Jeep JK-8 truck ? Real ? ?

[AMGeneral]

I heard at work this morning that this truck has been available since 2011, Has anyone seen one of these yet ? If so are they worth while ? I haven't seen any yet myself are they all smoke and mirrors ?

Thinking about a new run about truck.
AM-G

[Stuka]

I heard at work this morning that this truck has been available since 2011, Has anyone seen one of these yet ? If so are they worth while ? I haven't seen any yet myself are they all smoke and mirrors ?

Thinking about a new run about truck.
AM-G

The JK-8 is a conversion kit for a Wrangler Unlimited. Basically if you own a JKU, you can buy the kit and convert it to a JK-8.

The JK8 kit is in itself a civilian version of the body on a J8, which is the military wrangler.

JK-8:


Military J8:

[AMGeneral]

Wow ! Sharp looking truck ! Is it comparable to the Comanche ? in terms of payload/towed load ?

Wonder what they cost . . .
AM-G

[fulsizjeep]

It is comparible to a JKU.

Sorry, I had to go there because nothing Jeep makes today or in their dreams is comparible to a MJ Commanche.

[Stuka]

The J8 (military) is actually a 3/4 ton. It has a D60 rear axle with leaf springs. And the JK frame is stronger than any frame that Jeep has built in the past. Fully boxed, very rigid, lots of cross members. Main reason they are as heavy as they are.

Even a normal JKU is significantly stronger than an MJ. Gotta remember an MJ is a half bread between a uni-frame XJ and a full frame truck. The rear part of the frame on an MJ is bolted to the front half. This is their main weak point. I would consider an JK-8 to be able to handle more than an MJ. But the MJ has a bigger bed, which is certainly an advantage.

Here is the Mopar JK-8 next to an MJ:

[AMGeneral]

I been under my Comanche a few times I don't recall seeing frame sections bolted together, I could be wrong though.

So this JKU has a fully boxed frame, D60 rear and so on ?
Or
Does this JK-8 Kit include all of those components ?

AM-G

[Stuka]

I been under my Comanche a few times I don't recall seeing frame sections bolted together, I could be wrong though.

So this JKU has a fully boxed frame, D60 rear and so on ?
Or
Does this JK-8 Kit include all of those components ?

AM-G

The JKU (JK Unlimited) has a D44 rear (new gen D44, much stronger than the old D44). The D60 and leaf springs is only on the J8 (Military).

But there are several D60's available for JK's, but most of them are not cheap as they are entirely new, not junk yard axles.

[Stuka]

Oh, and all JK's have fully boxed frames. And bolted was not the correct term for the MJ. Its more like its grafted into the uni-frame section of the cab. Butis not the same as a full ladder frame. They are fine for a 1/4 ton pickup, but not comparable to larger 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames.

[AMGeneral]

I bought my Comanche new from a closing American Motors dealership, So far its pushed, pulled, and hauled everything I needed it to. It came with 3.55s but I had the dealership install 3.73s a week after I bought it and a few months later I had a heavier set of springs installed at the spring shop. Other than that I have just been driving it. The old if it ain't broke don't fix it routine.

Few years back second and third gears started growling so I bought a used AX-5 had it rebuilt for when the AX-4 fails, I was told my Dana 35 rear end wasn't worth re-gearing the first time so I picked up an AMC-20 with 4.10s already in it out of a wrecked long bed Comanche. Going to do the preventive thing and swap them in this weekend.

There I go getting off topic again, Ok back on track on ward and up ward !

So the JKU is what I need and D60 rears can be had but they are new so no used axles got it.
Any idea on what it'll cost to build a JK-8 ?

AM-G

[Stuka]

I bought my Comanche new from a closing American Motors dealership, So far its pushed, pulled, and hauled everything I needed it to. It came with 3.55s but I had the dealership install 3.73s a week after I bought it and a few months later I had a heavier set of springs installed at the spring shop. Other than that I have just been driving it. The old if it ain't broke don't fix it routine.

Few years back second and third gears started growling so I bought a used AX-5 had it rebuilt for when the AX-4 fails, I was told my Dana 35 rear end wasn't worth re-gearing the first time so I picked up an AMC-20 with 4.10s already in it out of a wrecked long bed Comanche. Going to do the preventive thing and swap them in this weekend.

There I go getting off topic again, Ok back on track on ward and up ward !

So the JKU is what I need and D60 rears can be had but they are new so no used axles got it.
Any idea on what it'll cost to build a JK-8 ?

AM-G

I think the kit is 5500, and it requires some decent welding skills. You pull off the old rear quarters and replace them with the new ones, along with the inner sides. It also comes with the new cab top (still removable), rear glass, rear cab sheet metal, bed floor, and a new roll bar assembly. Plus lots of other bits. The priced isn't horrible for what it comes with. But still quite a bit money once you consider the price of buying a JK. Even used its hard to find a JK for under 18-19k. They currently have the best resale of any vehicle (Or they did last year, this years report is not out).

Shame the J8 (military) is not available to buy, as it has a diesel a well. But the diesel wont pass any smog, so just have to wait for surplus vehicles in 20 years or so heh.

[AMGeneral]

Well the kit sounds affordable the JKU sounds a bit pricey, Most if any JKs I see around are always lifted and modified.
I would like just a nice plan jane stripped down base model.

What's a new JKU run ?
AM-G

[Stuka]

25K for a brand new one. And believe it or not, modified ones do not really demand much more than a stock one when used.

http://www.jeep.com/en/2012/wrangler_un ... top=no_top

[AMGeneral]

Yep its a pricey one for sure, I am just a bit confused why the dealership couldn't install it.
I can just see it costing about $40 grand by the time its all said and done.

I could have a nice 1ton diesel for that investment, I actually got $8 grand into the pair of my 1.25T General diesels
AM-G

[AMGeneral]

The transmission and axle swap went great everything bolted up and worked great.
Its now a 4banger 5spd model 20 short bed Comanche "SporTruck"

Well enough about that, Now back on track !

Looked at the local Jeep dealer, every 4dr Wrangler was priced at $38 grand, So that means the JK-8 is about $45,000 before the install of the kit ! That's ridiculously over priced ! For $35,800 they had a RAM-4500 4wd and a RAM-5500 2wd for $33,900 . . .

I can't justify a paying that kind of money for a little run about when I can get a commercial grade DRW diesel truck for less $$$
AM-G

[Stuka]

Sounds like all they had were loaded up rubicons, which easily reach the upper thirties :/ Which is why I bought a bare bones X (Now called sport) model.


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[AMGeneral]

I don't know, The JK-8 don't seem as cost effective as I had hoped for. If it could of been done for around $12,500 maybe even $15,000 it might have been worth it, Sounds like for used $20/25k or $38K+ new just ain't worth it to me.

Would a Jeep brute be more cost effective to build ? Did the TJ's have the 2.5/4.0 power plants still ?

That Comanche has been a great truck maybe I should just keep it.
AM-G

[Stuka]

Brutes are too rare to be cheap. They do have 4.0's, and are great rigs, but you won't find one for less than 25k I would think.


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[AMGeneral]

I wasn't going to buy a Brute, I was going to see about a used TJ-Wrangler and a get the brute kit for it.
The kit is $9,500 . . . I just haven't seen what TJ's are going for as of lately last time I looked they were all about $20K.

I was thinking about doing a 4L/NV-5spd swap being that I got the rest of the HD stuff installed. They got the 195hp/235tq 4L crate engines available yet still just need the later model computer and engine harness.

AM-G

[Stuka]

For the Brute kit you have to get an LJ, which means their used prices are in the 13-15 range. Wranglers have very high resale values. Yes you can find late 90's ones for good prices, but the LJ didn't come out until 2004. So they were only made for 2 years.

EDIT: Actually just looked, you can use a base TJ from 97 up, doesnt have to be an LJ.

[AMGeneral]

That's what I was thinking but you could have been right
Now I can look into the '97-'06 Wranglers as well.

Will the TJ-Brute tow and haul good ?

I have loaded my Comanche as heavy as 2,500lbs and I have also pulled as much as 6/7,000lbs behind it.
Yep it was kinda doggy under those loads and braking was scary but I have trailer brakes which help !

Now that's nothing I do continuously by any means, Normally I do my hauling with one of the Generals.
I just hate firing up a cold diesel for a light or short quick run.

AM-G