Driver: Scott Sweeney
Age:23
Occupation:Tech/sales/event guy at Tuff Country Ez-Ride Suspension
Where did you come from?:Salt Lake City, UT
Did you tow it out or drive it?:Towed
How long have you been off-roading?:20 years
What got you into 4x4s?:Family
Favorite part of the trip:Hanging out at the sand dunes and watching everyone tear it up!
What was your least favorite part of the trip?:The last trail day
Hardtop, soft top, or no top:Hardtop
Would you want to work for a 4x4 mag now that you've met us and seen what we do?:Nah!
Would you kick out your co-driver if we had a supermodel to ride in your truck?:In a heartbeat!
Would you do it again next year, or would it be asking too much of your battered body?:Definitely! (If someone would put a muzzle on Tom Boyd!)
Favorite truck on the trip (besides your own):Stephen Watson's rig "Wally"
Co-Driver:Zach Sweeney
Age:20
Occupation:Warehouse/order fulfillment guy at Tuff Country Ez-Ride Suspension
Vehicle: Toyota Extended Cab "Truggy"
Year:1985 ('01 Tacoma front fiberglass kit)
Tires/Wheels:37x14.50 Toyo MTs/15x8 Trail Ready
Steering:All Pro Offroad crossover conversion with AGR hydraulic ram
Front suspension:Tuff Country 5.5-inch leaf springs
Rear suspension:Custom four-link done by Warren "Genius" Spencer, with Sway-a-Way 16-inch coilover's
Front drivetrain:Toyota 8-inch/5:29 Yukon ring-and-pinion/ARB/Chromoly shafts and Birfields
Rear drivetrain:Toyota 8-inch/5:29 Yukon ring-and-pinion/ARB/stock shafts
Driveshafts:Front long spline, rear CV
Tranny:Stock Toyota four-cylinder
Transfer case(s)/ratio(s)/other mods:Dual Marlin Crawler adapted with 4:7 kit in rear case. About 228:1 overall crawl ratio.
Engine/Mods:22RE four-cylinder K&N intake, LC Engineering header
Bumpers/rails/rollcage:All custom tube work and rock protection done by myself
Winch:Warn 9.5ti
What (on your truck) gave you problems during the trip?:The only issues worth mentioning would be: lack of power at the sand dunes, slight driveline vibration for the highway travel days, and rear differential got a little low on oil and caused the housing to get a little hot, resulting in a pretty good burn on my wrist after bumping into it!