what type of vehicle is this???

We have friends up in Homer Alaska that two three times a year drive down to
Phoenix Arizone.
They drive a 40 foot pusher motor coach pulling a tandem axle enclosed trailer
with a Trans-Am inside...
They often take out of the way routes down south as well!
Hell, if they can do roads like these with a set up like theres, I'm sure a KJ wouldn't have any problems!

Sadly, I live in Land Rover country

And some LR owners are really serious and won't acknowledge other 4x4's.

Even though the very first LR was buit on a Willys Jeep chasis I also believe the very first event the Camel Trophy was based on was an event run using Jeep CJ's

You asked what are they built for? These days, just to keep LR mechanics in a job I've known several people who have worked for LR, and they all drive Jeeps

Ivan