Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of Iceland's "jeeps"

Not too long ago, we posted a bit about Iceland's "jeeps". This blogger has just returned from ten days in the North Atlantic with those very brutes, and they're every bit as massive -- and cool -- as they look. We even got to go for a spin in one, get a look at another one, and take pictures of a whole bunch more. What was it like? The same thing we said before: "big-wheel badness." Follow the jump for the story, and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

In Iceland, the leviathan you see in the picture above is called a "jeep." Here in the U.S., it would be called a massively tricked out F-350 Super Duty, or probably just "monster truck." The 6,000 members of Iceland's 4x4 club use them to explore the barely reachable sections of the island nation, trusting 4-foot-high studded tires and a bevy of custom modifications to get them back to civilization.

The problem is that Icelanders are having their own currency issues, with a free-fall even worse than the dollar's being just the start. When gas is almost $8 per gallon, that puts a fill-up somewhere around the $500 mark. And that puts a hurting on everything -- especially when you have to spend even more money getting your truck hauled out of the ice it just fell through. Not that any of this really stops them, because, well, there isn't much else to do in Iceland. So follow the link and check out the trucks in the slideshow. It's big-wheel badness.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

So you have decided to take the family on a rugged outdoor adventure. Hunting, fishing, and four-wheelin' are all part of the plan. Sounds like you need a Jeep, probably a Wrangler. But you happen to have six kids and no minivan in the world will get you where you want to go. You really long for something that offers the legendary Jeep off-road prowess, but with seating for eight. Well, my friend, step right up. Back Country Journal, the self-proclaimed "finest hunting and fishing on the web" is here to answer your prayers.

The company offers a range of Wrangler conversions including 4-door stretches, 4-door pickup stretches, and this-here ultimate family adventure vehicle, the 6-door stretch. The company's Custom Stretch Jeep Conversions are actually available in just about any configuration: "Whether you desire full doors, half doors, soft top, lift kits, winches, custom racks, bumpers, lights or anything else you can imagine. And the best news here is that the conversions start at just $18,500! Gulp. They'll convert your current Jeep or even find a locally available one for you. After the conversion, they'll even deliver it to you, anywhere in the world. We can't personally vouch for how well these stretched Jeeps will hold up to trail rides with that extra 6 feet between the wheels, but they sure look like a whole lot of fun. Click through the read link for a whole gallery of some of their other offerings. And happy trails to you.

[Source: Back Country Journal]