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.
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
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.
Cheap Jeep during an earlier stage of shop work.
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 rear cargo layout open at camp, with the fridge and work surfaces extended.
The tailgate table and cargo setup in use during a camp stop.
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.
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.
The cargo equipment and prep surface extended during a snowy stop.
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
Questions About Cheap Jeep
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.
Products Used in This Build
Cheap Jeep JKU Build Photo Gallery
