Automotive Blogger

Photo courtesy of American Expedition Vehicles.
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is company that takes OEM Jeeps and transforms them into unique and extremely functional off road vehicles. What makes AEV extra cool is that the finished product looks like it rolled right out of the Jeep factory. With versions of the TJ that include a shortened wheelbase model, an extended wheelbase model which the current Wrangler Unlimited was largely based on, and even a TJ stuffed with 5.7 liter Hemi V8, it should come as no surprise that AEV has now developed a truck version of the TJ.

The AEV Brute is a ruggedly handsome and off-road capable pickup version of the current Wrangler. Similar in looks to the Jeep Scrambler (CJ8) of the early 1980’s this AEV vehicle is much more extreme in nature. Designed in-house the Brute doesn’t just look like a truck; it was built with the intent of hauling–on and off road. The rear coil springs were ditched in favor of a heavy-duty airbag springs. A bumper with an integrated 2-inch receiver hitch resides in the rear along with plenty of rear rocker protection and a spare tire mount that relocates the spare under the bed of the truck. This means you can actually put stuff in the back and the truck won’t sag to the ground and get damaged by rocks and debris.

Jeep CJ8 “Scrambler”
The Brute can be ordered in numerous configurations from a close to stock rig that will be driven mostly on the street to a full-on rock crawler with 37″ tires, Dana 60 rear and Dana 44 front axles, winches, a snorkel kit and all the accessories you could possibly want to make your Brute unstoppable. I even noticed that the 5.7 liter Hemi V8 is on the option list. This really is one of the coolest 4×4’s you can buy.

The Brute came very close to becoming an actual Jeep production vehicle. But alas, it is only be available through AEV meaning it will be a limited production vehicle. However AEV also developed a Brute conversion kit for TJ owners complete with a stamped-steel bed and half-cab hard top. The kit will be available early next year for pickup minded Wrangler enthusiasts. This is a great way to get pickup utility with Wrangler off road ability. If I had to buy a new 4×4 pickup I would take a Brute in a heartbeat.

Brute kit shown.

-Bill Mertz

Brute, AEV, American Expedition Vehicles, Jeep, TJ, Wrangler, off road, CJ8, Scrambler