JAY
Staff member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2015
- Threads
- 487
- Messages
- 972
- Reaction score
- 2,727
- Location
- Jeep Gladiator Forum
- Vehicle(s)
- JT
- Build Thread
- Link
- Occupation
- Admin
- Thread starter
- #1
We just caught our most detailed look yet underneath the bed of the upcoming 2019 Jeep Gladiator (JT) pickup truck while the prototype was leaving a Detroit gas station. The DEF tank gives this away as the 3.0L Diesel model and we're pleased to report this truck mixes a bit of Wrangler and Ram 1500 DNA to make it a true and proper pick up truck!
Rear Suspension Heavily Ram 1500-Inspired
It’s immediately clear that the rear suspension setup revealed on this Jeep Gladiator prototype has nothing to do with the JL Wrangler, with a design heavily influenced by the Ram 1500 for handling proper pickup truck duty. The design and component placement looks to be nearly identical between the Ram 1500 and the JT Gladiator, which should calm any fears that Jeep’s upcoming pickup truck will just be a warmed over JL Wrangler with a pickup bed.
JT Gladiator Suspension (w/ Coil Springs) Analyzed
The Gladiator prototype’s rear design shows healthy control arms along with a panhard rod, and a rear stabilizer bar that leads into stab (or sway) bar end links, just as we see on the Ram 1500. We also see hints of the JT's coil springs (as on the Ram) with no sign of leaf springs. The JT's shock absorber placement also appears to mimic the Ram’s design.
A Mix of Wrangler & Ram 1500 DNA
It’s interesting to see the path Jeep engineers have taken in transitioning the Wrangler-flavored offering for pickup truck duty. While there’s still plenty of Wrangler DNA to be found in the JT, it’s now abundantly clear that the Gladiator will have a healthy dose of Ram DNA throughout its undercarriage. It likely streamlines the development of the new truck with cost benefits in sharing similar components and engineering solutions that have already been worked out on the coil-sprung Ram trucks.
The proven foundation of the Ram pickup, with the spirit and image of the Wrangler (and the promise of open-air truck motoring which we've confirmed) sounds like an ideal mix of attributes to us!
Rear Suspension Heavily Ram 1500-Inspired
It’s immediately clear that the rear suspension setup revealed on this Jeep Gladiator prototype has nothing to do with the JL Wrangler, with a design heavily influenced by the Ram 1500 for handling proper pickup truck duty. The design and component placement looks to be nearly identical between the Ram 1500 and the JT Gladiator, which should calm any fears that Jeep’s upcoming pickup truck will just be a warmed over JL Wrangler with a pickup bed.
JT Gladiator Suspension (w/ Coil Springs) Analyzed
The Gladiator prototype’s rear design shows healthy control arms along with a panhard rod, and a rear stabilizer bar that leads into stab (or sway) bar end links, just as we see on the Ram 1500. We also see hints of the JT's coil springs (as on the Ram) with no sign of leaf springs. The JT's shock absorber placement also appears to mimic the Ram’s design.
A Mix of Wrangler & Ram 1500 DNA
It’s interesting to see the path Jeep engineers have taken in transitioning the Wrangler-flavored offering for pickup truck duty. While there’s still plenty of Wrangler DNA to be found in the JT, it’s now abundantly clear that the Gladiator will have a healthy dose of Ram DNA throughout its undercarriage. It likely streamlines the development of the new truck with cost benefits in sharing similar components and engineering solutions that have already been worked out on the coil-sprung Ram trucks.
The proven foundation of the Ram pickup, with the spirit and image of the Wrangler (and the promise of open-air truck motoring which we've confirmed) sounds like an ideal mix of attributes to us!
Sponsored
Last edited: