The base price of the 2025 Jeep Gladiator is $39,995. That’s a lot of money for a base-model anything, but there’s hope yet; you can pick up this 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer for a mere $8,200. It’s not only money you’ll be saving either; the short-box Comanche is almost four feet shorter in length than a new Gladiator, so your garage will feel that much bigger. It seems like an easy choice to me; I even prefer the Comanche’s chiseled looks to the Gladiator’s traditional Wrangler-based styling. Our reliable Barn Finder T.J. spotted this Jeep on craigslist in Corydon, Iowa, and although it’s not as spotless as a new Jeep, it does have a claimed 71,000 miles on the odometer. Clean compact trucks are still alive and kicking on Barn Finds.
Nothing is free in life, and indeed you’ll miss out on some interior space by buying a Comanche. With room for two in the Pioneer’s bucket seats, you’ll never be the first choice for the car pool, but that’s not always a bad thing. A little peace and quiet on the way to work never hurt anybody. The seller claims that it “rides smoother than either” of their newer trucks on its new tires. You’ll want to roll down the windows, however, because air-conditioning was a Comanche option that this truck does not have.
Unfortunately, we also don’t have any pictures of the engine compartment, but we’re assured that it has an engine, the rugged Jeep 4.0-liter inline six, producing 177 horsepower for 1988. It’s hooked to a four-speed automatic, which transmits power to a Dana 30 axle up front and a Dana 35c in the rear. The axle ratios are 3.08:1, but that doesn’t help fuel mileage too much: the EPA ratings were 15 city, 20 highway.
The seller has given it a tune up and a new battery, but does mention that there’s a “slight oil leak” (around 10 drops over the course of a winter). Old cars are going to leak, but I feel like the ’80s was the decade where the OEMs finally licked the problem of engine sealing. Let’s hope it’s an easy fix and not something like a rear main seal.
The pictures show a nice but not perfect original truck. Sure, the bed’s seen some loads and the driver’s rocker panel met up with an irresistible force, but that means you won’t be afraid to use it as it was intended to be used. The seller says that it’s a good candidate to restore, but why bother? It looks perfect as-is.
Always liked these trucks. Buddy had one, black 5sp. Excellent hunting vehicle. We went out for geese one morning in the corn fields..and let me tell ya they are tight on the inside if you’re a big guy.
That 4.0 doesn’t disappoint.
I like this Pioneer in beige, basic rims, and the autoloader suits it well.
Wanted to give you a thumbs up but for some reason that feature seems to not want to work more often then not on this site. Are others having the same issue?
Thumbs up alphasud. Same problem on my end !
I am!
Quite a few deserve upvotes, and I just can’t give ’em!
Stan, for sure, and alphasud OFTEN!
Same thumb 👍 issue
I enjoyed my BF membership for the past three years until this started happening to me. When it came time to renew, I didn’t. But I figured they would get this sorted out. They didn’t. I decided I would rejoin, if the thumbs up feature worked for me consistently for one week. It didn’t. Now I still try to use it and it works on some posts, but not others. and not even for a full day. One has to wonder how many other former paying members there are due to this?
The thumbs up is all fixed now. It was an outdated javascript that was causing the problem!
We can thank Jose Dedeurwaerder ( then president of AMC) for what I consider the savior of the Jeep name. It was clear, the J series was outdated, and a smaller truck was needed. It wasn’t near as successful as the XJ Cherokee, but at just over $7grand new, it was the cheapest of the 4×4 smaller pickups. Great find, you won’t find a better 4×4 truck. I sincerely mean that.
👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍
Stan…it works!!! 😂😂😂 yippee 🎉🎆
Another problem. Stan’s thumb is down for the count and his other thumb doesn’t face the right direction!
Only thing I’d do either the oil leak is wipe it up or throw a boot tray underneath.
What’s a guy to do?
I bought an 85 four cylinder. Rugged little piece but really underpowered. Replaced it with an 87 4. Liter aisin auto, long box. What a fine little truck. Wish I still had it…
Love my Cherokee and would love to have this truck. The 4.0 isn’t even broken in at 71k. The Cherokee is @ 240k and still kicking. @ $8200 this might be worth the trip from central PA to IA.
Nice find! A real unicorn is to find one of these with the Renault diesel. I looked at one about 15 yrs ago near Racine Wisconsin…very rusted and beat.
Stelantis needs something this size to compete with the Ford Maverick pickup.
Broke my heart when Stelantis bought Jeep and Chrysler. Do not understand why American investors didn’t but Chrysler. Stelantis have already ruined the Jeep. I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and grow up watching the evolution of Jeeps from my back yard. I just hate what they have done with Jeeps over the years. Stelantis isn’t in the truck business and I doubt they will put R and D into a small truck. They are going all out for EVs, which I think will hurt them, so an EV truck may not be an appealing buy for most people. On the other hand I love the old Jeep pick ups. Wish there were more out there but most were worked to the ground because they were built as work horses not EV. EV Jeep, I still shake when I think about it.
Nice find, after Chrysler took over jeep they stopped building these and focused on the Dakota instead this was the better built truck.
Awesome looking Jeep! If only more pictures were posted. It’s too bad it was discontinued when it was.
If only pics were still available of the Jeep Comanche.