Mad Hatter
Well-Known Member
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How about an Extended-Length JLU Wrangler, as long as a Gladiator, with one continuous passenger/cargo compartment? Let me explain how I arrived at this possibly-interesting vehicle concept:
In another, unrelated forum where I lurk, a gentleman in Georgia has put a very nice-looking tan camper top on the bed of his new tan Gladiator, along with other modifications. The effect is very attractive, and the comments on that forum are very positive. Since I don't have his permission to copy and post his pictures here, and since I know that some forum moderators are goosey about links to other forums, I won't post the pictures. But anyone out there that has done something similar, please add to this thread.
Story not finished: I emailed the pictures to my son who has a 2018 JLU, and he responded immediately, "Holy sh*t do want!"
That got me thinking. A camper top on a Gladiator's bed still leaves two separate compartments. While tradesmen/-women might want to separate their work materials from the passenger cabin, others of us like the option to fold down the rear seats and benefit from a continuous cargo area. Like when going on vacation, picking up home repair materials, etc. It occurred to me that a hard-/soft-/hybrid-top, extended length "JLU XL," extended to the length of the Gladiator might be a very interesting vehicle. Think Chevy Tahoe vs. Suburban. There are many observations and complaints about the limited cargo space in both the 2-door and JLU Wranglers. Extending that area behind the rear seats 30" (the Gladiator is 30" longer than the JLU) would create a very, very generous cargo area. Extend the wheelbase to match the Gladiator, and highway handling would benefit as well (per all the Gladiator reports). Off-Road would match the Gladiator, maybe better with added chassis stiffness from a longer "Sport Bar" or whatever they call it this week. As I said, this might be a very interesting vehicle.
My son's reaction to this concept: "I'd be in." That's "he" for "I." But I would be in, too.
What are your thoughts, fellow Jeepers?
(Hey, FCA, you've got at least two buyers here. Just waitin'!)
In another, unrelated forum where I lurk, a gentleman in Georgia has put a very nice-looking tan camper top on the bed of his new tan Gladiator, along with other modifications. The effect is very attractive, and the comments on that forum are very positive. Since I don't have his permission to copy and post his pictures here, and since I know that some forum moderators are goosey about links to other forums, I won't post the pictures. But anyone out there that has done something similar, please add to this thread.
Story not finished: I emailed the pictures to my son who has a 2018 JLU, and he responded immediately, "Holy sh*t do want!"
That got me thinking. A camper top on a Gladiator's bed still leaves two separate compartments. While tradesmen/-women might want to separate their work materials from the passenger cabin, others of us like the option to fold down the rear seats and benefit from a continuous cargo area. Like when going on vacation, picking up home repair materials, etc. It occurred to me that a hard-/soft-/hybrid-top, extended length "JLU XL," extended to the length of the Gladiator might be a very interesting vehicle. Think Chevy Tahoe vs. Suburban. There are many observations and complaints about the limited cargo space in both the 2-door and JLU Wranglers. Extending that area behind the rear seats 30" (the Gladiator is 30" longer than the JLU) would create a very, very generous cargo area. Extend the wheelbase to match the Gladiator, and highway handling would benefit as well (per all the Gladiator reports). Off-Road would match the Gladiator, maybe better with added chassis stiffness from a longer "Sport Bar" or whatever they call it this week. As I said, this might be a very interesting vehicle.
My son's reaction to this concept: "I'd be in." That's "he" for "I." But I would be in, too.
What are your thoughts, fellow Jeepers?
(Hey, FCA, you've got at least two buyers here. Just waitin'!)
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