This picture was taken near Balad, Iraq, days before Christmas. I guess our true Christmas present is getting out of here in a few more weeks. I am a fire team leader with B Co. 100 Bn 442 Infantry 29th BCT. Here is my daily driver, an M1114 HMMWV with the CROWS weapon system mounted on top, sporting a .50-cal machine gun. With the rainy season upon us, we hope to find lots of mud to bog through. I still find time to read your magazine while on our combat patrols. Thanks for all the support for the troops over here. Can't wait to get home and start work on my trail-worthy '99 WJ sitting at home.Sgt. John Reed
Mike Partridge, Advanced Adapters (maker of Atlas transfer cases)
Drivelines: How has the transfer case business changed in the last five years?
Mike Partridge: With the popularity of the Atlas and the proven reliability of our unit, we have seen more customers switching to a new transfer case rather than adapting to their stock one. Driving habits have changed. Our customers are doing more technical trails requiring the vehicle to perform the obstacles at crawling speeds. Since most stock vehicles lack the ultra-low ratios, the Atlas and Atlas four-speed transfer cases with all the gear ratio options we offer seem to be changing the market demand.
DL: What's your most popular product right now?
MP: The Atlas is definitely our hot item currently. We are also getting a lot of interest in our new Atlas four-speed case and, of course, Jeep engine swaps.
DL: How low can transfer-case gears go?
MP: The possibilities are endless. This has changed recently with the introduction of transfer cases with multiple low ranges. Two-speed transfer cases have reached their limit from a practical standpoint. Ideally a vehicle will have a small overlap between its highest low-range gear and its lowest high-range gear. While lower ratios are possible from an engineering standpoint, a single low range lower than 6:1 leaves a large gap between low-range gears and high-range gears. This is where having more than one low range is beneficial. Multiple-ratio transfer cases like our new four-speed can go as low as 10.4:1. These are still practical and useful because the vehicle has the midrange low gearing along with the ultra-low gears. The vehicle would have no gaps in its selection of possible gear ratios. We currently offer a 6.0:1 low option in the Atlas two-speed transfer case and a 10.4:1 low in the Atlas four-speed case.
DL: Most outrageous application of your 'case that you've seen?
MP: There are a few that come to mind. One is an amphibious vehicle. It used both a propeller for water use and standard axles for street use. The Atlas was used to control the vehicle driveshaft and propshaft. The second application is kind of a cool one. We recently have been building Atlas transfer cases for a military "Mine Hardened Patrol Vehicle," the RG-32M. This armored vehicle weighs 6.7 tons and features a diesel engine, automatic transmission, Atlas transfer case, and Portal axles. It is fitted with a large machine gun and can transport eight passengers. Other notable ones are a front-wheel-drive vehicle that was used in the filming of the movie Seabiscuit, and a special prototype farming application for lettuce picking. Applications like these are kind of neat to work on and offer good conversational topics.
DL: Any new products on the drawing boards?
MP: We would like to offer some additional ratios in the new Atlas four-speed, some new products for the Toyota pickups, and diesel engine swaps for various 4WD vehicles. These are only a few of the projects that we are working on, and, of course, we are always looking for suggestions from our consumers for new product ideas.
* How'd you like to be able to open your truck's door locks using your cell phone? KeylessRide announced a plug-and-play system that allows a multitude of gadgets to operate a vehicle's original equipment keyless entry system, including Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, multivehicle "master" remotes, hands-free "passive" remotes for auto locking and unlocking of vehicle, and wrist watch remotes.
* All kinds of bad news: You've read that Ford and GM have had to cut back production, close plants, and lay off workers; now comes news that the venerable Dana Corporation has filed for bankruptcy protection. Declining business from Ford and GM, higher raw material costs, and some internal accounting problems were blamed for the Chapter 11 filing.
* Import makes are not immune from the downturn in business: Nissan is cutting production of its Titan fullsize pickup by nearly 30 percent, reported the Detroit News, due to lower-than-anticipated demand.
* Despite the bleak news, GM is undeterred. In addition to all those new fullsize SUVs and the right-around-the-corner launch of its next-generation fullsize pickups, look for the Hummer line of vehicles to grow. Susan Docherty, Hummer marketing general manager, told dealers recently (as reported by Automotive News) her team was working on a "couple" of new models. "We will never be a mainstream brand where we have nine or 10 entries, but there's room to go beyond the three that we have." Docherty gave no specifics about new Hummers, but said, "We could go smaller. We could go to other segments. We're looking at all of that."
SEMA's Washington, D.C., watchdogs have alerted us to some dangerous pending legislation. Among them:
* A bill (A.B. 10116) has been introduced in the New York Legislature to prohibit the public road use of motor vehicles equipped with a grilleguard or brushguard. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee for consideration and a vote. A.B. 10116 would require owners of vehicles currently equipped with grilleguards (including those purchased with this equipment from a dealership) to remove these guards.
* H.B. 2011, a bill to ban the sale or installation of "an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust," is on the verge of being sent to the floor of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives for a vote by all representatives. Like previous efforts in Massachusetts, H.B. 2011 ignores the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions; does not supply law enforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether or not a modified exhaust system is in violation; and would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.
* New Jersey is also examining exhaust legislation. A.B. 757, which would require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to prescribe a decibel limit to which all aftermarket mufflers sold in the state would have to be certified, was considered by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. The bill gives no instruction as to what the decibel limit should be.
* In an attempt to reduce dependence on foreign oil and improve air quality, legislation has been introduced in the Vermont House of Representatives to establish a progressive registration surcharge for motor vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate that achieve fewer than 20 mpg. (That would encompass pretty much every fullsize pickup truck and SUV.) For example, this surcharge would amount to $160 annually for vehicles with an EPA rating of less than 15 mpg.