I think a new Jeep pick-up or revival of the old commanche would make a big splash for Jeep, esp. with the new body design from the Patriots. Any word on a pick-up in the line up soon or is that something Jeep is trying to shy away from?

I think it's highly likely. There's been a lot of talk of the Gladiator concept going into production soon based off of the next Wrangler platform. There's also the talk that DCX has patented a system to convert the rear seats of an SUV to a pick-up bed or something like that, a feature similar to what was involved with the Gladiator concept.

It seems like DCX's goal with the Jeep brand right now is to expand it to be more mainstream instead of having three market-specific vehicles like it usually has. Going into 07, we'll have the hardcore offroader (Wrangler), the poser-mobile (Wrangler 4-door... not that it isn't a capable rig, but I really have a feeling that these will be the next "hot" vehicle to own and will compete with the H2/H3 street queen market), the big SUV (Commander), the cute-ute (Libby), the cross-over (Compass... as close to a car as Jeep will get), the econo-SUV (the good old Patty), and classy SUV (Grand Cherokee). They basically have the entire SUV spectrum covered, so a pick-up is all that's left out, and I doubt DCX is going to leave it unfulfilled. Dodge is there only real source of pick-ups now anyway.

If you ask me, things are really pinting toward a Jeep pick-up release soon. I see a Wrangler-based pick-up as highly likely and don't at all doubt secong Jeep pick-up being possible. Maybe something more like an SUT based on the XK/WK platform?

Rumors are that the Gladiator is going into production in 2009. If you search the forums here, there is a thread or two on the gladiator.

There is also a forum at www.jeepgladiator.org similar to this but for the Gladiator. I have absolutely no clue who the moderator is as s/he seems to be MIA. I just came across this googling for the gladiator and started posting. unclejjg and myself have started a few threads with links to information and different pics.

There aren't many members or posters, but that will hopefully change as the Gladiator (hopefully) nears production.