Jalopnik
We're like four months away from the 2007 aftermarket parts blowout in Vegas, and already the automaker formerly known as the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid's looking to push out the concept cars they'll be showing come November. Apparently they liked the reaction to the AEV Jeep Brute concept so much they've come out with one of their own — a truck they're calling the Wrangler JT concept. Somehow I feel as if we've already figured out what the "JT" stands for. But like every Jeep, it's got to pull it's weight to get the trail-rated badge, and the JT's no different — because as you can see from the gallery below, it appears to have the get-up-and-go necessary to get it out of the Hell's Revenge trail in Moab, Utah. True, it's not enough to really get the trail-rated badge, it's certainly better than what we're betting the Compass can do. But what do you expect, since the JT is built off of the Wrangler Unlimited's extended 116-inch wheelbase, we're assuming it can do anything the Unlimited can do, and maybe even better. The folks at Jeep have also slapped on a 3-inch suspension lift from Superlift, 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires, a Ramsey 9500 UT winch and Mopar rear bumper and rock rails to give it just a bit more off-street cred. As avid fans of the AEV-produced Brute conversion kit built off of the TJ Wrangler, we're happy to see the JK getting a chance for glory by becoming a Jeep truck as well.
Related:
Spy Photos: 2007 Jeep "Scrambler" Wrangler-Based Pickup? [internal]
Comments
Tits. On. Glass.
I just pooped my pants.
"...we've already figured out what the "JT" stands for"
Just a Tease.
@Bumblebee: More likely than "Jeep Truck."
Not "Jalopy Truck"?
I'd sell like hotcakes did before bagels came around.
"It'd" not "I'd"
I love it. I wonder if that roof comes off, like the old Scrambler half-cabs.
Commanche!
I was there!!!!!! Those pics are from one of the "hot tubs" in Moab. I actually have video of it going through. Pretty cool rig, even though the cab started to crack after a few days of hardcore wheelin. I'm sure that will be fixed before SEMA. Gotta give it to the Jeep guys, they're not scared to take a one-off vehicle out and use it!!
@JSmith53: When I was pre-driving age kid, I though the Scrambler half-cab was the coolest right after Scout half cabs.
Alas, like this, there is some impracticality. I'd want more seats and I don't like geting all my shit wet. A hard top would ruin it, though a tonneau might be excusable.
Oh, and there is just something very very cool about any truck that allows open air motoring, be it 'Mog, Pinz, Kaiser, Jeep. Ok, maybe not any, there was the convertible Dakota.
Methinks this should be the Fantasy Garage's parts hauler. Totally badass, and since it's Trail-Rated, it can definitely reach any busted Fantasy machine without a care in the world.
@78TLC:
never never never forget the first gen 4runners.
i miss mine SO bad.
Built and call it a Scrambler.
I liked the Gladiator concept better though, the bed seemed more useful.
@Emeraldthirteen: Hmmmm....
I...need...to go...to the bathroom for a little while...
Please please please let them build this. And please please please let it have something better than the 3.8L V6.
...still drooling...
They need to find a better place for the spare tire. Taking up half the bed kinda defeats the purpose. Otherwise, I hope they build it this time instead of teasing us yet again. This is what, the third time they've trotted out a Jeep pickup concept?
Although, now that I think about it...this is just and Unlimited with the seats pulled and a half-cab.
And no rear roll bar.
And 2 doors.
As long as they're playing with the body some, it'd be cool if they pulled the rear axle forward some. I understand the massive wheelbase on the 4dr, but you could really help the breakover angle if you pulled the rear wheels forward ~8"
"Why buy just any other truck, when you can have a JEEP truck"...
If I can get it with the solid face steel wheels (pictured) in a 16 X 6 size and a new replica Goodyear Suburbanite styled tires and I will be a guaranteed purchaser. Even with the weak V6.
@Emeraldthirteen: Absolutely! Or better yet, a Wrangler with the Brute conversion kit. Yup. That's a Man's Truck.
Hey, they're bringin' back the old Jeep Laredo pick-ups. Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know... the more I look at the JT, the more I see the offspring of an H2 and a Suzuki Samurai.
@jonnylieberman:
Can't be related to the Samurai. There isn't a secondary set of wheels on the roof.:)
That's, uh, a pretty damn nice little trucklet.
According to the writeup in Car and Driver, that colour is called "hearing-aid beige," which wins coolness points on sheer obscurity.
Oh, and they need to put this into production, preferably with just enough towing capacity to pull a car and trailer. Barring that, resurect the full-sized Jeep truck off of the Commander.
@Maymar: "hearing-aid beige" has made my month.
..the winch should be made standard on it, IF they actualy do go on to sell it, lest we froget this is the 3rd 'concept' jeep pickup.
The bed looks a little small though. I don't understand pickups unless you actually plan on picking stuff up. Of course this isn't a work-truck, so the sheet of plywood test doesn't apply, but to be useful it needs to have the room in the bed for two off-road motorcycles.
Why Jeep? Why?
Why is it that you continue to tease us with sweet concepts, forcing Jeep fanboys the world over to desperately wave fistfulls of cash at you, yet you refuse to answer capitalism's siren song of "give 'em what they want"?
If this has a two foot long stick shift coming out of the floor, a coarse canvas bench seat and an AM/FM/CB radio it might be the greatest thing ever.
Also, I think everyone can agree that the spare tire should be mounted on the roof.
@BenWojdyla:
If they actually built it like that, the typical critics would call it things like "arcaic" and "a step backwards", "its lack of DVD navigation and 12 air bags puts it behind the competition".
Of course folks like you and I would go nuts for it, but may never buy one new.
@weatherman:
When i look at this thing, i think Suzuki Samurai.
While they were super crude, man could they haul off-road
@danio3834: Oh I'm not knockin' it - I'm a huge Jeep fan and as far as I'm concerned, the cruder the better. But why a JT instead of a Wrangler?
I never knew I wanted a Jeep.
Ever since I sold my last Wrangler I've wanted something like this. Dear Chrysler, please go make the damn truck - now!
Throw in a turbodiesel and I'd sell my organs for one.
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