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.
The trick is figuring out how to see it all in just a few days, a virtually impossible feat for one individual. So we sent out a crack team of photographers wearing comfortable walking shoes to scour every square foot of floor space, searching out the latest and greatest parts and products for your off-road ride. So enjoy, and be glad you didn"t have to walk all those miles to see this stuff in person. We"ve already done the hard work for you.
JBA Headers introduced their new JBA Cat4ward(r) Headers for "91-99 Jeep Wranglers and Cherokees with 4.0L I-6 engines. The headers are engineered as a direct replacement for the restrictive crack-prone factory manifolds. Bolt-on a significant increase in torque and horsepower throughout the rpm range. JBA"s unique header design features 1-1/2" mandrel-bent 409 stainless steel primary tubes, one-piece 1/2" CNC laser-cut flanges and JBA sealing dome technology. Each kit includes all the necessary hardware, gaskets and instructions for a professional no-leak installation and is covered by JBA"s limited lifetime warranty. C.A.R.B. E.O. # D-216-22.
Winning a prestigious New Product Award for 2007 was Centerline"s Run Flat Military Tactical Wheel. Intended for military and "private armored vehicle" use, this 17-inch rim is designed to hold a standard 37-inch off-road tire. The red support ring (made of plastic for display purposes only) allows one to keep moving even if the tire has been shredded by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) or gunfire. Once a safe distance away, the rim can be split into quarters with hand tools in the field, allowing a new tire to be installed by the troops.
Bully Dog"s range of diesel performance products includes everything from computer tuners to propane injection to exhaust systems, and more. On display at the SEMA show was a Dodge Ram with the new 6.7-liter Cummins diesel, outfitted with Bully Dog"s new intake system.
BFGoodrich Tires has added a dozen new sizes to its latest generation of its best-selling tire lineup, the All-Terrain T/A. Altogether; there are 49 sizes that range from 215/75R15 to 325/60R22, providing fitments for just about any SUV or truck. The BFG All-Terrain tire also boasts a number of unique attributes, such as improved stress distribution, said to increase tread life as much as a 12 percent. High strength, single-strand bead construction, two full-width steel belts and a three-ply polyester carcass contribute to the strength and durability as well. The stiffer tread area allows for precise steering and improved handling without sacrificing on-road comfort or a quiet ride.
Carriage Works manufactures custom billet and forged accessories, along with many other custom parts for a wide range of domestic trucks. If you"re looking for way to dress up your pickup, here"s the first place to go.
As we"ve come to expect, ARB showed up with a number of practical 4x4 components, such as new bull bars, a diff cover, a Speedy Seal puncture repair kit, and various FJ Cruiser accessories.
Currie"s Rock Jock 4x4 rearend features a brand-new SAE 206-T6 aluminum casting with an exclusive flow-through circulating oil system. It"s said to be the first with a full 60-degree cover angle, and also has equal-diameter large front and rear pinion bearings, optional 3" x .3125" wall or a 3" x .375 wall tubing on complete housings. An upper bracketry mounting bridge is available through Currie and an AR400 abrasionresistant skid plate is included with the unit. This is the highest ground clearance and lightest weight 60 on the market, Currie claims, yet the unit maintains a standard, unmodified Dana 60R ring and pinion for maximum strength.
Centerforce continues to expand its range of dual-friction clutch packages with patented centrifugal weights for high-torque applications. In other words, for offroad rigs that need gobs of grip in the drivetrain, Centerforce provides unparalleled holding capability in extreme conditions, and all without sacrificing pedal effort and driver control.
Need a tough bumper for your Jeep or the new Toyota FJ Cruiser? Body Armor specializes in bolt-on, no-drill front and rear bumpers, along with extreme trail gear for the serious off-roader.
T-Max Winch introduced their Competition Series wireless RockCrawler and Jeep winches that are available in either a 6,500lb or 9,000lb capacity. They are being introduced in a bold, bright yellow powder coat finish. They include a bright polished aluminum Hawse fairlead and 80" of 16,500lb yellow synthetic line with a heavy duty sling hook for a complete, "ready to go" package. The winches are assembled with short drums for light weight (the 9,000lb winch weighs 55lbs). The 9,000lb winch is equipped with a 6.6hp series wound motor for lower electrical draw and high torque and the 6,500lb winch has a 5.5hp series wound motor, high for its size. ZST wireless technology is standard in these winches.
AEM"s WorkHorse air intake for diesels offers a new level of filtration. It features a dry element that"s good to one micron of filtration, and requires no oiling. Simply wash with water to clear it of dust and debris.
Auburn"s new Locker ECTED differential for Dana model 30 and 35 axles fits a wide range of vehicles including Jeep, Ford, Dodge, and some earlier Scout II axle applications. The Auburn Locking differential provides the latest in traction technology and enables the driver to select the mode that best suits the driving conditions. When in the "Off" mode, the Auburn locker functions as a limited slip differential, but when the dash-mounted switch is "On", the differential becomes a locker, ideal for scrambling up steep terrain.
Bestop is just about your best stop for Jeep Accessories. The range of new products is almost too numerous to list: front and rear rollers, saddle bags, side steps, an over-sized spare carrier, high-lift jack, console paneling, entertainment centers, roof lights, luggage covers, and likely a few other items we forgot to include.
Bushwacker has long been manufacturing protective panels and fender flares for various off-road vehicles, and now has extended its line to the new Jeep JK Unlimited, and Suzuki"s Grand Vitara.
An air suspension provides safe, superb ride control, especially when towing a load of ATVs or an off-road rig. Air Lift now has systems for the big Ford Super Duty trucks. In addition, the company"s new SureSet onboard air system solves the problem of where to mount the cab control unit. This compact unit requires no air lines to run in the cab - just one data cable. And the electronic control unit also remembers the pressure setting for each spring and automatically maintains the driverselected air pressure.
Living up to its name, AFE (Advanced Flow Engineering) has a number of new air intake and filtration products that keep the dirt out of your engine on a dusty trail. Name your model of truck or SUV, and AFE probably has what you need, including a new round air filter for Jeeps.
APC lights the way with new spotlight racks that are pre-wired for easy installation. And bringing up the rear are new tail lights and a strip of taillights that plugs into the trailer light receptacle, ensuring that anyone following you knows which way you"re turning.
American Racing Wheels" ATX Series has the rugged, go-anywhere look that off-roaders expect from their rims. But it"s not just looks alone that matter, because these wheels are developed to withstand the rigors of off-road racing as well.
Banks Power has a team of engineers that continually looks for ways to get more power out of a diesel engine. That includes a new Ram-Air intake system for the "01 to "05 Duramax, good for an increase of as much as 39 hp and 69 lb/ft at the rear wheels (when using a Banks tuner as well).
AMP Research was awarded the DaimlerChrysler Design Excellence Award for their newly introduced BedStep(tm) at the SEMA show. The BedStep is a manually operated tailgate step that provides easy access to the truck bed from the rear bumper. When it is not in use, it stores conveniently underneath the bumper. Made of high strength aluminum, and attractively powder coated in black, the AMP Research BedStep supports up to 300 lbs. of weight, and is now being developed for a wide range of applications.
Hella"s brand new state-of-the-art aerodynamic light pod holds five Xenon lamps, similar to Rallye 4000 Compact, for massive light output. The aerodynamic design significantly reduces drag. A top speed increase of 4 mph was recorded in testing of the Aerolight on Titan Off-Road"s Baja race truck versus five individually- mounted Rallye 4000"s - a speed difference crucial for long-distance night races such as Baja. The lightweight carbon fiber housing is very light and super strong, lowering the vehicle"s center of gravity for better handling. Rounded lens covers protect the glass lenses and can be easily replaced. The adjustment system allows for precise aiming and a firm hold, so the beam keeps its aim in the harsh environment of the desert. Additionally, the fabrication required to mount the Aerolite pod is less than required to build a typical 5- lamp light bar.
Living up to its name, Airaid aids the airflow into the engine of your off-road rig. The company offers an impressive list of applications, with intakes, spacers and filters for just about every make and model of vehicle. For offroaders in particular, Airaid now has an intake for the new Ford F-150, as well as a number of other late-model domestic and import trucks and SUVs.
