Articles
October 1, 2008 | By Trent Riddle
The second annual Truck and Jeep Fest was held in July at the Canfield Fairgrounds in Ohio. Put on by 4 Wheel Parts and 4 Wheel Drive Hardware it provides families a chance to get away for the weekend and experience a wide range of fun and exciting activities. It offers something for everyone and some great deals on parts too...
December 1, 2007 | By Denis Snow
Back in 2002 Jeep introduced their Liberty to the mid-size SUV market. Since then, the market has grown and now so has the Liberty. Originally Jeep’s marketing department targeted it to appeal to 60% women and 40% men buyers...
January 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Even though we have an obvious bias toward off-road adventures, we actually weren't the first to note that the new Toyota Sequoia isn't intended primarily for trail use. Actually, Toyota's chief designer for the Sequoia, Motoharu Araya (who also worked on the Sienna and Tundra) made that point to us before we ever got behind the wheel and headed out for a brief drive in the dirt. "It's not meant to be a very serious off-roader, but it is still off-road capable...
September 1, 2008 | By Sue Mead
Want your cake and want to eat it, too? Why not have it with green icing, then?!
Chrysler has joined the ranks of a growing number of hybrid manufacturers, and in this case, its Dodge division has designed a work-horse hybrid, engineered for those of us that love a 4WD powertrain, might want to ferry eight friends to a get-away weekend in the woods, plus bring along a couple of jet skis or snowmobiles - and have the need to pay less to fuel both our work and our fun.
On sale in August, the 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid will hit the streets and backcountry of America, with the same body design as its gas-powered counterpart, equipped with Chrysler's 5. 7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that partners with a hybrid electric motor system and Chrysler's MDS (multiple displacement system)...
13. 2009 Ford F-150
January 1, 2009
The seats are generally more comfortable, front and rear, and rear legroom has been increased. To carry more cargo, it's possible to fold up the rear seats and slide in something as big as a 52-inch flat screen TV.
The first Ford pickup was launched in 1948, the half-ton F-1...
December 1, 2009 | By Dan Sanchez
Raising your ’09 Ford F-150 pickup to run larger wheels and tires definitely has its benefits. Having a cool off-road appearance with mud-terrain tires and big wheels are just some of the advantages to adding three to five inches of ride height. But while the cost of a full suspension lift may be out of reach for many these days, Performance Accessories’ new Premium Lift System (PLS) is a lower cost alternative...
October 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
. . ...
October 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
. . ...
October 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
When it comes to having fun at work, there are notmany jobs that can compete with one that involves4 wheeling. Imagine chatting during the week withfolks about the sport you love and then hitting the trails toenjoy your favorite activity in your own rig on the weekends. This is exactly what Bob Thilman and Jeremy Komorn getto do...
18. A Trio of Trucks
July 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
Good things come in threes, right? Maybe, but that depends on what you're talking about. If it's the Pointer Sisters, sure thing. As for three strikes - well, then you're out...
19. Acid Test
March 1, 2010 | By Steve Temple
We’ve all been there: the top of a mountain, the depth of a forest or a hidden oasis in the middle of the desert — the perfect end of a long day on the trail and your weekend adventure. Of course, you use all your auxiliary lights to set up the secluded campsite. And while the stillness is intoxicating, why not also crank up the tunes to get the party started?
Next day you’re eager to start exploring...
December 1, 2006 | By Chris Bolger
Tires are one of the most important purchases you will make for your 4x4. They are the foundation to good performance both on the street and on the trail. A wrong choice haunts you for as long as the tires last...
July 1, 2007 | By Denis Snow
Rancho's Long-Arm Suspension System for Wrangler JK's.
Not to be out done, or left in the dust on the current Jeep JK craze, Rancho has also developed a long-arm suspension system for this increasingly popular rig.
At this year's Moab Easter Jeep Safari, we had the opportunity to take this new system out for a test drive and check out both its on- and off-roading capabilities...
February 1, 2009
The Baja 1000 is the world's longest non-stop and most famous desert race. This year's race was a challenging 631. 5-mile loop beginning and ending in Ensenada...
February 1, 2008 | By Ned Bacon
The truck always ran with this custom bungee cord hood-safety-system. No front bumper was utilized and only a tiny tube push bar protected things. Guess they didn't do much nudging in the early days...
24. Banks Power
June 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Start thinking about high performance and the name Gale Banks usually isn't far behind. While he may be known for powering drag trucks - his diesel-powered Sidewinder Chevy S-10 recently clocked 7. 72 seconds at 179...
February 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Designed in a joint engineering effort between BD Diesel Performance and BorgWarner Turbo Systems' AirWerks program, BD offers turbo systems for the stock Dodge 5. 9L Cummins and Chevy 6. 6L Duramax engines that respond better than original designs plus flow enough air for racing applications, yet are responsive and durable enough for street and heavy towing applications...
February 1, 2010 | By Denis Snow
The list of installation tools is pretty short and definitely not high-tech: a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, a clean soft cloth, a pair of scissors, a screwdriver (to r&r the factory tie-downs) an awl (for punching holes for the factory tie-down screws). The 50-ft of high strength Velcro strips and two packets of 3M Automotive Adhesion Promoter 4298 comes with the kit.
The BedTred, introduced at the 2009 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Assoc...
January 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
The 4 Wheel Parts Canfield Truck and Jeep Fest last July was a premier event and we hope you enjoyed the coverage in the November issue. If you closed your eyes to snap pictures and fired off the camera aimlessly, you could hardly not catch a cool truck or happening. We shot so many interesting rigs that we decided to put some into a "Best-Of" collection...
July 1, 2009 | By Rob Reaser
There's a reason why soft-top Wranglers have been and continue to be Jeep's best-selling short wheelbase model-the open-air experience (especially on the trail) is priceless. But with the wind-in-your-face exhilaration comes a harsh reality. That conglomeration of canvas and vinyl eventually deteriorates with use and exposure to the elements...
March 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
A BedStep is one of those truck accessories that you'll wonder how you did without, once you have one. The step easily pulls down for use, and then folds away for driving. They make getting into a truck bed or loading a rack much easier...
July 1, 2008 | By Denis Snow
This was a different tire introduction than what Off-Road Adventures magazine usually gets invited to. Not like last year's BFG intro of their then new Mud Terrain T/A KM2 where Jim Allen got to take it through the paces off-roading in Utah.
This is a BFG tire of a different nature and purpose...
June 1, 2007 | By Debbie Economos
Four times a year, the Big Dogs Off-Road Park hosts two and three day hard-core four wheeling events. Big Dogs is a 3,000 acre mountainous area in Gore, Virginia and offers 92 trails. These trails range from beginner and stock vehicle, to intermediate, advanced, and extreme trails...
32. Black Diamond
January 1, 2008 | By Tom Morr
In the rear, the system uses premium leafspring packs (with military eye wraps) instead of coils. This controls weight transfer for more-predictable street handling. The optional Torque Fork traction device locks out wheelhop created by V-8 power and big meats...
33. BRAINPOWER
February 1, 2010 | By Steve Temple
Anybody who uses a diesel pickup to tow a trailer or off-road rig to a trailhead knows there’s more to it than simply stompin’ on the throttle and headin’ for the hills. All that wonderful stump-pulling torque from a turbocharged mill comes at a price. Not in dollars and cents, but in good operational sense...
April 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
While the domino theory typically refers to a foreign policy, the concept also has an application that's closer to home. It goes something like this: You put a lift kit on your truck or SUV so it climbs over tall boulders in a single bound. This super-sized suspension makes room for larger wheels and tires, which also help in tackling tough terrain with improved traction...
December 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Towing capacity tops out at 6,100 pounds for the 261hp Crew Cab 4x4 model, which is more than enough to handle bass boats like this 20-foot Triton equipped with a 250hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard.
We fit right in with the crowd of bass fishermen lined up at the gas station on the outskirts of Del Rio, Texas. Like everyone else gathered here we're topping off the fuel tank in the boat we have in tow - a beautiful single-console Triton TR-20X - before hitting the Lake Amistad launch ramp a couple miles down the road...
July 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
EDELBROCK CAT-BACK SYSTEMS FOR CHEVY, DODGE, FORD, NISSAN AND TOYOTA TRUCKS
Edelbrock Cat-Back Systems include their SDT or round Truck/SUV muffler creating a dyno-tuned system. Ti-Tech coating on the muffler provides resistance against heat and corrosion. 16-Gauge aluminized or 17-gauge 409 stainless steel tubing provides durability and mandrel bends enhance flow characteristics...
July 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
ARB AIR LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS
This Australian manufacturer's "flagship" product is now available for both front and rear axles for '07 Jeep JKs. Equipped with Dana 30 front axles and 44 rear axles for non-Rubicons, the latest Wrangler uses their existing part #s: RD100 for front/ RD117 for rear - regardless of factory gear ratio. Both have been successfully installed and operated for the last five years and can be installed using the standard Air Locker fitting instructions supplied...
July 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
GRANT HORN BUTTONS
Grant Products offers these with a 4x4 or Jeep emblem to add to their Steering Wheels, as a great way to personalize your vehicle. They also offer buttons with Chevrolet, GMC, Ford and Dodge emblems These products are produced under license agreements with DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and Ford Motor Company. To order call 4WP at 800-284-9840, or 4WDH at 800-913-8205...
June 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The latest in JEEP ACCESSORIES available from 4 Wheel Parts and 4Wheel Drive Hardware
BESTOP'S HIGHROCK 4X4(tm) TIRE CARRIER
Offering the convenience of a tailgate-mount with big-tire capacity, the '07 Wrangler/Unlimited Oversize Tire Carrier features a no drill application, and offers a secure, lockable tire storage unit. The adjustable height holds up to a 37" tire and 200 lbs. The black powder coat wrinkle finish provides moisture and rust protection...
July 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
JKS ADJUSTABLE CROSS-OVER SHOCK MOUNT
JKS Adjustable Cross-Over Shock Mount reconfigures the rear shock absorbers on Jeep Cherokees for improved performance and ride quality. It provides four upper shock mounting locations as opposed to the single location supplied by the factory, making it possible to optimize shock performance and suspension travel for each unique application. By relocating the upper shock mounting points toward the vehicle's center, the shocks are positioned at an angle instead of vertically...
June 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
AIR LIFT QUICKSHOT
Air Lift's QuickShot on board compressor control system will adjust and fill air springs quickly. The system features an in-dash control panel for easy monitoring and adjustment of air springs. A heavy duty compressor and 2-gallon reserve tank provide plenty of air when it's wanted, and an easy-connect auxiliary air line makes air readily available for adjusting tires and filing air toys...
August 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
ARB SIMPSON II ROOFTOP TENT
There is no need fill your limited cargo space with tents, air mattresses and sleeping bags when you can carry an ARB Simpson II tent on the roof of your vehicle. You can have your bed already made, and with the simple clamshell style design, your accommodations can be flipped open and ready for sleeping in minutes. The ARB Simpson II easily mounts on your roof rack and provides a hint of luxury on the trail...
July 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
KILBY ENTERPRISES
They manufacture engine driven onboard air compressors for 4x4 applications. Mounting kits and individual parts are available, as well as complete systems for all your onboard air needs. If you're ready to play with the "big dogs" this is the way to go! To order call 800-284-9840...
April 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
WHETHER YOU WANT TO LIFT IT OR LOWER IT, THESE KITS WILL HELP YOU GET THE JOB DONE
RUBICON EXPRESS FORD SUPER DUTY 6. 5 INCH SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The Rubicon Express RF56000 kit includes front and rear complete leaf packs, HD spring hangers, extended bumpstops, shackles, stainless steel extended brake lines, a HD panhard bar and bracket, a drop pitman arm, u-bolts, sway bar relocation kit plus all the additional hardware and components needed to increase the height of the Ford Super Duty and keep a clean factory look. Fits 35 to 37 inch tires...
April 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
BUSHWACKER FENDER FLARES FOR 2007 SILVERADOS WITH LARGE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
The new 2007 Chevy Silverado has a style all its own and Bushwacker Fender Flares add a tougher look and improved tire coverage to that style. Fender Flares protect your truck from debris, on and off-road. Engineered to Bushwacker's perfect-fit tolerances, the Fender Flares install in minutes...
May 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
PRO COMP'S CLASSIC "TIMELESS" ALLOYS
These established cast designs, series 6007, 6006 and 6089 are among the strongest available. Setting the pace with the highest standards for load carrying capacities, tire diameters and fitment, Pro Comp continues to offer the highest quality, competitively priced wheels. These feature full chrome finish, classic 6 & 8 spoke design - caps included and 3-year chrome finish warranty...
August 1, 2007 | By Trent Riddle
In the California desert, about half way between L. A. and Las Vegas lies the Ghost Town of Calico...
48. Camp WAMP 2007
December 1, 2007 | By Phil Dayton
The annual Camp Wamp group photo.
Camp Nejedly originally was started by California Senator John A. Nejedly from District 7...
January 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY and the need for better fuel economy have contributed a significant boost to the image of the diesel engine. Now, auto industry analysts expect these hightorque, durable engines will continue to conquer the hearts and minds of truck buyers of all sorts. These include offroad enthusiasts who crave low-rpm power for both 'wheeling and towing...
50. Canyon Tour
April 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
With all the hoopla over the major re-design of the new Sierra, and the off-road adventurer's seemingly endless love of full-size trucks, the "other" GMC pickup, the Canyon, sits relatively unnoticed in the deep shadows.
This is a shame. The 2007 Canyon does a nice job of filling a niche not addressed by its full-size stablemate - the mid-size market...
May 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY that we drove the very first unibody fourdoor SUV - the Jeep Cherokee. In reality that first off-road adventure happened nearly two decades ago. But back in 1984 it was really big news in the automotive and off-road worlds...
September 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
Jewel in the Rough - The Cherokee was a great bargain and in quite good shape all around
WHETHER you’re looking for your first 4x4 or your tenth, finding the perfect rig to turn into a hardcore trail machine doesn’t have to be expensive. There are literally thousands of 4x4s out there that have had a life of pave- ment pounding and seen little if any use on trails or even in 4WD. Vehicles from the Southwest states are the most likely to be rust free...
May 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
We'd like to think you want more than a truck that just looks good in the driveway but if that's all you need, you can turn these pages to the next story. If you want to have as much show as go along with something you can actually drive day to day, read on.
Step One: Tread Rightly!
The tread design you choose dictates performance on the street and on the trail...
54. Clean Air Act
April 1, 2009 | By Steve Temple
Phoenix-based Airaid started manufacturing air intake systems for light trucks and SUVs about a dozen years ago. By 2002, the company introduced a premium system incorporating new materials and technologies that improved on the traditional cotton-gauze performance filter. The heart of the intake system is the air filter with multiple layers of surgical-quality cotton gauze supplemented with an additional layer of nano-fiber synthetic, SynthaFlow, sandwiched between either stainless steel or aluminum mesh, depending on the vehicle application...
July 1, 2008 | By Laurie Marcellus
Joseph Granatelli competes in Kart Jr II. At 15, this will be his last year racing Kart. Maybe next year we'll see him behind the wheel of a Single Buggy...
56. Cover Me
October 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
IF YOUR RIG’S interior is old, cracked and broken, with all the life sucked out of it, Coverlay Manufacturing, Inc. of San Angelo, Texas comes to the rescue with their dash covers, door panels and armrests that can transform that desiccated interior into good as new condition.
Coverlay started humbly enough more than 25 years ago when Paul Cornwell saw the need for replacement dash covers...
October 1, 2007 | By Ned Bacon
Our quest to reach Venezuela’s Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, continues. In Part II we had to turn our Jeep YJ and Toyota FJ80 back due to mud, flat tires and being too wide for the track. We’d left the rigs at an airstrip in the frontier town of La Paragua and chartered a Cessna 206 to fly us to a remote grass strip in the middle of nowhere...
August 1, 2007 | By Ned Bacon
The pilot set his plane down atop Auyan-tepui in 1937, he was looking to find gold, not to have his name immortalized forever by a waterfall. Angel, a former WW1 fighter pilot turned Barnstormer, with Charles Lindbergh’s Flying Circus, turned hard-drinking adventurer, had found gold 13 years before atop a tepui somewhere in the jungles of southeastern Venezuela. The problem was, he could never find the mountain again, though he spent the rest of his life trying...
September 1, 2007 | By Ned Bacon
When we left off last month,
Photojournalist Chris Collard had floated off at midnight with several shady characters in a curiara (dugout canoe) in search of crocodiles, while I tried out sleeping in a hammock under the roof of a churuata (wall-less sleeping hut) to the sound of scurrying scorpions. To know what the heck we’re doing here, you really gotta read last month’s Part I. Meanwhile, here in Part II, our trip to Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, continues...
March 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
AYBE YOU HAVEN'T MADE THIS MISTAKE, but chances are, you know a lot of 4x4 buddies who have. They buy a nice Jeep to take off-road. It's not new, but it's solid and intact with no glaring defects like fluids dripping spots on the road...
61. Daily Driver
June 1, 2007 | By Jerry Slattery
Growing up with a father that loved to work on his own cars and swap engines, as well as go camping and four wheeling, really peaked George Szabo's interest in these pastimes. Young George and his father would go camping two or three times a month in the mountains near their home in Bend, Oregon. As he grew up with cars, a sprint car racer/friend got him even more interested in muscle cars, and gave him the bug to build his own 4WD vehicles...
December 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The 2-1/2" leveling kit consists of a pair of polyurethane spacers and six stud extensions. Thread-locking compound and detailed instructions are also included. It's manufactured in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty...
63. Dodge Dakota
February 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
The way things used to be, all we needed was to do one thing well. Now we're multi-taskers - juggling a bowling ball with a gas lamp and a chain saw, all while walking and chewing gum.
The same is true of our off-road rigs...
64. Dodge Durango
October 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
EVEN THOUGH off-roaders are primarily interested in how capable a vehicle is on the trail, that doesn't mean we don't care about appearances as well. For instance, when the Dodge first revised the Durango's rounded shape a few years ago in favor of a more angular frontal design, our initial reactions were mixed. Okay, let's be blunt - we just didn't like it all that much...
December 1, 2006 | By Sven and Magdalena Schlogl
Australia has countless miles of dirt roads, some close to civilization and, of course, tons of them in the remotest of wilderness. The government has been talking about paving them all over the years. We hope this never happens as it would take a lot of the adventure away from Down Under...
January 1, 2007 | By Magdalena Schlogl
We had left the vast, remote lands of the west and centre behind us; upon reaching the east coast, we would travel through the most populated areas of Australia. More than two thirds of the country's twenty million people live along the eastern shoreline. It's a huge country, though, and we still had plenty of wilderness to explore...
July 1, 2007 | By Dan Ciganovich
Dealer Services International Offers Total Protection for Your New Rig
By Dan Ciganovich
TODAY A NEW TRUCK is going to set you back anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000, that's a whole lot of cash; that's what a house cost a few decades ago. Buying a new truck sure would be great, with a nice lift, eye-catching wheels, larger tires, and some body accessories. Wait a minute - a brand new truck with aftermarket accessories; what about the factory warranty? Is it still going to be under warranty after all this cool stuff is bolted on?
The fact is, installing aftermarket accessories will not automatically void the factory warranty...
December 1, 2006 | By Randy Brewster
Cresting the hill at the entrance to the 15,000 acre Paragon Adventure Park in Hazelton, PA, you peer over the lush-green valley ahead and it becomes apparent why the Mid-Atlantic Early Broncos club has held its "East Coast Bronco Roundup" here for four years running, including their 7th annual event in June 2005.
One look over the parking area is proof of this event's popularity as dozens of 1966-1977 Broncos make their way to the staging area. Rigs range from modified to super modified, some requiring a trailer to arrive for this event...
July 1, 2009 | By Chris Collard
We caught the ARB crew on the Hell's Revenge Trail in their newly body-wrapped HUMMER H3, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Tundra. In the past year, ARB has developed an entire line of new bumpers, snorkels and racks, and new rooftop tent.
It's become a tradition each spring for me to head east to the Canyon country of southeast Utah for the annual Easter Jeep Safari...
April 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
AS THE WINTER MONTHS SEEM TO STRETCH ETERNALLY WITH GRAY SKIES AND RAIN, we automotive writers find ourselves spending too much time in front of our computer, and not enough time out on the trail. We call it editorialitis, and we usually don't realize we are afflicted until we notice a tire long-flat and thick layer of dust on the steering wheel of our favorite wheeling rig (which was put away clean). That's when we know we need to get out of town...
July 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
As the 2007 Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) rolled around this year, we decided to add something different. In addition to our usual hitting the trails with you, our readers, we decided to sponsor our own run, the inaugural Off-Road Adventures Moab trail ride. For this first year we decided to make it an invitational event for our partnering companies...
June 1, 2008 | By Trent Riddle
Moab is perhaps the number one destination for 4x4'ers. It is said that everyone should make the Pilgrimage to Moab at least once in their four wheeling lifetime. For many the time to do this is at the annual Easter Jeep Safari put on by the Red Rock 4 Wheelers...
August 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
The Detroit Locker was initially developed during World War II by Thorson. After the War, the company changed its name to Detroit Engineering and began marketing its locker to the aftermarket. Detroit Engineering became Tractech, Inc...
June 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
AEM BRUTE FORCE HD INTAKE SYSTEM FOR LIGHT-DUTY DIESEL TRUCKS
Intakes feature a massive oil-free re-usable DRYFLOW filter, enabling up to 81% more airflow than stock. Every system is engineered for maximum flow, filtration and durability for severe-duty applications.
They are available for popular late model Cummins, Duramax and PowerStroke Diesel engines...
June 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
AEM BRUTE FORCE HD INTAKE SYSTEM FOR LIGHT-DUTY DIESEL TRUCKS
Intakes feature a massive oil-free re-usable DRYFLOW filter, enabling up to 81% more airflow than stock. Every system is engineered for maximum flow, filtration and durability for severe-duty applications.
They are available for popular late model Cummins, Duramax and PowerStroke Diesel engines...
August 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
GOLD EAGLE CO. ’S STA-BIL HELPS MAINTAIN ENGINES POWER
Your machinery’s greatest enemy this winter may be the fuel inside it. Fortunately, Gold Eagle® Co...
October 1, 2008 | By Harry Wagner
The stock turn signals were removed from the fenders when the tube fenders were added. The turn signals were then shaved to fit behind the cutouts in the Warn front bumper.
If you could own your dream Jeep, what would it look like? Would it have a big V8 engine? Heaps of articulation? Dana 60 axles? A beautiful paint job? Nate Jensen has all of that and more in his 2005 Wrangler Unlimited...
November 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
AFE NEW MACH FORCE-XP EXHAUST FOR
2007-08 JEEP WRANGLER JK UNLIMITED 4-DOOR 3. 8L V6
Mach Force-XP exhaust systems are constructed out of huge, mandrel bent, 3" 409 stainless steel and utilizes welded-on, bayonet style hangers for a complete installation that won't shift under high heat conditions. A monster 4" stainless steel tip finishes this awesome exhaust system...
July 1, 2007 | By Jim Brightly
Want a job that'll only take you about an hour?
Looking for a task that will give your Jeep about a 1. 5% improvement in gas mileage and add 4. 5-hp @ 4,400 rpm? Then you'll want to order a new Gibson muffler (part # 17303)...
December 1, 2006 | By Bruce W. Smith
THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF FULLSIZE SUVs to choose from when cargo space, passenger room, and towing ability are primary concerns. The choices of comfortable, sevenpassenger vehicles boil down to three vehicles - the redesigned '07 Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, or the all-new Ford Expedition EL.
The latter is quite impressive as we found out after living with a loaded Eddie Bauer 4x4 model for a couple of weeks...
April 1, 2009 | By Mike Anson
New bumper brackets and fasteners are supplied with the Fab Fours winch front bumper kit.
There is an old saying in the off road community that having four-wheel drive is good for an additional 50-feet. The meaning: an aggressive driver will get stuck just 50 feet further down the trail than the driver of a two-wheel drive rig...
82. Fabtech Chevy
February 1, 2007 | By Trent Riddle
The venerable Chevy pickup truck has always had a fan following that loves them no matter what. However, in stock trim, they all seem to look the same, and many enthusiasts personalize their trucks with lift kits, wheels and tires and many other aftermarket accessories. Every few years, truck makers throw a new twist at their loyal buyers - and the aftermarket manufacturers, by redesigning some or all of their trucks...
February 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
We began our 1000-mile joy ride in the same location as the 1967 Mexican 1000 opening ceremonies; Tijuana's bull fighting arena.
Known by locals as La Frontera, the land beyond Baja California's tourist zone is more than the desolate wasteland one might imagine from the window of a jumbo jet. It is a wild yet inviting place of remote pueblos, centuries old Jesuit missions, rustic cantinas and some of Mexico's most historic hotels...
84. Finals Frenzy
January 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
You couldn't have asked for a more dramatic finish to the Championship Off Road Racing season: heroic competition, a beautiful girl in distress, and going out in a blaze of flame. The old expression about "the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" hardly does justice to this exhilarating form of off-road racing.
Before cutting to the hard action, let's set the stage, looking at the CORR season overall...
85. Fine Art Jeep
March 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
Adam Pratt's 1978 Jeep CJ-5 is a family heirloom that's been in the family 27 years and was Adam's first motor vehicle. The years and 179,000 miles as a daily driver had not been kind to the old Jeep, so a few years back, Adam embarked on a modernizing and upgrading project. ...
86. FINESSE
October 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
Winter in the snow belt puts the kibosh on most ‘wheeling activities. Some of us get to play in the snow a little or a lot, but many use their rigs for foul weather transportation. Others put their rigs to sleep for the winter...
87. Finesse
November 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
KISS! No, not the rock band, the acronym for “Keep It Simple Stupid. ” There is an elegance in simplicity when it’s done right and Rancho’s Quik Lift system appears to have all the elements to fit in that category. When we needed just a touch of altitude to fit a moderate tire upgrade, we were offered the opportunity to put this fairly new Rancho product to the test...
88. Finesse
March 1, 2010 | By Jim Allen
The Brute Force kit is nicely made and includes everything here plus great instructions with photos. You can get them chromed or powder coated.
Getting the right amount of air into the engine, at the coolest temperature possible, is part of the power equation...
July 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
Rack and Pinion Steering- This system eliminates the conventional steering linkage and steering box. A long rod, with tie rods on the ends, connects the two wheels. The rod is in a housing that lies parallel to the ground and has teeth on one side...
90. Finesse 1 -2 -3
December 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
WHAT DO YOU CALL A PERSON TRAINED AND EDUCATED IN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF LUBRICANTS AND THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION IN MOVING PARTS? A TRIBOLOGIST. NO, WE’RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A TRIBOLOGY DEGREE, BUT THE NEXT THREE EPISODES OF FINESSE WILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFO TO MAKE YOU DANGEROUS AT THE LOCAL QUICK LUBE!
SYNERGY — The Big Picture Synergy is all about making the ingredients in a lubricant hold hands and sing Kumbaya. The base oil and additives must be compatible with each other and for their given application...
May 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
This long-running Four Wheel Finesse column is all about fundamentals in four wheeling. Like bricklaying. ...
April 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
One of the most commonly asked performance questions is, "what's first?" The answer can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but most often it's the exhaust system. We aim to give you the 101 course on exhausts and tell you how and why they can give you an increase in performance and mileage at the same time. Cooler running under load and increased engine life are side benefits...
May 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
There are two worlds, everyday and racing. While the performance principles are exactly the same for both, the way they are applied is different. Pipe diameter is one such area of difference...
January 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
THE AVERAGE 4X4 HAS AT LEAST TWO SHIFTERS. SOME HAVE THREE AND OTHERS HAVE FOUR OR MORE. THESE CONTROLS ARE SOME OF THE MOST USEFUL ITEMS YOU HAVE IN THAT BOX OF TOOLS YOU CALL A 4X4...
July 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
There's finesse in using the clutch and there's finesse in picking a replacement for the one you finessed to death. The clutch is a very hard worked part of a manual trans-equipped 4x4. On a street rig, getting 100K miles out of a clutch is fairly easy...
September 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
IN A WORLD of heart stopping fuel prices, where big American pickup guys are looking enviously at Suzuki Samurais, it’s time to talk once again about fuel economy. This time, we’ll talk about it in terms of gearing.
What Happens When You Build Up
A 4x4 buildup always involves three things; bigger tires, more height and more weight...
February 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
THE CHEROKEE XJ DEBUTED FOR THE 1984 MODEL YEAR AND HAD A 17-YEAR RUN WITH FEW CHANGES. THAT'S LONGEVITY! NEARLY THREE MILLION WERE PRODUCED IN TWO OR FOUR-DOOR FORMS AND IN MANY TRIM LEVELS. IN PART 1, WE'LL COVER TIRES AND ENGINES...
May 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
When it was introduced in 1984, the Cherokee's unibody construction caused some die-hard four-wheelers to gasp and raise eyebrows. Others scoffed or laughed derisively. Given the "rubber" chassis of the CJs of those days, one wonders how they felt it was superior...
March 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
THIS TIME WE GIVE YOU THE BASIC XJ SKINNY ON GETTING THE POWER TO THE GROUND. THIS INCLUDES THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE AND AXLES.
TRANSMISSION
Overall, the best factory manual transmissions are the Aisin AX-15 and NV-3500...
April 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
UP FRONT, THE XJ USED THE FIRST VARIATION OF THE COIL SPRING SUSPENSION THAT LATER GRACED THE GRAND CHEROKEE AND WRANGLER TJ. IN BACK, LONG, SUPPLE, FAMILIAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE USED. DESPITE THE DISSIMILAR SYSTEMS, THE XJ IS ACTUALLY QUITE BALANCED AND RESPONDS WELL TO LIFTS, USUALLY WITH FEWER SIDE EFFECTS THAN THE ALL-COIL JEEPS...
June 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
The first days with new tires are a honeymoon all right but, as with every long-term relationship, there are practical issues to be addressed if you want it to last. With a tire upgrade your most immediate need is finding the correct street tire pressures. We addressed this topic back in 2002 and found that it was one of our most requested back issue stories, so it's long overdue for a fresh look...
August 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
"New Blue" is a Plain-Jane XL model, so too much tailpipe would make it look like a cheap hooker. The stainless 4-inch tip and throaty growl are the only giveaways.
You probably know that exhaust improvements offer a power increase and a bump in fuel economy...
January 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
Last time we focused on the stuff from which lube oil is made. This time we'll focus on arming you with the information you need to make a good oil selection.
A sample of a viscosity chart that covers various temperatures for multigrade oils...
June 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
Too bad high altitude and four wheeling don't match quite as well. Here are some tips to help you and your rig work better in the high country. Many of you have seen the documentaries on climbing the high peaks, such as Mount Everest in Nepal, where dealing with the effects of altitude is a life or death situation...
February 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
Lubricants are key to the long life of your 4x4. They also have an influence on performance and economy, so you can get a double dose of good by upgrading. In Parts 1 and 2 we gave you the 101 course on lubricants...
December 1, 2006 | By Jim Allen
WE GET A LARGE VOLUME OF TECH QUESTIONS HERE AT ORA. A high proportion of them involve some variation of the question, "I just swapped to larger tires. What gear ratio should I run?" We have visited this topic at different times and in different ways before, but since the influx of letters shows no sign of slowing down, we think it is a good idea to address it again...
October 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
In this final installment on the ‘80-86 Ford 3/4 and 1-tons, we cover the drivetrain. These trucks are reasonably well endowed in this area, with improvements relatively easy.
Stock Transmissions
There are only four options...
August 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
Ford broke new ground in 1980 by offering a revolutionary four-wheel drive front suspension and axle design underneath their newly designed line of trucks. They called the new front end design Twin Traction Beam (TTB) and it defined the Ford trucks so equipped right to the last year of its use in 1996
.
In this three-part installment of Finesse 1-2-3, we’ll talk about the ’80-86 Ford "Bullnose" F-250 and F-350 trucks...
September 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
Finesse 1-2-3- Ford, Part 2
Part 2- Suspension and Tires
Even with no lift, there’s room for a 12. 50x33-16 or equivalent. The leaf spring TTB suspension is simple and relatively easy to lift but not a particularly supple or flexy setup...
November 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
The Evolution kit includes the programmer, dash pod and securing hardware, OBD2 data cable, USB computer cable, Fusion software CD and instructions. This product is CARB and EPA Certified.
Until recently, power was the end-all-be-all...
January 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
Ain't she sweet? And practical. There's an extra 2. 2+ quarts of capacity and lots of useful features...
November 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Maximum trailer towing capacity might not be a high as some competitors, but the 2009 Quad Cab Ram 1500 tows with ease when equipped with the proper towing equipment and the Hemi.
A five-link coil-sprung rear axle, 390-hp Hemi, weatherproof bed side storage, interior refinements akin to a luxury sedan, and retro-aerodynamic body styling, all sound wonderful on paper and look sweet in person. But what determines any new vehicle's true worth is when tires touch ground...
July 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
Electronically controlled diesels are the best thing to come along since Dr. Rudolph Diesel invented the compression ignition engine and named it after himself. Why are they so wunnerful? Well, one reason is because you can easily upgrade them yourself...
March 1, 2009 | By Rick Russell
FJ Cruiser Summit provided an opportunity for enthusiasts to meet in person. Most of attendees initially could only recognize one another by their screen name (forum sign-in name).
Over 600 off-roading enthusiasts in nearly three hundred 4x4s moved their online chat from the internet to an outdoor event...
115. Flat Nasty
January 1, 2007 | By Allen Merritt
Ron Maximoff, a retired combat, commercial, and aerobatic pilot, competes professionally in
off-road competitions all over the country. In 2004, Ron racked up enough points to compete
in the Super Crawl at St. James, Utah...
116. Flyin' High
December 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
If you were having as good a start on the Supercross circuit as Josh Grant, you’d be doing “whips” or “heel clicks” as well. In 2006, only his second year as a full-time pro, Josh Grant practically took up residence on the podium in the East Supercross Lites series to finish in third place for the season. He then maintained that momentum going into the outdoor Motocross Lites series to also capture third place overall...
117. Ford Midbox F-150
January 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Not all vehicles for off-road adventures are purely for use in the dirt. In some cases, we need a "mother ship" that hauls all our stuff-food, tools, camping gear, and the like- to the trailhead, and keeps it secure from predators (both the animal and human type). Ford has come up with a factory-installed alternative for its best-selling F-150 pickup...
January 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
WE’RE AT A FORK IN THE TRAIL WITH DIESEL TRUCKS. Due to changes in fuel and
emissions standards, all three domestic manufacturers will be offering revised models in 2007
with bigger engines and more emissions equipment. This means the outgoing generation of
Ford’s Super Duty (the ’06 and ’07 models are essentially identical) is the last of a breed...
August 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
The Particulars
At this writing, the F-C II comes in floatation sizes from
31x10. 50R15LT to 40x13. 50R20LT and metric sizes from
LT265/75R16 to LT325/50R20...
120. French RockCrawler
September 1, 2007 | By Matthiew Dadillon
The perfect base
For Daniel, off-road driving comes down to rock crawling events. However, according to him,
the best car for these competitions is a vehicle built by Mercedes-Benz, the Unimog truck
because of its portal axles that incorporate a hub reduction, its flexible ladder-frame, its
locking front and rear differentials, its coil springs and its excellent reduction. Luckily, in 2002,
Daniel found the perfect base: one Unimog 435 without bodywork...
121. Full Traction JK
June 1, 2007 | By Trent Riddle
Full-Traction Suspension, the first to bring you a 3-link long arm suspension for the Jeep Wrangler TJ and later the LJ (Unlimited), now offers suspension systems for the new '07 JK. Full-Traction now brings a suspension system for the new JK, a 2-inch economy kit that provides a quick and cost effective way to make room for 33-inch tires. Their latest suspension offering is a true 3-inch spring lift that allows the use of tires up to 35-inches...
122. Gray Ghost
October 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
Jason Rossetti, has been making tracks in the Pismo dunes for years in his 4-inch lifted ’92 Bronco and in his ’99 F-350 with a 10-inch lift.
Not content with those two trucks, he now plans to tackle these soft, rolling Dunes in an ’03 Ford F-350 with a full foot of extra altitude, proving once again that size does matter. He initially visualized marching up the eastern slip face, emerging over the crest as if levitating above the sand in a ghostly gray rig...
May 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
WITH JOHN SUTTER'S 1849 discovery of gold in the small settlement of Coloma, thousands of young men packed up all of their worldly belongings into rucksacks, saddled up a horse, and headed west to California. Quick on their lead were countless wagon trains, strung out across a thousand miles of the Great Plains, and carrying adventurous families seeking a better life. Resembling a flooding tide, gold fever swept the west with incredible speed...
124. Holiday Gift Guide
December 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
SMITTYBILT AIR COMPRESSOR
Powered by a 1/3 hp 12-volt, oil-less direct drive motor with 30 amp inline fuse for added protection.
It includes an easy twist screw-on brass inflator top and a quick release 16 ft. coil hose...
125. Holiday Gift Guide
November 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
DAYSTAR 1-3/4 INCH LIFT FOR THE JEEP WRANGLER JK
Daystar delivers the goods with a 1-3/4" lift that provides enough room to clear 33" tall tires without impacting ride quality.
The lift starts with exact-fit polyurethane coil spring spacers that are positioned above the factory coil springs. The spacers provide extra insulating properties to the suspension that minimizes Noise, Vibration, and Harmonics (NVH)...
126. Hot Takes - Part II
March 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION (SEMA) holds a little get-together each fall at the Convention Center in Las Vegas. With 100,000 in attendance it's hard to believe that it's not open to the general public. In fact, SEMA gets pretty stingy with credentials to make sure there is room in the display isles for industry leaders from over 100 countries...
January 1, 2009 | By Steve Temple
Responding to all the transitions on the trail of life can be a real challenge. One moment you're crawling over rocks, and the next, sliding on loose sand. (and you don't even know about that mud hole around the curve yet...
August 1, 2007 | By Kelly Young
In the past, we have featured a couple of stories on Greg Adler, CEO and President of 4 Wheel Parts (TransAmerican Auto Parts) and his CORR and SCORE racing efforts. Here's another member of the "TAP family" and her first person account of her off-roading passion, rock crawling. Showing again we don't just "talk the talk," we "walk the walk" too...
October 1, 2007 | By Jon Terhune
THE IDEAstarted months before the competition took place. Could a few show truck boys from a 4 Wheel Parts store compete with some of the best custom 4WD fabricators in the Midwest? We were unsure since none of us had any previous competition experience. Once there, the intimidation factor grew as the competition, custom tube buggies and drivers with years of competition experience...
130. Inhaler Device
September 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Are you experiencing the following symptoms? You feel your stomach knot, your breathing constrict, your heart pound. That's a fairly typical condition the closer you get to your local gas station, especially when you spot the latest highway robbery taking place at the pump.
Okay, there's obviously some sort of virus going around, as so many folks report having the same affliction...
February 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The RockJock high pinion 60 rearend upgrade offers superior strength and durability features with adjustment options for custom installations.
Comparing the OEM (stock) differential with the Currie RockJock many of these features become obvious. The RockJock is the highest ground clearance 60 on the market, the only high pinion 60 with flow-thru oiling, high-strength nodular iron construction, and a bolt-on abrasion resistant skid plate...
October 1, 2008 | By Harry Wagner
Our problem was not unique: After adding a suspension lift and wider tires and rims, the side of our truck was impossible to keep clean.
A muddy truck might be great for impressing your buds, but it isn't much fun when you get dirty every time you get in and out or need to get something out of the bed.
Based in the perpetually wet climate of Oregon, the good folks at Bushwacker are all too familiar with this scenario and have over 450 applications dating back to the Early Bronco...
January 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
The Fitch F4424B, series F400, kit is rated for up to 400 hp and is a size bigger than the F3424, series F300, kit we actually needed. It's the kit designed for the 6. 8L V10s but it gives us a little extra capacity for our power upgrades...
August 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Body Armor 4x4 Trail Doors for TJ & JK
. . ...
July 1, 2008 | By Rick Russell
Once the decision has been made on how you'll use your 4x4 and a body style has been selected, you're ready to make the second most important decision in any buildup project, "What size of tire are you going to run?"
Whether you're building a 4x4 from scratch or upgrading the one you have, you'll need a plan. There is always some fine-tuning to do after it hits the dirt, but if you don't have a plan you may find yourself spending money reworking the vehicle instead of fine-tuning it.
The first and most important decision to make on any build-up project is deciding, "How you intend to use your rig?" Is it a trail or street vehicle? Regardless of your choice there will be trade-offs...
August 1, 2008 | By Rick Russell
The PSC Steering ram is powered by tapping into the steering gear box. For that rare situation where the ram fails (ie, broken hose) it is best to carry caps to plug off the ram hoses and a spacer to fill the gap left after removing the steering ram from the steering knuckle.
In Part I we covered the planning phase of the AJ-8 Build-up...
137. Jeep Grand Cherokee
May 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
If you're disappointed that you missed getting your hands on the now-discontinued diesel-powered Jeep Liberty, there's an exciting alternative: the Grand Cherokee WK CRD diesel. Several other gasoline versions are available as well, including a high-performance Hemi, but first off, let's start with the oil burner, since that's a rarity in the SUV market.
Note that the Italian-engineered 2...
October 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
In our first installment of “Cheap Jeep,” we covered the axles, lockers and gearing upgrades, (see 9/09 issue). Here we’ll cover the suspension, wheels, tires and other items like bumpers and winch. When completed, the Cherokee that was originally purchased for under $1000 will be ready to tackle extreme trails and will still have less invested in it than a new off-the-lot stock Jeep...
April 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The Powerstroke is a workhorse with a lot of power and torque built in for doing the tough duty of towing a big load. To handle the air flow, Ford fit the truck with a large OE air filter that does a good job of keeping the motor running strong. The design of the stock filter incorporates not only the filter element, but also the filter housing, making it a pricey replacement every time it needs changing...
140. Kawasaki
January 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Legions of ATV enthusiasts will tell you, the best way to enjoy the backcountry is in close proximity.
Most of our manufacturers' profiles follow a familiar path: a company starts out a couple decades ago as one or two enthusiasts coming up with an innovative solution to a 4x4 problem. They try out their gadget on an off-road trek, or maybe a race venue-the dustier the better...
June 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
AS 4X4 ENTHUSIASTS, we logically focus on off-road adventures and upgrades for our off-road rigs. But towing those rigs to the trailhead can sometimes turn into just as much of an adventure as scrambling over shale up a steep slope. If that trailer starts to bob up and down or swing like a pendulum because the tongue weight is wrong, your 4x4 could end up heading off the highway without you in it...
May 1, 2009 | By Chris Collard
"Race radio, check point 1, over"
"Go ahead check point 1"
"Check point 1, be advised that the first vehicle is cleared check point one. "
"Also be advised we have several roll overs, no ID yet. We'll advise...
September 1, 2008 | By Matt Emery
Made from high-grade steel, the spacers raise the front of the vehicle 1. 5 to 2. 5-inches, giving the vehicle a better stance and improved appearance...
May 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
While our first love is getting gritty in the great outdoors, Off-Road Adventures enjoys a bit of glitz and glamour as well. (Hey, wouldn't you like to be on TV? After all, it helps our hobby with some publicity, why not?)
Unlike so many automotive-themed shows, though, Off-Road Adventures TV is about real people doing real things with real rigs. Over the last few episodes, for instance, vehicle makeovers have been done for regular folks on a Ford F-150, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and a Jeep TJ Wrangler...
January 1, 2009 | By Rick Curtis and Allen Merritt
Flyin' Brian Ropcke of Buckner, MO has Passion for rock crawling so he started, Built 2 Rock Off-road and is a frequent 4 Wheel Parts customer. Brian says, "The best memories and experiences I have came with 18 years of rock crawling and trail riding. " His blue '83 CJ7 has a 102-inch wheelbase with spring over axles features a 400 hp direct port injected engine which spins 42-inch TSL Super Swampers on 15"x10" Eagle Alloy wheels with Champion bead locks through a Turbo 400 transmission, 3...
146. Magnaflow Exhaust
November 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Ivan "Ironman" Stewart
Ivan "Ironman" Stewart took his first step toward off-road racing legend status in one of those, "Put-me-in-da-game-coach!" movie moments. It was 1973 at the Ensenada 300. He was scheduled to co-drive with Bill Hrynko in a Class 2 buggy...
December 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
When quizzed about the symbolism of a particular personal habit, noted psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud retorted, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. ” Aah, the simplicity. Only problem, you can’t apply that axiom across the board...
148. Marine Toy
May 1, 2007 | By Trent Riddle
Josh Reynolds is a true American, he grew up in the town of Yakima, Washington, has a love of the outdoors, family and his country. When Josh decided to enlist in the Marines, he had the full support of his mother and younger bother as well as his future wife. Josh was a corporal in Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division and is one of the many veterans who served our country...
July 1, 2008 | By Jim Allen
Tire pressure is one of the most important parts of the fuel economy formula. Our tests showed that even moderately underinflated tires could cost nearly 1 mpg, not to mention the squirrelly handling and increased tire wear that goes with it.
When we last addressed the fuel economy issue back in 2004, little did we know the three buck gas was just a teaser...
December 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Click on any item to purchase
HUSKY LINERS® – WEATHERBEATER®
Husky Liners brand WeatherBeater™ Floor Liners are engineered to fit the complex contours of your vehicle’s carpeted floor boards, trunks, and cargo areas. The floor liner’s fresh new look includes smooth arcing ribs, along with a raised heel pad to help keep your vehicle clean even in the worst weather conditions. They are easy to clean and built to last with a lifetime warranty against cracking and breaking...
151. Mud Matters
May 1, 2007 | By Larry Walton
I don't know how many of you've ever been stuck in the mud on the way to work, but it's not as much fun as it sounds. Having experienced this unhappy situation my share of times while logging and farming, I can tell you hiking through the mud in the driving rain to fetch a tractor or skidder is not my ideal way to start the day.
Perhaps even worse are those mornings when you are headed in to hunt a remote area and you know all this spooling winch line and thrashing about will lessen your chance to bag the game you are pursuing...
152. News Bits
July 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
SUPERLIFT FILES REORGANIZATION
Superlift filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization on April 8, 2009. Suspension companies are among the worst hit during the recent economic slump. Owner/President Bret Lovett said, "This particular economic situation has created issues on a scale most have never encountered...
153. NO FEAR Trucks
December 1, 2007 | By Dan Ciganovich
DEALER SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (DSI) has just released their No Fear Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Limited Edition trucks — available on the GMT900 half-ton platform in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. The all new Silverado and Sierra, which GM released for the 2007 model year, represents a bold new look for these trucks. In addition, both the chassis and powertrain were redesigned giving them an edge in a very competitive segment...
September 1, 2009 | By Debbie Economos
North Carolina Mud Racing
"
Mud racing is a rapidly growing off-road motorsport featuring trucks and Jeeps competing at breakneck speeds. And Lee County Mud Motorsports Complex (LCMMC) has a specific goal — spread the word about Hill and Hole Mud Racing around the world. Track owners Darryl and Deborah Jones opened LCMMC in 2006...
September 1, 2008 | By Allen Merritt
Jim's planning and craftsmanship yielded a clean, strong J4000 rear axle with good
articulation.
Jim Mazzola works as a staff engineer at GM's advanced power train division in Detroit building concept vehicles.
He is also a lifetime ambassador with United 4WD Association and a lifetime member of Great Lakes 4WD Association...
156. Off-Road Romance
May 1, 2007 | By Debbie Murphy
Blinding snowfields, ragged sculptures of ice, mud pits with enough suction to engulf a small city: Maybe not what you think is typical in Southern California. But, a rig like Chris Boulais' 1986 CJ-7 can locate this category of bad-butt terrain like a heat-seeking missile.
Boulais' goal, when he bought the Jeep in late summer, 2005, was to build "a clean, reliable, go-anywhere vehicle...
November 1, 2008 | By Allen Merritt
If you watch True Grit, you'll notice Chimney Rock above Owl Creek Pass behind John Wayne when he "takes the reins in his teeth and fills his hands with iron. " You'll also see Chimney Rock in John Wayne's Cow Boys.
My wife, Barbara hates waiting hours for off-road adventurers to winch through a mud bog, get the group up a challenging hill, or rebuild a broken rig...
July 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
The Power Wagon name had died after 1980, replaced by Power Ram. The trucks themselves didn't change all that much but they did acquire the Ram's head hood ornament. That detail was either scorned vehemently and used for target practice, or loved as if it were a work of art...
159. One For All
December 1, 2006 | By Bruce W. Smith
WINCH TECHNOLOGY seems to move slower than a custom rock crawler idling along in double-under four-wheel low-range. In the last 25 years, the biggest advances in winches have been pretty much relegated to the introduction of planetary gears, automatic reverse braking, heat-sensing relays and remote-control.
Aside from those items - and minor cosmetic packaging - the electric winch has remained pretty much the same from manufacturer to manufacturer for decades - an electric motor connected to a drum that reels in cable...
160. One Tough Tundra
September 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
It’s been a long time in the works — back as far as 1987 when Toyota started asking off-roaders serious questions aimed at what they loved about their Fords, Dodges, Chevrolets and GMC pickups. But now, 20 years and a couple toe-dips in the pickup market later, Toyota Motor Sales USA has leapt off the high board and hit the full-size pickup pool with a huge Olympic class entry.
THE NEW TUNDRA IS THE REAL DEAL AS I FOUND OUT WHEN I SLID BEHIND THE WHEEL AND TURNED THE KEY...
April 1, 2009 | By Chris Collard
A birds eye view reveals clean lines and attention to detail. The spare tire shares real estate with air tanks and a Hi-Lift jack and jerry can complement the gunnels while the center-mounted fuel tank and toolbox tuck neatly against the cab.
When we ran into Dirk Blount and his killer Chevy Silverado on Pritchett Canyon during the 2007 Easter Jeep Safari, we knew it would make a great feature for Off Road Adventures...
January 1, 2007 | By Mike Zoormajian
The truck you see here is the work of one man over three years. When Jim Davis of Vancouver, Washington bought this ’71 Chevy it was, to put it mildly, a disaster. The paint was gone, the body was rusted, the interior looked like a cat had given birth in it and the engine was blown...
September 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
BEHIND EVERY OPEN 4X4 TRAIL
IS A GOOD 4X4 CLUB. Yeah, that’s an obvious ripoff of a very old and familiar saying. ...
February 1, 2009 | By Dan Sanchez
The 5-inch Premium Lift Kit #PLS600 comes with leveling spring spacers, reinforced nylon body mounts, CNC steering adaptor, bumper brackets and high-grade hardware.
While some off-road enthusiasts look for the additional traction and off-road capabilities provided by a full suspension system, others are simply looking for an economical way to add larger wheels and tires. Cost is certainly a factor that leads many to look at leveling kits to provide enough wheel clearance...
165. Pipe Music
July 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
DynoMax is one exhaust manufacturer who delivers the entire equation for off-road enthusiasts - a whole exhaust system from the ports to the tail pipe, or just a cat-back system (from the catalytic converter back, hence the name), that both boosts performance and quiets the ride.
DynoMax performance exhaust systems were introduced at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show in 1986. The company basically sprang fully formed from the forehead of Zeus, or the automotive accessory equivalent - Tenneco Inc...
166. Playing with JKS
February 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Garages seem to inspire inventiveness. They inspire the handiwork of off roaders to create something better or stronger that will enhance their vehicle of choice. ...
December 1, 2006 | By Jerry Slattery
We all get a little smarter with age, and that includes ProComp too. They made a few design changes in this very popular kit that made it even better. The changes make it stronger and quicker to install...
August 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
. . ...
March 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
The Pro Comp kit requires the use of 20-inch or larger diameter wheels, due to the geometry of the new, taller front knuckles. The wheels are 20-inch, model 6088 Pro Comp Extreme Alloy, cast and chromed wheels. For tires, Pro Comp 35x12...
June 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
JEEP'S NEW JK is like that old saying about getting your cake and eating it too. As reviewed in our February issue, the chassis was enlarged for a four-door configuration, but with no compromise in off-road capability. The thing is, we like icing on our cake, too, which means finding some sweet stuff to throw on the suspension...
171. Pro Comp Xtreme M/T
July 1, 2009 | By Chris Collard
Carving turns on the Johnson Valley sand dunes (at 12-psi), the XM/Ts provided good floatation and enough moxi to stay on the rim in aggressive turns. (The Legal stuff: this test was done for demonstrative purposes only. Off-Road Adventures recommends only using the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure)...
May 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Flat fender Jeeps offer numerous advantages including added tire coverage and protection, maximum tire clearance and tighter turning radius; and the fact that flatties look cool. TJ and LJ owners get the classic, flat fender Jeep look with an easy, no-drilling installation process. The flares give 199702006 Wrangler TJ's and 2004-2006 Wrangler LJ Unlimiteds six-inches of additional tire coverage for clearance to handle even the largest, most aggressive tires and backspaced wheel setups...
May 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
I
ntroducing the WeatherTech No-Drill MudFlap featuring the Patent Pending QuickTurn hardened Stainless Steel fastening system. The No-Drill MudFlap set mounts-in-minutes with most applications without the need for wheel removal, and without the need for drilling into a vehicle's painted metal surface. Most vehicles' rust warranty is voided if one drills through the painted metal surfaces...
May 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Pro Comp announces the release of their all new 6" Long Arm suspension system for the 2007-2008 Dodge Ram 2500/ 3500 Diesel 4WD.
Stylish control arm mount brackets with stainless steel laser-cut logos bolt-on to the frame to provide a secure attaching point for the new longer upper and lower control arms.
Systems also feature front coil springs, a new drop pitman arm, adjustable chromoly track bar and relocation bracket-and uses the factory steering assembly...
May 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
As an extension to its metal fabrication and body armor roots, Warrior Products introduces two new innovative product designs for the rear tub of the Jeep TJ & JK Wrangler '97-09.
Its new Rear Corners have openings to accommodate two flush-mounted LEDs: a 4" red stop, turn and tail light, plus a 2" white back-up light. All lights are sold separately and are American-made with a lifetime warranty...
June 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
When the screen on the Garmin Zumo began showing a vast nothingness to my East at the same time the boredom of the smooth state highways changed to the rough texture of country blacktop, I knew Deepwoods was close to getting its first chance to prove its worth in the real world since we began the project truck almost a year earlier.
I'd been on the road since 5 am, leaving my office in Long Beach, Mississippi, before the roosters were up. Lights blazing and cruise control locked in at a leisurely 70 mph as indicated by Zumo, my destination was the Mossy Oak world headquarters in West Point, Mississippi, a short 230-mile jaunt nearly due North from the coast...
October 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
The Tundra is the type of truck that’s easy to let the imagination run a little wild on how one can personalize it to suite the avid off-road adventurer. But rather than just imagining, we are going to bring as much of that to life as possible during the next few months as “Project Deepwoods” takes shape in these pages. The palette for our transformation: an ’07 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 SR5 powered by Toyota’s awesome 381hp 5...
November 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
We’re easing into Project Deepwoods as new aftermarket products become available for our 2007 Tundra Double Cab 4x4. The easy-to-design, easy-to-install items are always first out. Such aftermarket items are all that’s needed to make a new Tundra work quite well for many Off- Road Adventures readers’ lifestyles...
December 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
In the last installment we made a few small changes to our 2007 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 as the parts for the all-new Toyota became available. This month we continue improving Project Deepwoods’ utility and performance with our goal at the end to have a truly unique 4x4 for the avid off-road adventurer.
It’s funny how the note of a good performance exhaust exudes a certain level of intimidation to those within earshot...
January 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
In the last installment we upgraded the exhaust on our 2007 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 and installed a couple of bed storage boxes. This month we continue improving Project Deepwoods' utility and performance. Our goal at the end is to have a truly unique 4x4 for the avid off-road adventurer...
February 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Camoclad delivers the camouflage graphics printed on 4' Wx5'L vinyl sheets of 3M Controltac 160-C, a 4 mil-thick , premium vinyl film designed for dry application to vehicles. The back of the 3M graphic vinyl is covered with pressure-activated microscopic pockets of adhesive that allow the film to be repositioned during installation until pressure is applied to the film surface by hand or with a squeegee. The vinyl can be easily removed by simply peeling it away from the vehicle body...
March 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Vehicle safety and aerodynamics have made major advancements in the last 10 years. The body lines are smoother to reduce wind drag, and air bags surround the interior to provide the occupants with instant protection in an accident. Our Project Deepwoods Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 is a prime example of such technological leaps...
April 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
During the past few issues we've undertaken a number of additions to our 2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 to make it more suited for our intended use off the beaten path, namely as a vehicle for the avid outdoorsman.
We've added a winch and front-end protection, made some minor suspension changes, installed some much needed mapping and communications tools, added a bit of side protection, and wrapped it in full camouflage graphics. But we see a need for more upgrades to make Project Deepwoods a real head-turner and solid performer in our outdoor pursuits...
May 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
We've had a lot of fun playing with our 2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4. We started this project with one goal in mind: making the Tundra into a truck the avid outdoorsman/hunter would love to own.
During the past few months we've worked our way slowly toward that goal by adding aftermarket products as they became available for Toyota's brand new full-size pickup...
185. Project FJ- Part II
March 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
As covered in our first installment of Project FJ, Toyota's FJ Cruiser demonstrates a strong family resemblance to its respected forefather, the FJ40. The new FJ's offroad capabilities also indicate that it comes from the same end of the gene pool, but it also improves on its predecessor in several areas, thanks to modern technology.
Off-road enthusiasts, however, aren't content to leave anything well enough alone...
186. Project FJ- Part III
April 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
If you didn't catch our previous two issues, you missed out on an award-winning suspension upgrade for Toyota's FJ Cruiser. No matter, you can always order back issues, or check out our website (www. oramagazine...
187. Project FJ- Part One
February 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
NO off-roader worth his/her salt would ever disrespect one of the true big daddies of the SUV scene, the Toyota Land Cruiser. Introduced as the FJ series in 1960, it was simplicity personified; an all-grunt, take-it-anywhere rig. Despite its susceptibility to rust, this backcountry bruiser was just plain tough, taking on all sorts of rough-and-tumble terrain and then begging for more...
September 1, 2008 | By Matt Emery
According to OR-Fab, this is not a roll cage, but rather it is their "Sport Cage" (Part # 82200BB). Made from . 120-wall tubing and featuring the bicycle black powder coat paint (raw steel or wrinkle black is also available), this is a bolt in kit that can be installed fairly quickly...
189. RAM
March 1, 2010 | By John Stewart
The Power Wagon is set up for extreme off-road use, especially when it comes to crawling over irregular terrain. With 4. 56 gears, two lockers and 32 inches of suspension droop, it’s not necessary to go this fast to maintain forward progress...
190. Rhinos Rule
May 1, 2007 | By Trent Riddle
The Yamaha Rhino is thought by many to be a farm implement or 4WD golf cart. The truth is, the Rhino is these things and much more. A fast growing contingent of loyal Rhino owners have discovered the fun and freedom of blasting the dunes, crawling down rocky trails, and exploring the road less traveled in their Rhinos...
December 1, 2009 | By Tom Morr
Load control can be a huge headache for truck owners who haul heavier loads. Cargo isn’t always symmetrical. Unbalanced weight obviously affects suspension, tire and braking performance...
192. Rockjock your jeep
November 1, 2009 | By Trent Riddle
Two great companies teaming up to bring a product to market will usually benefit the consumer (you). This axiom holds true for the new Currie ROCKJOCK Dana 60s offered by G2, for 2007-up Jeep JK Wrangler owners at a lower price and greater availability.
How is this possible, you ask? The economic factors are simply higher volume, alternate component sources and a broader distribution network...
193. Rocky Mountain High
November 1, 2007 | By Jim Youngs
ONE SPECULATION as to why the major eastern Colorado cities of Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs exist is because when the westward- ho settlers arrived in their Conestoga wagons and got their first glimpse of the imposing Rocky Mountains, they surely said, “Hey, these high plains look like a nice place to settle down,” or perhaps, “If you think we’re gonna drive these rickety things over those mountains, you’re crazy. ” The Colorado portion of the Rockies boast 52 mountain peaks rising over 14,000 feet above sea level (and something like 250 miles of mountains from east to west), so some of that reasoning seems logical, if untrue. Truth is, Denver and those other so-called Front Range cities date back to gold and silver rush days and even prior as outposts for fur traders...
February 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Factory bump cushion retainer to be removed.
Rubicon Express manufactures one of the best tried and proven Jeep JK suspensions distributed worldwide through aftermarket parts retailers and through Mopar at local Jeep dealerships, It's the only suspension to be approved by Mopar after the rigorous testing by engineers at the OEM level. The Mopar endorsement was not enough for the folks over at RE...
195. Rubicon JK Install
June 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Since the new Jeep Wrangler JK has hit the market, a lot has been said about it. Some have talked about it being too wide since it's five inches wider than the Jeep Wrangler TJ it replaces. This writer's simple answer to that is; if the trail is that tight, you should be treading lightly and not be there in the first place! Another way to look at it is; five inches wider is only 2 1/2 inches per side, and those extra inches make the JK more stable in turns, equating to better street handling...
196. Rubicon Ride
March 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
THE RUBICON is unquestionably the most celebrated four-wheel drive trail on the planet. Like a place of holy worship, the Rubicon has become the focal point for many a pilgrimage, mindful providence for not only the seasoned gearhead, but for anyone who's ever shifted a transfer case into 4WD. It has been the trail by which all other trails have been measured, the barometer of the four-wheeling difficulty scale...
197. Run For the Gold
April 1, 2009 | By Eric Heiden
The team recently acquired the crew chief talents of racing veteran Randy Miller, additional sponsorship from Thunder Express Trucking, and a new ATK/Gearhead race motor. These new additions allowed the team to work their way up to second place in points going into the last race. So, needless to say, the Four Wheel Parts/Gadzooks Racing team showed up in Henderson Nevada locked and loaded...
198. Sag Sacks
November 1, 2007 | By Ned Bacon
Ever notice how things start to head south when they age? No, we’re not referring to aging Snowbirds heading to Yuma or Miami for the winter. We’re more concerned about the drooping rears of aging motorhomes or tow rigs that lug stuff in any direction.
Our ’99 F-350 Super Duty “fell” into this category...
199. Secret Sauce
September 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
It’s no secret that we like having more power on tap in a 4. 0-liter Jeep. After all, having more
horses under the hood means more giddyup on the trail...
200. Seen at SEMA 2006
February 1, 2007 | By Bruce W. Smith
LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE. That's just about any motorhead at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. And like a kid in a candy store, you have to make some decisions...
January 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
EVERY YEAR, the automotive aftermarket holds a trade-only show just after Halloween that's both a trick and a treat. Hosted by SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), it fills up all the available convention acreage in Las Vegas with every conceivable component and vehicle you can imagine. That's the treat...
April 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
POWER SLOT
Here's some "braking news" Power Slot is now a division of Centric Parts, a leading North American supplier of replacement brake parts and hydraulics for cars, trucks and SUVs. So whatever type of vehicle you drive, Power Slot likely has a brake rotor for your vehicle with over 1200 different fitments available. For those of you who need big brake kits for full-size trucks and SUVs, two new lines were recently introduced: the Power Slot Cryo and Power Slot Plus...
March 1, 2008 | By Tim Walton
Here's another installment of some new or improved products that caught our eye while we explored the vast array of exhibits that made up the 2007 SEMA Show.
FABTECH
Fabtech's Tundra 6" Performance lift system features extended length steering knuckles to operate within factory steering geometry. Relocated factory lower control arms with high arched 1/4" steel cross members and integrated differential skid plate offer protection...
April 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
PICTURE OFF-ROAD RACING RIGS roaring across dry lake beds and up rock strewn, eroded mountain passes. You can't identify these rigs, they're tiny pinpoints against a burnt umber landscape, but you can chart their course by the rooster tail of dust that fans out behind them like the contrail of an F-15.
Now get carried away by this scene, and picture your own rig chasing this dust cloud through the desert...
205. Silver Anniversary
December 1, 2007 | By Chris Collard
IF YOU ARE LIKE US, there are certain events that trigger an irresistible urge to take action, somewhere,
Winter Fun is all about the fun! Seemingly impervious to cold climes and frosty hands, the kids had more fun than anyone, slipping and sliding down a fresh coating of the frosty white stuff.
somehow. The smell of pizza might necessitate an immediate call to Domino's, or the sound of mud terrains howling down the road might send you home to wrench on your rig: spontaneous and uncontrollable, these urges are knee-jerk reactions...
February 1, 2008 | By Ronnie Reno
The JK's suspension is the same in principle to the earlier TJs, but the parts are totally different. Compared to the TJ's, the JK's have wider wheel well openings. So less lift is needed to clear the same size tires...
207. Sneaky Good
March 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Its funny how we get caught up in the buzz stirred up by all the brand new pickups and SUVs that hit the market each year. In doing so we sometimes miss some pretty neat upgrades that appear on vehicles who's "new vehicle buzz" has worn off a bit. Case in point: the 2008 Nissan Titan...
December 1, 2008 | By Rick Russell
I attended the California Association of 4WD Club's 26th Annual Winter Fun Fest in Grass Valley, California to talk with participants about how their vehicles were set up for snow and to seek driving tips for our readers. I convinced my daughter, who was home on break from college, to come along. It was easy to convince her to go as I promised she could drive so that I take pictures...
209. Splashinator
February 1, 2007 | By Chris Pearson
LITTLE TRUCKS WITH BIG TIRES ARE JUST PLAIN COOL. Although there aren’t a whole lot
of aftermarket options available for Ford Rangers, the way people build trucks today, that
problem is easily overcome with some ingenuity. By the time they get to be as big as this
one, most of the stock stuff has been tossed anyway...
210. Standard Issue
January 1, 2007 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Superlift has R&D’d Chevy IFS suspension systems for years, dating back to the late-80s with its first-generation “bracket” kits. Not the easiest kit to install, this system holds its alignment well and is durable. In 2004, Superlift launched its F...
211. Staying in Sync
September 1, 2009 | By Steve Temple
Staying in Sync
LIFE USED TO be simpler, before the age of computers. Now we wonder how we ever lived without them. Controlling everything from toaster ovens to space shuttles, you can’t get away from these electronic taskmasters...
July 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Bestop has been around for nearly 55 years. Originally, Tom Bradley stitched up fabric tops and side curtains for Jeeps during the slow periods at his Boulder, Colorado car-upholstery business. His story is like one of those garage-business bios we've shared in the past, but Bradley did it with class, later moving his Jeep-top business into an old school building with seven employees...
May 1, 2008 | By Debbie Murphy
Ryan Dodd's passion is flying-but not in an airplane or hang glider. This 23-year old can launch himself 35 feet in the air at about 70 mph off a floating ramp, and travel 230 feet pulled by a 400hp powerboat, before floating back down to the water. He's been water skiing, jumping and executing tricks in mid-air competitively since he was 17, and the long, long list of records and championships attests to how well he does it...
December 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
For a tire designed for mud, the SSR Radial turned out to be formidable rock tire as well. At 7-8 lbs, the SSR's pliable sidewalls wrapped itself around obstacles like Silly Putty, conforming to the terrain without objection.
In the past decade, tire manufacturers have unveiled an array of tires we would not have dreamed of thirty years ago...
October 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Superchips built its reputation on providing significant horsepower and torque increases for light truck engines, helping off-roaders scramble their 4x4s up trails or add needed oomph to tow vehicles. Horsepower, torque - both desirable things in the category of "if a little is good, more is better. " That benefit still applies, but is now colored by the cost of gasoline...
216. Superlift Savvy
December 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
It's part of the cycle of life: you get a stock 4x4 rig and you buy the biggest meats you can wedge into the wheel wells. The next stop is a lift kit so, once mounted, you can turn the tires without rearranging those wells. Just jack up that puppy and away you go! Right?
Okay, it's not that simple, which is why companies like Superlift Suspension Systems serve as a source of appropriate lifts for your application, along with an encyclopedia of information to make sure you've got the right combo...
November 1, 2009 | By Tom Morr
For truck and SUV chassis engineers, 1/2-ton pickups and SUVs provide an opportunity to demonstrate the art and science of ride quality and handling. People who tow and heavy-haul normally shop in the 3/4- and 1-ton rows on the dealer’s lot; humans are the primary payload for the 1/2-ton customer. Smart aftermarket companies realize this...
218. Survival Guide
February 1, 2010 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The celebration starting February 8 in the Johnson Valley OHV area, north of Landers, California is
expected to be the largest competitive rocksports event in history. Fifteen to twenty thousand off-roaders will gather in a tent and RV community on Means Dry Lake Bed. “Hammertown” will host the fourth running of the fastest growing off-road race in the world...
January 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
From Silverton, a flat and limitless desert stretched as far as the eye could see. This was Mundi Mundi, a place where one could actually see the curvature of the earth.
G'day mate...
February 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
One of our favorite rigs in the corral was the 100 Series Land Cruiser. Besides the plush interior and luxurious Simpson II rooftop tent, in the back was an ARB Fridge/Freezer for our cold stubbies, a Long Ranger 120ltr fuel/55ltr water combination tank, a sun awning and the normal array of ARB lockers, suspension, bull bars and rear bumper and Safari Snorkel to keep the engine happy.
Golden rays of light skipped over the red sands of the Simpson Desert, dispersing long shadows in its wake, alerting us of a new dawn...
221. The Off-Road Warrior
September 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
JEEPS ARE MORE THAN JUST A VEHICLE, more
even than sturdy off-road workhorses — they’re a lifestyle. That piece of wisdom comes from
Tom Richardson, head of Warrior Products in Tualatin, Oregon, near Portland. What he
means is that there’s a joie d’vie about the little WWII veterans...
March 1, 2010 | By Jim Allen
Eaton Performance
Eaton Performance is the marriage of the Eaton Corporation, which has long been in the axle and traction aid business, and the Tractech company. Eaton has been in the axle biz since 1911 and has built axles for many of the OE manufacturers, as well as traction aids, including the legendary GM Positraction. Tractech goes back to 1936 and started off as the Thornton Tandem Drive Company, the originator of the Thornton No-Spin differential...
223. Tighten Up
September 1, 2009 | By Harry Wagner
BD Diesels' Track Bar Cures the 'Death Wobble"
DODGE 3/4 and 1-ton trucks have a well-earned reputation for rugged durability. Cummins engines, Dana 80 axles, and an excellent four link coil suspension all add to this reputation.
Of course even a white knight can have a little chink in his armor, and the Dodge pickups are no exception...
May 1, 2009 | By Larry Walton
The bold asymmetric design of the MT/R with Kevlar will make it an easy tire to recognize.
When the guys at Goodyear told me they were introducing a new off-road tires, I hopped on a plane, flew to Palm Springs, jumped into one of their Jeeps, and drove out through the huge windmill farms to The Hammers in Johnson Valley. The much celebrated rock crawling area known as The Hammers also has dry lakebeds, not so dry lakebeds, sand dunes, undisturbed open desert and disturbed open desert with plenty of whoops...
225. Tonneau Install
September 1, 2009
Pace Edwards 'Retractable Bedlocker Electric Truck Bed Cover
THE REASONS FOR considering a tonneau cover are almost as numerous as the number of designs available.
For some, its a matter of appearance; for others, It's about security. But perhaps the most fundamental reason for wanting a tonneau is to keep your gear clean and out of the elements...
226. Total Recall
June 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
When Rob and Donna Boggio backed their trailer into the driveway with a basket-case 2wd S-10 on the back, the concept idea of building a high-end rig had been milling around in their heads for a while. They wanted a real-world wheeling rig, and one that didn't look like a cookie-cutter copy of every 4x4 on the trail: A rig that would turn heads in a crowd of Jeeps, Toyota's. ...
227. Totally Tubular
February 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
Grille guards, steps, push bars, roof racks - what would a serious off-road rig be without one or more of these 4x4 badges of courage? It would just be a truck, a weekend honey-do, a hauler of potted plants, a vehicular wimp with no serious dirt creed. Any self-respecting 4x4 would appreciate some protection from the nicks, dings and smashed headlamps it may receive from tangling with sagebrush and rocky trails. That nifty lift's few extra inches now require extra leg lift to get your fat rump into the beast, but a set of step bars will help get you into the driver's seat...
April 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
AIR LIFT WIRELESS AIR UNIT #72000
Air Lift's new Wireless AIR (Advanced Interactive Remote) features their easiest installation ever. There are no wires or air lines to the cab. The control unit clips to your visor like a garage door opener and is about the same size...
229. Towing the Line
April 1, 2008 | By Bruce W. Smith
Imagine heading out with your friends to an off-road play area towing a 24-foot toy hauler, loaded with quads and gear, behind a brand new diesel-powered "one-ton" pickup. Such a task would be an effortless one; after all, towing 7,000 pounds behind a pickup with a maximum towing capacity of more than six tons could hardly be called a big load.
Now imagine being in an accident with that trailer in-tow...
230. Toyhauler Hauler
August 1, 2007 | By Larry Walton
I GET A LOT OF SEAT TIME IN A FORD SUPER DUTY.
My personal truck and daily driver is a modified four-wheel-drive F-250 with a 7. 3 liter Power Stroke...
231. Toyota 4Runner
August 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
When it comes to off-road rigs, we're not quick to embrace new trends. "If ain't broke, don't fix it" is our mantra, since durability and dependability are far more important than fads and fashion. Toyota's 4Runner is a prime example of our thinking along these lines...
April 1, 2007 | By Rick Russell
OVER 300 TOYOTA enthusiasts found their way into the Las Vegas Convention Center on the Saturday following the November 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The center of attraction wasToyota's new FJ. If you had not encountered one of the FJ Trail Teams at a local off-roading event, this was your chance to get up close and personal...
February 1, 2010 | By Jim Allen
Traction is the sum of tire grip and wheel torque. Tire traction is highly variable according to tire design, ground conditions and ground pressure, which changes constantly according to vehicle angles and loading, not to mention tire pressure. From the axle side, the traction equation is much more predictable according to what type of differential is used...
November 1, 2007 | By Jim Allen
THE 4 WHEEL PARTS TRUCK FEST has become a familiar favorite for 4x4 enthusiasts around the country wanting to get up close and personal with the movers and shakers in the aftermarket. Until the July 28-29, 2007 Truck & Jeep Fest at Canfield, Ohio, previous Fests had been inside events with static displays. The Canfield event became the automotive equivalent of a movie director shouting "action...
July 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
BD -Exhaust Manifold
Stop exhaust manifold cracks in their tracks with BD's pulse exhaust manifolds for the Dodge-Cummins and Chevy-Duramax engines. Cast from high silicon ductile iron, the Dodge units feature expansion joints that allow the manifold to expand and contract without cracking or exhaust leaks while the Chevy Full Bore exhaust manifold restores exhaust flow balance. These manifolds are "pulse tuned" to assist in combustion chamber evacuation, increasing exhaust flow, improving power and reducing EGT's...
August 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Truxedo Lo Pro QT
This tonneau cover installs in just minutes. With easy clamp-on side rails and the quick attach spring-loaded header guide, it’s the fastest install in the industry. It has great features including a low profile stylish design, Velcro® brand fastening and automatic tension control to keep the cover tight...
237. Tuffy Security
February 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
The JK Full Security Console (Tuffy part #157) is a direct replacement for all 2-door and 4-door JK Wranglers. Since the JK's have more available "creature comforts" compared to previous models, Tuffy has worked all the possible factory configurations into a single unit as well as adding many more features of their own. Tuffy's designers took note when new owners said the factory console sat too low to comfortably rest an arm, so they made their console 2-1/2" taller, which also gave it about twice as much storage space as the factory console...
December 1, 2006 | By Dan Ciganovich
Have you noticed lately how many brand new lifted trucks you see on the road? Where are all these lifted trucks coming from you might ask? Well there's no question trucks are more popular than ever, so it would make sense to see more lifted trucks than ever. But why are so many people buying brand new trucks and modifying them, and what about the factory warranty? Are these people taking a big risk or what? Well the answer is easy, Car Dealerships. That's right, today many GM, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Nissan, and Toyota dealerships are adding custom lift packages to their stock trucks and Jeeps, creating custom vehicles you can drive right off the dealership lot...
March 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Getting down and dirty makes us happier than a pig in slop. But getting up and dirty is even better. At least that's what we discovered driving an F-250 fitted with a Pro Comp six-inch lift...
March 1, 2009 | By Jim Allen
Long travel suspensions combined with big tires pose some problems. Sometimes even the mighty Hi-Lift runs out of travel before the tires come off the ground. In the case of this axle repair on a Jeep coiler, in a rather inconvenient spot on the trail, the suspension was chained up at ride height to facilitate getting the tire off the ground...
March 1, 2008 | By Trent Riddle
Joel Behr has what some would consider a dream job. By night he manages a club in Las Vegas, Nevada. One advantage of working nights is that Joel's days a mostly free to do with as he pleases...
242. Warn Industries
May 1, 2008 | By Steve Temple
Warn Industries and recreational off-roading share a heritage that began with a fleet of Jeeps, both the new models and those WWII veterans assimilated into civilian life. Jeeps grew into the premier off-road rig with an uncanny ability to stay on the trail. Meanwhile, Warn grew to be synonymous with the winch, one of the tools that retrieved the Jeep when it occasionally slipped off that trail...
243. Warn Industries
December 1, 2008 | By Ned Bacon
This poster was seen hanging in the factory during our tour.
When Arthur Warn developed a simple free wheeling hub for surplus WWII Jeeps in 1948, we doubt he envisioned his small family business ever growing into a multi-million dollar corporation with multiple factories and worldwide recognition.
Warn Industries celebrates its 60th anniversary this year...
February 1, 2010 | By Mike Anson
4Wheel Drive Hardware and Bestop, with the help of 4 Wheel Parts, are working together to build a Giveaway 4-door Jeep Wrangler and you get to chose what accessories are added to the stock Jeep before it goes to the lucky winner.
The way to vote is to log on to: www. 4wdjeepgiveaway...
March 1, 2010 | By Mike Anson
This photo shows the Bestop’s Jeep with front bumper, grille guard, approach roller and D-rings installed. Based on the votes clicking into the company computers, Bestop’s HighRock front and rear bumpers have the look, attitude and function you said you wanted to see in the giveaway Jeep.
Sometimes it seems as if the folks at Chrysler/Jeep, (before them AMC/Jeep and way before them Willys Motors in Toledo, Ohio) never realized how their tough little Jeep vehicles were actually used...
246. We Have Ignition
May 1, 2007 | By Steve Temple
Automotive performance enthusiasts are all good people, for the most part. Trouble is, those hot rodders, drag strippers and drifters fall into the general category of asphalt jockeys. These guys and gals don't fully appreciate the level of skill and performance off-roading requires...
May 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
PRO COMP ALLOY WHEELS POLISHED FINISH SERIES 1028
Sizes are: 16x8, 17x8. 5, 18x8. 5, 18x9, and 20x9...
March 1, 2008 | By Debbie Economos
Deep in the rural back roads of South Carolina is a privately owned technical off-road park called Gulches. Situated in the hilly piedmont region of the Blue Ridge Mountains and at just under 80 acres, this ORV park not only meets the challenges of built 4x4's, it also accommodates dirt bikes and quads.
Located in Laurens County, the region is steeped in American history going back to the American Revolution...
January 1, 2008 | By Chris Collard
There are no set standards for the diameter and design of the mounting surface, the tire's bead. A few thousandths of an inch can mean the difference between de-beading a tire under low-pressure rock crawling, or ending up on your lid during high-speed cornering at medium pressure. Greg, our 4 Wheel Parts tire guy, said the M/T required a bit higher psi that other brands to seat the bead, reflecting tighter bead tolerances from the factory...
250. Winch Buyers' Guide
March 1, 2008 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
SMITTYBILT XRC-8,000 LBS.
(1-Smittybilt XRC8 Winch image. tif)
This winch features a 4...
251. Winter Buyers Guide
November 1, 2009 | By Off-Road Adventures Staff
Click on any item to purchase
HI-LIFT® NEOPRENE JACK COVER
This neoprene jack cover offers a level of mud and dirt protection for the main lifting mechanism (Running Gear) of the Hi-Lift jack while stored. It is very important to keep the jack’s running gear clean, free from dirt and mud, and well lubricated. This helps to keep a properly lubricated jack operating properly when needed...
December 1, 2009 | By Chris Collard
Going snow wheeling is great fun, but when getting stuck equates to spending the night in the front seat of a Jeep, the back of a truck, or hacking an igloo out of a snow bank, having the right gear is essential. Without a well-equipped rig, tools, and emergency equipment, and above all, experience, a casual day trip could end up as a nightmare. We can’t tell you the number of times we’ve come across a rig on the trail, frame-deep in the snow and the sun about to set...
