So, the Jeep Gladiator wasn’t the first Jeep truck. But what model was? There is a long history of Jeep that goes back to 1940 when the Willys was tailored to Amry specifications when World War II was on the horizon. But that was for the SUV what about the first Jeep truck? 

The history of the Jeep truck 

According to CJ Pony Parts, the original Jeep truck was the Willys-overland Jeep 4×4 truck. It was manufactured from 1947 to 1965. This was a one-ton truck with 4×4 that was available as a pickup truck, platform stake truck, chassis cab, or bare chassis. In 1949, a ¾ ton two-wheel-drive variant was produced. 

Earlier models featured the Go-Devil engine, a straight-four engine with 63 hp that became famous during World War II. It powered to original Willys Jeep and nearly all other Jeep vehicles used in the war. Nearly 200,000 Willys Jeep 4×4 trucks were manufactured during its 18-year run. 

The Jeep FC Series 

The Jeep FC Series was the second Jeep truck, and it was manufactured by Kaiser from 1957 to 1966. This truck had one weird look, and we like it. Also, the FC stands for Forward Control series. It’s still unique to this day.

The FC had a cab-over design, meaning you sat on top of the engine. It had a massive bed for hauling anything and could also go over anything, like a classic Jeep. The FC was manufactured for personal use, work fleets, and the military. 

While the pickup beds were standard, you could also get it as a fire truck or dump truck. Some were converted into minibusses too. The base engine had 72 hp, and the 3/4-ton FC-150 had a 155-hp inline-six option. 

The Jeep Gladiator J-Series 

Wait?! There was another Jeep Gladiator before the 2020 model debuted? Yep, the Jeep Gladiator was in production from 1962 to 1988. It overlapped with the Comanche for two model years. It dropped the Gladiator moniker and was called the J2000 and J4000. 

The J-Series acquired AMC engines. The AMC 401 was available from 1947 to 1978 and pumped out 225 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. When Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, the J-Series met its end. It was phased out due to its aging design. Chrysler also already had a broad range of Dodge trucks to offer. 

The Jeepster Commando 

The Jeepster Commando truck entered the market in 1966 to compete with the trucks that Ford and Toyota had to offer. The Jeepster was available as a pickup truck, convertible, roadster, and wagon to rival the Bronco, Scout, and other competitors. 

It had a four-cylinder engine that made 75 hp. The Jeepster was removed when Chrysler bought AMC, but the Commando remained in production for two more years. The new Jeepster Beach concept has our hopes up for the return of compact Jeep truck options. 

Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler 

Far out, dudes. The Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler was introduced in 1981. Scrambler comes from a package that offered graphics and unique wheels to provide an 80s feel, but it didn’t catch on and was discontinued in 1986. 

This truck was fitted to a CJ chassis and came with a four-cylinder engine with 82 hp. You could upgrade to the inline-six engine for 110 hp. You could get the scrambler with hardtop and softtop variants too. 

The Jeep Comanche

The Jeep Comanche came out in 1985 and was based on the Jeep Cherokee. It only started at about $7,049 and was designed to compete against rival compact trucks like the Toyota Hilux. 

There were four different engines and six transmission options during its life span, including a 2.1-liter turbo diesel option with 85 hp. The Comanche was also available with a six or seven-foot cargo bed. 

You could add an optional roll bar to make the Camanche a little safer. A short-wheelbase body style was added to the lineup in 1987. However, sales were declining, and Chrylser decided that Jeep should focus on SUVs while Dodge focused on trucks.