Jeep and Mopar Take on the AEV Brute With the Wrangler JK8

[whitejeep1989]

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/n...ent/index.html

The JK8 Independence kit will be available this summer from Jeep/Mopar! No pricing yet.

[Señor Peligro]

Just make it stop. It's like Chinese water torture, these Jeep pickups. Just ****ing put it in the dealerships already.

[ry_guy]

I really REALLY dig that.

[iamsuperdan]

I like it, but Jeep should just quit pissing around and build their Nukizer 715 concept instead.

[Keybordem]

That thing is way too wide! Look at the picture with the parking spaces that would never fly. Hummer got away with it, because there arent very many of them. It's still a cool truck concept though.

Also wranglers have always been narrow for a reason. Something that big would be pointless unless you're in the desert or mud.

[whitejeep1989]

That thing is way too wide! Look at the picture with the parking spaces that would never fly. Hummer got away with it, because there arent very many of them. It's still a cool truck concept though.

Also wranglers have always been narrow for a reason. Something that big would be pointless unless you're in the desert or mud.

The Nukizer concept?

[MRVW00]

this is exactly what i"m looking for!!!!!

How much mopar!?

[Turbio!]

Just make it stop. It's like Chinese water torture, these Jeep pickups. Just ****ing put it in the dealerships already.

Looks to me that it'll be available from the Mopar catalog. So I see no reason why I shouldn't start fapping like a macaque - erm, sorry, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to recreate this truck yourself.

[bzcat]

Looks to me that it'll be available from the Mopar catalog. So I see no reason why I shouldn't start fapping like a macaque - erm, sorry, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to recreate this truck yourself.

Come on now, it's not the same as buying one off the lot. It's not that difficult for Chrysler to make the pickup version on the regular assembly line. They should do it... I mean TCL is already guaranteed 4 or 5 sales.

[whitejeep1989]

this is exactly what i"m looking for!!!!!

How much mopar!?

The AEV Brute conversion for the TJ is around $9K. I would expect the JK8 to cost similar.

http://www.quadratec.com/showcases/aev/brute/

[SSLByron]

Don't find that attractive at all. It needs some styling to the bed.

Step in the right direction, at least.

[iamsuperdan]

That thing is way too wide! Look at the picture with the parking spaces that would never fly. Hummer got away with it, because there arent very many of them. It's still a cool truck concept though.

Also wranglers have always been narrow for a reason. Something that big would be pointless unless you're in the desert or mud.

Aren't very many Hummers? What part of the world do you live in? They're as common as a Frod Focus around here.

It has a standard Wrangler windshield. And some wider flares. It's no wider than most full sized pickups. And for those that do venture offroad, not all Jeep offroading requires a narrow Jeep.

I'd take it over the JK8 any day, even if it meant I couldn't squeeze between trees.

[Mr. Chaos]

The AEV Brute conversion for the TJ is around $9K. I would expect the JK8 to cost similar.

http://www.quadratec.com/showcases/aev/brute/

im thinking it will be less since the brute also comes with a bed while the jk8 is just a cab close out it will prob be closer in price to a rubitrux conversion at $3k-$5k
http://rubitrux.com/conversions.htm



*also technically the rubitrux is just the cab closeout on the brute without removing the back half of the jeep and putting a bed on and the price includes labor

[whitejeep1989]

Don't find that attractive at all. It needs some styling to the bed.

Step in the right direction, at least.

Jeep has shown more refined concepts in the past, but those would have all needed to be factory built.

[dhoyle]

I don't have anything constructive to add, but...

Love me some Brute. They make me feel funny.

[Cousin Eddie]

im thinking it will be less since the brute also comes with a bed while the jk8 is just a cab close out it will prob be closer in price to a rubitrux conversion at $3k-$5k
http://rubitrux.com/conversions.htm


*also technically the rubitrux is just the cab closeout on the brute without removing the back half of the jeep and putting a bed on and the price includes labor

The rubitrux "conversion" is simply a half-top. That's a TJ Unlimited with the half top on it, that's it. There's no "conversion" to be done. To make a BRUTE involves using a TJ Unlimited and cutting the tub, adding the bed, etc.

[Hostile]

That thing is way too wide! Look at the picture with the parking spaces that would never fly. Hummer got away with it, because there arent very many of them. It's still a cool truck concept though.

You shut your whore mouth!

It's not that wide...it's on the line on the left and about 1.5-2' away from the right-side line. Full-size pickups are just as wide, if not wider and they are all over the place. Hummer didn't "get away" with anything...

[Turbio!]

The AEV Brute conversion for the TJ is around $9K. I would expect the JK8 to cost similar.

http://www.quadratec.com/showcases/aev/brute/

The Brute conversion is a helluva lot more than $9k. Double that, and you're getting close, once all is said and done.

[zerovdub]

I like it, but Jeep should just quit pissing around and build their Nukizer 715 concept instead.

[IMG]sex[/IMG]

you get my vote for president, sir.

[TurboMinivan]

The Brute conversion is a helluva lot more than $9k. Triple that, and you're getting close, once all is said and done.

Fixed that for you, based on my co-worker who owns one he built himself.

[TurboMinivan]

To make a BRUTE involves using a TJ Unlimited and cutting the tub, adding the bed, cutting and extending the middle of the frame (between the axles), cutting and extending the rear of the frame (behind the rear axle), etc.

There's some extra insight for you.

[Quinn1.8t]

...Double that, and you're getting close, once all is said and done.

Fixed that for you, based on my co-worker who owns one he built himself.

That is if you also want the 5.7 Hemi, highline fenders, hood, etc. right? If you just want only the pickup conversion, but keep the 4.0 and the stock body panels and only put 31's on there, did all the fab work yourself, I assume it would cost considerably less, no?

[Cousin Eddie]

There's some extra insight for you.

That was part of the etc.

But I appreciate sharin' the knowledge.

[TurboMinivan]

That is if you also want the 5.7 Hemi, highline fenders, hood, etc. right? If you just want only the pickup conversion, but keep the 4.0 and the stock body panels and only put 31's on there, did all the fab work yourself, I assume it would cost considerably less, no?

My co-worker retained the stock engine, transmission and axles. You can clearly see that he upgraded to the high fender kit, but remember: he got his hardware--all of it--at his company's wholesale cost... which means he didn't spend any more money at AEV than you would if you just bought the basic kit. So you aren't saving any money there compared to him.

But what about the lift? He did all that installation himself (since he had years of experience doing this for his company), so there was no labor for that. The lift kit, again, he got for wholesale cost... so he spent less than you're thinking he did.

The elephant in the room is the body shop labor. As I mentioned, you have to cut the frame in the center of the vehicle, graft in extensions, then you have to cut the frame at the rear and extend that, also. But what's worse is modifying the tub itself. This isn't some redneck sawzall maneuver you rush right through. You have to drill through lots of body welds, carefully separating the external body shell from the inner body, then make like a surgeon and cut both pieces so they match the Brute kit. Then you get to weld it all together and grind it smooth so it looks OEM. After that, prime, paint and clearcoat for a nice finish. (You did remember to completely gut the entire interior before you started, didn't you?)

AEV claims the kit takes 60 hours to install. Matt says that would only be true if you already have experience building dozens of Brutes. For your first time out, Matt says it takes 200 hours of labor to do it right. Sure, you could half-ass it in a few places to try and save some time, but the end result would clearly demonstrate your impatience (or inexperience) and it would look... well, half-assed.

Matt sums it up best when he says he cannot imagine someone building a Brute for less than $35,000 (including the donor Jeep, which he only paid $8500 for) since he is in his more than that. In my opinion, the only way you'd undercut that price is if you (a) are a professional body man with decades of experience so you don't have to farm out the body work, (b) an experienced mechanic who can properly modify suspensions and such so you don't have to farm that out, either and (c) you can also get all your parts from every vendor at wholesale cost.

[Turbio!]

That is if you also want the 5.7 Hemi, highline fenders, hood, etc. right? If you just want only the pickup conversion, but keep the 4.0 and the stock body panels and only put 31's on there, did all the fab work yourself, I assume it would cost considerably less, no?

What TM said - $9k might do you for the parts alone, but I've looked into Brutes, and they take significantly more specialist technical labor than AEV would have you believe.

[TurboMinivan]

I've looked into Brutes, and they take significantly more specialist technical labor than AEV would have you believe.

Just for fun, let's look into that. How much labor could really be involved? And how expensive could it really get? Well, here's a real world example.

Warn (as in the company) decided they wanted a bad ass Brute. So they delivered a stock Wrangler to AEV along with a Warn front bumper/winch combo. "Build us a Brute that kicks ass," they said. So AEV did. Here's what Warn got in return:









In addition to the "mere" Brute kit, they also installed the high clearance fender upgrade, plus a 6" long arm lift, plus the wheels and tires, plus Portal-Tek axles with ARB air lockers front and rear, and--since we're spending money--they tossed in the 5.7L Hemi conversion as well. Tah-dah! Here ya go, Warn.

How much did AEV bill Warn for their handiwork? $125,000.

Now obviously that hardware came at a hefty cost. Nevertheless, the labor is a significant cost in building a Brute... one which should not be dismissed lightly.

[MCTB]

Oh man, how I want portal axles. Badly want portals. Theres $12K+ in axles alone in that Brute. Personally, If I were going to look for a single cab, midsize pickup for off road use, a Brute wouldnt be it. I would pick up a Defender 110 HCPU or an FJ45 (much more comfortable than the 110). That would eliminate all of the frame/ body/ sheetmetal modification needs (plus, I think theyre a little cooler).

[bzcat]

Oh man, how I want portal axles. Badly want portals. Theres $12K+ in axles alone in that Brute. Personally, If I were going to look for a single cab, midsize pickup for off road use, a Brute wouldnt be it. I would pick up a Defender 110 HCPU or an FJ45 (much more comfortable than the 110). That would eliminate all of the frame/ body/ sheetmetal modification needs (plus, I think theyre a little cooler).

FJ45 is nice but Toyota doesn't sell it anymore.

The FJ70 on the other hand... still showroom fresh

[Quinn1.8t]

What TM said - $9k might do you for the parts alone, but I've looked into Brutes, and they take significantly more specialist technical labor than AEV would have you believe.

Just for fun, let's look into that. How much labor could really be involved? And how expensive could it really get? Well, here's a real world example.

How much did AEV bill Warn for their handiwork? $125,000.

Now obviously that hardware came at a hefty cost. Nevertheless, the labor is a significant cost in building a Brute... one which should not be dismissed lightly.

I think your first example of your friend Matt was a better "real world" example than that beast built for Warn. It comes at no surprise that it cost that much to build a TJ with custom axles, suspension, drivetrain, etc. And have someone else do ALL the work for you.

Edit: Not trying to knock you thought, thanks for sharing both examples

[BOOSTAHOLIC]

I'm thinking this kit will land some where between 10-15k, easily.. It's "MOPAR" I mean look at the third party campers they used for for the "Jeep wrangler" the pop up ones.. the actual retailer who makes them sells them for nearly 5k less I believe.. an no difference except for some Jeep logos and colours..

But saying that.. I gotta trade the 2 for a 4 door now

[patrickvr6]

The FJ70 on the other hand... still showroom fresh

I think there is a way to get these in the US too. Some mining company sells them as construction equipment, there was a thread on here about them not long ago. Unfortunately cheap wasn't part of the equation.

[whitejeep1989]

I think there is a way to get these in the US too. Some mining company sells them as construction equipment, there was a thread on here about them not long ago. Unfortunately cheap wasn't part of the equation.

If you want to buy a vehicle like the JK8 and not do the work yourself, then check out the JGMS J8. JGMS builds military and industrial Jeeps for foreign govts., logging companies, and private security firms. The JK8 body is basically a J8 in kit form.

http://www.jgms.com/

[whitejeep1989]

Oh man, how I want portal axles. Badly want portals. Theres $12K+ in axles alone in that Brute. Personally, If I were going to look for a single cab, midsize pickup for off road use, a Brute wouldnt be it. I would pick up a Defender 110 HCPU or an FJ45 (much more comfortable than the 110). That would eliminate all of the frame/ body/ sheetmetal modification needs (plus, I think theyre a little cooler).

If we are talking rare and exotic pick-ups, Jeep built the CJ-based CJ10 for sale in the Middle East, in the 1980s. There probably are not many here in America.

[Turbio!]

The real question....is it macho? And if so....is it mucho macho?

[MCTB]

FJ45 is nice but Toyota doesn't sell it anymore.

The FJ70 on the other hand... still showroom fresh

Those would be awesome if we could actually get them in the US. I threw up examples of ones that you can find in the US and are street legal. You can import them as mine trucks, etc... but then they arent on road legal. There are a couple people, most notably Proffitts Cruisers, who are taking 70 bodies and putting them on 60 or 80 series frames (still cheaper than building a Brute).

The Honcho is too big. Thats a full size Jeep built on a proper truck chassis not starting life off as a regular Jeep.

I have never seen the CJ pickup (besides a Scrambler half cab) like that before and I thank my lucky stars. MAN, that thing is UGLY. I just put two, sub $20k mid size pickups for an example of what you can do for less money. Both are readily available and both have a killer aftermarket to support them and both can be made to be pretty comfortable, even though they are a tad bit older.