JK flatbed from Burnsville Offroad

[haven]

Burnsville Offroad is offering to build a "Jeep JK" flatbed. I put jeep in quotes because this vehicle is a 2010 Dodge Power wagon chassis with a modified JK body. The rear doors are wider than a standard JK. It's sort of a JK "megacab." More information and photos (but no pricing) here.
http://burnsvilleoffroad.com/posts/category/news/

These photos are from the Burnsville web site, then adjusted and cropped a bit.

 

[Toolman]

I like it

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Typically, I don't like Burnsville conversions, as they look like hopped up jeeps, but this is really nice. If they did a Crew Cab pick up on this PW chassis/drivetrain, ... that would be something!
Even like the wheels and the stance. Not a fan of the front bumper (easy enough to change).
D

 

[nely]

It looks cool, but the flat bed is to plain for me.

But since its on a power wagon chassis, does that mean it can be diesel???

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Good Question!

 

[upcruiser]

Seems to contrived too me. I mean, what's the point if putting the JK body on a Power wagon? Looks? Is there any advantage? You still have the same size truck but now with a smaller interior? It seems that by it's modification it became less useful and more, just cool to look at. If you want a flat bed, then put it on a Power Wagon. This just seems to me like something pretending to be something it is not. Unless I missed something in there.....

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Narrower platform (easier on the trails). Can pull anything you can throw at it (trailer wise). 500 Horse Power! Way cooler than a PW (IMHO)
I agree that the flat bed is not a great look, but put a bed on the back, and you have one very cool Crew Cab PickUp!
D

 

[upcruiser]

Narrower platform (easier on the trails). Can pull anything you can throw at it (trailer wise). 500 Horse Power! Way cooler than a PW (IMHO)
I agree that the flat bed is not a great look, but put a bed on the back, and you have one very cool Crew Cab PickUp!
D

Maybe I am missing something, but isn't it a JK body on a Power Wagon chasis? If so it isn't any narrower. Yeah, looks cool, but in my eyes, that was the only reason for all the work converting it, for looks. A Power Wagon is more pure to it's purpose, not trying to be something it's isn't. It still has the same track width and long wheelbase. Why not just take a stock PW and instead of blowing all that coin on a chic looking body, put it towards a nice camper and actually improve the usefulness of the truck. Then again, there are alot of folks out there with money burning a hole in their pockets or just want to look cool, maybe both. I see this appealing to that crowd more. I think the purists and folks who spend alot of time out in the bush wouldn't bother with a body kit.

 

[406to417]

Is Burnsville the AEV wannabe?

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

UpCruiser- I think you are asking a question that beckons the question- Why do any of us do mods on our trucks. I just purchased an AEV JKU because it was built like I wanted it - while a stock Rubicon just was not. I wanted turn key and easy (tired of wrenching).
So, somewhere out there, there is a jeep enthusiast that this or the AEV Brute 4 door will be the right answer for.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but the normal JKU is not on a PW chassis.

Forsakenfuture- For sure in some people's minds. (and I am one of those peoples). I think their jeeps look more like "crawlers" in their normal conversions, ... I was stating that this looks more like a truck that could have been factory built (sans the rear flat bed).
D

 

[haven]

...If they did a Crew Cab pick up on this PW chassis/drivetrain, ... that would be something!

The Burnsville web page says they can make a pickup version. They also say they can build on a Wrangler chassis instead of the Power Wagon, presumably by lengthening the Wrangler wheelbase.

...since its on a power wagon chassis, does that mean it can be diesel???

The modern Power Wagon, introduced in October 2004, has used the Hemi gas V8 only. The reason is supposed to be that the winch bumper blocks airflow to the diesel intercooler, but that sounds like a weak excuse to me.

If you want a diesel, start with a Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 4x4. The Cummins diesel is an option for these trucks.

...what's the point if putting the JK body on a Power wagon? ...You still have the same size truck but now with a smaller interior?...

True, so true. It's a styling exercise for someone who wants a unique truck.

There is one advantage for off-road use. The stock Power Wagon is about 5 inches wider than the stock JK. The Burnsville design makes the wheels the widest point, while in the stock Power Wagon the body is wider than the wheels. Adding bigger wheels and tires to a JK, as so many do when upgrading, makes the wheels stick our farther than stock. So my guess is that the Burnsville JK-Hauler is only an inch or two wider than a Jeep with 35 inch tires.

 

[upcruiser]

UpCruiser- I think you are asking a question that beckons the question- Why do any of us do mods on our trucks. I just purchased an AEV JKU because it was built like I wanted it - while a stock Rubicon just was not. I wanted turn key and easy (tired of wrenching).
So, somewhere out there, there is a jeep enthusiast that this or the AEV Brute 4 door will be the right answer for.

First, it goes without saying, this is just my opinion. I think the point I was trying to make is that there are reasons to modify our trucks that serve a purpose, then there are reasons that seem to be for making them look cooler for the sake of looking cooler. I am the first to admit that a beautiful automotive design gets my juices flowing and that a tastefully built rig kitted out to go explore does similarly. Where as what AEV did was a comprehensive redesign of a Jeep JK, using ALOT of in house produced components and engineers, Building a vehicle that was quite purposeful. I feel this PW conversion is more of a drop a body onto an already perfectly useful vehicle just to make it look cooler when in fact it likely adversely affects the usefulness by (and I am only speculating) decreasing the interior space while using the same chasis. I think the AEV stuff is dead sexy for sure, but it is more than just a skin deep kinda sexy. I am not bashing the Burnsville truck, was just making a point that it would probably appeal to an enthusiast with different motivations. Some of the most historically beautiful 4x4's were considered such not for striking design, but simple utility. Case in point, the Land Rover series trucks, the original Bantam and Willy's JP's, the FJ 40. These are vehicles that are iconic and often used as styling inspirations. I don't think anyone would argue that an H3, an FJ Cruiser or other such stylized or retro vehicles will ever attain such status despite them being great trucks. There is almost a sense of nonauthenticity which i think leads to alot of folks not embracing them. Nothing wrong with driving a vehicle you think looks cool, you shouldn't bother driving something that you don't admire. It Is clear in a place like Expo where you have a huge gathering of enthusiasts that you have folks that participate more for the image than for the experience. It can often be seen in photos and trip reports, kind of like what the Expowives poke fun at.

 

[upcruiser]

True, so true. It's a styling exercise for someone who wants a unique truck.

There is one advantage for off-road use. The stock Power Wagon is about 5 inches wider than the stock JK. The Burnsville design makes the wheels the widest point, while in the stock Power Wagon the body is wider than the wheels. Adding bigger wheels and tires to a JK, as so many do when upgrading, makes the wheels stick our farther than stock. So my guess is that the Burnsville JK-Hauler is only an inch or two wider than a Jeep with 35 inch tires.

That's a good point about the body width versus track width. Still though, it comes at the expense of interior space. To me, the best platforms are boxier and utilize as much space that the chasis allows like the old Land Cruisers and Land Rovers did. Would be interesting to see the dimension specs between the two though for comparison. I realize it isn't that big of a difference but I make my points more for discussion.

 

[mvbeggs]

Oh boy!

Is Burnsville the AEV wannabe?

BOR is going to love that comment/comparison!...LOL

 

[Overlandexpeditionspecial]

Is Burnsville the AEV wannabe?

Just because someone is first to market or has the largest marketing department doesn't necessarily make them the creator of the idea.

Ideas have always been "borrowed" when it comes to artistic endeavors.

AEV was not the first to stretch Jeeps, but they did it better commercially than anyone else.

The Brute and Summit SUT hit the public at the same time, AEV did a better job.

Just like movies and tv shows, you often see the same story line, some times the first to market is best sometimes the second is better, but usually only they know who first brainstormed the idea.