It seems that since the Jeep CJ-8 went away in the mid-eighties, people have wanted Jeep to come through and build a pickup. After all, Jeep people are outside people and outside people generally have to carry a lot of big, dirty stuff more frequently than they want to shove people into uncomfortable rear seats. Plus, they look awesome.
Well, Chrysler has finally, kind of , relented by providing the populace with a factory conversion kit called JK-8. It's available for the Wrangler Unlimited ($25,545)for an uninstalled price of $5,499. Included in the kit is a steel bed, inner and outer bedsides, sport bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, fiberglass hardtop and bulikhead and is shipped in an 82.25-inc by 62.25-inch by 30-inch Mopar stamped wooden crate!
The kit comes with a three-year/36,000 mile warranty that covers kit materials and, if put together at a Chrysler Group dealership, the workmanship.
kain77 says:
12:41 PM, 07/14/11
"... and, if put together at a Chrysler Group dealership, the workmanship."
The folks at the Trenton engine plant will do it for you during their lunch break for a dimebag and a case of MGD.
leftnose says:
12:58 PM, 07/14/11
And if you decide to install yourself, how do you get it home since your Jeep still has a backseat and the crate looks bigger than the bed of the conversion, anyway.
smilez says:
02:02 PM, 07/14/11
leftnose -
I'm sure they ship it to your house if you want.
If I didn't have kids...
93aero says:
03:12 PM, 07/14/11
I want them to bring the Comanche back; my friend collects Jeeps like its no ones business, shes got a Comanche with 10K miles on it, blows my mind every-time i think about how old it is. Pretty rugged truck too.
06scooby says:
03:27 PM, 07/14/11
That's pretty darn cool...
stress83 says:
05:03 PM, 07/14/11
Hats off to Chrysler for offering such a kit. Reminds me of the Daytona RWD conversion kits from the early 90's. I wonder what one of those would be like with a 392 in it...
firstwagon says:
05:46 PM, 07/14/11
Nice that they offer the kit but if it's so easy you can do it yourself, why don't they just offer a JK pickup complete at the dealer?
I've seen aftermarket TJ and JK conversion pick up kits for years but Jeep keeps refusing to offer it as a regular model.
Makes no sense considering how little it would cost to do it on the assembly line.
miamifan1 says:
06:03 PM, 07/14/11
MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION:
IS THE CONVERSION REVERSIBLE?
If it is reversible, my next vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler!
Do want. Bad.
miamifan1 says:
06:09 PM, 07/14/11
after looking at the picture above, no way is it reversible. welding for those fenders, and bed. sawzall for the rollbars. grinder for the old welds.
lostboyz says:
03:59 AM, 07/15/11
@firstwagon, theres nothing easy about altering a production line especially for a low production vehicle.
firstwagon says:
07:23 PM, 07/15/11
Nothing easy about altering a production line to make a convertible, a coupe, a performance verision (i.e. CTS-V).
This is however easier, it's already designed, it required little or nothing in terms or government regs and it has a strong customer demand.
Every change cost money but this one is a no brainer.
hybris says:
07:52 PM, 07/15/11
I'll take one in bright red or black.
csubowtie says:
01:29 PM, 07/16/11
That's pretty pricey, but it sure looks great. I'm sure it won't be long 'till we see one of these with a HEMI and lift.
threemopars says:
06:26 PM, 07/16/11
I'd wait until next year...at least you'll get the 3.6L.
goaterguy says:
12:07 PM, 07/26/11
Or I can remove the rear seat and top of my Wrangler for the day I need a pickup truck and save about $7,000 (installation and painting will cost you).
You can even buy a decent used pickup truck for that kind of money.
Jeep, just bring the diesel engine and forget about all the extra fluffing.