---
title: "Will the Jeep Wrangler Pickup Be Built On a Ram Frame?"
description: "An FCA expert hypothesizes that the carmaker could have big plans for the Jeep pickup...in more ways than one."
date: "2017-03-14"
modified: "2017-03-14"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/8330/will-the-jeep-wrangler-pickup-be-built-on-a-ram-frame"
categories:
  - "Jeep News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Fiat Chrysler"
  - "Jeep"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "pickup"
  - "Sergio Marchionne"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "Truck"
  - "Wrangler"
---

# Will the Jeep Wrangler Pickup Be Built On a Ram Frame?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/03/jeep-wrangler-pickup-ram-truck-2019-future.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

It hasn't been much of a secret amongst Jeep peeps that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is planning to return a pickup truck to the off-road-centric brand's portfolio in the next few years. That truck has widely been described as a Jeep Wrangler pickup, designed to coincide with the arrival of [the new-for-2018 Jeep Wrangler](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7263/is-this-the-2018-jeep-wranglers-grille.md>). But now, *Automotive News* FCA expert Larry Vellequette is sticking his neck out with an unusual claim: that [the new Jeep Wrangler truck might be built on the frame of a full-sized Ram pickup](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20170314/BLOG06/170319948/will-jeep-wrangler-pickup-be-forged-from-a-ram-platform>).

Admittedly, Vellequette's evidence is largely circumstantial at this point. The primary point he cites is the fact that [FCA is pushing back production of the Jeep pickup to 2019](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/8120/jeep-pickup-will-be-delayed-until-late-2019.md>) as one reason—the delay, he says, is due to the fact that the new truck (internally code-named JT) is too long for the existing paint shop at the carmaker's Toledo, Ohio, factory.

That alone wouldn't be reason enough—after all, it only stands to reason that a Wrangler with a five-foot bed would be longer than one without. On top of that, however, Vellequette points out that FCA [CEO Sergio Marchionne](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/8298/ferraris-v-12s-will-never-be-turbocharged-sergio-marchionne-says.md>) has already begun considering bringing Ram production in Mexico back to the U.S. [if Donald Trump throws down one of those import tariffs he's been threatening](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/5951/will-donald-trump-force-a-mexican-standoff-with-detroit.md>). The Wrangler's Toledo, South factory—which has proven capable of taking on additional volume better than many plants—could be a good place to crank out those trucks...and since Jeep already sells pretty much every Wrangler it makes, pushing the pickup to the Ram's chassis would be a good way to spread out the costs of converting the factory.

Like we said, it's circumstantial at this point. But something about the idea of a Jeep pickup truck with the capabilities of a full-sized Ram...well, it just has a way of lighting our fire. And we bet it heats up plenty of Jeep fanboys, too.

Would you rather see Jeep's pickup based on the Wrangler platform, or the Ram's? Let us know in the comments below.

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)

## More

- [All-New 2018 Jeep Wrangler Set to Debut in November](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/15454/all-new-2018-jeep-wrangler-set-to-debut-in-november.md>)
- [Jeep Wrangler Supplier Announces Temporary Layoffs, Foretelling the End of the JK Wrangler](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18077/jeep-wrangler-supplier-announces-temporary-layoffs-foretelling-the-end-of-the-jk-wrangler.md>)
- [2021 Ram 1500 TRX Drag Races a 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392: Who Ya Got?](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40139/2021-ram-1500-trx-drag-races-a-2021-jeep-wrangler-392-who-ya-got.md>)
- [Jeep Pickup Will Be Delayed Until Late 2019](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/8120/jeep-pickup-will-be-delayed-until-late-2019.md>)
- [New Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator North Edition Aim to Make Your Winter Commute Less Miserable](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31874/new-jeep-north-editions-aim-to-make-your-winter-commute-a-lot-less-miserable.md>)
- [Gladiators, Wranglers, and Rams: Talking Pickup Trucks with Jeep North America Boss Tim Kuniskis](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25200/gladiators-wranglers-and-rams-talking-pickup-trucks-with-jeep-north-america-boss-tim-kuniskis.md>)
- [Report: First Diesel and Hybrid Engines for 2019 Jeep Wrangler Are on the Way](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23711/report-first-diesel-and-hybrid-engines-for-2019-jeep-wrangler-are-on-the-way.md>)
- [New Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Next Ram 2500 HD Production Postponed](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6483/new-jeep-grand-wagoneer-next-ram-2500-hd-production-postponed.md>)