The TJL (Egyptian military) is NOT a 1-ton vehicle. The axles and all other mechanicals are standard Dana30/44 TJ offerings, along with the 4.0L and 5sp and NV 231 Tcase.

This vehicle was prominently dispalyed in the "short wheelbase" tent at Camp Jeep VA. Along with a spec. sheet describing the vehicle, viewers could plainly see the undercarrige and the familliar TJ running gear.

The only real differnce was the body structure - aside from being 20" longer than a TJ, it sported a sheetmetal bulkhead behind the front seats, separating the cargo area from the front of the tub.

I want a TJ Troop Carrier Waaaaaa!!!, Waaaaaa!!!

Hey here's an idea...Add a rollbar and seatbelts and suddenly, the troop carrier is Street Legal.

Reminds me of the Land Cruisers and Land Rovers with long wheelbases.

Jeep is taking a step in the right direction by making a multi-vehicle platform out of the next-generation Wrangler. Heck, If they utilize modular construction, then everyone can have their Scrambler, Brute, SUT, Troop Carrier, 4-door, 2-door, hard top, soft top, half top, no top by just adding or deleting bolt-in parts.

"I don't really think the "troop carrier" version would be all that street legal. Most likely it would be a special purpose vehicle for tours, troops & such." - Mike M.

A "troop carrier" that is a special purpose vehicle for carrying troops. Wow, your a genius. You thought that up all by yourself?

Hey! Sorta sounds like the YJ I have....plain simple hose out interior;topless most of the time..low maintainance...no A/C..airbags..auto trans..humm....Sorta like Jeeps used to be--It is 1945..Isn't it?

In case anyone is interested, Jeep incentives this month include a $1000 rebate on the 2004 Unlimited, not just the SWB Wranglers.

To change things a bit, finally an official announcement from DCX regarding the Rubicon edition of the LWB (Unlimited) Wrangler.

http://scoop.daimlerchrysler.com/prod05_Wrangler_Rubicon.shtml

I think what Jeep is showing us is that the Wrangler family is going to be greatly expanded in the future. Last year they showed us the little pickup and then came out with the production Unlimited, This year they show the Troop carrier, maybe the 4 door is next or something longer than the Unlimited. I really think the Rescue concept was more of a hint about what the next Wrangler will be than what the Commander concept will be. If you saw it at the shows, there's no way a useful 3rd row would fit in there. And in reality, Jeep would be silly to compete with Hummer at that size, Hummer is failing now, Their market is pompass asses and believe it or not, there's a limited supply of those type of people. Most people buy their vehicles based on need, people do need a sport ute with three rows of seating but people don't need a vehicle as big as an Abrams tank and seating for three mousekateers and one pipsqueek with the ego the size of Mount Rushmore plus one bookbag. I think the Rescue, the troop carrier, last years wrangler pickup and the Unlimited show us that the next gen Wrangler is going to have many versions, a 2 door, 4 door softtop, 4 door hardtop, Pickup, Maybe a 4 door SUT like the GMC Envoy except without the moving gizmos that will fall off in two years. I'm very much looking forward to all of those options.

I would sure be nice to have a high MPG Diesel in a trail capable Jeep. Otherwise I need to buy a car (yuk!).

If you want a jeep rubicon unlimited got to ebay,they are taking deposits

Re the TJL: Remember the Metric Ton (2105 pound payload) Commanche? It had a D-44 rear and d-30 front, and HD springs. My guess is the TJL uses the same setup to make it a 1 ton.

PS: I agree with John. I also agree with everyone that wants to see more Jeep models with clean turbo diesels. I need better fuel mileage and I don't want to have to buy some little deathtrap econobox with 2 wd! The average price for regular gas in my county is $2.29 and I drive about 35,000 miles per year.

Give us a turbo diesel Jeep 4 door pickup and watch the sales go crazy!

here is my comment

P.s. The above Mike is not the first Mike in the reactions, because, I figured by the name that the troop carrier would be for carrying troops

What a troop carrier joke. Try scrambling outta the thing having to swing the tire, plus no protection from the elements. Its all show and this aint 1945....The only time ive seen a similar jeep is at a drive thru animal park where they had taken a scrambler added bench seats and left the gate off, i guess that could be a "troop carrier" also, LOL.......

My rumor source said that a pick up with only two seats was too narrow to market. If you don't have at least a club cab for jump seats ( turn into four seats in a pinch ) than you end up with a vehicle with " no legs " ( once initial demand is satisfied by people like Scrambler Ken and me, there is no market left for it ).

I'm thinking the only chance for a Wrangler version SUT (Scrambler)will be a bed put on the proposed four door Wrangler.

I think the halftop soft top is interesting, but I think I would prefer Bestop’s halftop instead. In correspondence I’ve had with Bestop, they have a version of the halftop that will fit 2003-2005 SWB Wranglers that should be available in December, and they hope to have a version for the Unlimited by next summer.

It’s too bad no one has produced a modular half top hardtop for the Unlimited. At one time Steel Horse had one for the SWB Wrangler, but I don’t know if they ever produced it. Also being from Steel Horse makes me concerned about the quality. The concept was interesting in that the top section was like the targa tops, and the other half fit under the roll cage.

Too bad the Unlimited came out near the end of the TJ production cycle. If it had been around longer, I suspect we might have seen more after market goodies.

I doubt once the TK hits production that we will see the Unlimited. I would not get surprised if they call the new 4 door Wrangler the Unlimited and comment on how the success of the Unlimited has been improved with additional doors.

Rumor has it there is a ‘Scrambler’ project team being assembled at Jeep, but I doubt we will see a small pickup truck in the new TK platform. Some rumors talk about building a Jeep pickup off of the Dakota platform (like how Mitsubishi was/is going to get one). I have also heard rumor that the extended Grand Cherokee (Commander) might be turned into an SUT. Remove the 3 rd row of back seats, and make a small pickup box out of the back.

I was told that some of the reasons Jeep did not produce the Unlimited pickup truck was it was too much of a niche, and could only produce about 1 years worth of sales. The other comment was that most consumers want extended cab pickup trucks, and the Unlimited was way too small for that.

I saw the display of the troop carrier and it is the TJL, which actually seemed a bit longer than the Unlimited. They had two Unlimiteds with the half-top on display, one of which I got to sit in. It is much like the current aftermarket half-tops available for the Wrangler, except that the back window is set a little farther back for more behind-the-seat storage. Very attractive setup.

I think the troop carrier version is actually not the Jeep Unlimited but the TJL (the Egyptian stretched Wrangler), which was designed for military use. The TJL has been shown to US and European military groups in hopes of getting more contracts. The TJL is actually a full ton truck with a length similar to the CJ-8. Sure would be nice if we could buy one of these monsters.

I don't really think the "troop carrier" version would be all that street legal. Most likely it would be a special purpose vehicle for tours, troops & such.

Mike
www.wranglerunlimited.com