XJ Action
Vehicle: '94 Jeep Cherokee
Owner: Brian Smithmeyer, Morrison, CO
Tires & wheels: 35x13.50 Toyo Open Country M/Ts on 15x8 steel
Suspension: Custom 6-inch lift, Rubicon Express springs, Bilstein shocks
Drivetrain: 4.0L, AX15, Wagoneer 44 up front with Electrac, spooled Ford 9-inch in rear, both diffs filled with 4.56 gears
Performance Mods: Amsoil air filter, Magnaflow muffler
Other Doodads: Interior cape, custom steel replacement rockers, Corbeau seats, Warn winch recessed into grille
Does Everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: Reinforcing the unibody as much as possible before building the rig (Good advice-Ed.)
Beach-N-Zu
Vehicle: '88 Suzuki Samurai
Owner: Ryan Rosinski, Houghton, MI
Tires & wheels: 29-inch Super Swamper LTB on 15-inch steel
Suspension: 1.5-inch lift
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: 1300cc motor with Carter carburetor
Other Doodads: Comp cut rear, fuel cell, electric fan, custom air intake, custom dash
Does Everything work the way you want?: Works like a champ
Big D
Vehicle: '92 Dodge 1/2-ton
Owner: Joseph Walker, Morro Bay, CA
Tires & wheels: 36x12.50 Super Swamper radials on steel 16-inchers
Suspension: Custom 5-inch lift
Drivetrain: 318ci, NP247, front 3/4-ton Dana 44, rear 14-bolt with Detroit Locker
Performance Mods: Headers, throttle-body spacer, K&N filter, MSD hot coil
Other Doodads: Homemade bumper, snorkel, and rear disc conversion
Anything you would change?: Build front bumper with tow hooks
Ballew's Bogger
Vehicle: '99 GMC
Owner: Michael Ballew
Tires & wheels: 44x19.50 TSL Boggers on 16.5x12
Suspension: 12-inch Superlift springs
Drivetrain: 454ci Vortec, 4L80 transmission
Performance Mods: Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, Dana 60 front axle, 14-bolt rear axle, Detroit Lockers front and rear, crossover steering, Arizona Driveline driveshafts, 4.56 gears
Other Doodads: Fiberglass bedcover, skidplates, 2-inch receiver front and back
Does Everything work the way you want?: Yes
Pic Of The Month:
6 x Fun
Vehicle: '42 Dodge WC-63 1 1/2-ton 6x6
Owner: John Eickhof, Wendell, ID
Tires & wheels: 305/75/16 Buckshot radial mudders
Suspension: Factory
Drivetrain: NP420, four-speed transmission, NP200 transfer case, Corporate 9 5/8 differentials, 5.83 gears, Lock-Right lockers in both rear axles
Performance Mods: Original 230.5 cid, six-cylinder flathead with Carter one-barrel carburetor
Other Doodads: Front-mounted 10,000-pound Braden winch with PTO
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Pulling a fullsize Blazer with a broken transmission out of the Pritchett Canyon trail in Moab, then all the way back to town
Does Everything work the way you want?: Needs lower gears in the transfer case
Power Up
Vehicle: '82 Dodge Power Ram 50
Owner: Paul Baldwin
Tires & wheels: 33x10.50 Super Swamper radial, black steel 15x8 wagon wheels
Suspension: Stock Ford F-150 radius arms with the passenger side wrested, Wild Horses coil springs, spring-over axle with stock Mitsubishi rear leaf springs, Rancho RS 5000 shocks
Drivetrain: SM420, NP231 transfer case with a slip-yoke eliminator, high-pinion Dana 44 with Detroit Locker, GM 12-bolt Lincoln locked, 4.56 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci Chevy small-block
Other Doodads: Custom winch mount, MileMarker 8000, onboard air, Hi-Lift Jack
Funniest Wheeling Incident: It's all fun
Does Everything work the way you want?: Yes, better than expected
Anything you would change?: Should have swapped in the Dana 44 before the V-8