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Keep the J6 Hope Alive

Bug Splats

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As impractical as it would be still having two small kids, that J6 is just flat out sexy. Wouldn’t stop me from trying to own one though if they made it to production.
 
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CJ SCION

CJ SCION

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Not gonna happen … don’t get your hopes up
Your sentiment is understandable as I hope for the best while expecting the worse.
As impractical as it would be still having two small kids, that J6 is just flat out sexy. Wouldn’t stop me from trying to own one though if they made it to production.
Totally agree with the sexy assessment.
 

Karnak

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I would have bought that instead of my 2 dr if it had been in production. The problem I see futurewise is that even if some demand would appear to be there for this vehicle build type based on forum users here, this may not be a good representation of the real consummer market for that type of vehicle and maybe the demand is just really low.

All we have to do is go back in history and check into the Jeep Comanche, IF it had been a great sale item, they would have kept it and the J6 is probably the "new comanche" we would have had but I don't think they will built it unfortunately because they'll look at old historical sales of 2 dr comanche and the reason it got scrapped and they will be like..."nope, not risking this again".

I sure hope I'm wrong cause I used to love the comanche and I actually came from a 2 door Ranger that was getting old when I got my JL and I do miss the truck bed sometimes but I wouldn't buy a 4 door cause its of no use to me right now so I got a 2 door and a trailer...:D
 

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6.2Blazer

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As cool as I think the J6 looks, I would be very surprised if they ever made it. The simple fact is a manufacturer has to weigh the costs of producing the vehicle versus the payback, and I doubt the numbers would line up on it. Putting a 2 door Gladiator on the market is not nearly as simple as most people probably think. Some executive doesn't simply say "hey, start making a 2 door version" but rather there are a lot of numbers that need crunched and other issues to consider. First of all, they would do a market study to estimate the number of vehicles they would sell. Unfortunately for the 2 door lovers there is simply a small market as compared to 4 doors. Just look on dealer lots and on the road and count how many 2 door versus 4 door Wranglers you see.
Bet it's at least 10 4-doors for every 2 door JK or JL. There are unique parts that need developed, tested, and possibly the current biggest issue is sourced. There is a lot of money required to develop and test these new parts, including all of the safety certifications (crash testing, braking, stability control) that are required when doing a change like this. On the logistics side you have to be able to catalog and store all of these different parts (different parts than a 4 door Gladiator, and the 2 and 4 door Wranglers).....have to have a place to store these different frames, bulkheads, body parts, etc.... The next thing is thinking about production scheduling. Obviously not going to build an entire plant just for these 2 doors, so you have to interrupt production of the other models to build the 2 doors....this causes downtime as you switch the production line over, get all the right parts staged, and of course training the workers on what to do.
 

Philly_

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I love this darn truck. It is so freaking cool!!

One of the reasons I was okay with trading in my Tacoma was I often felt like it was bloated. The two door Jeep feels much better to me, and this would be the best of both worlds!

Not to mention, I am finally moving out of the city so the extra length wouldn't have a significant impact on my day to day, and only on the tight trails.

I would consider trading my two door for one of these, but more than likely I would hold out a year or two so I could keep both!
 

OldMarine

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As cool as I think the J6 looks, I would be very surprised if they ever made it. The simple fact is a manufacturer has to weigh the costs of producing the vehicle versus the payback, and I doubt the numbers would line up on it. Putting a 2 door Gladiator on the market is not nearly as simple as most people probably think. Some executive doesn't simply say "hey, start making a 2 door version" but rather there are a lot of numbers that need crunched and other issues to consider. First of all, they would do a market study to estimate the number of vehicles they would sell. Unfortunately for the 2 door lovers there is simply a small market as compared to 4 doors. Just look on dealer lots and on the road and count how many 2 door versus 4 door Wranglers you see.
Bet it's at least 10 4-doors for every 2 door JK or JL. There are unique parts that need developed, tested, and possibly the current biggest issue is sourced. There is a lot of money required to develop and test these new parts, including all of the safety certifications (crash testing, braking, stability control) that are required when doing a change like this. On the logistics side you have to be able to catalog and store all of these different parts (different parts than a 4 door Gladiator, and the 2 and 4 door Wranglers).....have to have a place to store these different frames, bulkheads, body parts, etc.... The next thing is thinking about production scheduling. Obviously not going to build an entire plant just for these 2 doors, so you have to interrupt production of the other models to build the 2 doors....this causes downtime as you switch the production line over, get all the right parts staged, and of course training the workers on what to do.
Everything you say is correct and yet, heartbreaking at the same time.
I love this concept, love my old truck, and really love my Jeep.

A J6 Willys would be perfection for my hobbies and life.
I’m going to go sob quietly in the corner.
 

Hennessey17

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I really liked the Gladiator and as a non truck guy, it would have suited all my needs... convertible, room for dogs, winter capable, etc... but I'm a city boy and the Gladiator was simply too long for an urban condo parking garage... so I got the JLU instead. I can borrow my brother's Silverado for the two times a year I might need a bed.

The J6 is perfectly sized for the city, but I'm worried that there's no room for the dogs... I guess I'd just need to buy a dog car :)
 

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I'd definitely be in the market for the J6 concept. It'd make for a fun camping rig.
 

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CAFE could be one reason why Jeep decided not to produce the J6. It is certainly the main reason why manufacturer's stopped producing mid size trucks for a while until they realized they couldn't force everyone into buying a full size crew cab tiny bed pickup. It's also a good reason why the Gladiator ended up being as long as it is. It explains the L version of the new Grand Cherokee as well as the addition of the large and long full size Grand Wagoneer suv's to their product lineup. These larger vehicle offering's from Jeep seem odd from a company that was built on producing small nimble off-road vehicles. The J6 appears to have more of the Jeep heritage look than all of the newly introduced models and could be a reason many are attracted to it.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/

Jeep Wrangler JL Keep the J6 Hope Alive ec42baff_220b_4a80_8914_0e1c7a0d98c7_622ff5bfae0bc26ed20c4b689f19708d9e952e9a.jpe


I'm sure the J6 would sell on it looks alone.
It may not be practical for people with kids but would be extremely practical for young single adults, recent empty nester's, and retired folks who, in their younger days, owned a little regular cab comanche, ranger, S10, or Tacoma that are no longer made.

At one time "practical" meant small, simple, & affordable. None of which the 4 door Gladiator is. My regular cab short bed Chevy S10 was practical when I was in college. My wife's 2 door hatchback Ford Escort was also a very practical vehicle for her during college being affordable with good fuel economy.

Now a days "practical" seems to mean an overpriced, oversized, multi seat suv, crossover, or crew cab tiny bed pickup to pack all of your kids and stuff in that no one can live an hour without.
 
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CJ SCION

CJ SCION

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I'm sure the J6 would sell on it looks alone.
It may not be practical for people with kids but would be extremely practical for young single adults, recent empty nester's, and retired folks who, in their younger days, owned a little regular cab comanche, ranger, S10, or Tacoma that are no longer made.

At one time "practical" meant small, simple, & affordable. None of which the 4 door Gladiator is. My regular cab short bed Chevy S10 was practical when I was in college. My wife's 2 door hatchback Ford Escort was also a very practical vehicle for her during college being affordable with good fuel economy.

Now a days "practical" seems to mean an overpriced, oversized, multi seat suv, crossover, or crew cab tiny bed pickup to pack all of your kids and stuff in that no one can live an hour without.
Skip, your viewpoint rings true to my ears. The word practical fit perfectly to the mini pickups of the late 60s and early 70s, Chevy Luv, Ford Courier, and others. Volkswagen, Datsun, Nissan and various others had their comparable models to offer. Those rascals could sip gasoline if ya went easy on the skinny pedal. They were great commuter vehicles with the bonus of the utility bed, got a lot of chuckles seeing how some could overload em.

Thumbs up for the J6.
 

Shibadog

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I love the truck, and would buy one today, but it’s never gonna happen. Look around. How many 2 dr pickups do you see? Darn few, and the J6 would be a tiny niche IN that tiny niche. Folks today use trucks as family transportation-not work (yeah, I know some are work trucks but even they are mostly 4 dr.). Same reason 2 dr Jeeps are few and far between while 4 drs are everywhere. Both have evolved way beyond their original intent/design (work/utility) to become luxobarges and family haulers. I always loved 2 dr short bed (6’) trucks-today the trucks themselves are massive but the beds are tiny (can you even GET an 8’ bed pickup anymore? Haven’t seen a new one in years) and that alone shows how they are being used-a dude with a working truck wants a bed to haul stuff-the family truckster doesn’t need a bed and wants more cab space.
 

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Unfortunately that article is from 7/07/2021. Don't think we've heard anything since...
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