I have seen a few threads on here about Jeep utes, both the AEV Brute and the Jeep concept JT pickup. I think they look awesome.
http://www.aev-conversions.com/photos/album3.php
http://www.jeepjt.com/
At 9000 USD for parts only, the Brute is a bit pricy for me (tightar$e
)The easy way to get a Jeep Ute is one of these Gr8tops:
One thing I noticed is that the SWB Wrangler looks a bit funny as a ute, it think the standard wheel base is 93.4 inches
Both the Brute and JT are significantly longer (117.4 & 116 inches respectively). Cutting and lenthening the TJ chassis looks like hard work, and if you get out of line you will crab across the road. Registration could be a problem also.
So as a lazy b@stard, I though it would be easier to take a shortcut. What if you took tha body of the TJ, chassis of the XJ and a Brute cab, and build a steel bed tray. Since the TJ & XJ share engine, transmission, I think axles, I am guessing the cab/chassis interface could almost be a bolt up swap. The wheelbase of XJ is 101.4 inches.
Does anyone think this is the case? Any comments on the feasability of such a proposal would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Mick