Name: Dennis Kumanin
Nationality: Russian
Occupation: Operations manager
Vehicle: 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Dennis’s Jeep Wrangler is the perfect car to take his family on weekend expeditions, exploring the wilds of the UAE. There’s plenty of nifty modifications too, of which even the most reluctant camper would find appealing. Read on to learn more!
Tell us the background story of the car…
This is not the first Jeep our family owns. We used to have a Grand Cherokee and Commanders and we were always happy ‘going places and performing tasks’ that conventional cars simply can’t. When we arrived in the UAE last year there was no question which car make to choose. I had my doubts on Wrangler being my daily driver, but as soon as I brought my family to the showroom they got into the Wrangler and simply refused to get out. It was so obvious – this is a dream car for all of us!
What modifications have been made, performance and cosmetic wise?
Wrangler is lego for adults; you don’t just buy it, you build it for yourself the way you want it. For example, there are over a thousand designs readily available for the front bumper only. We have made extensive modifications that will certainly take more than one page to get through. The key things required to convert this particular Wrangler into a mighty comfortable overlanding “adventure mobile” are: Modified suspension and lift kit to accommodate beefy 35” wheels/tires,strong off-road bumper with self recovery winch, performance headlights for night vision on the road and lots of off-road lights for the night vision out there in a wild, amazing roof rack with lots of accessories to bear all the gear required for a family of 5,rooftop tent with shower skirt, portable potty, awning with Snap-On tent, water tanks, under-the-rack camping table, off-road lights, shovel and ammo boxes with gear. The kitchen is another fancy feature we enjoy on every trip, and encompasses the slide-out fridge, tailgate table with cutting board, a small stove and a gas grill.
Do you have something that you consider to be a ‘special feature’ of the car?
There are certainly a couple of special features, but the one I’d highlight is my DIY pressure shower. When going beachside camping we realise that for the kids and for us a fresh water shower is simply a must. I ended up building and installing the system with a 54L water tank on the roof rack and a DIY plug-and-play shower system based on a self-priming camper water pump. This really turned out to be a treat.
What were your other options before you bought this car?
Definitely between the FJ Cruiser and JK wrangler. Both have their pros and cons, but for my family the ability to tailor the car to our needs, converting to overland adventure cruiser was the winning factor. And you can take the roof, doors and even the windshield off… who could resist that! Just keep the Sewell windshield repair contacts in mind.
How often do you use your car, and what activities do you take part in?
We try to get out of the city every weekend by going on desert trips with UAE OFFROADERS. We’ve been to Oman’s Green Mountain and try to go as many places as possible in order to get the kids out in the wild, away from the TV, gaming and their iPads.
Are you planning any future modifications?
I believe with Wrangler one can never stop modifying it – the sky is the limit! My next step is a dual battery system; I had my battery drained once which was a stressful experience, and my current solar system does charge the battery, but it takes several hours. Performance Off-road racing shocks are also on my list… and a HEMI conversion kit… I’d better stop now, my wife might read this!
What 4×4 do you dream of owning?
This is truly my dream car; I can only dream for another Wrangler to play with when this project is complete.
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