.... It will be interesting to learn if the cargo capacity of the Brute is increased over the Jeep Unlimited. I'd also like to know if AEV chose Dana 44 or Dana 60 axles.
I wonder if AEV is delaying the start of production to mid-2012 so they can incorporate the VM Motori V6 diesel. This 3.0L motor produces 400 ft-lbs of torque. Chrysler is planning to put this diesel under the hood of the Grand Cherokee for the 2013 model year, and the EPA certification will need to be complete about mid-2012!
I have an AEV Jeep, a JKUR, with their 4.5" suspension on it and my wife has an almost stock JKUR. The AEV Jeep can carry a whole hell of a lot more weight than the oem Jeep.
Now "a whole hell of a lot" might not be a great description of the added weight carrying ability, but until I'm carrying all of the weight of the steel AEV bumpers, a winch, a small Engel fridge full of beer, a roof rack, an auxilliary tank with 18gals of fuel, the Hemi, a 37" spare tire, a small tool set, some basic recovery gear, a full set of aluminum skids, cram the cargo area with as much hunting gear as it will take - rifles, shotguns, ammo, waders, etc, etc ...., add 600lbs of passengers and driver and then hang 550lbs of hitch hauler and load in the rear receiver it's fine. That load was a bit too much, but not a lot too much.
I'm guessing the bed adds more than a ittle weight. If so, I hope AEV adds a set of stiffer rear springs to their line to give the DC the same weight carrying ability as a JKU with their suspension.
As far as axles, the front looks like a Dynatrac ProRock D44, which can be had pleny stout enough. Maybe a D60 in the rear would be helpful, but I would take the oem Rubicon rear D44 and see how it lasts.
I know guys love the diesel idea, but my experience with diesels is that they are way more trouble than they are worth for the US. More money to acquire, more maintenance and the money for it, and more trouble than a modern gas engine. Give me a 5.7VVT and the extra 18gals of the Long Ranger auxilliary tank, the AEV tire carrier fuel tank for a reserve or for a generator and I'll be as happy as can be with an over the road range running from ~450 miles to over 600miles depending on terrain and speed and an off road range of over 350 miles. (Mmileage and range numbers from my 5.7 AEV JKU, I'd think they'd be similar enough for the DC with the 5.7.)
JPK