VWerks 2011 Jeep Wrangler JK: Recon

Recon Wrangler 2011 V Werks Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

In 2011 Jeep unveiled the Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition Wrangler. It had the Black Ops styling with dark wheels and clever badging, but lacked one basic item that all battle-ready vehicles need—firepower! OK, so there was no way Jeep was going to have a .50 caliber upgrade box to check under the heated seat option, but one could wish, right? Fortunately, we’re not the only ones who sought the vision of a heavy-duty military-grade Wrangler capable of post-apocalyptic terrain conquering and zombie slaying.

Inside of the Recon Jeep is a mix of upscale styling and durable materials. A custom set of Katzkin leather seats offers the forward occupants plenty of comfort, while the spray-lined floor is ready for abuse. A factory built-in navigation system was optioned to help roaming the unknown a little easier. It may look rugged on the outside, but the climate-controlled cab makes for a refined environment.

Inside of the Recon Jeep is a mix of upscale styling and durable materials. A custom set o

Led by former Mopar lead engineer Pat Muldoon, VWerks is a company that specializes in aftermarket parts and complete vehicle transformations. The latest brainchild picks up where the Call of Duty Wrangler left off. Known as the Recon Jeep, the company’s over-the-top JK is something right out of the GI Joe toy line. From top to bottom the Recon Jeep blends high-end and heavy-duty equipment with military styling and modern interior comfort. While it may just look like a modified Wrangler with a gun strapped to the roof, it is much more than that. It’s a heavily modified Wrangler with a machine gun strapped to the roof!

Resting on 39-inch BFG Krawlers and fitted with a 5.7L Hemi engine, Recon is built around function, not frills. Pat Muldoon was one of the principle developers of the JK-8 conversion when he was with Mopar. With his in-depth knowledge of the conversion and the VWerks crew’s skill set, the company has the metal-morphing capabilities to build just about any type of pickup-esque JK. For the company’s Recon edition more room was a must, so 10 inches was added to the rear of the JK-8-converted ’11 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited platform. This additional stretch provided more room for the .50 caliber rotating mount, which offers the operator full 360-degree mobility. Zombies on your tail? No problem. Zombies on the side? Got it covered. Zombies inside the cab? Well, that could be a problem.

When blazing into battle it’s important to have a healthy roar, not a wheezy whistle. VWerks agreed and ditched the stock 202hp 3.8L for a rip-roaring 5.7L V-8. The 390hp heart transplant came from a Ram donor truck, along with the 5-45RFE automatic transmission. The custom intake offers the Hemi a little more breathing power, while a well placed B&M transmission cooler keeps the auto from bubbling over.

When blazing into battle it’s important to have a healthy roar, not a wheezy whistle. VWer

To offer piece of mind under the rig, Recon was fitted with a Dynatrac ProRock 60 front, and an earth-shattering full-float ProRock 80 out back. Surprisingly, the Jeep only weighs in at 5,700 pounds, which in the world of overweight JK’s is actually an impressive feat. VWerks also understood that a full-floating, 1-ton axle set under a Jeep with virtually no payload capacity was pretty worthless. To increase utility and occupant protection, the company stiffened the rear floor by adding a 7⁄16-inch steel plate and swapped out the normal 4-inch lift springs with a set capable of holding 2,500 pounds.

If this Jeep is starting to sound like something you would like to own and you have an extra $250,000 sitting around, then you are in luck. Before you get too excited, you should know that unless you are a small country or have a commercial account, you won’t be able to order the Recon with the rotary or side gun mount. You can, however, still get your own Recon very well equipped, as the IED load floor is an available option in addition to the rear canvas enclosures. The even better news is that if you happen to survive the end of the world, you can start your own country and make this your official vehicle.

The VWerks 4-inch suspension system works well with the 1-inch Jack-It body lift. Combined with Gen-Right fenders, the Jeep has no trouble clearing the 39-inch BFG Krawler tires. Since off-road conditions vary, along with gear loads, each corner of the Jeep is fitted with an adjustable 2.0 Fox shock. The 2.0 remote-reservoir series shocks help keep the shock’s oil cool, while a quick turn of the adjuster modifies the shocks’ compression (upwards movement) damping characteristics.

The VWerks 4-inch suspension system works well with the 1-inch Jack-It body lift. Combined

The Details
General
Owner/Hometown: Venchurs Vehicle Systems (VWerks)/ Adrian, MI
Vehicle/Model: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Recon Edition)
Estimated value: $250,000
Engine
Type: 5.7L Hemi V-8

Drivetrain
Transmission: 5-45RFE, B&M cooler
Transfer case: Advance Adapters Atlas II (5.0:1)

Suspension
Front: VWerks 4-in with coil springs, Fox 2.0 adjustable shocks with remote reservoirs
Rear: VWerks 4-in with 2,500lb load-carrying coil springs, Fox 2.0 adjustable shocks with remote reservoirs

Axles/Differentials
Front: Dynatrac ProRock 60, 1-ton Ford disc brakes, ARB Air Locker, PSC Motorsports hydraulic-assist steering
Rear: Dynatrac ProRock 80, 1-ton Ford disc brakes, Detroit Locker
Ring and pinion: 5.38:1

Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 17x8.5 Hutchinson Rock Monster beadlock
Tires: 39x14.50R17 BFG Krawler T/A KX

The meat and potatoes of the VWerks Recon Wrangler rests in the rear of the Jeep. Mounted to the custom 2 1/2 inch rollcage is a U.S. military 360-degree rotary mount that contains a M2 Ma Deuce .50 caliber replica machine gun. If that’s not enough firepower for you, the passenger side is fitted with a swing-arm that can be pivoted 180 degrees and contains a M249 SAW weapon. With the simple change of the pintle attachment, a smaller or larger caliber weapon can be fitted in place.
The meat and potatoes of the VWerks Recon Wrangler rests in the rear of the Jeep. Mounted
A 10-inch stretch gives the Recon Jeep a longer bed over the standard JK-8 conversion. The goal of stretching the wheelbase behind the rear wheelwells was to keep the 116-inch wheelbase unchanged. This longer setup reduces the departure angle slightly, but the VWerks military rear bumper is designed to take a beating. A Gen-Right tire carrier does the job for toting the full-sized spare.
A 10-inch stretch gives the Recon Jeep a longer bed over the standard JK-8 conversion. The
Sitting inside of the VWerks front bumper is a Warn 9.5ti winch that works great as an extraction tool when the onboard shovels and axe won’t cut it. To cover the rear portion of the JK-8 conversion, a custom canvas top with tinted windows was constructed. In order to better protect the Jeep and its occupants, VWerks rocker guards were fitted on the outside of the rig, while a custom 7⁄16-inch steel plate floor keeps them safe from any hidden devices they might run over.
Sitting inside of the VWerks front bumper is a Warn 9.5ti winch that works great as an ext

Under the front of the Jeep rests a Dynatrac ProRock 60 axle which houses a reverse rotation 5.38 gearset. Traction is aided by an ARB Air Locker which is fed by an onboard ARB air compressor that’s connected with a 2 1/2 gallon tank. The PSC Motorsports hydraulic-assist steering system works with the Dynatrac Pro Series ball joints to keep steering tight and responsive. To spin the 1-ton differentials VWerks had custom heavy-wall drivelines crafted with CV-joints to allow for plenty of motion range.
Under the front of the Jeep rests a Dynatrac ProRock 60 axle which houses a reverse rotati
Supporting the rear of the Jeep is a full-float ProRock 80 axle that’s stuffed with 40-spline axleshafts and a Detroit Locker. The extreme-duty rear axle allows the Recon Jeep to utilize every bit of its 2,500 pound load-carrying capacity springs. The massive pintle hitch is fitted with a 2-inch ball for any towing needs.
Supporting the rear of the Jeep is a full-float ProRock 80 axle that’s stuffed with 40-spl
To make the rig as versatile as possible, VWerks replaced the original chain-driven transfer case with a beefy gear-driven Atlas II from Advance Adapters. The 5.0:1 low range is an immense torque multiplier for the already powerful V-8 engine. The twin-stick controls also aid in the maneuverability of the longer rig off-road. With a simple pull of a lever, you can swap into front-wheel-only or rear-wheel-only in both high and low range.
To make the rig as versatile as possible, VWerks replaced the original chain-driven transf