Gladiator vs. Commanche

[Ferg]

I think I would definitely have to go with the optional 23½ gallon fuel tank, though. I don't think a 16-gallon tank would get you very far!

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[WetWilly]

ahhh the good ol days. Loved my MJ

 

[seven30]

ahhh the good ol days. Loved my MJ

What a beauty! Unit body pickup. They we very light actually. In my opinion the best small truck ever made. Blows me away Chrysler phased it out for the dakota pickup. I really like my Gladiator but its no Comanche

 

[rymanrph]

I sold my Comanche (and waiting to sell my LJ) so that I can order a Gladiator (if Earl is ever available). Loved that truck, but having a back seat will be nice. I have no idea what the capacity was, but I hauled tons of mulch, pavers, etc. in it. It was a great little truck.

 

[19Comanche86]

I sold my Comanche (and waiting to sell my LJ) so that I can order a Gladiator (if Earl is ever available). Loved that truck, but having a back seat will be nice. I have no idea what the capacity was, but I hauled tons of mulch, pavers, etc. in it. It was a great little truck.

I watched you build this truck on Comanche Club. Glad to see you over here brother. Hope your doing well

 

[Rusty PW]

I always wanted a '91 - '92 short bed Comanche. But around here, they're all rust buckets.

 

[19Comanche86]

I love my Comanche. I will never sell it. It’s been at the paint shop for a long time, I’m missing it. Grandfather ordered it in 1985. I have everything from the window sticker, bill of sale and every single maintenance record on it. Would love to find another to DD.

This has been a 12 year long build finally coming together.

I will have some updated pics soon hopefully when she’s back from paint. Here’s a few with my old rubicon ???

 

[skiptheroad]

ahhh the good ol days. Loved my MJ

Classic Jeep styling. If Jeep still sold the Comanche today, I'd buy one for sure. For some reason the J6 reminds me of the Comanche, maybe is the 6 foot bed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I would it expect it would be around 3k lbs for a 90's mid size truck.

The car below is 3200-3300 depending on options and the wagon version, shorter than the Comanche, was 3300-3400.
The 4.0 as used in the Comanche was a very heavy engine. In fact it's close to the weight of the AMC V8 of that time. It was also a half-frame type truck, some frame, some unibody.

There's no way the Comanche I owned was the same weight or lighter than the car below -

 

[skiptheroad]

The car below is 3200-3300 depending on options and the wagon version, shorter than the Comanche, was 3300-3400.
The 4.0 as used in the Comanche was a very heavy engine. In fact it's close to the weight of the AMC V8 of that time. It was also a half-frame type truck, some frame, some unibody.

There's no way the Comanche I owned was the same weight or lighter than the car below -

Hmm, just for reference, my 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 6.0L regular cab 8 foot bed pickup has a curb weight of 5300 lbs. My 1995 Chevy S10 ZR2 regular cab with the 6 foot short bed has a curb weight of 3450 lbs. I don't see how the Comanche could weigh as much as a 3/4 ton full size pickup but I guess it could be possible.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Hmm, just for reference, my 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 6.0L regular cab 8 foot bed pickup has a curb weight of 5300 lbs. My 1995 Chevy S10 ZR2 regular cab with the 6 foot short bed has a curb weight of 3450 lbs. I don't see how the Comanche could weigh as much as a 3/4 ton full size pickup but I guess it could be possible.

Not likely to weigh a much as a 3/4 or full size, but since it has the same drivetrain as that car has, and actually heavier than the differentials under that car, plus the weight of a partial frame, I'm only suggesting it can't be lighter than that car.
I'm not saying it's 5,000 pounds, but can't see it being under 3500, either.
OTOH -
The Comanche people are saying it's only a bit over 3,000. How the heck did they make that truck hundreds of pounds LIGHTER but use heavier axles and the same drivetrain as that car?
My SX4 has a tiny, light Dana 30 up front - IFS, the differential hangs from the engine. The rear axle under it isn't exactly heavy or heavy duty.

Most of the specs are based on the 4 cyl base engine, a lot lighter than the 4.0
Payload is right up there, 1400 pounds.

I pulled full-size full tanks of anhydrous with mine and it wasn't even breaking a sweat.

 

[seven30]

I love my Comanche. I will never sell it. It’s been at the paint shop for a long time, I’m missing it. Grandfather ordered it in 1985. I have everything from the window sticker, bill of sale and every single maintenance record on it. Would love to find another to DD.

This has been a 12 year long build finally coming together.

I will have some updated pics soon hopefully when she’s back from paint. Here’s a few with my old rubicon ???

Nice to see an MJ getting the attention it deserves. May I ask where you got the rear fender flares from?

 

[seven30]

Not likely to weigh a much as a 3/4 or full size, but since it has the same drivetrain as that car has, and actually heavier than the differentials under that car, plus the weight of a partial frame, I'm only suggesting it can't be lighter than that car.
I'm not saying it's 5,000 pounds, but can't see it being under 3500, either.
OTOH -
The Comanche people are saying it's only a bit over 3,000. How the heck did they make that truck hundreds of pounds LIGHTER but use heavier axles and the same drivetrain as that car?
My SX4 has a tiny, light Dana 30 up front - IFS, the differential hangs from the engine. The rear axle under it isn't exactly heavy or heavy duty.

Most of the specs are based on the 4 cyl base engine, a lot lighter than the 4.0
Payload is right up there, 1400 pounds.

I pulled full-size full tanks of anhydrous with mine and it wasn't even breaking a sweat.

There is no frame in the MJ. One of the few trucks that has a unit body. I know its lighter than the XJ for the same year and XJ are pretty light.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There is no frame in the MJ. One of the few trucks that has a unit body. I know its lighter than the XJ for the same year and XJ are pretty light.

Front and cabin area were unibody, the box was removable and had a more traditional frame behind the cab. You could drive it with no box. Some put flatbeds on them.

 

[seven30]

Front and cabin area were unibody, the box was removable and had a more traditional frame behind the cab. You could drive it with no box. Some put flatbeds on them.

Ill have to disagree a bit as the picture looks nothing like a traditional truck chassis. The frame is an integrated part of the unibody and its both light. The traditional pickup ladder frame which, as you know, is designed to flex, is quite beefy to withstand the stress.
Grabbed this from an old thread on comancheclub.com

Found this spec:

Used 1990 Jeep Comanche Specs & Features

Dimensions
Curb weight	3,084 lbs.
Gross weight	4,850 lbs.
Height	63.7 in.
Length	179.2 in.

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