When the Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited was introduced as a 2007 model many enthusiasts welcomed its four doors as a great way to carry extra passengers and gear. Kenny Hauk, owner of River Raider Off-Road in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, however, became enthralled with the JK for quite a different reason: its wheelbase and body lent great possibilities for customization.
Kenny had anticipated and hoped that Jeep would offer a truck-bodied JK. When Jeep didn't offer one to the general public, Kenny decided to build his own.
Looking for a cheap JK to start the project with Kenny purchased a 2WD four-door theft recovery from California. The vehicle had been stripped of most of its factory parts with the exception of some of the interior and the stock 3.8L V-6 (a 5.7L VVT Hemi V-8 from Burnsville Off-Road was installed shortly after the photo shoot). With a blank canvas in front of them, Kenny and the River Raider Off-Road crew started in to the build, cutting out the rear portion of the body and beginning to fabricate and mock up the bed.
Kenny and his team didn't approach the build blindly; an artist's rendering and design plans were formulated and established and the build followed this course. However, the fabrication and building process wasn't easy by any means as it was certainly different from anything that had been done before. The River Raider team took these challenges in stride and attacked the build with the end product in mind. It had not been done before. But it would be done when they had completed it.
With most of the rear body portions removed the bed came to fruition. The bed, bulkhead, and tailgate were all formed from 14-gauge steel and laid atop the stock Wrangler floor pan. A set of River Raider's rear Crusher Corners and tube fenders were installed as well. A River Raider Sport Cage was installed and an Avenger TiteTop was used to enclose the cab. The front of the Raider ST received a Truck Master Designs hood and a River Raider snorkel. With all in place, Kenny's good friend Steve Clevenger coated the Raider ST with Silver Steel paint and a matte clear coat. After paint, the rig received River Raider bumpers front and rear and a set of River Raider rock sliders.
Aside from the truck bed conversion,...
Aside from the truck bed conversion, a variety of features set the Raider ST apart from other JKs. A host of River Raider products adorn the vehicle, including front and rear bumpers, front and rear tube fenders, rear body corners, rock sliders, and the functional safari-style snorkel.
The Raider ST tackles obstacles...
The Raider ST tackles obstacles with ease. It offers a slightly longer wheelbase than a four-door JK and uses a Rock Krawler custom three-link coilover suspension at the front and rear.
The Avenger TiteTop half cab...
The Avenger TiteTop half cab is designed for any JK and offers a cool appearance, particularly when paired with the Raider ST. It even uses the factory front T-tops so you can still enjoy an open-air drive without completely removing the top. The Raider ST frame was left stock but the wheelbase was extended by moving the front axle forward 1-inch and rear axle back 1-inch. The Raider ST bed and bulkhead assembly was laid atop the factory JK floor pan.
A key element of the Raider...
A key element of the Raider ST is its functional tailgate and truck bed. The tailgate sits flat when open and blends seamlessly with River Raider's JK body armor corners when closed. The rear corners also feature recessed LED taillights.
An air chuck in the rear bumper...
An air chuck in the rear bumper next to the license plate is supplied by a Viair compressor and 5-gallon air tank. The bed and tailgate are coated with a custom-blend PolyUrethane material that was applied in-house by River Raider. Cargo can be safely transported in the bed, which is equipped with 10,000-pound recessed billet D-rings from Mac’s Custom Tie-Downs.
A ProMark Off-Road 10,000-pound...
A ProMark Off-Road 10,000-pound Silverback Series electric recovery winch with ProMark synthetic winch line resides in the River Raider front bumper. River Raiders front tube fenders are also in view.
A Truck Master Designs hood...
A Truck Master Designs hood replaced the stock unit and was coated with Silver Steel paint and a matte clear coat like the rest of the body. River Raider tube fenders create ample under-fender space and also offer great body protection.
The conceptual drawing of...
The conceptual drawing of the Raider ST JK truck conversion was...
...completed by Joel Bewley...
...completed by Joel Bewley of Bewley Design Lab.