Rides : Mopar Offers Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Owners a Pickup Conversion Kit

If you were asked to name some of the most quintessentially American new cars sold today, there would be a couple of obvious choices like the Mustang and the Corvette. Another one, of course, should be the Jeep Wrangler. The simple, capable descendent of the segment-creating WWII runabout epitomizes the American ideals of freedom, mobility, and the ability to explore the vast and diverse beauty of the nation’s terrain.

Pickup trucks are also distinctly American vehicles, but Jeep hasn’t made one since the last Comanche rolled off the line in 1992. Before that, Jeep produced many trucks. Some were large. Some were small. Some even utilized a forward-control layout. And some, like the Scrambler, were based on the Wrangler’s forbears. Now, after a long hiatus (due in large part to parent company Chrysler’s desire to prevent the cannibalization of Dodge truck sales, something that was a non-issue for Jeep under Willys, Kaiser and AMC ownership), you can once again buy a new Jeep pickup…but there’s a catch.



It’s called the JK-8, but you won’t find it in the Jeep full-line brochure, or on most dealer lots. That’s because the JK-8 isn’t a production model, per se; it’s actually a kit that will be offered by Mopar (Chrysler’s accessory and performance parts arm) and turns the four-door Wrangler Unlimited into a two-door pickup. The kit will retail for $5,499, and can be installed by your dealer or, if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you.

So what’s included? New quarter panels, a bed floor, inside bed panels and a few other small components are made of sheet steel, while the removable hardtop (with t-top-esque “Freedom Panels” that are removable from it) and rear bulkhead are made of fiberglass. You also get an assemblage of tubing that allows the roll cage behind the rear seats to be removed while still maintaining the portion over the front seats.



While we don’t have a specific need for a Jeep Wrangler or a pickup truck, we do find ourselves drawn to this muscular mutt of a motorcar. And many Jeep nuts have been clamoring for a pickup for years, particularly after the company showed the Gladiator concept a few years ago. As a result, we’re betting Mopar won’t have any trouble selling every JK-8 kit it can box up and ship to destinations from sea to shining sea.

Press Release

Mopar Answers Call for Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited Pickup Truck

Brand Announces Pricing for New JK-8 Kit

Priced at $5,499, the Mopar® JK-8 Kit enables owners to transform their Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited
into a pickup

Kit now available for ordering through Mopar at Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram dealerships

Dealership or skilled do-it-yourselfers may do the installation

Major components of the Mopar JK-8 kit include steel bed, inner and outer bedsides, sport bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, fiberglass hardtop and bulkhead

Kit shipped in JK-8 and Mopar-stamped wooden crate (85.25-inch by 62.25-inch by 30-inch), instructions included

July 14, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Jeep® enthusiasts now have the opportunity to transform their four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a two-door pickup truck.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Mopar® JK-8 kit is $5,499. The kit, which comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, is now available for ordering through Mopar at Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram dealerships. The warranty covers kit materials and workmanship performed at a Chrysler Group dealership.

"Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited are some of our most accessorized vehicles," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO, Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "New Jeep Wrangler owners typically spend more than $500 on Mopar accessories. For Jeep Wrangler Unlimited owners, our new Mopar JK-8 kit answers the call for even more radical customization. And it's yet another example of how Mopar will continue to support our brands with innovative features."

Prior to the introduction of the JK-8 kit, Mopar introduced numerous industry-first features including in-vehicle Wi-Fi, off-road camper trailers, vehicle-information apps and an Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS). Most recently, the brand introduced its Ram Runner off-road desert-racer kit.

Mopar first revealed its JK-8 kit at this year's Moab Jeep Safari. The kit takes cues from the popular Jeep Scrambler CJ-8 from the 1980's. Major components include a spacious 44-inch by 50-inch steel bed, inner and outer bedsides constructed from stamped sheet metal, sport bar extensions, Freedom Panel assemblies, a removable fiberglass hardtop with a sliding rear window, two fixed side windows and a fiberglass bulkhead.

Staying true to the Jeep brand, the JK-8 kit offers Jeep Wrangler Unlimited capability in the form of a mini pickup. In addition, the top may be completely removed for an open-air experience.

A special badge is featured on the left rear quarter panel of each kit, celebrating the heritage of the Jeep Scrambler CJ-8, along with design implementations that were adopted from original J-8 military Jeep pickups.

For ease of purchase, the kit is available as a single part number (77070049) with all hardware and body panels included. The kit may be purchased and installed at a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge or Ram dealership.

Conversion Process
Two processes are involved in the conversion from a four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to a two-door pickup truck: disassembly and reassembly.

In disassembly, each rear door is removed. Next, the rear-bumper assembly, hard top and Freedom Panels are removed, followed by the rear portion of the interior, which includes seats and carpeting. Exterior trim parts are removed and preserved; inner and outer body panels are removed by drilling out the spot welds, which allows the panels to fall away and avoids having to cut into the sheet metal. The rear sport bar is cut away and removed along with B-pillars.

Reassembly into a two-door pickup truck begins with installation of the B-pillars, cross member, floor-pan assembly (truck bed), and the inner and outer quarter panels (welding is involved in assembly). Next to be installed is the bulkhead reinforcement assembly and sport bar extensions, and finally the installation of the fiberglass bulkhead itself. The kit, with components delivered e-coated, is then prepped for paint. Windows are installed to the hard top, which is then installed on the vehicle. Exterior trim parts are then reinstalled.

Following is information regarding some of the main components included in the Mopar JK-8 kit.

Mopar JK8 Body Weld Kit Complete (All parts are sold together in one complete kit)

Freedom Panels: Fiberglass panels over front seats.

Hardtop: Made from fiberglass, the hard top may be removed and features a sliding rear window.

Bulkhead: The bulkhead for the kit is made of fiberglass and separates the cab from the bed of the truck, and permanently attaches to the vehicle.

Bed: The spacious 44-inch by 50-inch bed features strong steel construction.

Inner/Outer Bed Panels: Bed panels are stamped sheet metal and provide durability and functionality.

Sport Bar Extensions: New sport bar extensions replace the rear portion of the sport bar that is removed for the conversion. These bars complement the structure of the vehicle.