The annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari will be held this year from April 16 - 24 and feature, thanks to Chrysler and Mopar, some fairly awesome customized Jeep products. One of which you can build yourself in a weekend -- if you're fast.
The Jeep Scrambler CJ-8 ( above ) is available as a conversion kit which turns the Wrangler into a two-seat pickup with a 50-inch bed offering 44 inches between the wheel wells. This particular one runs on 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2s.
Other vehicles include the Wrangler Blue Crush -- a 540-horsepower, 7.1-liter monster inspired by the King of Hammers desert race with all of the normal off road race trimmings and 39-inch tires.
We're also looking at the Compass Canyon with Rocky Road Suspension lift and Jeep Liberty rims and the Cherokee Overland (Liberty-based Jeep sold overseas) which is a "small, light adventure platform alternative" which has a 2.8-liter turbo-diesel and fat Mickey Thompson tires and ARB suspension and roof rack.
Oh, and while it's not a Jeep, they are going to be showing off the Mopar Ram Runner pickup which is a conversion for 2009 - 2011 Ram 1500 owners featuring fiberglass fenders and bed sides with high-clearance wheel wells and race-ready suspension. The suspension runs $13,270, the bumper is $1,250, rear tire carrier is $1,010, rear fenders go for $1,350 while the fronts are $1,020.
smilez says:
03:07 PM, 04/ 7/11
I know I'm still dreaming, but I really, really would like a crew cab Wrangler. My kids can't ride in this JK8, as nice as it is.
stress83 says:
03:12 PM, 04/ 7/11
smilez... the Wrangler Unlimited is available with 4 doors. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your reply.
smilez says:
03:15 PM, 04/ 7/11
I want the 4-doors AAAAND the pickup bed. Throw in the HEMI while your at it.
Like I said, dreamin'. Even though you can do a HEMI swap.
lostboyz says:
04:03 PM, 04/ 7/11
smilez, sounds like what you want is a powerwagon, or the offroad dakota
Awesome showing, can't wait to see them in action
altimadude05 says:
04:15 PM, 04/ 7/11
That Compass looks an awful lot like a Murano.
smilez says:
04:37 PM, 04/ 7/11
lostboyz -
Powerwagon is too big and the Dakota has one of the worst interiors in the business, not to mention it will be replaced soon.
Plus, I'm a Jeep guy and would like to stay that way. I am looking forward to seeing what the new Dakota will look like.
I had an F-150 and loved the versatility of it and the truck itself. But it was big and it was a guzzler, so I would like something smaller with better mileage that will still tow 5,000+. The Pentastar will be a nice addition.
lostboyz says:
06:11 PM, 04/ 7/11
@smilez,
hate to burst your bubble, there is no new dakota. Also, I agree on the spartan interior, but coming from a jeep guy I didn't think that would matter.
smilez says:
06:34 PM, 04/ 7/11
lostboyz -
A) per ALLPAR: "The Dodge Dakota will be resurrected as a smaller, lighter pickup (as we reported in 2007) with a coil suspension, sold as the 2012 Ram Dakota. Sources tell us it'll be based on the minivan platform which is capable of the task. This was practically confirmed by news that the truck will be built at Windsor, the minivan plant. A Jeep pickup was shown to dealers in September 2010 but this may not be a “definite.” "
I hope it's true, it would be another step in the right direction.
B) Just because I get dirty, doesn't mean I don't like a nice interior, and apparently a lot of other people feel the same which is why they invested so much on the new interiors. I'd have an Unlimited right now if it wasn't for two things: 1) no Pentastar yet (can't afford the HEMI sawp); 2) 3500lb. tow rating.
lostboyz says:
06:45 PM, 04/ 7/11
as per...lets just say someone I know, thats not true. If you want to bet on it let me know.
smilez says:
07:22 PM, 04/ 7/11
Bet on it? I'm just quoting from a fairly reliable source. Regardless of what you may or may not know, and if what I read is true or not, I'll wait to hear it from Sergio Marchionnes' mouth.
It's not like I can't sleep until I know...
lostboyz says:
03:40 AM, 04/ 8/11
I'm just saying, I know a little bit more than allpar, and I wouldn't mind making some money on the deal. Theres a reason small trucks in america are disappearing, nobody (relatively) wants them. Ranger, colorado, and dakota are all dead as of MY2011.
deanoflas says:
05:33 AM, 04/ 8/11
I'd say look at a Ford Explorer Sport Trac
milt721 says:
08:05 AM, 04/ 8/11
Lost-
I can't speak for the others, but there will be a 2012 Colorado and Canyon.
firstwagon says:
08:14 AM, 04/ 8/11
"Theres a reason small trucks in america are disappearing, nobody (relatively) wants them. Ranger, colorado, and dakota are all dead as of MY2011. "
You mean no one wants those trucks.
The Ranger was a good truck but that was before half the people on this board were born. The Colorado felt cheaper and cruder then the ancient S10 it replaced and the last good looking Dakota was built in 2003.
People will buy small trucks, car makers just have to build something worth buying (and I don't think a pick up based on a minivan is it).
lostboyz says:
08:38 AM, 04/ 8/11
@milt721, they are building out 2011s, shreveport AP isn't building anything right anyway.
firstwagon, say what you want, they stopped putting money into them when sales started dropping. The colorado was terrible and the Dakota hasn't changed since 2003.
smilez says:
08:42 AM, 04/ 8/11
firstwagon -
+1
I'd comment more on the current offerings, but that''s like beating a dead horse...which is exactly what they are, dead horses.
The Tacoma and Frontier/Equator are selling relatively well, and they are now the only choices.
lostboyz, if you think nobody from the Big 3 is going to answer the call, THAT, I will place a wager on in a heartbeat.
deanoflas -
the Sport Trac is O.K., but there are plenty of reasons for me not to consider it.
stress83 says:
09:10 AM, 04/ 8/11
"the Sport Trac is O.K., but there are plenty of reasons for me not to consider it."
Like the fact its underpinnings are nearly two decades old?
firstwagon says:
11:04 AM, 04/ 8/11
"firstwagon, say what you want, they stopped putting money into them when sales started dropping. The colorado was terrible and the Dakota hasn't changed since 2003."
Like small cars, small trucks are an afterthought in the US. Bigger is better, right? They are finally putting some effort into small cars since they make so much more sense, hopefully they will realize the same is true about small trucks. (just ask the rest of the world).
And I should have 2004 instead of 2003 for the Dakota but it certainly has changed. IMHO the last good looking Dakota was the 1997 to 2004 generation.
lostboyz says:
11:40 AM, 04/ 8/11
nobody really buys small trucks in europe either, mostly fleets and farmers. Can't forget the hilux in the middle east though, but they are all from the 80s.
desmolicious says:
04:09 PM, 04/ 8/11
When is the 8 speed transmission and the 280hp v6 showing up in the Wrangler?
firstwagon says:
02:35 PM, 04/ 9/11
The 280 HP V6 will be in the 2012 model year. Not sure when in the next year though.
They have already stopped production of the 3.8 (from what I read) so it's just a matter of time.
Haven't heard any word on the 8 speed but since that's an automatic it doesn't really matter :).
firstwagon says:
03:12 PM, 04/ 9/11
The 280 HP V6 will be in the 2012 model year. Not sure when in the next year though.
They have already stopped production of the 3.8 (from what I read) so it's just a matter of time.
Haven't heard any word on the 8 speed but since that's an automatic it doesn't really matter :).
firstwagon says:
03:51 PM, 04/ 9/11
Odd. It posted the same post 40 minutes apart.