"Cheap Jeep" - Our Shop 2012 Jeep JKU Build

The Grocery Store Jeep That Started It All

Cheap Jeep is our 2012 Jeep Wrangler JKU MW3 Edition, bought through a CoPart auction and developed into a shop and family-adventure vehicle. Its name came before the years of equipment, testing, and changes that followed.

The build combines a manual-transmission Wrangler with MASS cargo storage, a fridge and prep area, and a tailgate kitchen. The gallery shows those systems at camp and on the trail, including different stages of the setup.

Questions About This Build?Browse Jeep Wrangler JKU - 4-Door Gear

Cheap Jeep, our four-door JK shop build.

Documented SetupEquipment verification date not recordedPhotos may show different stages. Check current product fitment and included components.

Build Details

Build at a Glance

Vehicle: 2012 Wrangler JKU MW3 Edition, four-door
Powertrain: 3.6L V6, six-speed manual
Recorded Gearing: 4.88:1
Role: Shop development and family adventures

Cheap Jeep Wrangler JKU on a shop lift during earlier development — Cheap Jeep during an earlier stage of shop work.

Build Story

One Grocery Trip, One Unexpected Jeep

I was walking through a grocery store with my daughter, who was about eight at the time, while watching a CoPart auction for a lightly damaged MW3 Edition Wrangler. She noticed me checking my phone and asked what I was doing. When I explained the auction, she asked if she could place a bid.

The price was still low, so I handed her the phone. She tapped the bid button, then tapped again. We laughed about bidding on a Jeep in the frozen-food aisle. When the countdown reached zero, her bid had won.

We brought it home and named it Cheap Jeep. The MW3 package gave us a Rubicon-based starting point with Dana 44 axles, lockers, and a 4:1 transfer case. Years of family trips and shop development followed, turning that unexpected purchase into a vehicle we kept building around.

The rear cargo layout open at camp, with the fridge and work surfaces extended.

Build Story

Organize the Rear Cargo Area

The camp photos show the fridge and storage drawers arranged around the rear opening, with a shelf above the lower modules. That gives the equipment different levels while keeping the slide and drawers accessible through the tailgate.

The build’s parts list includes both MASS and newer MASS Plus components. For a similar layout, review the current JKU MASS Plus Platform and its subwoofer options. Its access doors provide a way into the cubby beneath the floor.

Check the JKU Cargo Shelf against the height of your fridge and its open lid. The photos record different arrangements rather than one fixed equipment list.

The tailgate table and cargo setup in use during a camp stop.

Build Story

Set Up the Kitchen at the Tailgate

The JK VersaTable provides a working surface on the open tailgate. The photos show it beside the extended cargo equipment, with cooking supplies close to the rear opening.

Plan that space as a working area: allow room to stand, open the fridge, and use the table while drawers are extended. Keep the equipment you need first within reach and secure it again before driving.

The cargo equipment and prep surface extended during a snowy stop.

Build Story

A Layout Used Across Different Trips

The gallery includes wooded trails, desert terrain, and snow, along with exterior and camp-setup views. Those photos show where the Jeep has been used, without establishing a single route or an unchanged configuration.

Use the layout as a starting point for your own packing plan. Passenger needs, the fridge you own, and how much cooking or recovery equipment you carry will determine which modules make sense. Confirm current mounting hardware and dimensions when comparing older photos with today’s products.

Build Sheet

Recorded Build Specifications

Powertrain

Engine: 3.6L V6 (stock)

Transmission: 6-speed Manual

Driveshafts: JE Reel

Clutch: Centerforce w/ Weighted Flywheel

Other: B&M Short Shifter

Gearing: 4.88:1

Suspension

Lift Kit Brand: Icon Vehicle Dynamics

Lift Kit Height: 6″ Short Arm

Shocks: IVD Remote Reservoir

Tires/Wheels

Tire Size: 38×13.5×20

Tire: Nitto Trail Grappler

Wheel Size: 20×9

Wheel: Compression from Icon Alloys

Understand the Setup

Equipment Layout Guide

Follow the numbered locations to understand this photographed setup.

Photographed cargo layout in "Cheap Jeep" - Our Shop 2012 Jeep JKU Build.

Fridge and Cargo
The fridge and interior storage remain accessible with the hatch open.
Prep Surface
The extended surface forms a camp working area behind the Jeep.
Tailgate Storage
Tailgate-mounted equipment uses a separate area beside the main cargo modules.

This photo explains one configuration, not a complete installation plan. Confirm the current product version, mounting requirements, seating needs, and clearances.

Build Questions

Questions About Cheap Jeep

Equipment, fitment, and planning details from this build.

Is This a Two-Door JK or a Four-Door JKU?

Cheap Jeep is a 2012 four-door JKU. Choose the cargo platform and shelf for that body style, then check any model-year and subwoofer requirements.

Why Is It Called Cheap Jeep?

The name came from the auction purchase. It is not a price target for the equipped vehicle or a promise that this parts combination is a budget build.

Do All the Photos Show the Current Cargo Products?

No. The photos document a shop vehicle used for development and trips. Use the current product pages to confirm the parts and hardware for your own setup.

What Should I Include in a Build Question?

Use the button above the main photo and include your Wrangler’s year, body style, subwoofer layout, fridge dimensions, and passenger needs. Tell us which part of Cheap Jeep’s setup you want to reproduce.