There’s a reason the Wrangler keeps showing up in reader submissions: It comes out of the factory closer to a purpose-built off-roader than almost anything else on sale. 

Solid front and rear axles, a proper transfer case, and a chassis that’s been the default platform for the aftermarket industry for decades mean owners aren’t fighting the vehicle to build it, they’re building on top of what’s already there.

That factory head start shows in the spread of builds owners send in. Some are kept relatively simple: A modest lift, a set of all-terrain tyres, a winch and a UHF is enough to turn a JK or JL into a genuinely capable weekend tourer. Others go all in, with locked diffs front and rear, low gearing, long-arm suspension, aftermarket axles and full armour, built for technical, low-range terrain where most other 4x4s would turn around.

The destinations reflect that range. Victorian High Country tracks like Bunyip, the Buxton/Rubicon area and Toolangi are regulars, but Wranglers are just as likely to turn up on Fraser Island, through the forests around Coffs Harbour and Glassy, or deep in WA’s south west around Collie and Denmark. From stock weekenders to fully caged rock crawlers, it’s a platform that rewards owners for going as far as their budget and ambition will take them.

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Jeep JKU Wrangler

Submitted by Kelly Tate

Kelly Tate’s twin-locked JKU Wrangler is built for technical, low-range work, and the spec list backs that up.

The driveline is a tuned diesel manual with front and rear lockers, giving it serious low-range capability on tricky terrain. Ride height comes from a 3.5-inch AEV Dualsport suspension lift with mod-plating, carrying AEV Salta wheels wrapped in 33-inch mud tyres.

Front and rear AEV bull bars with an integrated Fuel Caddy handle protection and extra fuel capacity. Recovery and electrical gear includes a Runva winch for recovery, LightFox spot and ditch lights, a Uniden UHF paired with a GME antenna, one forward and two reversing cameras, Stedi headlights and an ARB onboard compressor.

Kelly is a member of the Melbourne Jeep Owners Club (↗) with a strong pull toward technical driving, and the Wrangler has covered most of Victoria, with regular runs through Bunyip, Thompson Dam, Buxton and Rubicon, and Toolangi.

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2022 Jeep Wrangler

Submitted by John Stein

John Stein’s 2022 Wrangler wears its scars proudly after a wet, muddy introduction to off-roading.

The Wrangler runs a two-inch suspension lift on Yokohama all-terrain tyres, backed by a Carbon Winches unit for recovery. The best trip so far has been to Coffs Harbour, a wet, muddy and steep test that has left the Jeep looking anything but shiny.

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2017 Jeep JK Wrangler Sport

Submitted by Aaron Blanchard

Aaron Blanchard’s 2.8-litre diesel JK Sport is set up as much for family camping as for the tracks.

The 2.8-litre diesel breathes through an AEV snorkel, while a 2.5-inch TeraFlex suspension lift with Falcon shocks sits on 35-inch tyres. Up front, an ARB bull bar houses a winch for recovery, while the tray runs a drawer and fridge setup with a flat platform for the dogs. A Rhino-Rack roof rack with awning and Maxtrax storage rounds out the touring kit.

The Jeep gets regular use camping just out of Mitta Mitta, and on the local tracks around Lima, Boho and Strathbogie.

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2006 Jeep TJ Wrangler

Submitted by Damian Ferguson

Damian Ferguson’s TJ Wrangler pairs serious power with a driveline built to match.

Under the bonnet is a supercharged 4.0-litre AMC engine running through 4.56:1 gears with eLockers front and rear. Underneath, long-arm suspension works with anti-rock swaybars, RCV Performance axles and Trailgear beadlocks carrying 37-inch Treps tyres.

Recovery and body gear includes a Warn 8274 winch for recovery, removable steel flares and PRP Seats inside. The build has clocked up serious kilometres across Western Australia, taking in Lancelin, Wilbinga, Harvey, Brunswick, Collie, Balingup, Warpole and Denmark.

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2014 Jeep Wrangler JK Dragon Edition

Submitted by David Thomas

David Thomas’s Dragon Edition JK is set up for serious touring, with K’gari (Fraser Island) topping the highlight reel.

Ride height comes from a 3.5-inch AEV suspension lift. Protection and body work includes Motobilt Crusher front and rear bumpers, Poison Spyder sliders and auxiliary roll cage, and Trailmods removable flares.

Rolling stock is 37×12.5R17 Maxxis RAZR mud-terrain tyres on Dirty Life beadlock 17×9 wheels, with an Excessive Industries Gatekeeper tyre carrier and a Warn 9.5 cti-s winch for recovery. Fraser Island (K’gari) is a firm favourite, alongside regular runs through the tracks at Glassy and Coffs.

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2007 Jeep JK Wrangler

Submitted by Matt Ackley

Matt Ackley’s two-door JK is a ground-up build, with barely a factory part left in place.

Up front, a Smittybilt XRC modular bull bar sits alongside an SRC Stingray vented bonnet, with a Carbon Winches 12,000lb winch handling recovery duties. Lighting comes from Stedi TYPE-X PRO LED driving lights and J.W. Speaker headlights and taillights, while Poison Spyder extra-wide crusher flares, an inner fender kit, rear crusher corners and Brawler rockers handle the armour, backed by a JCR Offroad Crusader rear mid-width bumper.

Out back, a TeraFlex Alpha heavy-duty hinged spare tyre carrier with adjustable mount sits above a Prerunner three-inch long flexarm suspension system running Falcon 3.4 remote air-adjust shocks, with a Rzeppa CV kit and speed bumps front and rear.

Underneath, G2 Core 44 diffs front and rear run ARB air lockers and 4.88 gears, with an ARB twin onboard compressor, a G2 mini air compressor and an ARB breather extension kit keeping the air system self-contained.

Rolling stock is ATX Chamber Pro II beadlocks wrapped in BFG KM3 37×12.5R17 tyres. Inside, a Genesis V3 dual battery system runs alongside Subaru BRZ seats on Planted Technology mounts, a Rugged Ridge A-pillar switch pod and GraBars grab handles, while a custom rear drawer system, custom roof rack and CAOS Nomad 270-degree awning round out the touring setup. Matt has built this JK as a genuine ground-up project, with barely a system on the vehicle left untouched.

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