A Piece of History : The AEV Brute Conversion
Today we’re talking about the Gladiator before the Gladiator, this of course is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Brute. After the Jeep Commanche went off the market in 1992. Jeep didn’t offer another truck option for almost 30 years, or at least until the new gladiator came out in 2018. In that time the Jeep community wanted another truck option so they turned to AEV. Thus the Wrangler brute was born. Consisting of a stretched TJ frame and a bobbed bed, this jeep was unique and capable.
The Suspension
This beautiful silver AEV Brute is built tough with a 2” Old Man Emu suspension with Fox shocks for a smooth and balanced ride, 17” AEV Pintler wheels for a subtle look to match the body. and 4:56 gears to haul those 35” BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires.
On the sides of the body you’ll see Smittybilt side steps with rocker guards to protect the body from anything the trail throws at it. This Brute also features a limited run front bumper; with a Warn VR EVO 8 winch, keeping you fully prepared to get out of any situation. On each side of the bumper is the Baja Designs squadron sport driving lights, pushing out 3,162 lumens at 30 watts you will have no trouble seeing where the road takes you next.
The Heart of the Brute
In the engine bay you’ll notice a 4.0L inline 6 engine. They come standard in most TJ Wranglers and the brute is no exception. This engine is known for it’s toque ( 220-235 lb-ft) and reliability, a true gem of the older generation Jeeps. This engine is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission making this a very fun and easy vehicle to get around in. This engine in particular has only 61,000 miles, which is why it’s in pristine condition.
Another great perk of the Brute is the extra cargo space it provides. Unlike the TJ that has very limited space especially when you have the back seats in. The brute has an entire truck bed to store your camping and hauling needs! 
Final thoughts
We buy these from all over the country and every single one has a different story. We've had Brutes come in that were farm trucks in Texas hauling hay and hand tools around the owners cow farm. We've seen Brutes that have lived their life in a climate controlled garage and roll out looking like how we remember them in 06. We love hearing about the life of the Jeeps passing through our doors so feel free to send in your Brute stories, we'd love to hear them.