Reader: I just finished reading your Ultimate Adventure buildup story ("Part 3: The biggest can of worms ever," Oct. '07). This build got me wondering why, at this stage of the build, do you persist on calling it the UAJK? In my opinion this is more like the UADR (Ultimate Adventure Dodge Ram). I appreciate the fact that you guys are doing things different from the last few builds, but really, is it still much of a Jeep? All that's left of the Jeep you started with is a mutilated Jeep body. I think the diesel engine in a Jeep is a cool idea, but putting a Jeep body on a Dodge Ram chassis is a rather dumb idea. Doesn't that seem like a lot of work for you to do, just so you can fly your little Jeep flag? I really think you should try to use as much of the original vehicle a possible. Why did you even buy the Jeep if you were just going to use a Dodge Ram? I think if anything this build proves that Jeeps are horrible platforms to build extreme rigs from. Calling this vehicle a Jeep is like calling Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s race car a Monte Carlo. This build is no longer even close to realistic. My favorite build was the USD ("Ultimate Super Duty, Part I," Aug. '02), because it was simple and just about anyone could replicate it. This truck also retained most of its stock parts (i.e., rear axle, engine, and drivetrain).
Please on future UA builds use more than just the body of the vehicle you started with.
Leland Sharp
Las Cruces, NM
Editor: So, if we used everything Jeep except the frame, that's OK? The idea is to build an ultimate vehicle, and if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, isn't it pretty much ducklike? If we had put it on a Ford frame would it be different? Is it the frame or the body that determines a vehicle's heritage? What if we had built a tube frame, would it still be a JK? And who said this build had to be realistic? We do stories for all types of readers, technical levels, and interest levels, and apologize if this was uninteresting or too high-tech for you. Remember, we're calling it the Rubi Wagon to recognize both its parents.
Reader: I got my Apr. '07 issue, and although I was delighted at first, I'm sure glad I didn't pay the $4.99 cover price for it. I flipped through it in a few minutes looking, searching for something that caught my interest. The Diesel Jeep was cool, but not finding anything at first glance I turned to the front and searched the contents.
Look! Supercrawl coverage! So I raced to page 102 and eagerly started reading. Maybe it was me, but did I miss something? Did you guys really only print a measly five pictures and a handful of words on a pitiful two-page spread?
Are you sick? Is Rick asleep? Well, shake him for heaven's sake! I think he's dead! Is this what I can expect from your mag? I've never written in before. Never felt the need. But man, when you take rockcrawlin's pinnacle event for the year and only print five lame pictures? You guys really let me down.
Damian Grihalva
Colorado Springs, CO
Editor: I just woke up! Honestly, we couldn't afford to travel so we paid a freelancer for the story and those were the best photos. Also, there wasn't any room in the magazine due to corporate restrictions on size of issue. We hope that sort of stuff is behind us now and we'll be doing much better in the future. Check out this issue for Rock Cross, the new era of rockcrawling. Thanks for reading, and writing!
Reader: I was hoping y'all could guide me in the right direction on how to build a tube chassis buggy the right way. After reading your article on the Ridgerunner and the Fun Buggy Project you've been building, I've got the itch to build my own. I'm really looking to build something like one of those. I'm in the process of trying to buy the right tools for this project and I have started looking at different welders, tube benders, notchers, punch hole presses, and other tools I thought I might need for the project. I would like your opinion on what products you feel are the best quality in strength and reliability and that are affordable for someone with a budget. I have arc- and MIG-welded before so I have a basic understanding of how to weld and have some metal-working experience, but I don't know which welder is right for me. I was also wondering if there were any books out there y'all would recommend for tube chassis building, suspension geometry, gearing, and any other basic four-wheel equations for this kind of project and any others. Thanks for all your help and I hope to one day be able to wheel with y'all.
Joshuan Vaughan
Washington
Editor: It so happens that this mag is your best source for all your questions, as you have found. We plan to have a newsstand supplement this coming year with a booklet outlining all the fabrication tools and supplies, so keep an eye on the newsstand!