The J8 thread....
- Thread starter Metcalf
- Start date
upcruiser
Perpetual Transient
I heard that Chrysler had upped the minimum order number for AEV to take shipment by something like 5 vehicles. They were pretty close to having enough preorders though. The white J8 that EW had was not an AEV built unit but I can't remember exactly what channels they obtained it through.
alosix
Expedition Leader
50-55 seems like an odd move, but who knows.
The lack of communication from AEV is odd though, they are normally pretty good with that. I've been on the 'order list' and haven't heard anything in nearly a year. My situation has changed a bit since then, so I'm not sure if a 50k jeep is in my future.
Jason
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
Devil's advocate...
I wanted to toss my .o2 cents in just...well, because. I have a few thoughts and or questions.
I remember when I first saw an article on the J8. I was floored and covered in drool. Since we can't get ChrCOiat? to bring us a real Jtruck (yes, I've seen "it" and no...its not!) nor do they seem to be able to offer us a diesel for a 'baby' jeep...this was my big hope crossover vehicle.
I remember seeing YJs that were Scrambler length back in the early 90s in Kuwait. After we got done mopping stuff up and settled in to occupy for a while I remeber thinking they were sweet.
Well, here I am again...this time a bit further north wrappin up this sequel and something that strikes me as a bit funny...We get lots of "issues" with the big road warrior trucks. Granted they have a hard life and are plain FAT! But let services slip a bit and that pig will eat a tranny like a fat kid in a doughnut shop! We also see a great number of NTVs (non-tactical vehicles) being used for all sorts of stuff...people literally fight over (and maybe steal) these trucks They range from Diesel and gas yotas and cruisers to F250-350s...and believe me when I say that they recieve NO LOVE! Beaten, overloaded, hardly serviced, and generally just abused! But they keep on tickin'!
So how much is enough with respect to the J8? 1ton rated? 3/4? ton and a 1/4? I'd be curious to buy a used (one or two year old) JK and do a full on conversion to it and see where the price tag lays. Stretch and Plate any weak spots in the frame. Torch off the rear erector set and add leaves. Ring up Dynatrac (or whomever) and order up a set of 60s geared, locked, and loaded. Stretch the body or whatever is needed to make it into a 3 door. Then go diesel shopping.
I remember the TLC ICON being offered with a brand new Rover TDI imported from Brasil ( I think?) and coupled to an NV4500 and an Atlas. But it was also a hancrafted FJ...even if its price tag was far north of 50k!!
So where do we draw lines? Do we consider any of the wrenching ourselves to count? How much is too much Jeep? Where do we want to be at the end of the day???
I wanted to toss my .o2 cents in just...well, because. I have a few thoughts and or questions.
I remember when I first saw an article on the J8. I was floored and covered in drool. Since we can't get ChrCOiat? to bring us a real Jtruck (yes, I've seen "it" and no...its not!) nor do they seem to be able to offer us a diesel for a 'baby' jeep...this was my big hope crossover vehicle.
I remember seeing YJs that were Scrambler length back in the early 90s in Kuwait. After we got done mopping stuff up and settled in to occupy for a while I remeber thinking they were sweet.
Well, here I am again...this time a bit further north wrappin up this sequel and something that strikes me as a bit funny...We get lots of "issues" with the big road warrior trucks. Granted they have a hard life and are plain FAT! But let services slip a bit and that pig will eat a tranny like a fat kid in a doughnut shop! We also see a great number of NTVs (non-tactical vehicles) being used for all sorts of stuff...people literally fight over (and maybe steal) these trucks They range from Diesel and gas yotas and cruisers to F250-350s...and believe me when I say that they recieve NO LOVE! Beaten, overloaded, hardly serviced, and generally just abused! But they keep on tickin'!
So how much is enough with respect to the J8? 1ton rated? 3/4? ton and a 1/4? I'd be curious to buy a used (one or two year old) JK and do a full on conversion to it and see where the price tag lays. Stretch and Plate any weak spots in the frame. Torch off the rear erector set and add leaves. Ring up Dynatrac (or whomever) and order up a set of 60s geared, locked, and loaded. Stretch the body or whatever is needed to make it into a 3 door. Then go diesel shopping.
I remember the TLC ICON being offered with a brand new Rover TDI imported from Brasil ( I think?) and coupled to an NV4500 and an Atlas. But it was also a hancrafted FJ...even if its price tag was far north of 50k!!
So where do we draw lines? Do we consider any of the wrenching ourselves to count? How much is too much Jeep? Where do we want to be at the end of the day???
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I want a clean factory vehicle that fits between a short wheelbase jeep and a fullsize regular cab long box pickup....and I want it diesel.
I'm not saying that it can't be built by someone on there own...and I think that I would love to try, but as of late I have been getting a bit tired of building from scratch and would just love to have something 'near' perfect to discretely customize a little with a few select high quality bolt-on parts.
Is the J8 perfect? Nope. I think it should have had lockers front and rear and a full floating rear axle. A manual transmission option would make a lot of people happy...but I think you would have to pair it with a 4:1 transfer case perhaps.
I'm attracted to the J8 because it is the best fit for what I want WITHOUT having to import something or build it from scratch. I like the idea of having a military tested simple utilitarian base vehicle. As its has have said before...its not just a beefed up JK, its basically a whole new class of vehicle.
I'm not saying that it can't be built by someone on there own...and I think that I would love to try, but as of late I have been getting a bit tired of building from scratch and would just love to have something 'near' perfect to discretely customize a little with a few select high quality bolt-on parts.
Is the J8 perfect? Nope. I think it should have had lockers front and rear and a full floating rear axle. A manual transmission option would make a lot of people happy...but I think you would have to pair it with a 4:1 transfer case perhaps.
I'm attracted to the J8 because it is the best fit for what I want WITHOUT having to import something or build it from scratch. I like the idea of having a military tested simple utilitarian base vehicle. As its has have said before...its not just a beefed up JK, its basically a whole new class of vehicle.
Scott Brady
Founder
The J8 is good, really good. Nobody is making a truck that can compete from the performance perspective. Reliability is an unknown so far, though ours has been perfect (about two months of hard use). Look for a detailed review soon.
Oh, and don't worry about the lack of a manual.
Oh, and don't worry about the lack of a manual.
Attachments
Scott Brady
Founder
Sounds like you need to make a trip to Prescott 
I leave for points unknown on the 17th of July, so you have a little time. :smiley_drive:
wait until you see the review we have in process. .
I leave for points unknown on the 17th of July, so you have a little time. :smiley_drive:
wait until you see the review we have in process. .
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Moab is a good half way meeting point! I will keep my eye out for a review. If I wasn't up to my neck in body work on my Dodge I would come down. I may have a free weekend after the 4th of July though. I'll buy lunch if we can go for a test drive!
Keep up the good work guys!
I'm SOOOOOO jealous!
Keep up the good work guys!
I'm SOOOOOO jealous!
Backwoods Rambler
Explorer
Will all the J8's be RHD, or is that pic flipped?
jingram
Adventurer
LOL, now just what is that supposed to mean? I know that the slushbox is supposed to be a great match and I know all of the benifits to one, both offroad and in a "militarized" zone, but I can't help but want a manual transmission. I like to actually feel engaged while driving.
Fill us in Scott... is AEV looking at adding a manual option or are you merely stating that the slushbox is such a great fit that there is no need for a manual?
Scott Brady
Founder
Oh, trust me, I am a 100% pure manual transmission loving kind of guy. Just not for any justifiable reason. I also love Land Rovers, for no justifiable reason- my Land Rover is a manual too, making absolutely no sense at all :ylsmoke:
The reality is that an automatic is a superior transmission choice anymore. They are much better in technical terrain, mud, sand, snow, highways, traffic, 3rd. world cities, towing, hill starting, climbing, left foot braking, well, you get the picture.
If you drive a manual because you love rowing your own gears, I totally get it, and am right there with you, but for an application like the J8, only the auto makes sense. It is a significant performance advantage.
The auto is perfect with the VM- perfect.
Of course, just my humble opinion :smiley_drive:
The reality is that an automatic is a superior transmission choice anymore. They are much better in technical terrain, mud, sand, snow, highways, traffic, 3rd. world cities, towing, hill starting, climbing, left foot braking, well, you get the picture.
If you drive a manual because you love rowing your own gears, I totally get it, and am right there with you, but for an application like the J8, only the auto makes sense. It is a significant performance advantage.
The auto is perfect with the VM- perfect.
Of course, just my humble opinion :smiley_drive:
Scott Brady
Founder
Yep, RHD. Makes driving through to the bank teller an interesting affair. Oh, and passing gets a little interesting too. I thought it would be more of a pain than it is. I hate fast food, so never go through the drive-through. I hate Starbucks (try to buy local), so I just park and walk into the local coffee shop. RHD is pretty cool actually. It is also a great excuse to not talk about the J8.
Local: "Hey, that is a cool Jeep, is it a diesel?"
Me "It is a mail truck"
Local: "oh"
However, I just prefer to shut all the lights off at night and just drive by the night vision system (thermal).