[Oman Jeep]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Looks like the end result of an episode of "Pimp My Jeep"...

And this has to be the worst place to put a Hi-Lift Jack...

If that was the result - I'd love to watch that episode.


Seems like a good place for the High-Lift to me - in an accident it's going to hit the other car, rather than tear off the hood mounted brackets and end up in the other car's windshield.

Of course, with the Brute conversion - the Hi Lift should be in the bed...

[Oman Jeep]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

And why, may I ask, can I buy a 48" Hi-Lift All-Cast Jack so much cheaper from TSC ($54.99)(and that is a Hi-Lift, I bought one just a week ago and I think I even paid less than that!) verus the company that makes them and sells them on eBay ($88.37)??

That's almost $34 difference, almost 1/3 less!

Cheers! M2

I'm gonna guess that it's because Hi-Lift wants to look after their distributors / retailers and is keeping their direct-to-customer prices at the MSRP. However Tractor Supply is probably making less than $5 on each one.

There's always gonna be online stores selling things for cheap - but do you get the same service and product knowledge as small specialist shops? It's just another flavour of the Walmart vs. Mom-and-pop grocery store situation.

[Oman Jeep]

Originally Posted by jeepster

Well I am supposed to pick up my Brute on Wed/Thurs. Just waiting for the guys at OK4wd to put the finishing touches on (rocker guards) her.

I haven't seen the Brute in the flesh since they put the bed on the frame so I can't wait Merry Christmas to me. This is Stage 1 for the Brute...and I will add what I have done but want some feedback from the experts here when I begin Phase 2... but want to drive her for a bit first, after all it is snowboard season.

I spy Bestop Powerstep too... did you use the SWB or the Unlimited version for the Brute cab?

[jeep jake]

I would love to do this let me know what you think of it. I've been debateing stretching my jeep for a while, and then buying a little ranger for work with this I would have the best of both worlds I don't know how the long arms would work?

[MattTheMudder]

Originally Posted by jeep jake

I would love to do this let me know what you think of it. I've been debateing stretching my jeep for a while, and then buying a little ranger for work with this I would have the best of both worlds I don't know how the long arms would work?

Why not use the Brute for work?

[Oman Jeep]

Originally Posted by MattTheMudder

Why not use the Brute for work?

I think that's what he's considering

Regarding Long-Arms - a couple approaches you can take... either have longer arms fabricated, or fabricate new, stock style control arm mounts further back along the frame rail.

The third option - if you're in the Nth Degree crowd - AEV recently acquired Nth Degree so I'm sure there will be a "Brute" Long Arm kit once they get the products rolling out again.

[CNY]

Same capabilities as a TJ minus loss of passenger and cargo space plus cutesy bed that is useful for almost nothing = FAIL



It is cute to look at, and I'm sure I'd walk up to one to look it over, but I wouldn't want to own one.

I guess you could wait for Jeep to release their version:
http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtests/112_0705_jeep_jt_concept_road_test/
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6209223/auto-review/jeep-jt-an-exercise-in-what-a-jeep-pickup-could-be/index.html

[MoJeeper]

Wanna explain how you lose passenger space and cargo space? Looks like to me you gain a bunch of cargo space.

[CNY]

Well, the passenger space loss seems obvious.

I guess you're right on the cargo space. Even with the seats out, the TJ is crappy for space.

I was thinking more of useful space.

At least with a hard top, or add-a-trunk you can carry a toolbox, straps, etc. With a tiny open bed, you can't securely hold anything, and there's going to be no interior space for storage.

[MoJeeper]

Originally Posted by CNY

With a tiny open bed, you can't securely hold anything, and there's going to be no interior space for storage.

So its pretty much like a small pickup (ranger/s-10)

[CNY]

At least those have bigger beds, and aftermarket lockable toolboxes.

[M2LJ]

Originally Posted by CNY

Well, the passenger space loss seems obvious.

I guess you're right on the cargo space. Even with the seats out, the TJ is crappy for space.

I was thinking more of useful space.

At least with a hard top, or add-a-trunk you can carry a toolbox, straps, etc. With a tiny open bed, you can't securely hold anything, and there's going to be no interior space for storage.

Whereas it may not be as big of a cargo area as the Brute, with the back seat out (or even just folded up), my LJ has considerable cargo area in the rear.

I am with CNY, where a Brute is a novelty and would draw a closer look if I were ever to see one in person; but I don't think the conversion is worth the money...

Cheers! M2

[MoJeeper]

While I could see it would be a novetly Item for "city" people, but for Podunk midwest farmers a little truck with offroad capibilites would work great.

[butcher_block]

Originally Posted by CNY

Same capabilities as a TJ minus loss of passenger and cargo space plus cutesy bed that is useful for almost nothing = FAIL

your comparing a "cute little brute bed" to the JT bed
brute 6'
JT is what 3.5'

not real close but the problem is not the bed size its the load rating as AEV does not uprate the brute payload
its the one thing (other then extra cash) thats making me have 2nd thoughts on the brute now if i could get like 1000 payload or maybe even better i could replace my dakota with a killer jeep

[tjwrangler911]

The JT is never going to see production. Jeep already said it won't because it will have to compete with the dakota or something like that. They said that's not a market they want to get into any time soon.