Jeep Wrangler owners in the USA can now live out their ultimate Billy Bob fantasies with a kit to turn their car from passenger SUV to pick-up truck.

The kit of parts has been officially launched by Jeep and costs $5,499 (£3,400) on top of the price of the car. Called the JK-8 Kit, it comes with a steel bed, inner and outer bed sides, sport bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, a fibreglass hard top for the cab and a rear bulkhead to go between the cab and load bed.

Ever since Jeep showed a concept Wrangler pick-up at the huge Mohab meeting there has been gathering demand for the pick-up conversion. Only available for the long-wheelbase Wrangler Unlimited, the pick-up can be converted by the customer at home or by a Jeep dealer at an additional cost.

All of the Wrangler's exterior body panels remain untouched, but there are some internal welds that have to be removed, so converting back from pick-up to passenger car is more complicated than just removing the JK-8 Kit. Also, the separating bulkhead is permanently attached to the chassis.

There are currently no plans to bring the JK-8 Kit to the UK.

Alisdair Suttie - 15 Jul 2011