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2006 Bull Dog Mud Bog - Michigan MudnessBull Dog Mud Bog From the February, 2009 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Chris Pearson Photography by Chris Pearson
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Bob McMaster has put on quite an event for the past couple of years at his Bull Dog Mud Bog. He owns Bull Dog Excavating in Fenton, Michigan, so not only does he have the land to host it on, he also hasall the equipment necessary to pull any kind of vehicle out of the muck, no matter how badly it's mired. About a 150 vehicles showed up from the tri-state area for a day in the mud that Bob created from draining hundreds of gallons of water to a nearby private lake. It created about 2 acres of the soupiest, nastiest, deepest mud that could possibly exist. The mud varied from foot-deep puddles to holes so deep that vehicles with 50-inch tires were buried up to their doors. Every kind of vehicle and every level of enthusiast showed up to see if they could make it through the slop. It was a day full of screaming engines, flying mud, and broken and buried vehicles that would make any mud bogger happy. At the end of the day a full-on BBQ food trailer fed everybody in front of a towering bonfire. For more information on this year's event visit www.bulldogmudbog.com.  This blaze-orange Chevy was...  This blaze-orange Chevy was flying through just about everything that was there. He made it through just about every sloppy mud hole, but since every truck has its limit, he soon found himself buried beyond the Boggers.  Rob Reeve from Concord, Michigan,...  Rob Reeve from Concord, Michigan, brought out some old iron in the form of a '78 F-250. The truck sports a 460, C6, and an NP205 that sends power to Dana 60s with 4.10s and out to 44-inch tractor tires. Thanks for the mud bath, Rob.  Jim Villerot has had more...  Jim Villerot has had more than a few Scouts in his day. This '74 345 V-8 is still playing in the mud after 300,000 miles. The cornbinder sports 39-inch Boggers on a Dana 60 with a limited-slip differential and a Dana 44 with a spool.  Bull Dog Bob McMaster was...  Bull Dog Bob McMaster was on the dozer all day yanking people out of the bottomless pits at the bog. He even got stuck pulling people out, so another truck was necessary for pulling them both out. This is some serious mud.  The Sheriff even showed up...  The Sheriff even showed up for the festivities. This truck was blazing' through the bog in hot pursuit of some serious mud. Roscoe wouldn't have had any trouble catching those Duke boys with this rig.  Tony Robinson from Highland,...  Tony Robinson from Highland, Michigan, brought this '91 Chevy shortbed he has owned for 15 years. A 406 small-block with 13:1 compression and a TH350 feed a Dana 70 rear and 60 front, which spin 44-inch Ground Hawgs.  Older fullsize trucks like...  Older fullsize trucks like this Ford are popular mud bog rigs out East. They were built heavy-duty from the factory and can take pretty much anything you throw at them.  Trucks like this Ranger, named...  Trucks like this Ranger, named Splashinator, were spinning tires and throwing mud sky high all day.  Among some of the youngest...  Among some of the youngest drivers out there, Cameron Brown was driving this '93 Sonoma he and his dad built together. It has a Chevy 350, a 350 trans, an NP205, a welded 14-bolt, and Dana 44 axles with 4.56 gears. The spring-over lift with a high-steer kit makes room for 40-inch Ground Hawgs.  Curt Woods and his '69 VW...  Curt Woods and his '69 VW were slingin' the goo alongside the big trucks. The Beetle has a 355 Chevy motor with Holley Pro-Jection in the back of the Scout frame that is made possible by a V-drive system. It sends power to a spooled Dana 60 and a 44 with a Lock-Right. Go figure.  Steve Bloomer's Chevy is as...  Steve Bloomer's Chevy is as heavy-duty as they come. The big-block Chevy 454 mounted in the Mack truck frame puts power out to 2 1/2-ton Rockwells with 6.72 gears that turn the 44-inch Agricultural tires on custom wheels.  Jake Caldwell is a member...  Jake Caldwell is a member of the Bean Creek Mud Rats group that came up for the day. His Ford pickup has a 460, a C6, and a four-linked rear that suspends dual Dana 60s that are both welded for optimum traction.  Dave Woods and his son Trent...  Dave Woods and his son Trent built this monster '84 Jimmy from the ground up. The frame has been fabricated entirely out of tubing and is more like a monster truck. A Chevy 396 sits out back and feeds a V-drive that sends power to an International transfer case. From there, dual 2 1/2-ton Rockwells with 6.72 gears give the juice to a set of 46-inch Baja Claws kept under control by full hydraulic steering.  This little Sami was piloted...  This little Sami was piloted by Mike Lubig of Highland, Michigan. A Chevy 4.3L with a 350 trans was coaxed to fit and it turns a Suzuki transfer case, then goes out to the stock axles with 4.10 gears. Re-arched leaf springs with Mustang helper coils in the rear make room for a set of 35-inch Boggers. Plans include a 14-bolt and Dana 44 combo and hydraulic steering.  Brian Reaume has one tough...  Brian Reaume has one tough S-10. After building two mud boggers over the past five years, he decided a strong frame was key and got one from a motorhome for this project. The suspension is a custom four-link setup that locates a welded 14-bolt and a Dana 60. The stout drivetrain is fed by a Chevy 454 with a TH400 tranny. Traction is achieved by 44-inch Boggers.
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