April 2006 4x4 Readers Rides

We're always looking for more Readers' Rides, so keep sending 'em our way. As long as you're a reader you have a chance of getting your 4x4 published, regardless of how modified or how stock your truck is. And just in case you're fuzzy about what info to put in your submission, take a look at this example spec sheet below. For you digital-savvy photographers, please make sure the photos measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file.

Vehicle (year, make, model)
Owner (name, city, state)
Tires & wheels
(size, make, model)
Suspension (lift, springs, shocks)
Drivetrain (tranny, t-case, axles)
Performance (engine)
Other mods
Does everything work the way you want?
Anything you would change?
Funniest wheeling incident

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

Familiar Look
Vehicle: '78 Jeep CJ-7
Owner: Bruce Schubert, Ventura, CA
Tires & Wheels: 33x12.50-15 Goodyear MTRs on 15-inch wheels
Suspension: 3 1/2-inch lift from Trail Master leaves and Daystar shackles, Rancho RS 9000 shocks
Drivetrain: 4.2L engine, Borg-Warner T5 tranny, Dana 300 transfer case, Dana 44 rear, Dana 30 front
Performance Mods: Howell fuel injection, K&N air filter, Flowmaster exhaust, high-flow water pump
Other Doodads: Custom bumpers
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Still trying to create one
Does Everything Work The Way You Want?: Even the Howell fuel injection is great-well worth the money!
Anything You Would Change: The gearing is too tall, power brakes would be nice, maybe some lockers too

Blown Diesel!
Vehicle: '86 Ford F-250
Owner: Emilee Pierce, McArthur, CA
Tires: 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrains
Suspension: 6-inch lift
Drivetrain: 6.9L diesel engine
Performance Mods: 6.72 blower (not a perfect fit, but finally worked with a lot of Mickey-Mousing)

Katrina Relief Volunteer
Vehicle: '01 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Owner: Mitchell Hamilton, Aurora, CO
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50-15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains on 15x8 steel wheels
Suspension: 4-inch TeraFlex, Rancho 5000 shocks
Drivetrain: Stock engine, stock tranny, NP231 with TeraLow 4:1 and short-shaft kits, ARB lockers front and rear, Warn full-floater and 5x5 1/2 lug upgrade kit
Performance Mods: Dual Yellow-top Optima batteries, K&N air filter
Other Doodads: Warn 9.5ti winch, Kilby gas-tank skid, Lightforce lights, Poison Spyder rollcage, Boulderbars
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Nearly picked the TJ off the ground when we chained the back bumper to a tree and tried to winch a giant oak off of a house
Does Everything Work The Way You Want?: Yeah, except for fuel consumption. We towed out 2,500 pounds of water and baby formula and only got 10-12 mpg
Anything You Would Change: Still looking for a hardtop

DaKardi Breezer
Vehicle: '03 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab
Owner: Wade Lee, via e-mail
Tires & Wheels: 305/70R16 Xterrains on stock wheels
Suspension: 2-inch lift blocks and cranked torsion bars
Drivetrain: 3.9L V-6 engine, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: Flowmaster exhaust, MSD ignition
Other Doodads: Fabtech Desert guard, Smittybilt nerf bars, Extang toneau cover, 3-inch body lift
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Getting high-centered on a dune while trying to get a pic of the truck airborne
Anything You Would Change: Maybe bigger suspension

Admirable XJ
Vehicle: '89 Jeep Cherokee Limited
Owner: Mindy Kreienheder, St. Louis, MO
Tires & Wheels: 33x12.50-15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains on black Rock Crushers
Suspension: 8-inch long-arm system, JKS disconnects
Drivetrain: 4.0L HO engine, AW4 tranny, NP242 transfer case, 8.8 Explorer rear axle with disc brakes, Dana 30 front with locker, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: Did away with Renix motor, Addiction Motorsports head porting, larger throttle body
Other Doodads: Ramsey 12,000-pound winch, leather seats, power sunroof, trimmed fenders, custom bumpers
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Going swimming with the truck instead of a swimsuit

The Toy
Vehicle: '88 Toyota 4Runner
Owner: Miles Meeker, Glendora, CA
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50-15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains on 15x8 American Eagle 589s
Suspension: All-Pro solid-axle conversion with long-travel leaves, 5150 Bilstein shocks
Drivetrain: 3.0L V-6 engine, auto tranny, High Angle driveshafts, high-pinion third members, 4140 chromoly inner front axles, ARB lockers, 5.29 gears
Performance Mods: Optima Red-top battery
Other Doodads: All-Pro crossover steering, Mean Green alternator, Rock Logic hydraulic assist, custom rollcage, Cobra CB
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Putting it on its side through a slippery V-notch right after this pic was taken
Does Everything Work The Way You Want?: Yes! It's a very solid and capable Toy

Old Yeller
Vehicle: '48 Willys
Owner: Andy & Christal Tharp, St. Paul, AR
Tires & Wheels: 35x16-15 Boggers on 15x12 steel wheels
Suspension: Custom leaf spring
Drivetrain: 302HO engine, NP435 manual tranny, Dana 300 transfer case with a twin-stick, Dana 44 rear with welded gears, Dana 44 front with Detroit Locker, 3.73 gears
Other Doodads: '78 mail Jeep frame, five-point harnesses, hydraulic-assist steering, eight-point rollcage
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Getting it stuck while it was still on the trailer
Anything You Would Change: The rear Dana 44 for a stronger axle

Colorado HD
Vehicle: '02 Chevy 2500 HD
Owner: Phillip Heitzke, Stillwater, OK
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50-16 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains on 16x8 American Racing
Suspension: 4-inch Rancho, 9000X Pro Series reservoir shocks
Drivetrain: 6.0L engine, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: K&N air filter, Hypertech reprogrammer, dual Flowmasters
Other Doodads: ViAir onboard air, Warn 9,000-pound winch, custom bumpers
Anything You Would Change: Swap in a solid front axle

Big, Bad, Blue & Gray
Vehicle: '79 Ford F-150 longbed
Owner: Juston Northcott, Caroline, Alberta, Canada
Tires & Wheels: 44-inch Boggers on 15x12 steel
Suspension: 9-inch Skyjacker suspension
Drivetrain: 351ci engine, Ford 9-inch rear with chromoly axles and Yukon spool, Dana 44 front with chromoly axles, CTM U-joints, and Detroit Locker, 4.88 gears
Performance Mods: Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, RV cam, Holley 670 Avenger carb, MSD 6AL ignition
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift, Warn 15,000-pound winch, Panasonic CD player
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Going out in a flood and getting choppered home with 11 friends Anything You Would Change?: Chevy air cleaner, ha ha ha