The 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari is currently happening right now in Moab, Utah, and as is always the case, the Trail Rated brand has brought out a collection of concept vehicles which have been built with Jeep Performance Parts, Mopar Parts and concept items that may or may not end up in the brand’s aftermarket catalog. This year, there are four new customized vehicles on display in Moab, including a Gladiator, a Wagoneer and a pair of Wranglers – all of which are detailed below.
“Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, is the perfect venue for new Jeep concepts, with more than 20,000 Jeep enthusiasts gathering each year to celebrate the most iconic 4×4 brand in the world,” said Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “From 4xe electrification to unmatched 392 power, this year’s Jeep 4×4 concepts illustrate how the most capable Wrangler ever appeals to such a wide range of people.”
Jeep Vacationeer
First up, we have a Jeep Wagoneer that has been transformed by the Mopar team to create the Vacationeer.
“From the Spearminted exterior to the custom-trimmed and expanded interior space, the Jeep Vacationeer concept is a premium SUV that combines comfort and adventure with modern capability while honoring the legendary heritage of the Jeep brand. And with a nostalgic nod, the JPP design team is quenching the desire of many a classic Jeep aficionado, meticulously fitting the Vacationeer concept with unique bodyside woodgrain graphics that harken back to Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models that traversed both town and country from the late 1960s through the early 1990s.”
On the outside, the Jeep Vacationeer features 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires and 18-by-9-inch 701 Method racing wheels, which effectively lift the vehicle by an inch and a half. The exterior is further enhanced with larger wheel openings, custom bodyside flare extensions, front and rear skid plates, three 11-inch TYRI LED lights coated in white Rhino liner, a front-mounted Warn winch and – most importantly – the custom climate controlled carbon-fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft. This space can be accessed from the interior, where a weatherproof pass-through entrance and the cargo area is lined to protect the interior from any muddy shoes that are removed before climbing up into the Skyloft. The second and third rows of seats were removed to make for easier access to the sleep quarters, but the rest of the cabin was created by fashion designer and Wagoneer enthusiast Kiel James Patrick.
“For over three decades, the Jeep Wagoneer has been more than just a vehicle to me; it has literally been part of the fabric of my life threaded through my most cherished journeys,” said Patrick. “As a designer and lifelong Jeep 4×4 owner, this was a dream project. I could not be more excited to honor the heritage and stories of the Jeep brand.”
The Jeep Vacationeer is powered by the Hurricane twin turbo I6 from the Grand Wagoneer, packing 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top
Next up, we have the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top which “reflects the drive of the JPP design and engineering teams from Mopar to push the performance boundaries of the world’s most off-road capable midsize truck even further for the annual trek to Moab.”
On the outside, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top features a unique Ginger Snap metallic exterior with retro-inspired two-tone graphics, 40-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires, 18-by-9-inch Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels, concept JPP flat fender flares, a modified front bumper from American Expedition Vehicles, a Warn winch, rock rail power steps from Rock Slide Engineering and a lockable DECKED bed storage system with dual sliding drawers.
The interior of the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top showcases unique quilted and perforated tan-and-black Alea leather seats with the JPP logo on the headrests, along with all-weather floor mats, door sill guards, a JPP pedal kit and a JPP sun bonnet.
The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top us powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, mated to a TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission and Dana 60 front and rear axles with 5.38:1 gearing.
Jeep Willys Dispatcher
The Jeep Willys Dispatcher is based on the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe. The brand states that it is “a mix of where the Jeep brand’s been and where it’s going, the Jeep Willys Dispatcher is a Wrangler 4xe-based concept that invokes the nostalgia of the early post-war civilian Jeep, with its rugged, utilitarian looks, juxtaposed with the electrified off-road capability of the modern, technologically advanced 4xe propulsion system.”
The exterior of the Jeep Willys Dispatcher starts with the unique paint scheme, with a custom shade of Element 115 Green paint, a gloss black windshield header and crème steel wheels – creating the perfect vintage look for the Willys badging. Next, this concept is fitted with Super Traxion 36-inch tires,16-by-7-inch alloy wheels that are designed to look like steel wheels, a vintage-style front bumper, a Warn winch and the classic Willys logo stamped into the sides of the hood.
On the inside, the Jeep Willys Dispatcher sports a unique layout with distressed saddle leather seats with houndstooth cloth inserts, the headrests have been removed to present the old-school short-seat look, a JPP bikini top, JPP vinyl floor covering and a JPP air compressor.
The Jeep Willys Dispatcher is powered by the standard 4xe hybrid drivetrain with 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, which is sent towards all four wheels by means of an 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission and Dana 50 Advantech front and rear axles with 4.70 gears.
Jeep Low Down
Finally, we come to my favorite of the 2024 concepts, the Jeep Low Down. This Wrangler is designed to pay homage to the Jeep Lower 40 Concept that debuted at Moab 15 years ago.
“Fifteen years ago, the Jeep design team wowed attendees at the 43rd annual Easter Jeep Safari with the radically modified Jeep Wrangler Lower 40. Rolling at stock ride height to maintain its center of gravity, the two-door Lower 40 accommodated huge 40-inch mud-terrain tires while packing a 5.7-liter V-8 under hood for prodigious power. An instant classic, the Lower 40 still draws a crowd a decade-and-a-half later and remains one of the fan favorites of all EJS concepts.”
On the outside, the Jeep Low Down wears 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler mud tires, 20-inch beadlock wheels, custom high-clearance carbon fender flares, shortened front and rear bumpers, shaved rear door handles, a badass custom carbon hood with a window showing the V8 engine, a “bespoke race-style fuel filler door located in the driver-side rear quarter panel” and stunning Poiston Apple Red paint with a white stripe across the hood and front fenders.
On the inside, the Jeep Low Down has custom black leather seats with cloth inserts, Rhino-lined floors, a radio delete panel and a custom red bikini top.
The Jeep Low Down Concept uses the stock Wrangler Rubicon 392 suspension, but the standard Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears have been swapped out for Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears. Of course, the Low Down is powered by the 392-cubic inch V8 engine with 475 horsepower being channeled to those heavy-duty axles by means of the 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
