Gladiator as a purpose built work truck

[BourbonRunner]

"Brush" Fire Truck could be useful.
My volunteer fire department
high-centered a one-ton dually
fire truck on a tree stump,
abandoned it and lost it to the fire.
We have a lot of deep sand around here
specially during a drought
which has the greatest risk of wildfires.

That is exactly a use case I could see for a JT with a Kestrel body.

Back in the day they mostly used Wranglers as light brush trucks around here.

.

Sponsored

 

[Mad Mac]

Another purpose built version
would be to return to Jeep's roots
as a military vehicle.

Not everything has to be
an up armored Humvee.

In Reforger III in 1971 in West Germany
I drove an M151 MUTT.
Seems like it would still have a role.

Something along the lines
of the Hennessy Warhawk maybe.
Though I think I would rather have
a 50-caliber machine gun or minigun
mounted in the bed.

Men of a certain age may remember
Rat Patrol

 

[Mangey]

I seriously doubt that thing comes with the portable blue tooth speaker, so that's a deal breaker for me. Also, I'm retired, so anything calling itself a "work" truck gives me the heeby jeebys.

 

[biodiesel]

I loved our XJ

And overall, really liked it a lot.
It is what led us to the later ZJ and WJ.

The XJ and WJ are timeless in many ways. It would be neat if Jeep brought back a modern version of the XJ.

 

[Mad Mac]

Is it even possible to buy
a new Gladiator from the factory
without a bed?
With clearance lamps?

This would help incentivize
the purpose built industry
to make service trucks,
flat beds, ambulances, campers
and so forth for the Gladiator.

We bought our 2006 Chevy 2500HD
without a bed and had a 9-foot flatbed
made for it over 80 inches wide,
requiring clearance lamps on the cab.

Drilling into that new cab roof
to add the lamps was nerve wracking.

 

[biodiesel]

Is it even possible to buy
a new Gladiator from the factory
without a bed?

That's a good question. I know that Ford would ship the Ranger without a bed. The dealership had a hard time selling it without a bed, so they had one put on.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I've hauled fuel, parts, tires, to equipment miles off any maintained road with this thing.

No, it's not an oil patch, crane having, equipment service truck.

But it could certainly be useful where I'm from.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I've hauled fuel, parts, tires, to equipment miles off any maintained road with this thing.

No, it's not an oil patch, crane having, equipment service truck.

But it could certainly be useful where I'm from.

Going out on a limb here but I think you might have an emissions issue on your rust bucket.

But yes, you're right. You won't be swapping tires on a dump truck on site but the JT as a work truck has its place. I recall a few members here using JT's as remote service vehicles, specifically one sitting out near Imogene or Engineers on a tarp to prevent the critters from infesting it a while back while on station.

 

[biodiesel]

I've hauled fuel, parts, tires, to equipment miles off any maintained road with this thing.

No, it's not an oil patch, crane having, equipment service truck.

But it could certainly be useful where I'm from.

That's how Steve with Timber Grove Enterprises LLC got started. He had an oil company in Alaska reach out asking if he could build a custom air suspension for the Ram 1500. The oil company used the 1/2 ton because it was light enough to drive over ice, but the truck needed extra support to handle the service body filled with parts. Steve's first project turned into this business: Air Suspensions, Air Compressors, Air Springs for Trucks in Jim Falls WI | Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

 

[Mad Mac]

I put Gabriel HiJacker adjustable air shocks
to replace the rear factory shock absorbers
on my '95 Nissan Hardbody pickup
so it would ride level with a 600 pound
Yamaha V-Max and gear in the bed.

Ended up helping my son
with a home remodel.
Carried a load of tear out and
old brick siding to the dump.
Weighed going in and out.
The little pickup had hauled 1500 pounds.

 

[DirkG]

Going out on a limb here but I think you might have an emissions issue on your rust bucket.

I thought that was the Smoke Monster from LOST.

 

[Rahkmalla]

After diving deeper, they state 1700 pounds which I find hard to believe!

Aren't upfitters within their rights to recertify?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Mechanical diesels tend to smoke from time to time.

Not much in the way of emissions on a diesel in 86.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

Aren't upfitters within their rights to recertify?

Absolutely but it is exactly the same rating as a Max Tow which seams a little suspect. Just curious what that box weighs minus the back doors of the original buildup.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Spotted this the other day at the Big Orange Box Store so maybe there are some "work" versions...

Sponsored