fair unforunately isn't on the minds of dc, it would be great to see the jeep truck once again. EVERYDAY i go to the dc website and leave a comment to dc about MORE JEEP products and the truck is one i leave feedback for. i don't any other way to get their attention. any ideas out there?

I can understand some wanting a Scrambler type vehicle, but if I was shopping for small trucks because I needed to haul stuff I don't see where a Scrambler would work. If you think the bed of a Explorer Sport Trac is small and useless what do you think the Wrangler SUT would be?
I think it would be cool to see Jeep have a true pickup even it shared the platform with a Dakota. It would only be fair if Dodge is going to get a version of the Liberty.

here is my comment

I would like a 4-door SUT but I'd settle for a 2-door and keep my XJ as a second vehicle. You guys are right, it should be that hard to produce if it were based on an Unlimited. I hope Bestop produces a small top for the Unlimited.

The comment about jumping brands means I'd keep the XJ and then have to buy a truck for things that my XJ can't hold.

It sounded to me like Wyatt was looking for a 4-door SUT, which would have to be based on the KJ or WK platforms which wouldn't meet Wyatts tastes anyway with IFS.
A Scrambler based off the Unlimited would be a good move for Jeep and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it in 2006 to breath the last bit of life into the TJ platform before the TK. Jeep has done this kind of thing, with special editions and a limited production in the final year of the platform makes sense.

I find myself in the same dilema as Wyatt. For some strange reason no one out there wants to build a simple two seat pick up truck. To my knowledge the Ford Ranger is the only one out there.

Rumor has it that the Suburu Baja and Ford Explorer Sport Trac will be going out of production due to poor sales. Perhaps it is just too much cross over for customer's tastes.

Perhaps there are just too few of us who long for a simple go anywhere, do anything small pick up. Certainly the cancellation of the Dodge M80 project bears this out. As many contributors have often said the conversion of the Unlimited to the Scrambler would seem to be a minimal cost venture and would add sales to Jeep's bottom line.




I don't understand where DC is taking Jeep. Maybe they feel the horse power success of the LX Hemis can somehow be carried over to Jeep.

here is my comment

I need a capable SUT.

I only have a few choices:
HUMMER H2 SUT - Too big and too expensive!
Subaru Baja - Too small and rear window does not open.
Ford Explorer Sports Trac - Cannot haul or go off-road. Plus, I had a bad experience with Exploder in the past.
GMC Envoy XUV - Too much of a GM mushy ride. I cannot feel the road - no ground clearance.
Chevy Avalanche/Caddy - Same comment as GMC Envoy XUV.

Come on Jeep! Build an SUT while there is still little competition. If you don't build one soon, I'll have to jump brands because I need a small truck bed.

Jump Brands? To what? You just pointed out that none of the comp. offers what you are looking for either! Maybe there is no market for it? Just what platform do you suggest they use to build an SUT?

Dumbler-Chrysler would sell every Dakar they could build.

The Commander? Another upscale lux-SUV in a market already choked with choices is a terrible idea.

A couple of comments:

In my case, I’m looking for a small truck in size similar to the Scrambler. I’m not planning on hauling the world, but I like the open pickup Bed. The Ford Sport-trac bed is fine for me, but the vehicle is not as off-road capable as the Wrangler, nor can I get a manual transmission in the current model. (It was available in the early years, but they dropped that option). I also prefer the styling of the Wrangler, and I like the idea of having a convertible pickup truck. Other small pickup trucks don’t even offer a sun roof.

The Ford Sport-Trac actually has sold better than Fords predictions, but they will likely drop the vehicle in the future since it was based on the older Ford Explorer body/frame. Future safety laws would require some serious changes.

Subaru did some poor marketing moves on the Baja which is why I think it has sold poorly. Also, SUTs are a niche, so you need realistic expectations on sale figures.

SUT’s are definitely a niche, but Honda is still planning to come out with theirs. I suspect there is still some money to be made in selling SUTs, especially if the vehicle you use to turn into an SUT is based on a vehicle already in your production line.

If you have ideas/suggestions for Jeep, you might want to send snail mail to:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Outside Suggestion Office
CIMS:483-01-07 800
Chrysler Drive East
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2757

Email is not bad, but snail mail probably gets more attention since you usually spend more time letting them know what you have to say. I’ve sent suggestions to Jeep for many years, and one of them was to bring back the Scrambler, and that was over 4 years ago. I find it interesting that the Unlimited came out in a proto-type a couple of years ago. I doubt my suggestion is what caused it to happen, but I’m sure they heard from many customers with the same idea, and that made them consider the idea.

Another way to let Jeep know what you feel is attend Camp Jeep or other Jeep sponsored events. Many times there are key people there that might bring back to the office what they hear in the field.

Also, if you want Bestop to make the Halftop for the Unlimited, it would not hurt to let them know too. You will find a ‘suggestion’ section on the Bestop site.

Just my 10 cents....

I'm in agreement with Wyatt; an SUT off of the Unlimited would be a simple addition to the Jeep line. The major change is offering a different top for the Unlimited, and Bestop produces the tops for Jeep. Bestop already has a top for TJ's to make them like an SUT, so all Bestop has to do is make a longer version of their Halftop softop. Seems like most of the work is on Bestop, and it's not that much work! Add some wood side rails and you have a unique SUT reminiscent of the classic Scrambler. Now add the Rubicon lockers, and you have a very nice off-road truck, right off of the show room floor.

If Jeep can spend man power and money into building an SRT version of the Grand Cherokee, why not spend a few dollars on an upgrade/accessory kit for the Unlimited to make it an SUT? At least working on an SUT of the Unlimited would be more in the direction of what Jeep is good at doing (good off-road capable vehicles) instead of hot rod cars.

Sadly, the Jeep Commander sounds like what many of us have been predicting for a while; basically the Commander is a stretched version of the new 2005 less-capable Grand Cherokee. If it is true that the vehicle is not even 'Trail-rated', what is the point of buying the Commander? You can always buy one of the other 7 passenger SUVs that are already being produced. Why spend the extra money (typically Jeep has been more expensive than the competition) and wait for this new vehicle when you can go out and buy the Dodge Durango School Bus or the Chevy Trailblazer now?

Just my 2 cents…..

Just remember that this new commander will not be trail rated. It will have a 4wd system for snow or ice, check out the rear overhang or (departure angle)???? Jeep just needs to compete in the large suv segmant.

Sounds really cool....as long as they toss out the IFS and slide in a solid front axle and have an optional manual tranny.