These are a few readers who have trucks so clean and shiny that we'd eat off of 'em. Heck, we eat off of our trucks, and they're covered in mud and rust! And just because they're clean doesn't necessarily mean they don't get used. It just means they're shiny...really shiny.
The Hulk
VEHICLE: '84 Chevy 3/4-ton longbed
OWNER: Leonard Johnson, Lake City, FL
TIRES: 49-inch Swamper Iroks
WHEELS: Chrome eight-lugs
SUSPENSION: Custom 38-inch-lift leaf springs
DRIVETRAIN: 454ci engine, TH400 tranny, 14-bolt rear, Dana 60 front
PERFORMANCE MODS: 671 blower that makes a total of 900 hp
OTHER DOODADS: Nerf bars, rollbar
American Pride
VEHICLE: '03 GMC HD Sierra 2500
OWNER: Jack Chapman, Pine Grove, CA
TIRES: 37x13.50-16 Pro Comp X-Terrains
WHEELS: 16x10 Xtreme Alloys
SUSPENSION: ORU solid-axle conversion kit, 6-inch Skyjacker leaves, RS 9000 shocks, Fabtech traction bars, blocks, and airbags in rear
DRIVETRAIN: 6.6L Duramax, Allison transmission, Dana 60 front with 35-spline axles and ARB locker, 14-bolt rear, 4.56 gears
PERFORMANCE MODS: Hypertech power programmer
OTHER DOODADS: AGR Rockram steering, Rockford Fosgate stereo system
BEST MOD: Solid front-axle conversion
WORST MOD: First installed an IFS suspension lift before the solid axle
Blazin' Hi
VEHICLE: '87 Chevy K5 Blazer
OWNER: Rich and Jen Rice, Pittsburgh, PA
TIRES: 37x13.50-17 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials
WHEELS: 17x10 Boyd Coddington Harms
SUSPENSION: 4-inch Rough Country, 2-inch body lift
DRIVETRAIN: 350ci, TH350 tranny, NP208 transfer case, stock axles
PERFORMANCE MODS: Hedman ceramic-coated headers, Flowmaster mufflers, Truck Avenger carb, CSI electric water pump, Be Cool radiator with dual electric fans, 140-amp alternator
OTHER DOODADS: Dual batteries, Eclipse stereo, Bushwacker cut-outs, aluminum diamond-plate
FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: Climbing onto a light pole in the winter and slipping off, caving in the fender and flare
BEST MOD: Dual front stabilizers (it gets really squirrely at 80 mph) and paint color
WORST MOD: Removing the heater and installing a Dixie horn in its place
Bronco in Paradise
VEHICLE: '90 Ford Bronco
OWNER: James C. Nixon, Honolulu, HI
TIRES: 46x19.50-15 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws
WHEELS: 15x14 U.S. Wheels
SUSPENSION: 14-inch subframe custom built by my dad and me, Pro Comp 15-inch-leaf rear springs, 10-inch-leaf Pro Comp GM front springs, 14 Explorer Pro Comp ES9000 shocks, custom traction bars
DRIVETRAIN: 302ci engine, Ford Dana 44 front axle, 14-bolt rear, extra 9 inches of driveshaft
PERFORMANCE MODS: K&N cold air intake
OTHER DOODADS: Straight-axle conversion, Russell braided brake lines, Warn Classic 8,000-pound winch, CCTV quad cam system to see what's beneath and around me, 800-watt power inverter, AGR Rockram
FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: Driving over a junk car and getting pulled over by a cop (he asked me if I would do it again because he missed it the first time)
BEST MOD: AGR Rock Ram hydraulic-assist steering. Turns the tires like they were 31s
WORST MOD: Having to use a Chevy rear end. Hawaii is a tough place to come by heavy-duty truck parts. The shipping cost is a killer.
Submission Information
All submissions to Readers' Rides must include an address or telephone number so sender can be verified and include a complete list of all modifications made to the vehicle. Unfortunately, if we can make out faces of people in the photos, we cannot use them. Also, letters must be signed by the vehicle's owner. Due to the large volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photos. Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file.
Write to:
Readers' Rides 4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704
E-mail to:
rides@4wheeloffroad.com