--- title: "You Can Buy The Single-Cab Jeep Gladiator of Your Dreams Thanks to This Work Truck Manufacturer" date: "2026-03-11" modified: "2026-03-11" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/you-can-buy-the-single-cab-jeep-gladiator-of-your-dreams-thanks-to-this-work-truck-manufacturer" categories: - "Aftermarket" - "Car Tech" - "Jeep News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "jeep gladiator" - "pickup" --- # You Can Buy The Single-Cab Jeep Gladiator of Your Dreams Thanks to This Work Truck Manufacturer ![Acela Truck Company launches all-new Dispatcher 4x4 based on the Jeep Gladiator platform]() Full disclosure: I'm a [Jeep Gladiator]() fan. Sure, it's overpriced, cramped and just a little bit extra compared to more generic midsize pickups , but I'm one of those weird people who actually enjoys driving a Wrangler, so take everything I just said with a grain of salt. Not everybody is quite so enamored with it as I am, and many of them will tell you that it's simply because the they don't like the proportions of a double-cab Jeep pickup. Well, those folks are in luck. Meet the [Acela Trucks Dispatcher 4x4](), which ditches the four-door/short-bed arrangement found on the standard Gladiator for a single cab and a massive 7'x5' flat-load bed. And not only does it look the part, but the Dispatcher 4x4 is made more capable by the conversion. Payload capacity maxes out at 3,001 pounds (depending on installed accessories) vs. just 1,720 lbs for a factory Gladiator. And since the Dispatcher includes the Gladiator's upgraded 4.10:1 final drive ratio (and its Dana 44 front/rear axles), it maintains its 7,700-pound maximum tow rating. If there's any "bad" news here, it's that Acela advertises the Dispatcher only with the Gladiator's standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 8-speed automatic gearbox. If you were hoping for a diesel engine and a manual gearbox, well, sorry, but you can at least option it with a winch, bed rail kit, snow plow, dump bed and all sorts of other stuff. ![Acela Dispatcher Front Sketch]() ![Acela Dispatcher Rear Sketch]() ![Acela Dispatcher Profile Sketch]() Acela says the Dispatcher is built on a "modified" Gladiator frame (I've reached out for details) and can be configured with the standard bed or as a chassis cab for end-user customization. The company is pitching it as a more compact and maneuverable alternative to a factory half-ton pickup, and with that huge bed and those payload numbers, it appears to fit the bill. "The Dispatcher delivers higher payload and superior maneuverability compared to half- ton pickup trucks, all on a compact chassis at a significantly lower price point — even lower than some worksite UTVs," company president David Ronsen said in Acela's announcement. "It gives Acela a powerful platform to support our customers' critical missions." ![Acela Dispatcher 4x4 utility truck featuring a lightweight aluminum flatbed and safety beacon.]() **Acela Truck Company* Hand-out* The Dispatcher goes on sale starting in April. There's no price listed on the company's site, but I would expect it to be less costly than some of [Acela's more exotic offerings](). If I hear anything back, I'll update this post. *Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()