We’ll call it Scrambler. Scrambler is a lovely name.
No, it’s not a reindeer like Rudolph. Nor does it have a red nose and fly, but it is not so hard to imagine Jeep head Mike Manley, Jeep design head Mark Allen and a bunch of engineer minions hanging around their new truck design trying to cough up a name for the thing.
Gladiator, no. Comanche, nope. Willys Pickup, keep trying. Commander? Uh wait, who invited you?
And then Manley steps up, reaches to the sky and proclaims ‘We’ll call it Scrambler’.
All right, so the name process is probably a bit more complicated than that, but if you believe JL Wrangler Forums and their sister site Jeep Scrambler Forum, Jeep is definitely planning on naming its upcoming new truck ‘Scrambler’.
They also note the truck will share the same 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine as the JL Wrangler, will be about 33 inches longer than the Unlimited Wrangler version and have three top options – 3pc. black hardtop, 3pc. body match color hardtop and black Sunrider soft top. This latter feature will make the JT the only convertible truck around.
Both forum sites say they have spoken to sources who claim the name is a done deal, and also point to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ renewal of the Scrambler patent back in 2015 as further evidence.
You may remember the original Scrambler, a long-wheelbase version of the CJ7 built from 1981 to 1986, although some say those ’86 models are really just leftover ’85 versions. Just under 28,000 were produced in that timespan and most were either a four or five-speed manual designed to compete with Ford’s Ranger and Chevy’s S10 series trucks.
However, economic pressures, competition from more fuel efficient foreign vehicles and a perception of safety problems ultimately doomed the Scrambler despite its dedicated hardcore base.
Perhaps that love is why FCA may be unretiring the Scrambler name.
Besides its new moniker, additional new details about the truck revolves around a set of CAD images of it compared to the current JK Wrangler edition. According to Jeep Scrambler Forum, based on a calculation of the measurements in AutoCAD, the images show the JT pickup truck’s frame at 205 inches, which is approximately 18% (33-inches) longer than the 4-door JK Unlimited's 172 inches.
The site also believes CAD images of the vehicle’s axles indicate it will carry Dana’s new 12-bolt rear set up, which should add quite a bit of strength compared to the JK Wrangler’s Dana 44 axle. Most likely, this is to boost the JT’s payload capacity as well as tow rating.
But for those hoping for a two-door truck offering, at least right now it seems like you are out of luck as multiple reports indicate Jeep will only bring this to market as a four-door.
Now, as far as powertrain details go for the truck, not much info is out there at all. As we mentioned above, Jeep dealer computers do show that 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel as one engine offering, but this same system makes no note of either the 3.6L Pentastar or 2.0L I4 Hurricane engine. Keep in mind though, the truck is still more than a year-plus away from production, so things are always in motion and nothing can really be considered set in stone or disgarded.
However, both JL Wrangler Forum and Jeep Scrambler Forum do have a good informational track record, so it certainly appears like the Scrambler name is set to take flight once again, sometime later in 2019.
