Cj-5plus Or What If The Gladiator Was Made In 1955?

This is only an idea. But it's one I've had for a year and still think it's a good one. I have this fantasy of an early CJ-5 but with a six foot long cargo box. Something I can go to the store and put 2x4's in the back (with the tailgate down) and I could go camping in. Put up some canvas on wood stake sides and bows like a military truck or trailer and set up a bunk over one wheel well, with room for my stuff on the other side, stove on the tailgate, no mosquitos and perfect sleeping weather... you get the idea. Anyway today I overlaid my idea against a side profile of an early CJ-5 and came up with the following:



It's roughly 44 inches longer than an early CJ-5 and the wheelbase is currently 120 inches. Anyway, just throwing it out there for conversation. I'm not about to start building this thing. I am 2-3 years away from that right now.

Matt

 

Ever thought of starting with a CJ6 and adding a bed extension?

https://thejeepsterman.com/products...eUZRiqgAL47xIqg6yNsaS_mYlns4ZeCmyF_Sz2SzKvO1P

I've always liked the look of CJs with half cabs. And probably super easy to keep warm in the winter.

 

Interesting. Like a CJ8 but made from a Early CJ's, packing an extra 20" of wheelbase and 10" of bed, and probably better looking.

 

If you chopped that Jeep truck from Dirt Every Day down to half/cab, it's pretty close:

 

Also kind of reminds me of this monster...


I'm 10000% sure you'll have the full attention of this forum if you decide to take the plunge and start building!

 

If it's a Jeep, it's been done before.

Get you a J3M.

https://smclassiccars.com/jeep/706955-jeep-j3m-commando-mexican-army-personnel-carrier.html

 

Or one of these Coast Guard babies...

 

Hey boss, I know what your fantasy is...

 

That's sweet! Looks like some thick tires on it too. Excuse my ignorance here, but is that built off of a MB/GPW? Is there an article on the history of these coast guard long-jeeps?

Now this, on the other hand, is painful to look at.

 

All great responses. In no particular order...

The Coast Guard Jeep certainly has some influence on my design, here's a bit more on them http://www.ewillys.com/2013/04/08/coast-guard-lengthened-jeep/ the one in New Jersey in the museum is the only one I know of to still exist. That Mexican army Jeep functionally ticks the boxes, but what a mess going from the CJ front clip to that pickup box. I hadn't even heard of "Dirt Every Day" until now, but yes, aesthetically that is the closest to what I'm imagining. A CJ-6 with a bed extension would again achieve the functionality but not the aesthetics, also while I don't plan on anything really technical, I do want to not have that much past the rear axle.

 

Better to cut it in half if you want a truck. Make the bed independent from the cab.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/6He90RhFMVA?si=l35OM3lbMUbaX9_e

 

If you stretch an m170 you have a nice big 2nd row entrance.
m170_tub_pass by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr

 

This model is a 36" stretch.
My advice is to stretch only before the axle.
If you stretch both ahead and behind like a cj8 you will triple the work.
20221119_182956 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr

 

Cut it up! Cut it up!

 

All great input. I had thought about the M170 route with the big opening. But I have no intentions for a rear seat, just a little area behind the front seats to throw a coat, hat and lunchbox. That's a good point about the Scramblers. I don't think I'd want the extra rear overhang as well as the extra work. The video short isn't loading for me, says it's private? Lastly. I've gone back and forth in my head about separating the cargo box. What would the the specific advantages of that?

 

Less stress on the body work when the frame flexes?

 

This would look so wild!

 

this.

 

The link when clicked says the link is private