
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee is well regarded as a family-friendly tow tug for owners of heavy caravans, but with a few modifications it seems it can also function as a hard-core overland vehicle for minimalist campers.
That’s the message, at least, from Chrysler Jeep in the US, which has just rolled out a Grand Cherokee-based Overlander concept vehicle which it says was “built to meet the demands of lengthy wilderness treks".
Painted an eye-catching Sage Green, custom features include a one-off front fascia, integrated front winch, tow hooks, larger wheel flares, SRT tail-lamps and hood, off-road rock rails, front and rear skid plates and 18-inch milled wheels with BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres.
The powertrain is untouched, featuring the 177kW/550Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine mated to the latest eight-speed auto transmission.
To top it off, the Overlander has a durable spray-in truck bed coating on the roof and a two-person hard-shell rooftop tent that should be a cinch to erect for overnight stops in the middle of nowhere.
The Grand Cherokee Overlander is one of seven, Jeep concept vehicles that will tackle the trails at this year’s Easter Jeep Safari at Moab, Utah.
Featuring a combination of production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts, the concept vehicles “were created by a small team of dedicated, passionate engineers, designers and fabricators that have been customizing production vehicles since 2002, and have introduced more than 50 concept vehicles for the enthusiasts who attend the popular Easter Jeep Safari”.