Are we there yet? Are we there yet? OK, we're almost there! For those of you just tuning in, please allow me to catch you up on Project Super Cross and its cross-country journey dubbed the Super American Adventure. Starting off with one of the most common workhorse platforms available, we transformed an '00 Ford F-250 (July, Aug. '08) into a rugged do-it-all wheeler in just a few weeks. One truck where we could toss in everything but the kitchen sink and head out to whatever far-off destination we desired with little to no worry.
Last month we left things hanging in the air (literally) as we stopped off in Oklahoma for some good ol' fashioned fun in the mud with legendary MX rider Guy Cooper, where we climbed, jumped, and spun knobby tires all day long. Keeping a tight schedule, we set our sights towards the west as snow wheeling, canyon gawking, and sand blasting were just a few of the stops we planned on making in our attempt to catch some of this nation's must-see tourist attractions and fun wheeling spots.
Using 4Wheel Parts (www.4wheelparts.com) as our nationwide pit crew, we didn't worry too much about what-ifs when it came to 4x4-exclusive parts. We knew that if we popped a bead, burnt out the winch, or blew an axleshaft that there was usually a 4WP service center within a reasonable driving (or limping) distance. So with the warm Atlantic shores of my hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, long behind us, we pushed on to the Pacific sand dunes of Pismo Beach, making it a true coast-to-coast adventure.
With a little more than a week and admittedly a few dollars spent on fuel, this was one trip we think everyone should experience. All the pictures in the world can't compare to being face to face with the epic outdoors and experiencing some of this nation's natural and completely unnatural wonders. Well, it's time for this old diesel to cool down and park for a little while, but be sure to check out more pictures from our trip on the Web at www.4wheeloffroad.com.
1. Using legendary MX rider Guy "Airtime" Cooper's 150 acres to the fullest, we took a couple of laps around one of his many tracks where we proceeded to launch this fairly stock Polaris RZR over a 40-foot table top. Yes, we should have had helmets!
 2. The trails around Cooper's...  2. The trails around Cooper's ranch were a little tight for our F-250, so instead of calling it a day, we broke out Cooper's Dodge Raiders and went exploring. This competent little trail platform climbed, bogged, and pushed its way through the woods with some help from a set of mini mud-terrains. |  4. Surrounded by fresh snow...  4. Surrounded by fresh snow in Gallup, New Mexico, we headed towards the Zuni Mountains to test our Super Duty's powder potential. With some drifts as deep as 6 feet, it didn't take long before a few of the locals found their stopping point. |  3. While we could only squeeze...  3. While we could only squeeze in some light wheeling in Oklahoma, we did learn that our 6-inch Pro Comp springs allowed our 38-inch SSRs to stuff a lot farther back than we anticipated. Fortunately we remembered to carry along a Sawzall just in case, so with great reserve we chopped off the front part of our freshly built sliders and trimmed up the fenderwells to allow our mud-loving meats more room to roam. |
 5. While staying in Gallup,...  5. While staying in Gallup, we picked a bed at the El Rancho Inn. Famed for its historic movie star guests, classic structure, and longevity, it's now lined with magnificent woodwork and local artifacts. If you're ever in this neck of the woods you should grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant and take a few minutes to check out the vintage Inn. |  6. Though we had adequate...  6. Though we had adequate tire-spinning power from our 7.3L diesel, it was our 15,000-pound T-Maxx winch that was put to the test when our 3/4-ton slid off the trail. Snow wheeling is definitely a bit of a challenge when your rig is as heavy as ours. |  7. Doug Brownell, our trail...  7. Doug Brownell, our trail leader for the day, was on hand helping pull out our crew and keeping the trail day moving as planned. These members of Jeeps West 4x Club out of Gallup were some of the nicest and enjoyable to spin tires with. |
 8. Go to the Grand Canyon!...  8. Go to the Grand Canyon! Yes, it's just a giant hole in the earth, but it is one of the most incredible sights you will ever see. And be sure to get there during the day and read your directions carefully. Somehow or another we ended up driving ourselves on a midnight tour of the Grand Canyon with the road covered in ice and snow. Fun times! |  9. Las Vegas isn't real, it's...  9. Las Vegas isn't real, it's unreal. We would like to show you more of the town, but seeing as how we're more of a family magazine, we'll just stick with this blurry picture of the F-250 and some very polite people handing out fliers for what we will just refer to as extra-friendly friends for hire. |  10. Outdoor enthusiasts have...  10. Outdoor enthusiasts have been burning up the Pismo Sand Dunes for decades, and with everything from dirt bikes to dune buggies blazing their way across the beach, it's become a virtual Mecca for off-roaders... |
 ...The dunes were the last...  ...The dunes were the last stop on the trip and closest to home, so we let our engine roar and turbo scream as we powered our heavy carcass up the mammoth dunes that by the end of the day left us with a hefty drivetrain vibration. |  12. So what was the culprit...  12. So what was the culprit of our drivetrain vibes? A worn carrier bearing and damaged slip shaft that allowed the driveshaft to wobble and spin out of balance. Not a problem as the crew from 4WP had our old shaft out and replaced with an upgraded unit from Coast Driveline the next day. |  11. A 4Wheel Parts service...  11. A 4Wheel Parts service stop was planned to cap off our journey. We headed south to the Thousand Oaks, California, location to get a good once-over of all the nuts, bolts, and fluids. While there, we took a peak at where all that drivetrain ruckus was resonating. And with a full staff of specially trained techs, it didn't take long to find our problem. |