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Full Size 4 Wheel Drive Trucks of Moab Easter Jeep Safari - Moab MonstersAlive & Well From the August, 2008 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Ali Mansour Photography by Ali Mansour
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Bill Hottel's rig has seen... Bill Hottel's rig has seen a trail or two since we first caught up with his '80s Chevy last year in Moab. Always having fun on the trail, this bruised Blazer showed us how body damage is a laughable offense, as the skinny pedal was designed to go to the floor for a reason. The Easter Jeep Safari In Moab is nothing short of a blast, and although we love the outpouring of Jeeps, one thing we can't get enough of is the fullsized rigs. Like taking a trip back in time it's simply amazing to see these massive metal marvels dominate the rocky terrain amongst a sea of round-light wheelers. it's remarkable how so many dedicated trail rigs have incorporated some piece of heavyweight history on to themselves. Whether that is in the form of axles, transfer cases, or engines, we've found a plethora of modern-day trail machines that have more in common with the late '70s than Disco stu has. Though these dinosaurs are not as common as they use to be, a few dedicated sheetmetal lovers still continue to push their fullsize rigs where few others would dare to go. this year we were happy to see some new faces in the mix and always encouraged by the big-wheel guys that never say die. Maybe next year we'll find your fullsize creation out on the trail, thus keeping yet another mini-wheeler from plucking a drivetrain from where it rightfully belongs.  Wherever there's a fullsize...  Wherever there's a fullsize run to be had, you're sure to find one of the Watson's big green creations. Wheeling the affectionately named Cousin Willard, this '85 K30 land yacht continues to dominate most obstacles that usually send Wranglers for a loop.  It seemed like every time...  It seemed like every time we turned around, local Dave Cowley had his '88 gMC Jimmy up and over the obstacles before we could say, "hold that shot!" With the cab narrowed 18 inches from stock, he's on the fence of when it comes to fullsize classification.  Becoming an increasingly more...  Becoming an increasingly more affordable build platform, more H1s and Humvees were on the trail than ever before. this particular late-'80s model had been outfitted with a new set of differentials stuffed with selectable lockers that helped him put on one spectacular show by the hot tubs on the infamous Hell's Revenge trail.  Starting out life as an '82...  Starting out life as an '82 Blazer and slowly morphing into a pickup, tom Cherry's big white crawler is no stranger to the trail. Utilizing a healthy wheelbase with a massive set of 39.5-inch Pit Bull Rockers, he made Rocker Knocker look more like a highway.  Traditionally one of the first...  Traditionally one of the first things to get axed on a fullsized trail pickup is the bed. And with a million different variations of tube, flat, and work beds, it's cool to see such a cleanly built custom rendition like the one Dirk Phillips made for his trail GM.  Keeping it simple, Chris Holick's...  Keeping it simple, Chris Holick's brown and white Blazer buggy is a rolling example of function over form. Using the Dana 60 and 14-bolt combo to plant his 42-inch iroks on the smooth orange sandstone, he made his '77 show everyone what three decades of old metal is still good for.  Another popular military rig...  Another popular military rig that's worked its way into the rock realm is the Mercedes unimog. Originally designed as a do-it-all piece of equipment for german farmers and the military, the multiuse platform combined with high-clearance portal axles, super low gearing, and factory selectable lockers has made it an up-and-coming favorite amongst the slickrock wheelers.  Just like camaraderie amongst...  Just like camaraderie amongst Jeepers, the big guys stick together as well. A broken shackle bolt was the culprit here, and after examining a few options, they decided to weld the bolt to the outside of the shackle since the sleeve and remainder of the bolt was seized in the frame.  Yea, we're not too sure what...  Yea, we're not too sure what it is either, but it is big and has Rockwells and 44-inch tires, so we'll go ahead and call it a fullsize. But for future reference we prefer our vintage iron with a little more sheetmetal still intact. And don't forget that the rollcage isn't a handhold!
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