We first saw the concept JT on a run to Moab we did with some of the Jeep engineers. And you can bet it got quite a bit of attention.
Of course, a Jeep pickup truck is not a new thing. Jeep made the J10 and J20 Gladiators for quite a few years, going away in 1988, and there have been more than a few smaller companies that have offered custom Wrangler and CJ frame lengthening to give a customer what they wanted. Many have modified CJ-8s and other longer-wheelbase Wranglers into pickups as well.
But we're guessing none of them were as easy to put together as the Jeep JT. Basically, now with the addition of a the Wrangler four-door chassis, which is selling like hotcakes, Jeep has an incredibly rugged and sturdy platform in order to make a truly rugged and off-road capable pickup truck. We've seen quite a few of the Hummer spy photos going around of their four-door H3 pickup truck and we're bound to see even more as they get the bugs worked out. But they had to create a unique wheelbase on a version of the compact pickup truck (both the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon) that doesn't exist. It's actually almost a foot longer than the longest wheelbase Colorado.
This tells us two things: First, that GM is still hot on Hummer, willing to give them whatever resources they think necessary, and, second, that we're probably getting a longer wheelbase Colorado and Canyon (hopefully with a seven-foot bed to hold a fullsize motorcycle and ATV) real soon. Both make good brand sense, and both will make a solid business case.
But Jeep could trump all these clever strategies by making the JT a no-nonsense compact pickup truck, based off the four-door Wrangler chassis. It would look cool, drive as well as the existing model, and be relatively cheap to manufacturer. We'd respectfully suggest a longer rear overhang to get some good bed length, and we're almost positive the 4.7-liter V-8 would fit in the engine bay. With all that done, tack on the Rubicon option package and you have the most unstoppable trail truck sold on the market to date-maybe ever.
Pricing will be tricky, especially since the compact pickup truck segment has been shrinking for several years and is predicted to shrink even more (it's tough to find any manufacturer except Toyota out there willing to spend a dime on any of their compact trucks) and even if the JT was a huge success, taking away 40,000 or 50,000 units from the Wrangler four-door may not be possible with existing plant constraints. With all that said, we still think they should do it, if for no other reason, to give the import and other domestics a few sleepless nights. If there's a segment out there that's in desperate need of someone to shake things up and be the bad-boy it's the compact pickups. And who better to show some balls and show off some attitude than Jeep.
Maybe we have a mini Power Wagon on its way?
If you'd like to see some video and a few of our observations, you can go to motortrend.com and search for Jeep JT.