorter, its a two-door, the rear is on leaf springs - so it rides rougher, but the payload is 2,000 pounds! I think the only engine available is a 4.5 liter V8 diesel.

Thanks again to everyone who responded!

 

[stickshifter]

Owning a JKU with a third row, its great for dogs, acceptable for kids and useless for anyone else. There is no real leg room or foot space.

To the OP, making the gladiator into a baby suburban/excursion feels like a fools errand. If I had the mandate to build a functional 8 seater I would start with a gladiator and find a JLU with a trashed nose. Off goes the gladiator bed and tub bulkhead, graft on the JLU tub rear. Idealy find a second JL with rear damage and you could make a 7 door 8 seater with 6 full sized doors. But that's a long and expensive road to fit more butts.

Thanks for your reply and advice. Like I said in my original post, I'm not trying to add seats, I'm actually removing seats (the second row of seating). But I understand that this distinction doesn't actually change the point you are making, which is that its going to be a lot of work and money. Thanks again!

 

[stickshifter]

Great idea to recreate the Landcruiser Troopy. I would love that, a pop top would be a cool bonus too. Reminds me of the Jeep Africa concept from a couple years ago. I have no solutions for tying the bed to the cab but your idea of welding it seems reasonable. I imagine any body on frame SUV has to overcome that flex too. The Troopy itself, what did Toyota do differently on that vs the trucks builds on the same frame?

Yeah, I really liked the Africa too! It’s my understanding that truck beds are not connected to cabs so that weight in the bed doesn’t adversely impact how the front end tracks. There’s no structural difference in frame or suspension between a 78 series Troopy and the 78 series land cruiser truck, but the truck should carry payload better (all other things being equal). But the Troopy has leaf springs in the rear, so it carries a lot of weight for its size (2,000 pounds).

 

[mog]

With all the 'Africa' talk, here are some photos so readers don't have to hunt for them (yup, I'm a fan also, hence the readily accessible photos)

 

[Rocksalt]

doesnt make sense to me

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

doesnt make sense to me

The Africa? I think it makes perfect sense, about a foot longer behind the axle with an integrated roof and rack. The door provides a huge unobstructed access without the choke of the traditional JK. The one piece hatch is better suited to keeping the out out and the in in if you follow.

The OP wants to basically put a cap on a JT and merge the cabin space and bed space to maximize internal volume. Rather like the Africa.

Having watched a lot of lockdown wheeling, I could see the rear doors forming cross deck storage, long things like tools or poles, perhaps a bank of deep cycles for your onboard 12v needs with the rear being accessed from the side doors or the rear hatch. The new trend seems to be replacing side glass with bin boxes which is funny because I love a U-body with road boxes but dont like the whole quarter window storage.

So which part don't you grok?

 

[FLUndertaker]

I’m cool with what the OP wants to do if it fits his needs. Personally I love the “bobbed” gladiators with the excess bed length lopped off. If I could get a 2 door JT with a bobbed bed but the same wheel base so I still had roughly the same bed length only all of it forward of the rear axle I would be happier than a pig in $hit!

 

[stickshifter]

With all the 'Africa' talk, here are some photos so readers don't have to hunt for them (yup, I'm a fan also, hence the readily accessible photos)

I’d buy an Africa in a heartbeat. It’s not exactly what I want, but it would be the closest thing available. Funny thing is, it was pitched as a “concept” when it’s just a contemporary Jeep version of a Defender 110, a 78 series Land Cruiser, a 1980s Montero, etc. I know it’s a concept for Jeep, and it’s a modern take (coil springs, modern shocks, some tech) on an old classic, but the basic concept has been around for a long time. In any case, Jeep did a great job with this - be great if it were in production. I think they’d sell like crazy. I see too many JKs (and JLs) driving off road with tons of stuff on the roof. The extra room in the Africa would be good for a lot of folk.

 

[mog]

I’m cool with what the OP wants to do if it fits his needs. Personally I love the “bobbed” gladiators with the excess bed length lopped off. If I could get a 2 door JT with a bobbed bed but the same wheel base so I still had roughly the same bed length only all of it forward of the rear axle I would be happier than a pig in $hit!

Like this?

“bobbed” gladiators with the excess bed length lopped off

2 door JT with a bobbed bed but the same wheel base so I still had roughly the same bed length only all of it forward of the rear axle

 

[mog]

I’d buy an Africa in a heartbeat. It’s not exactly what I want, but it would be the closest thing available. Funny thing is, it was pitched as a “concept” when it’s just a contemporary Jeep version of a Defender 110, a 78 series Land Cruiser, a 1980s Montero, etc. I know it’s a concept for Jeep, and it’s a modern take (coil springs, modern shocks, some tech) on an old classic, but the basic concept has been around for a long time. In any case, Jeep did a great job with this - be great if it were in production. I think they’d sell like crazy. I see too many JKs (and JLs) driving off road with tons of stuff on the roof. The extra room in the Africa would be good for a lot of folk.

Remember the 'resistance' Jeep got when it added a '4 door', as in that will never sell. Now it is their best-selling Jeep. So maybe a 'Jeep 110', 'Jeep Trooper' should be in the cards, now that we got our Jeep Truck.

 

[FLUndertaker]

Like this?

“bobbed” gladiators with the excess bed length lopped off

2 door JT with a bobbed bed but the same wheel base so I still had roughly the same bed length only all of it forward of the rear axle

Move the rear axle a foot forward on the bottom pic so it’s roughly in the same location as the bobbed one in the first pic.

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