Body And Interior
When Richard bought the Jeep, it wasn't street legal. It was missing a windshield frame, wipers, turn signals, lights, and other things the local law enforcement tends to notice you're going without. In order to put a stock windshield frame on the Jeep, Richard first had to modify the cage, but eventually he got all the factory gizmos back where they belong and operating. The cage offers plenty of protection from the sides and top while still tucking up tight for a decent amount of interior room. A pair of el cheapo aftermarket buckets replaced the tattered factory jobbies, but the dash, shifter, and other controls remain just as Ma Mopar made 'em.
Since the repositioned rear axle required the fuel tank to be relocated, it was encased in tubing at the rear of the Jeep. As such, there's not much storage room in the back of the Jeep. Just enough for a Hi-Lift Jack, a few spare parts, and a tire if the trail calls for it. Toward the front, the factory fenders and front bumper were ditched in favor of some round and rectangular tubing, as it were, but the hood is a factory original. Between the lack of a rear body and the removal of the front fenders, there's plenty of room to swing the 37x12.50-17 BFG Krawlers mounted on 17x9 Trail Ready bead locks.
Good, Bad, & What's It For
Although at first blush it looks like just another tube buggy with a TJ front clip, we appreciate all of the reliable factory engineering that was left in place. Even the onboard air system employs the factory TJ A/C compressor. The suspension, although seemingly custom, employs a bunch of off-the-shelf parts, so replacements or even spares should be readily obtainable.
There's a nice Warn 9500 winch waiting up front and enough body armor to make it a fun wheeler since you won't constantly be worrying about dents and scratches. We do think the hydraulic assist hoses are a bit long and vulnerable and that the rig doesn't really need to sit so high to accommodate the smallish tires, especially since there's no body to speak of.
Why I Featured It
It's already been stated. It's a fun rig with factory reliability, big and beefy parts where they're needed, and a body and chassis that doesn't require any wasted brain power worrying about damage. Add the fact that it's a darn capable rig into the mix, and we feel it's something that our readers wouldn't be sorry to emulate.-Christian Hazel