Nonetheless, the green credentials go to the Jeep. Its turbocharged 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, scrubbed clean with diesel exhaust fluid, showed an impressive 7.7 L/100 kilometres for this highway portion of the drive — not bad for a 2,206-kilogram truck with the aerodynamics of a tool shed. The less fuel burned, the less CO2 emitted, and that’s inarguable logic. Conversely, fire-breathing dragons spew gawd-knows-what into the atmosphere once they get going. And as a bonus, the Jeep’s surprising fleetness, thanks to a tsunami-like 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 rpm, would have the dragon raising an eyebrow. Or three.
Primitive Designs is owned and run by Ron Dacey and his partner, Rhonda Cook. Ron is a youthful-looking 69 years old, sporting long blond surfer-dude hair and the vibe of someone who has indeed spent the past 50 years or so of his life scouring the far reaches of the globe, building up relationships with artists, communities, and suppliers.