Jeep Trucks

Aftermarket Jeep Trucks
Looking for someone a little more modern or custom? The aftermarket has stepped up to fill the void in Jeep trucks with several unique options that are stylish and functional.

AEV Brute
The Brute is the original TJ pickup conversion. American Expedition Vehicle offers the Brute in kit form so you can turn your TJ into a pickup, or you can have AEV perform the conversion for you. The kit includes an enclosed half-cab, a frame extension, and a separate bed.

Wheelbase (in): 117
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 67

AEV Brute Double Cab
Building on the success of the TJ Brute, AEV took the concept to the next level with the JK Brute Double Cab. The cab is enclosed behind the front doors, and a 61-inch bed is added to the 23-inch stretched chassis. Currently these conversions are only available directly from AEV, but in the future we would expect a kit like AEV offers for the TJ Brute.

Wheelbase (in): 139
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 61

Mopar JK8
Although Jeep isn’t offering a factory pickup, the Mopar performance division does offer a kit to convert a JK Unlimited to an extra-cab pickup. We have seen JK8 conversions on dealership lots, allowing you to finance the entire vehicle and drive a brand-new Jeep pickup off the showroom floor.

Wheelbase (in): 116
True Pickup?: No
Bed Length (in): 50

Burnsville JK Hauler
The JK Hauler takes a four-door JK, encloses it behind the rear doors, and puts it on a Power Wagon chassis. This way you end up not only with a Jeep pickup, but a bigger engine and heavier-duty axles at the same time.

Wheelbase (in): 153
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length: Custom to order

TJ Unlimited Half Cab
Want to give your TJ Unlimited the look of a Scrambler? GR8Tops offers half-cabs and bulkhead kits for TJs, LJs, and YJs. This is the easiest way to get that pickup look from your modern Jeep.

Wheelbase (in): 103
True Pickup?: No
Bed Length (in): 481⁄2

Prototype Jeep Trucks
Jeep has made a number of prototype pickups in the last few years to test the waters on the possibility of producing a pickup. They range from the functional to the fanatical, but they all give us a glimpse of what is going on inside the minds of Jeep engineers and corporate brass.

Gladiator
The Gladiator was unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. Although few knew it at the time, it gave us a hint as to what the JK would look like. Like the JK8 kit offered by Mopar, the Gladiator was an extra-cab, but it also had a pass-through to the cab like a Chevy Avalanche.

Wheelbase (in): 138
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 66

Nukizer
Perhaps the most popular Jeep concept truck to date was the Nukizer (pronounced “new-kaiser”) that Jeep brought to Moab in 2010. The Nukizer used an Egyptian J8 chassis with an AEV Brute bed and stepside flares. Power came from a 2.8L diesel from a Liberty, further taunting us with things we cannot have: a solid axle, diesel Jeep.

Wheelbase (in): 124
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 67

Mighty FC
The most radical Jeep truck concept was undeniably the Mighty FC. The drivetrain used standard JK parts, with the addition of portal axles for massing ground clearance. The heavily modified JK cab was situated over the front tires with an 8-foot Tafco bed featuring fold-down sides for easy access.

Wheelbase (in): 117
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 96

JT
The JT concept debuted at the 2009 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab. It used a production JK drivetrain and chassis with body parts from a J8 Jeep that is built in Egypt for their military forces. The bed was integral with the cab and measured 47 inches wide by 61 inches long, with a tailgate that swings open to the side. This is closest thing we have seen to a production truck. It was built entirely with off-the-shelf parts and would not be difficult for Chrysler to put into production.

Wheelbase (in): 116
True Pickup?: No
Bed Length (in): 61

J12
The J12 was built on a stretched JK Unlimited chassis and was unveiled at the 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari (see a theme here?). It wore a retro Gladiator grille and had a 6-foot bed , but unlike the Nukizer and Mighty FC, the cab was integrated with the bed.

Wheelbase (in): 116
True Pickup?: No
Bed Length (in): 72

Military Jeep Trucks
Jeeps were born in war, and not just bobtail MBs. Jeep pickups have served our armed services for decades in a variety of capacities. They often were built on civilian chassis and had drivetrain components that are interchangeable with their more pedestrian brethren, but with the addition of cool features like blackout lights and fording kits.

CJ-10A
These Jeeps were used as military airplane tugs in the U.S. and are easily identified by their headlights, which are in the front fenders instead of the grille. Foreign versions of the CJ-10 were true pickups, but we never received those here. Also realize that all CJ-10As were 2WD, but they use a modified J20 frame so a Dana 44 bolts right in. A cover plate over the transfer case locks the NP208 case permanently in low range, but don’t fret. That can easily be remedied.

Years Produced: 1984-1986
Total Production: 2,300
Engine Offered: Nissan SD33 diesel
Wheelbase (in): 88
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length: Negligible

What to Look for: If you can pick up a CJ-10A from a surplus auction for cheap you are well on your way to a unique wheeling rig.
What to Avoid: Converting a CJ-10A for trail use requires a fair amount of custom fabrication. The Nissan engines are underpowered. CJ-10As share the engine with Scouts, and turbo kits are available for added power.

M715
The M715 is the heavy-duty, military version of the J truck. They use 24V electronics and rode on a heavy-duty suspension and Dana 70 axles that distinguished the M715 from their civilian counterparts. The M715 also has large wheel openings that will accept 38-inch-tall tires with the stock suspension.

Years Produced: 1967-1969
Total Production: 33,000
Engine Offered: 231ci Tornado I-6
Wheelbase (in): 131
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 92

What to Look for: If you are not looking to restore the truck, try to find one that has already been converted to 12V electronics and front disc brakes. Small-block swaps are common too, but these can range from sano to hack job.
What to Avoid: Prices on M715s vary widely, so be patient when shopping for the best deal.

M35A2
You want the biggest, baddest Jeep on the block? The M35A2 is it. No need to swap in Rockwell axles—this is the vehicle that came with them! They are incredibly heavy and loud, get lousy fuel mileage, and are awesome. This is not the vehicle to pick if you want to keep a low profile. Further ruining the M35A2’s chances as a getaway vehicle is the 55-mph top speed.

Years Produced: 1950-1988
Total Production: 78,000
Engines Offered: OA-331 Continental Gas I-6, LDS-427 Turbo Multifuel I-6, LDS-465 Multifuel I-6
Wheelbase (in): 154
True Pickup?: Yes
Bed Length (in): 144

What to Look for: We have been eyeing “bobbed deuces,” which remove the rear axle to create a giant 4WD Jeep.
What to Avoid: Remember that military vehicles were driven like rentals their entire lives, so check closely for undercarriage damage and any field fixes that might require work soon.