We’ve just received a kind note from spy shooter Brenda Priddy, who informs that us that she’s been in contact with Phil Howell, Editor-in-Chief of Off-Road Magazine over the mysterious Jeep Wrangler prototype we showed you yesterday.
Well, dear readers, according to Mr. Howell, the mule is in fact a prototype of a model designed to sell to foreign militaries—there are tragically no plans to sell this in the civilian market.
Howell indicates that the mule is a diesel-powered offering with a Dana 60 rear-end and a leaf spring rear suspension (as we showed you). There are apparently a number of these prototypes that have been mocked up, with no plans to offer them in the U.S., and in fact no firm orders yet from foreign governments.
Judging by our readership’s response, we’re hoping that Mr. Howell is in the wrong, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of plausibility.
Can we expect the 09 Dodge Ram reside on the 2008 Dakota frame?
Key: loose length size but push more cab forward to retain inside space and still save weight...what platform can they share to make a profitable truck?
PLUS...........
Last edited by hemidakota : 08-16-2007 at 05:28 PM.
We’ve just received a kind note from spy shooter Brenda Priddy, who informs that us that she’s been in contact with Phil Howell, Editor-in-Chief of Off-Road Magazine over the mysterious Jeep Wrangler prototype we showed you yesterday.
Well, dear readers, according to Mr. Howell, the mule is in fact a prototype of a model designed to sell to foreign militaries—there are tragically no plans to sell this in the civilian market.
Howell indicates that the mule is a diesel-powered offering with a Dana 60 rear-end and a leaf spring rear suspension (as we showed you). There are apparently a number of these prototypes that have been mocked up, with no plans to offer them in the U.S., and in fact no firm orders yet from foreign governments.
Judging by our readership’s response, we’re hoping that Mr. Howell is in the wrong, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of plausibility.
Bwhahaha, called it!
Hemi, whatcha mean by three?
Quote: Originally Posted by suzq044
hemi/PVO - any news on my truck? .. curious to see where its at right now, and where it might show up
As far as the Jeep TK is concerned.. it looks really stubby for a pickup. You can have that same kind of room by folding forward the back seats in the JK unlimited [possibly less in the TK]; why buy the truck, if that's the case. IMO it needs to have more cargo room than a seatless JK unlimited..
First of all, it's Jeep JT, not TK. Secondly, it's a Jeep first and a pickup later, you have to understand that. The Unlimited is HUGE for a Wrangler. You're looking at a brand that is known for off road capability in a market that has some newly injected, stiff competition (H3 [with the new engine], FJ) to which the JK is Jeep's response. This vehicle has to maintain the off road prowess the Unlimited already has, Jeep can't (and knows it can't) tack on longer overhangs or add to the wheelbase. It's not meant to be a Dakota, which will undoubtedly have some version with more bed room, but won't be anywhere near as off road capable. Those looking at the unlimited have to decide what they want: Cargo space that can be used to hold extra people, or cargo space that is sealed and surfaced for hard use [plus Jeep would be smart to offer a rack system]. The JT can not be made bigger. Make no mistake, these are not pavement-biased vehicles, they're designed for serious, fender-smacking, off road abuse.
Quote: Originally Posted by suzq044
Quote: Originally Posted by hemidakota
The seat design for the rear are fold flats and the rear opens up like the Chevy and Honda to provide more space.
but the 'truck' doesnt have rear seats.. therefore -- less room for people.. and.. same amount of room for cargo [as the JK-unlimted with seats folded flat]. It needs to be LONGER. lol -- JMO tho.
Saying they both have the same room is a pretty useless statement. The JT has a sealed, external bed with a bulkhead. You can throw shit in it you wouldn't want to throw in the "internal" cargo area of a normal unlimited. The JT is for people considering a 2 door JK that want more space or the increased utility of a external bed. People requiring so much more room really aren't in the market for a Jeep anyway, they'll be more satisfied with a Dakota (hopefully, ChryCo, take notice). The JK, though the best riding Wrangler ever, still compromises on road to maintain off road leadership. The JT is not designed with trips to Home Depot and towing in mind, hence being debuted at the Easter Jeep Safari @ Moab, Utah.
For its primary inspiration, don't look at the Gladiators or even the MJ Comanches - look at the AEV Brute, built off the TJ. The engineers at AEV are heavily linked with ChryCo and Jeep (lots of ex Jeep guys). Long before the JK was a sketch on paper, Jeep gave serious thought to adopting AEV's vehcile and selling a Jeep TJ "pickup". That vehcile is what spawned the JK, not the traditional Jeep pickups of the past.
AEV Brute:
AEV Brute w/ Highline fenders and 39s
Dakotas need not apply:
The next thing Jeep needs is a BIGGER GAS ENGINE and a DIESEL OPTION.
The goal here is to build a pickup based Jeep but cross sharing it with Dodge as a compact as I was told. This was the motivation over couple of years ago with the showing of the Jeep Gladiator. Axing came at the right time but now, it is needed to do something about the lost truck percentage in the truck market. Beancounters have made that grave error and know it.
2 = Jeep Extended cab with dropped bed wall and folding seats
3 = Dodge Extended cab with dropped bed wall & folding seats
All of which has too be smaller than the current Dakota...if you shrink the Ram in length what would you do with the current size of the mid-class truck?
The goal here is to build a pickup based Jeep but cross sharing it with Dodge as a compact as I was told. This was the motivation over couple of years ago with the showing of the Jeep Gladiator. Axing came at the right time but now, it is needed to do something about the lost truck percentage in the truck market. Beancounters have made that grave error and know it.
2 = Jeep Extended cab with dropped bed wall and folding seats
3 = Dodge Extended cab with dropped bed wall & folding seats
All of which has too be smaller than the current Dakota...if you shrink the Ram in length what would you do with the current size of the mid-class truck?
That makes a lot of sense. Reaching back to the legacy of the 99-04 Dakota would be a damn good call.
The second JT is a great idea, so long as it remains the second version (I need my Moab-conquering Jeep pickup!)
I work at Cummins Plant#1 here in Columbus, IN. LDD is coming in..they've almost got the lines ready...the test cells are installed and running enigne tests already. Since it's a "Chrysler" move I wold say put one of these new Light Duty Diesel engines in a Wrangler...hell any truck, Jeep, 'SUV' and see what it does. Sumumabeech has 486 ft lbs of torque at the rear wheels...who knows at different points. I'm waiting for 2010 to come around to get one of these in my Jeep.
If they don't want a Jeep running around with the power of a 1500 diesel ram, detune the sucker some and drop it in the JK. That SOB would sell like hotcakes. The KJ CRD outsold their expectations, and then the decided to move the Diesel upmarket, to the WK, which appears to be tanking.
The WK was a bad choice, with the 4.7L and 5.7L, the Diesel didn't mesh into the line as well as it did with the KJ, and it really offered nothing more than a mileage increase. Bad move.
We’ve just received a kind note from spy shooter Brenda Priddy, who informs that us that she’s been in contact with Phil Howell, Editor-in-Chief of Off-Road Magazine over the mysterious Jeep Wrangler prototype we showed you yesterday.
Well, dear readers, according to Mr. Howell, the mule is in fact a prototype of a model designed to sell to foreign militaries—there are tragically no plans to sell this in the civilian market.
Howell indicates that the mule is a diesel-powered offering with a Dana 60 rear-end and a leaf spring rear suspension (as we showed you). There are apparently a number of these prototypes that have been mocked up, with no plans to offer them in the U.S., and in fact no firm orders yet from foreign governments.
Judging by our readership’s response, we’re hoping that Mr. Howell is in the wrong, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of plausibility.
I live where those guys build the AEV jeeps i even helped with one of their Grand cherokee lifted for SEMA! Based out of Missoula Montana! i worked at the jeep dealership that sells all their products at the dealer! great guys they really know their stuff! I saw their first stretched wrangler to their new stuff. HUGE inprovements and They love to build stuff for Jeep to test for future production!
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