Jeep’s New Off-Road Patent Has the Potential to Be a Trail Game-Changer

As Jeep’s vision of electric off-roading, the 2026 Recon upholds brand tradition through features like removable doors, respectable approach and departure angles and chunky trail-ready rubber.

Much as the automaker is looking to preserve the status quo for fans of the seven-slot grille, the inherent differences in its design mean that the SUV is introducing big changes compared to enduring icons like the beloved Wrangler.

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Stellantis / USPTO

The most glaring being the dual-motor powertrain. However, while some enthusiasts may mourn the loss of internal combustion, it’s worth remembering that the lack of an engine allows for new possibilities under the hood.

Tidy trail recovery tool

Quite literally, in the case of Jeep’s latest idea. As discovered by Mopar Insiders, Stellantis has published a patent providing for an internally mounted winch.

Stellantis / USPTO

Though the documentation doesn’t reference the Recon specifically, it outlines that this hardware is for an EV, and the pictured vehicle’s resemblance throughout some of the drawings is undeniable.

In any event, rather than mounting the winch on the bumper as is typical, the design instead places it within the underhood compartment (the frunk) and secures it on the vehicle’s chassis rails. The cable then extends through a front-facing opening.

Along with offering added protection from the elements and reduced wear on the trail, it provides for a cleaner look with less aerodynamic impact.

Stellantis / USPTO

Granted, the last of these concerns might not make much of a difference for a gas-powered vehicle, but even marginal gains in efficiency play a huge role in maximizing EV range.

Powertrain considerations aside, though, it’s a sound design. Mounting a winch directly to the vehicle’s substructure ensures that it’s fit for recovery duty, as the extra reinforcement makes it capable of handling significant loads.

A frunk-load of potential

While a patent doesn’t guarantee that a design will go to market, this internally mounted winch has the potential to be a game-changer, even as a drawing.

Stellantis / USPTO

That’s because, though the hardware in and of itself is nothing special, its packaging is.

By placing the winch in a space typically reserved for an engine, Jeep not only shows what’s possible in the absence of internal combustion constraints but also provides the frunk with added functionality.

Regardless of whether this winch eventually becomes a production offering, it can act as inspiration. If nothing else, it serves to further the conversation about what the space has the potential to become.

Jeep

After all, frunks have appeared in mid- and rear-engine performance cars (be it Porsche 911s or Volkswagen Beetles) for decades. It’s the recent growth of the EV segment that’s made the feature more commonplace among commuter and family vehicles.

Now, even as dead space, the frunk’s ability to provide extra storage makes for an added value proposition. In fact, recognizing this, some automakers are charging for the option.

Jeep

However, with forward-thinking outfits like Rivian pushing the boundaries of electric off-roading through RAD initiatives, I have a feeling that Jeep’s winch is the first of other novel frunk applications. 

Whether for housing trail recovery equipment or accommodating overlanding gear, it doesn’t take much imagination to realize that the space abounds with potential use cases.

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