Grand Plan
Vehicle: '98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
Owner: Alan Laidlaw, Naugatuck, CT
Tires & wheels: 35x12.50-15 BFG Mud Terrains on 15x8 American Racing wheels
Suspension: Clayton Off Road Manufacturing Hard Arm long-arm kit, 7-inch Rock Krawler coils
Drivetrain: 4.0L, four-speed auto tranny, NP242 transfer case, Tom Woods driveshafts, high-pinion Dana 30 with ARB Air Locker and 30-spline chromoly axleshafts, Ford 8.8 rear with ARB Air Locker, 4.88 gears
Performance Mods: K&N air filter, custom exhaust
Other Doodads: HD steering stabilizer, extreme-duty tie rod, Warn and Poison Spyder diff guards
Funniest wheeling incident: The day we finished the 7-inch lift, I went down a dirt road, broke through some ice, and had to call a buddy to get me out
Does everything work the way you want?: Everything works perfectly now, but I had to redo every mod I'd ever done to please myself
Anything to add?: Who says Grands can't wheel?!
Tubezuki
Vehicle: '86 Suzuki Samurai
Owner: Shauna Hembel, Basalt, CO
Tires & wheels: 37-inch Swamper SSRs on 15x10 Champion bead locks
Suspension: Custom four-link front and rear, Rocky Road Outfitters front coils, rear Sidekick coils
Drivetrain: Sidekick 1.6L engine, auto tranny from 2WD Sidekick, Samurai transfer case with 6.5:1 low range, Toyota front axle with Lock-Right locker and Longfield inner axleshafts, Toyota rear axle with spool
Performance Mods: 1.6L engine swap
Other Doodads: Toyota seats, full exo-cage, International power steering, Land Cruiser brakes, narrowed tub, polycarbonate windshield
Funniest wheeling incident: Strapping a Jeep up Tipover Challenge in Moab, Utah
Does everything work the way you want?: It has exceeded all expectations-I love it!
Anything you would change: Add hydraulic-assist steering
Sinister
Vehicle: '92 Ford F-150
Owner: Gary Melchet, Wentzville, MO
Tires & wheels: 33x14.50-15 Swamper SSRs on 15x10 Weld Typhoons
Suspension: 4-inch Pro Comp
Drivetrain: 351W, E4OD tranny, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: Everything's been changed but the steering box
Other Doodads: 2-inch body lift, spare-tire rack, Auto Meter gauges
Transition
Vehicle: '89 Isuzu Trooper
Owner: Jason Carr, Las Cruces, NM
Tires & wheels: 39.5-inch Boggers on 16.5-inch steel
Suspension: Custom leaf spring
Drivetrain: Stock engine and tranny, Dana 44 front, Dana 60 rear
Other Doodads: Crappy fender trimming
Does everything work the way you want?: Sure, it peels out great with the huge 2.4L engine
Anything you would change: Engine, tranny, transfer case, axles, suspension, body, brand...that's all
Familiars
Vehicle: '04 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Owner: Mike Johnson, Placentia, CA
Tires & wheels: 37-inch MTRs on Trailready bead locks
Suspension: Four-link long-arm front and rear, Fox shocks, ACOS spacers
Drivetrain: Stock Rubicon with chromoly axles and Warn hubs
Other Doodads: Poison Spyder rollcage and corners, onboard air, tranny cooler with fans, high-steer knuckles with aluminum tie rod, Currie bumpers, Warn 9500ti winch, Cobra CB, Garmin GPS
Anything to add?: Everything on this Jeep was done by me and a buddy. And your magazine kicks ass.