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J10/20 A NO-NONSENSE FULL-SIZED PICKUP Reference: 'Jeep' Magazine, 1986 
ROAD TEST…. Don't let anyone tell you that full-sized pickups are going to disappear. Despite the popularity of mini-trucks and mid-sized rigs, there are still plenty of people who value the extra room and increased load and towing capacity that full-sized pickups offer. Of course, Jeep is positioned squarely in the market with its J10/20 series that can do anything a full-sized pickup owner could ask. And then there's the added advantage of Jeep four-wheel drive. For '86, Jeep offers a pair of J-series models, the J-10 Pioneer and the huskier J-20. The J series' sales popularity is a tribute to their functional design.
Mechanically, the J-10 has the brawn to maintain Jeep's reputation for toughness. The body sits atop a separate steel ladder frame. Attached to it is the suspension consisting of ultra-rugged leaf springs front and rear, plus a standard front anti-sway bar. Under the hood, the 4.2-litre in-line six base engine teams with a four-speed manual plus the Command-Trac (part-time) four-wheel drive system. The J-10 is the only full-sized pickup with standard four-wheel drive. Optional is the 5.9-litre V8, which is installed only with the three-speed automatic. Here the drivetrain is fitted with Selec-Trac, Jeep's all-surface four-wheel drive system, which can operate continuously on dry pavement. With the J-1 0, you step up into the cab
rather than climb through the door, and a ladder isn't needed to reach the seat. Once
inside, there's plenty of room for three abreast, thanks to the bench-style seat. Since
the transfer case lever is positioned discreetly on the left side of the transmission
tunnel, the center
passenger doesn't have to fight any floor-mounted levers. Once buckled in, all elements
combine to produce a comfortable driving environment. With 40.5 inches of legroom and 40.2
inches of headroom, anyone over six feet tall will feel right at home. The J-10's dash has been updated so it's logical and functional. The heater, defroster and air conditioning controls have been combined into a single unit. Instruments are neatly laid out, and include temperature, oil pressure and voltage gauges that are in full view when looking through the steering wheel. Power steering is standard, with 3.37 turns lock-to-lock That's further enhanced by a 16-13:1 variable ratio. So whether you're parking or driving, the steering always feels just right. Jeep quality is apparent. Looking closely at the J-10, all of the body seams line up and the panels are straight. Doors, tailgate and windows open and close without fuss. Even inside, all of the components fit together perfectly, with no sloppy seams or missing screws.
No pickup today could be sold without comfort-adding accessories, and the J-10120 is blessed with a select list. Start with air conditioning. But once you leave the city limits and enter the country, the J-10 becomes a pleasurable machine to drive. When cruising, the cab is free of wind noise. On a long drive, the seats offer adequate leg and back support. As for handling, the J-10, within reason, will go where you point it with no surprises. Its four-wheel drive feature will let you get away from it all, wherever that may be. In town or out, the brake system performs exceptionally well. It consists of power-assisted 11 -inch-diameter discs and 11 -inch-diameter rear drums. The brakes are linear in operation: the harder you push down on the pedal, the harder you stop. Rear wheel lockup, often noticeable on unloaded pickups during hard braking, is never a problem. The J-20 is the brawnier brother of the J-10 and its specifications have been modified for increased load and towing capacity. To begin with, the 5.9-litre V8 is standard, along with the three-speed automatic. The J-20's tires are upgraded from the J-10's P225/75R15 radials to truck capacity. Fitted on standard 16.5x64nch wheels are 8.75x16.5C black nylon tubeless tires. Optional are 9.5x16.5D Goodyear Custom Xtra-Grip tires installed on 16.5x6.75-inch wheels. In front, 11 -inch discs are used, but the rear drum diameter is increased one inch to 12. Also, the front anti-sway bar diameter increases from .87 to 1.06 inches.
No pickup today could be sold without comfort adding accessories, and the J10/20 is blessed with a select list. Start with air conditioning, and definitely order the leather-wrapped steering wheel. It feels great to the hands, besides looking good. The steering wheel's dual-spoke design helps the driver sense the wheel's position more readily. While we prefer the traditional three-spoke wheel, we applaud Jeep for staying away from the now-trendy inverted-V spoke design. Don't forget the tilt option so the wheel can be adjusted to the preferable positions of whomever drives the vehicle. We also recommend the cruise control and convenience group, which includes a digital clock, underhood light and lights on buzzer. There's also a rear sliding window, which permits pleasant ventilation as well as connecting the pickup box to the cab if a camper shell is installed. Four your ear, an electronically tuned cassette stereo will provide the best sound this side of a recording studio. To sharpen the J-10/20's usefulness, Jeep offers functional accessories, too. Both vehicles have heavy-duty shocks and springs available to further increase load limits. A rear Trac-Lok differential, which maximizes traction when very slippery conditions are encountered, is another item to consider. Since Jeeps are no strangers to winter, there's a cold climate group, consisting of a heavy-duty alternator and engine block heater. To sum up the J-1 0 and J-20, it's accurate to say that they're big Jeep pickups built to handle big jobs. We also recommend the cruise control and convenience group, which includes digital clock, underhood light and lights on buzzer. There's also a sliding rear window, which permits pleasant ventilation as well as connecting the pickup box to the cab if a camper shell is installed. For your ears, an electronically tuned AM/FM cassette stereo will provide the best sound this side of a recording studio.
SPECIFICATIONS Exterior Overhang -Front 31 3 in. Overall Length 206.0 in.
-Rear 63.8 in. Overall Width (max.) 78.9 in. Overall Height 69.0 in.
Type 4spd Manual 3-Speed Automatic Transfer Case Type New Process 228 New Process 208
Front Axle Dana Model 44 Full-Floating Rear Axle AMC Hypoid Semi-Floating Final Drive Ratios 2.73:1 3.31:1 J20 rear axle Dana Model 60 Full-Floating Final Drive Ratios 3.73:1 Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.37 Turning Diameter 44.5 ft. Brakes Front Service Brake Disc Type Vented Cast Iron Rotor Rotor Dimension 12.0 in. Dia. Rear Service Brake Drum Type Full Cast iron Drum (J20 – 12 x 2in) Front Suspension Type Hotchkiss-Leaf Spring Mounted Below Axle Tires – J10 Steel Belted Radial P225175/R15 , 10R-15 LT Stabiliser Bar Link Type (0.87 in.) Dia. J20 1.06 in Dia Type Hotchkiss-leaf Spring Mounted Above Axle Tires – J10 Steel Belted Radial P225175/R15 , 10R-15 LT Wheel Size 15 x 6 JJ 15 x 77 JJ 15 x 8 Tires (J20) Bias Ply Tire Size 8.75 x 16.5 C 9.50 x 16.5 D Wheel Size 16.5 x 6.00 Std 16.5 x 6.75 Opt Base Curb 3790lb 4072lb J20 - Weight Base Curb J20 4387.7lb Max. GVWR J20 7500lb 8400 Opt |
The
The other half of the equation is how the J-10 drives and handles
on the road. In urban traffic, the J-10 seems big riding on a 
Front
axle weight capacity gets a boost to 3500 pounds and the rear to 5500 pounds. Like the