Photography: Boyd Jaynes
For those that want a do-it-all vehicle, it is hard to beat the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It can haul the kids to school, has plenty of room for gear, is useful on road trips, and looks great cruising through the local shopping mall parking lot. The latest Jeep JL expands on that versatility by being more comfortable and refined than its predecessor.
There are plenty of vehicles that are just as versatile as the Jeep Wrangler JL. But there are absolutely none that can match that versatility with the JL's off-road abilities. There aren't even any that come close. And, if the out-of-the-box capability of the Wrangler JL isn't enough for you, there is a whole host of aftermarket options out there to expand upon it. With the right modifications and driver, the JL can take on almost any trail on the planet. And, it can drive back home comfortably and in one piece.
The key to keeping the Jeep's versatility and simultaneously upping its capability is to build it right. Make it too extreme and it can be great on the trail, but a handful on the street. Don't build it enough and it will struggle in technical terrain. This Jeep JL, dubbed Project Grenade, perfectly bridges the gap between the two extremes. With a host of parts on it from Rubicon Express, Smittybilt, Poison Spyder, Pro Comp, and more, it is extremely competent. But it is still versatile and comfortable enough to work as a daily driver too. Let's take a closer look at this clean, functional, and capable Jeep.