Poison Spyder Customs' Orange Unlimited
A regular on our Ultimate Adventure trips these days is Clifton Slay of Poison Spyder Customs. He comes as a sponsor, but like most of the returning sponsors, he's more of a friend who just happens to give us money so we can go have fun. This year, Clifton and co-driver AJ Griffin surprised us a little by showing up from Colorado in a new Unlimited adorning the full line of Poison Spyder equipment. In the past we've been used to seeing him behind the wheel of one of his insane Spyder Customs rigs, but this year he proved that not only could an Unlimited work wonders with Poison Spyder parts on it, but that maybe he really could drive and it's not just all those bad-ass buggies that make the most impossible challenges seem easy.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Clifton Slay, AJ Griffin, Scott Frary
Vehicle: 2005 Jeep Unlimited
Engine: Inline six-cylinder
Tranny: Four-speed automatic
Transfer Case: NP231
Driveshafts: Custom fabricated
Front Axle: Dynatrac Prorock, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: Dynatrac Prorock, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Steering: Poison Spyder high-steering system
Suspension: Rubicon Express 7-inch lift, Poison Spyder modified rear triangulated upper links
Tire and Wheels: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawler on 17-inch Allied Rock-A-Thon Monster bead locks
Winch: Warn 9,000-pound
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Poison Spyder front and rear Stinger bumpers, tire carrier, Unlimited full rollcage, tube fenders, Crusher corners, rocker protection
Cool Stuff: We'd all rather watch AJ drive than Clifton. Mastercraft seats embroidered with "Ultimate Adventure 2005." This buggy builder brought a brand-new factory-built Jeep!
Warn's YJ
Warn is a welcome returning sponsor this year, sending us representative Pat Meiwes and co-driver Todd Kirkland from South Carolina in their 1990 small-block YJ. We met Pat a couple years ago on the UA 2003, but at the time he'd taken a passenger seat and helped run winch cable with us all week. This year Pat showed up in his own ride and made sure we knew that he not only knew every proper winching method known to man, but that he can also drive that little black YJ where only the big buggies go.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Pat Meiwes, Todd Kirkland
Vehicle: 1990 Jeep Wrangler
Engine: Vortec 350, Edelbrock Pro Flow fuel injection
Tranny: TH700R4 automatic
Transfer Case: Atlas II
Driveshafts: Custom Front
Axle: Dana 44, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, Warn axles
Rear Axle: Dana 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, Warn axles
Steering: Stock
Suspension: BDS leaves in front with Old Man Emu shocks, Superlift leaf springs in rear with Superlift shocks, 92-inch wheelbase
Tires: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers
Winch: Warn 9.5 XP
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Warn front and rear bumper with tire carrier, Warn rocksliders, Warn diff covers, Off Road Connection rollbar, Tuffy expandable rear box, Bestop cargo rack
Cool Stuff: Custom YJ grille to fit CJ headlights. Low profile blackout Jeep with a Vortec surprise under the hood. Kept the shackles in front for better climbing.
Trent McGee's White YJ
Trent McGee is another friend who was in it from the beginning. In fact, he's attended more Ultimate Adventures than any of the current staff, and we love having him with us. Trent is a former 4- Wheel & Off-Road staffer who stayed working in the 4x4 industry, but it seems like we are always so busy that this is the only time of year we get to go wheeling together. The last few years he's been bringing a '92 YJ from Louisiana that has a sort of "sleeper" theme to it--you really don't know how much is going on and how capable this little Jeep really is until you see Trent powering it up the lines the tube buggies are taking.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Trent McGee, Chris Durham
Vehicle: 1992 Jeep Wrangler
Engine: 100K-mile 4.0L
Tranny: TorqueFlite 999
Transfer Case: Atlas 4.3
Driveshafts: 1310 U-joints
Front Axle: Reverse-rotation Dana 44, Detroit Locker, Warn hubs, Warn axles
Rear Axle: Ford 8.8-inch, Detroit Locker, Dutchman axles
Steering: Custom-built HD crossover using 3/4-ton Chevy and Ford tie-rod ends
Suspension: Black Diamond X2 suspension system
Tire and Wheels: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers on 17x8 Trail Ready bead locks
Winch: Warn 9.5 Ti
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Currie Shorty front bumper, Currie spare tire carrier, Currie rock sliders, stock rollbar with Off Road Connection cage kit
Cool Stuff: Simple but well-working suspension. Custom trail bruises. In it from the beginning.
Mike Cox's Silver Bullet CJ
Mike Cox's silver CJ looks like a full-scale version of something you might pull out of a Hot Wheels package. Its giant tires, silver paint, and loud orange rollcage make it stand out even in the thickest of dirt clouds, which were thrown all over us camera guys multiple times (thanks, Mike). We can't be mad though, because it was such a delight watching Mike and his purpose-built CJ do exactly what they were built for: wheel the rocks and dirt of the hard-core Oklahoma and Arkansas trails. Thanks for comin' along, Mike. We know you had a far drive from your place in Tulsa.
Tech Specs
Driver/Co-Driver(s): Mike Cox
Vehicle: Jeep CJ-7
Engine: TBI 350
Tranny: TH350
Transfer Case: Dana 300 with Currie twin stick, Advance Adapters big shaft kit
Driveshafts: Chromoly front, 1350 and 1410 U-joints on both driveshafts
Front Axle: Dana 60 front, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, Moser axleshafts, five-lug
Rear Axle: 14-bolt, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, Explorer disc brakes, five-lug
Steering: High-steer with Rock Ram
Suspension: Superlift 2-inch lift CJ-7 rear leaves on all four corners, RS 9000 shocks, Currie shackles, spring-over conversion, Sam's Offroad traction bar, 101-inch wheelbase
Tire and Wheels: 42-inch Swamper TSLs on 15x10 Alcoas with bead locks
Winch: Ramsey Bad Boy 9500
Bumpers/Cages/Guards: Custom Sam's Offroad front bumper, Currie rear bumper, Off Your Rocker rocker guards, Smittybilt rollcage
Cool Stuff: Giant Silver Bullet careening up the trail. Built specifically for the trails we ran this year. Put more miles on it this trip than in the last two years combined.