Aaron James' Rock-Ready Ram
Aaron James is a returning reader from last year, bringing back his Colorado trail Dodge and brother/co-driver Phillip James. Aaron proved he learned a lot from last year's 'Adventure, and brought his Dodge back with new 1-ton parts to replace the 1/2-ton axles that were giving him a little hell last year. His new upgrades complemented his driving style, and Aaron did a great job navigating even the hardest of obstacles with little frustration or breakage. It's a good thing too, because Phillip was way too busy getting the phone number of every cute girl we saw to have time to help fix his bro's truck.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Aaron James, Phillip James
Vehicle: 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport
Engine: 5.9L Magnum V-8, Kenne Bell ECM
Tranny: 46RE
Transfer Case: NV241J (Rocktrac with 4:1 low range)
Driveshafts: 0.140-inch wall front CV, 0.250-inch wall rear with 1410 yoke
Front Axle: Dana 60, 5.13 Precision gears, ARB Air Locker, 32-spline inner axleshafts
Rear Axle: Dana 70, 5.13 Spicer gears, Detroit Locker, custom disc brakes
Steering: Stock 2500 linkage, stock 3500 steering box
Suspension: Custom control arms, 3-inch coil spacer in front, stock Off-Road leaf pack in rear
Tire and Wheels: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers on 17x8 aluminum wheels
Winch: Warn 9.5 XP
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Denver Off-Road 6061-T6 aluminum front bumper, 2-inch 0.120-inch wall DOM Evolution/Phillbilt exocage, Phillbilt rear bumper with hidden receiver, Phillbilt flatbed, Rockstomper rock guards, custom aluminum skidplates
Cool Stuff: Steering and suspension is mostly stock equipment. Electric line lock. Bought new off showroom floor and started wheeling it.
BF Goodrich's Perry-Built Custom
Fred Perry was back again this year along with co-driver and title sponsor BF Goodrich's Gary Enterline, but in his brand-new and never-before-tested handbuilt Jeep. Even though you'd never know it upon a glance, this one never came off an assembly line: Fred started with a bare Unlimited frame and built the entire Jeep from scratch using a Grand Cherokee motor and tranny, and two TJ bodies grafted together. With the help of Chris Durham, Fred worked from his shop in South Carolina and punched out this gnarly yellow Jeep in just a few months, with special touches like the custom-built short radiator support that gives the fiberglass hood some serious rake for better visibility. Damn, Fred was already hard enough to keep up with in his last Jeep ....
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Fred Perry, Gary Enterline
Vehicle: 2005 Perry-built Wrangler
Engine: 4.7L V-8
Tranny: Five-speed Grand Cherokee WJ automatic
Transfer Case: Atlas with 3.8:1 low range
Front Axle: RockCrusher 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, CTM U-joints, chromoly axleshafts
Rear Axle: RockCrusher 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, chromoly axleshafts
Steering: AGR steering box, custom crossover
Suspension: Teraflex LCG kit, Walker Evans 12-inch travel air shocks, air shock hoops front and rear, ORO air-actuated disconnect antisway bar, 107-inch wheelbase
Tire and Wheels: 39x13.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers on 17x8.5 Walker Evans bead locks
Winch: Warn HS9500 short drum with winch rope
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Big Daddy front bumper and rocker guards, custom rollcage
Cool Stuff: Made from scratch starting with a frame. Body from two TJs grafted together. Custom radiator support that allows hood to be angled for better visibility
Tuff Country's Truggy
On the first trail day, Scott Sweeney stated that he wouldn't do any damage to his Tuff Country truggy during the trip. Oh boy, a newbie! Little did he know...hehehe. We thought for sure Scott and his brother/co-driver Zach Sweeney were going down after making big claims like this, and at every obstacle we stood on our tiptoes hoping to witness the brothers from Utah put a heinous grind in that spotless truggy body. But no! Not once! Zach directed Scott through almost every obstacle with the patience and skill of wheelers twice their age, and truly disappointed us by doing a great job at coming through clean and unscathed.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Scott Sweeney, Zach Sweeney
Vehicle: 1985 Toyota extended cab
Engine: 22RE
Tranny: Stock manual
Transfer Case: Marlin Crawler Ultimate Crawler kit, rear twin stick
Driveshafts: Long-travel front driveshaft, lengthened stock Toyota IFS driveshaft in rear
Front Axle: Toyota, 5.29 gears, ARB Air Locker, chromoly axleshafts and Birfields
Rear Axle: 1986 Toyota, 5.29 gears, ARB Air Locker
Steering: Marlin high-steer arms, All Pro crossover arms, AGR hydraulic ram assist
Suspension: Tuff Country prototype leaves in front, rear four-link, S.A.W. coilovers
Tire and Wheels: 37-inch Toyo Open Country MTs on 15x8 Trail Ready bead locks
Winch: Warn 9.5 Ti
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: All tubework done by the Sweeney brothers
Cool Stuff: Tacoma fiberglass front clip. Locking trunk in rear of truggy. Complete vinyl graphic exterior covering.
John Hughbank's Big Bashin' Bronco
John Hughbanks was an invited reader from our own hometown, and when we found out he wanted to go, we knew he was the right guy to bring along. John works at GM Truck Center in Burbank, California, the shop that bore this year's UA truck, and his try-anything, die-hard attitude was just what we wanted on a trip like this. In fact, John received not only the Most Dramatic Driver award and the Most Improved Driver award, but also Clifton Slay's Most Hardcore award at the farewell dinner. He and his infamous co-driver, Steven Deitsch (aka Big Stevie), took their '79 Bronco and ran it through the wringer, making sure to leave no body panel undented as John experienced wheeling in terrain totally foreign to him.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): John Hughbanks, Steven Deitsch
Vehicle: 1979 Ford Bronco
Engine: 460ci, bored 0.060 over, forged pistons, ported and polished heads, roller rockers, Comp Cam
Tranny: C6 with low planetary 1st gear, Art Carr gate shifter
Transfer Case: NP205
Front Axle: Dynatrac 60, 4.56 gears, Powr-Lok differential, 35-spline 300M axleshafts
Rear Axle: 14-bolt, 4.56 gears, Detroit Locker, disc brakes
Steering: Crossover steering, ORU ram assist
Suspension: 9-inch lift All Valley Spring coils, All 4 Fun 13-inch extended radius arms, Skyjacker rear leaves, MX-6 reservoir shock in front, Rancho RS 9000s in rear, 110-inch wheelbase
Tire and Wheels: 44-inch Swamper TSLs in front, 44-inch Boggers in rear on Eaton bead-lock wheels
Winch: Warn 9500XP
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Custom homebuilt rollcage, bumpers
Cool Stuff: Spare driveshafts mounted via flanges and yokes welded to the rollcage. Custom crossmember to give the ability to drop the transmission without removing the front suspension. First UA truck on 44s.