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Ultimate Avalanche - Part 4
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 On the ends of the ram are...  On the ends of the ram are two CNC-machined 4140 chromoly clevises for attaching to the mini-tie-rods via some 3/4-inch-shank by 5/8-inch-bore rod ends. We attached them with Loctite and made sure they were perfectly level with each other.  Making the rear wheels return...  Making the rear wheels return to center quickly so we can continue down the trail is very important, so we contacted Staz Works Extreme Off-Road about its return-to-center setup. The kit includes a pump, a hydraulic manifold, a control module, some switches and wiring, a sensing ram, and a joystick. Our first step was mounting the pump so that it would be protected and out of the way. We mounted it under the bed, aft of the rear axle on a steel platform, and cut a hole in the floor of the bed to be able to fill the hydraulic fluid tank.  The manifold is what controls...  The manifold is what controls the direction of the hydraulic fluid flow, and thus pushes the ram in different directions.  We mounted this above the...  We mounted this above the passenger-side shock on another fabricated platform. The plumbing from the pump to the manifold and then to the ram was done with hoses and connectors from Orme Brothers, who can supply hosing and fittings for many different motorsports.  Next we mounted the sensing...  Next we mounted the sensing ram. This piece tells the system where the hydraulic ram is during the stroke and also recognizes when the ram is centered. In addition, ours was fitted with sensors to light small LEDs on the dash to keep us informed on the direction of the tires.  The Staz Works setup is an...  The Staz Works setup is an electrical controller within the cab going to a hydraulic system under the vehicle. This helps protect against any hydraulic leaks within the cabin of the rig, though on most 4x4s using a custom rear steer, this is probably not a concern. The control switches and joystick were mounted on a custom steel platform in the center console. To arm the system, you first switch the main power aircraft switch that energizes the pump, and then steer with the joystick. The return-to-center single-push switch and the aircraft safety switch are both made by K-Four Switches. The LED lights installed in the dash tell the driver which direction the front of the rear tires are pointed. With our rear steering installed, we decided to give the front steering a boost as well. In the past we have had good experience with the AGR Rock Ram and decided to give it another try. Our kit included a new pump, reservoir, and ram. In addition, we sent the steering box to AGR and had it prepared for plumbing. You can definitely tell that the kit is on the truck, and it makes the steering easier than stock when running the big tires. We also had a custom tie rod built for the front axle and mounted the ram from the axletube to the tie rod with welded-on gussets. At some point we started to think about what we should take with us, and immediately we thought of tools. We never expected that we would need these for our vehicle, but as you may have read in the coverage of the event in this issue, they were used almost daily. So for tools we went for the reputation of Matco. Matco has everything you would need to keep a truck running. Our list included standard and metric pro-swing ratcheting wrenches (darn truck couldn't decide on just one system), sockets, screwdrivers, and Allen wrenches for getting stubborn parts loose. If that didn't work we also had pliers, prybars, and a really big hammer. In addition, we brought a 12-volt test lamp. In fact, the only thing we didn't need was the snap-ring pliers, though we're sure they will eventually come in handy.  Another great place to find...  Another great place to find supplies for our trip was Extreme Outback Products. We rounded up a Black Rat Towing Kit and some winch extension straps, as well as some thick winching gloves and a set of No Loss valve-stem caps. However, one of the best things that we found was the Outback Sleeping Pad, which we used on our night of camping. Never before have we had such a comfortable night's rest while camping--it was better than some of the hotels we have stayed at.  In addition to the camping...  In addition to the camping and recovery supplies, we also got a set of tire pliers and spoons from Outback Extreme Products, and an Extreme Aire Severe Duty Compressor. This 12-volt compressor has a 3/4hp fan-cooled motor that produces 150psi working pressure. We also mounted a reserve tank under the bed of the truck and mounted the compressor itself within one of the side compartments on the Avalanche's bed.  Our Ultimate Adventure Trip...  Our Ultimate Adventure Trip is sponsored by BFGoodrich, and we have been bugging them for a bigger tire. The crown jewel for the Avalanche has got to be our 39x13.5-inch Krawler T/AKX tires. These tires are not yet available, but we were assured that they would be coming eventually. BFGoodrich let us be the guinea pigs with this prototype tire, and we are really excited about them. The fact is that these tires were designed first and foremost for the off-road market, with road handling abilities as an afterthought. But don't get us wrong--we can vouch that driving across country on them at excessive highway speeds was never a problem. Our tires were mounted on cast-aluminum 17-inch Walker Evans Racing Beadlocks. With years of desert racing and rockcrawling experience, the Walker Evans team knows how to make a seriously strong wheel. The tires measure less than 1/2 inch under 39 inches and the tread pattern was similar to the smaller sizes. One thing that we discussed with the representatives at BFGoodrich is how the tires are bringing the tread rubber compound down onto the sidewall of the tires to improve traction and sidewall strength. We think these tires are some of the best off-road tires you could get if your trails have everything from mud to rocks. Though the compound is soft, the tread held up respectfully well to the many miles we put on the truck. Check back next month when we fill you in on some of the carnage we endured during the adventure, and what we plan on doing to fine tune our big red romper.
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