Jeep Wrangler Not Insane Enough? Make It a 6-Wheeler
What’s an easy way to make an SUV more ludicrous? Add wheels. Mercedes-Benz demonstrated this when engineers gave the outgoing G-Class an extra axle and pickup bed to create the G 63 AMG 6×6. And as an iconic off-roader, the Jeep Wrangler has had its share of extreme modifications. But Doug Demuro has located one of the most bonkers: a Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler.
The 6 wheels aren’t the only odd thing about this Jeep Wrangler
Bizarrely, the extra set of wheels isn’t the only odd thing, or indeed oddest thing, about this 2016 JK-gen Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It’s a right-hand drive Jeep Wrangler.
But this isn’t a Wrangler imported from outside the US. No, as Autotrader explained, this is actually a special-ordered Jeep made for the US market. In rural communities, especially ones that see extreme cold and snow-fall, postal workers prefer RHD vehicles. Instead of having to walk around and risk frostbite, they just roll down the window and pop the mail in the mailbox. Even to this day, you can go into a Jeep dealer and order a road-legal RHD Wrangler.
The other odd thing about this Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler is that it’s not actually a 6×6. Looking underneath, the 3rd pair of wheels isn’t connected to the drivetrain. The Wrangler retains its normal four-wheel drive system, which means in two-wheel mode, the middle pair of wheels gets all the power.
How was it made?
Although Doug wasn’t able to determine who made this Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler for his video, we at MotorBiscuit believe this truck is the work of Exotic Custom Motorsports. One of its builds was a white Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler called “Ghost”, which very closely resembles the truck in Doug’s video.
Based on Exotic Custom Motorsports’ Instagram posts, this truck build was started at the end of 2016. This is before the Gladiator pickup reached production. This means the entire rear part, bed, and bodywork, of the Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler, is custom. Although we couldn’t reach Exotic Custom Motorsports, Doug claims that the truck was made by essentially grafting two Wranglers together.
The Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler’s practical and off-road features
The bed still contains some of the interior elements found in 2016 Wranglers. In addition, the truck’s rear glass and tailgate are both standard Wrangler parts, meaning the rear window opens upwards. But, creating a custom bed did more than increase storage space. As with the Bollinger B2, the panel below the rear window can be folded down to create a pass-through.
In addition, part of the modification process included installing larger wheels and larger off-road tires. An external roll cage was also installed. Finally, the Wrangler got a new steel bumper and off-road winch.
What does a 6-wheeled Jeep Wrangler drive like?
Doug didn’t drive the truck off-road. However, he predicts that, as Car and Driver reported for the production Gladiator, the extra length compromises the Wrangler’s off-road performance somewhat. However, if it did indeed have an extra axle, that might be a different story.
On the road, Doug found the truck drove much like a normal JK Wrangler. The truck has the stock 3.6-liter V6, making 285 hp and 260 lb-ft, linked to a 5-speed automatic. Acceleration isn’t crazy, but the truck isn’t slow. Although the ride is noticeably shaky, that’s more to do with the Wrangler’s solid axles than the pickup conversion. Doug calls the pickup conversion excellent for how little it impacts drivability. The biggest problem is the RHD seating position.
How much does it cost?
As of this writing, California dealer CNC Exotics is advertising this Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler for $149,999. While that’s a significant savings compared to the $1.5-million Mercedes G 63 AMG 6×6, a standard Gladiator Rubicon pickup would be cheaper, and likely just as capable and utilitarian.
That being said, if this is something that interests you, Exotic Custom Motorsports did create another Jeep Wrangler six-wheeler, this time powered by the 707-hp Hellcat engine. And according to TFLcar, this is an actual 6×6 Wrangler.
In addition, tuner Bruiser Conversions showed off a Wrangler 6×6 at the 2017 SEMA show. Although the company doesn’t list the build on its available products, a passionate-enough customer could convince the tuner to make another one.
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