Jeep Unviels Wrangler Pickup Truck JK8 Independence in Moab
After teasing us for months, years even, Jeep took the cover off their much rumored Jeep Wrangler based pickup truck in Moab. Taking cues from the popular Jeep Scrambler CJ-8 from the 1980’s, Mopar has designed a kit for do-it-yourselfers that converts a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a pickup truck. Wait, stop and read that last bit again. Yes, it said kit. It seems like Chrysler has opted to keep it’s Dodge Ram division happy by side stepping a true production based truck and offering an aftermarket conversion kit, much like the AEV Brute, for the new JK Wrangler.
The bed length is 50 inches and the width between wheel wells is 44 inches. The team created body panels to cover the second-row entrance and removed all of the interior parts behind the front seats—transforming the vehicle into a two-seater with just enough room for gear inside, and a pickup style bed to be used for outside cargo.
The JK-8 drivetrain is fitted with a Mopar/Dynatrac ProRock 44 front axle and stock Dana 44 rear axle, both spun with 4.88 gears. Linking the axles to the frame is a 4.5-inch long-arm suspension kit and General tires make the connection to the ground. A fresh coat of yellow paint and Mopar’s off-road bumpers for the front and rear were utilized along with a new fuel door and slush mats.
The JK-8 kit includes bed floor, inner/outer body panels, half hard top (works with Freedom Top panels), and a new bulkhead. Rumor has it the kits will retail starting at $5,000 and can be installed in 2-4 hours in your own garage. It will fit the 2007 to 2011 models. We can’t help to be slightly disappointed after seeing the Nukizer 715 Concept based of the J8 last year at Moab, and the resurgence of the 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept earlier this year. Perhaps if the kit sells well Chrysler will reconsider building the truck on its own assembly line.
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