Wasn’t the Durango a Ram frame? Similar to the Tahoe and Silverado of the same period.
Either way, that would be cool if they did that. But I think the days of BoF SUVs are long gone.
Man I wish they had been based off the 1500 brother, Mopar fans have been asking for that literally forever! Both the first gen 1998-2003 and the second gen 2004-2009 were Dakota based and BoF built at the Newark, DE plant. Even with the 2009 version (and badge engineered Chrysler Aspen) having a Hybrid option, during the recession and bankruptcy they not only axed the vehicle but the plant stayed with “Old Chrysler” and was sold then demolished.
When FCA led by Sergio “The Sweater” brought back the Durango in 2011 it was on a unibody built at the Jefferson North plant in Detroit and geared more towards on-road performance. It is based off a stretched Jeep Grand Cherokee WK/WK2 platform (which is from the early 2000s Mercedes ML platform that they are still built on today).
https://www.allpar.com/model/durango.html
FCA will be launching a new unibody third row Jeep Grand Cherokee to provide a more “off-road ready” 7 or 8 passenger option. This is actually going to be built by converting the idle Mack II engine plant, since Jefferson North is at 130% production capacity (The expansion should be interesting because Mack II is a 1/2 mile away that is going to be one long conveyer!).
https://jalopnik.com/fca-to-open-a-new-assembly-plant-in-detroit-to-build-a-1830917776
Along with the new unibody 3rd row SUV, FCA is also going to build a new BoF big 3rd row SUV at Warren Truck in Detroit when they stop making the Ram 1500 Classic there this year. (Originally HD truck production was supposed to be moving there from Saltillo, Mexico as well but the new post-NAFTA trade deal means they probably don’t have to if they want to have more capacity at Warren.) The planned SUV will most likely become just the resurrected Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. But they may also make a new Dodge or even a RAM brand large SUV which may be on the Ram 1500 platform or when they relaunch the new Dakota (which will be BoF) and built at the Toledo South Jeep plant which previously made JKs but is starting production of the Jeep Gladiator pickup this year.
As far as other BoF SUVs off the top of my head you have the GM ones built on the same platform Suburban\Escalade\Suburban\Yukon\Tahoe etc. Along with the Ford Expedition and the new Ford Bronco that is coming to finally give the Wrangler some competition (even if it is small). Plus the new version of the Mercedes G-Wagon that is coming out, interestingly though the new Land Rover Defender coming out (if it is not Brexited to death) will be unibody.
