Did Jeep Ever Make a Truck?

When Rogers drivers think of off-roading and performance-oriented vehicles, many think of Jeep. Jeep has always offered a strong lineup of vehicles that offer plenty of capability for all your adventures outside of Coon Rapids. But, many drivers wonder: did Jeep ever make a truck? The answer is yes! Jeep has a long history of making a variety of powerful trucks, reaching all the way back to the 1940s. Learn more about the history of the Jeep truck, what the Jeep trucks were called, and the current Jeep trucks available at Cornerstone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

When Did the Jeep Truck Come Out?

The history of the Jeep truck starts in 1947, with the Willys-Overland model. Originally manufactured for World War II, this truck came in several sizes and configurations and continued to be sold on the market for nearly 20 years, only being discontinued in 1966. The replacement, though, was no less spectacular. A few years earlier, in 1962, the very first Jeep Gladiator was released. This conventional body-on-frame pickup was more stylish and capable than its predecessor and came available with several drivetrain and engine options for drivers to choose from. 

The Gladiator continued until 1971 when the name was dropped and new iterations of the Jeep pickup were called the Jeep J-Series. Jeep also manufactured a similar smaller truck, the compact Jeep Comanche, that was released in 1984. The Jeep line of pickups petered out, though, right around the time that Chrysler bought out the American Motor Company, which owned Jeep, in 1987. Full-size Jeep pickups were discontinued and the Jeep Comanche only received minor updates until it was finally discontinued in 1992.

The Jeep Gladiator Returns to the Market

After a decade of no Jeep pickups, a few Jeep truck concept designs were shown at auto shows starting in the mid-2000s. While no new pickups were released during this time, the concepts promised consumers that a Jeep pickup was in the works. Then, in 2020, the new Jeep pickup was released. 

What is the Jeep truck called these days? The team at Jeep has brought back the name of the Jeep Gladiator. The new design of the Jeep Gladiator is based on the Jeep Wrangler platform, giving the Gladiator similar off-roading prowess as its adventuring SUV counterpart. The new Jeep Gladiator comes in several configurations with different engines, drivetrains, and capabilities, giving Anoka Jeep fans the same customization and fine-tuning experience that previous Jeep trucks are known for.

Test Drive a Jeep Gladiator at Cornerstone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram!

Interested in seeing this new generation of the Jeep Gladiator for yourself? Then contact Cornerstone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to set up a test drive in Elk River! Our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Jeep Gladiator and its performance and technology features. For more information about the Jeep brand, or your favorite Jeep models, visit our Research Hub.