Every year, as Easter gets close, Jeep heads to Moab to show off a collection of the coolest concepts it could build. Sometimes the concepts are a collection of aftermarket parts you can already buy through your local Jeep dealer. Others are custom-built creations that will likely never see production. And usually, there’s at least one vintage Jeep that’s been restomodded to the point that it’s almost brand new.
This year, Jeep doubled down on Gladiators, showing up with six seriously cool trucks. One was outfitted in $8,000 worth of Mopar accessories, but the other five were all fantasy builds in one way or another. But even though we know we probably won’t ever see these trucks on dealer lots, we can’t help wishing Jeep would throw us a bone. With that in mind, here are five things we saw on this year’s Easter Jeep Safari concepts that we want to see go into production.
An ’80s Stripe Package
We’re starting this wish list with something simple because it’s usually a bad idea to ask for too much too soon. After staring at the Scrambler concept for a little too long, we think this request is completely reasonable. All we want is the option to give the Gladiator a little ’80s style. If Jeep wanted to offer the Scrambler as its own trim level, we certainly wouldn’t complain. But at the very least, Jeep needs to make the Scrambler’s stripes package a factory option.
A Single-Cab Gladiator
These days, it’s hard to sell a two-door version of pretty much anything that isn’t a Ford Mustang. And since Jeep needs to make money on the things it sells, we understand its decision to introduce the Gladiator in four-door form only. That said, the J6 concept looks fantastic, and with a one-foot-longer bed, it’s an even more practical hauler than the four-door Gladiator. Plus, if there’s enough demand to justify a two-door Wrangler, surely there’s enough demand to justify a two-door Gladiator.
Integrated Bike Ramps
This request is a little less realistic than the first two, but we don’t think it’s that crazy. Getting motorcycles and dirt bikes into the bed of a pickup can be a hassle, which is a problem these slide-out ramps would eliminate. Most of the rest of the Flatbill concept is a little too out there for our tastes, but surely these ramps would be popular enough to at least earn a spot in the Mopar catalog. They may not be as popular as a factory lift kit, but there’s got to at least be some demand for them.
A Production Wayout
A few years ago, we probably wouldn’t have included this one on the list. The Wayout concept is cool, but even as recently as 2017, it would have never occurred to us that an automaker might put an overland concept into production. But now that Chevrolet has actually partnered with AEV to build the Colorado ZR2 Bison, the idea of a production Wayout sounds a little less crazy. It would be nice for Jeep to offer larger integrated gas cans, but other than that, we’d be happy with the Wayout exactly the way it is.
An Optional V-8
Since Jeep’s North American boss Tim Kuniskis recently went on the record to kill the idea of a Hellcat-powered Gladiator, it makes more sense why the only V-8 concept at this year’s Easter Safari was a modified classic. But why should Jeep let those pesky pedestrian impact regulations stop it from at least adding an optional Hemi? A V-8 Gladiator would be incredible, and we guarantee Jeep would sell every single one it could build. At least it would if Jeep could figure out a way to get regulatory approval.
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