Keels' Deal
Vehicle: '74 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40
Owner: Michael Keels, Neosho, MO
Tires & Wheels: 38.5x14.50 SXs on 15x8 custom steel beadlocks
Suspension: Custom four-link front and rear, coil springs, Rough Country shocks
Drivetrain: SM465; NP205; Dana 44 front with a spool, Warn hubs, and Yukon shafts; 12-bolt rear with Superior shafts, disc brakes, and a spool; 4.88 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci
Other Doodads: Fully hydraulic steering; Corbeau seats; custom cage, sliders, and skids; Optima battery; Warn winch
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes, it works great!
Anything you would change?: Fuel injection, tube doors and fenders
Taco Way
Vehicle: '03 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Paul TerBorch
Tires & Wheels: 32-inch MTRs on 16-inch Classic IIs
Suspension: 2.5-inch Sway-A-Way coilovers
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: K&N cold air intake, Borla exhaust, JBA headers, PowerAid throttle body spacer
Other Doodads: Glassworks front fenders
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Body 'Burban
Vehicle: '89 Chevy Suburban body/'74 Suburban frame
Owner: Daniel Standley, Coos Bay, OR
Tires & Wheels: 36-inch Goodyear R/Ts on recentered H-1 wheels
Suspension: 6-inch Superlift
Drivetrain: TH400, NP205, Dana 44 front, 14-bolt rear with a Detroit Locker
Performance Mods: 454ci
Other Doodads: 2-inch body lift
Does everything work the way you want?: For the most part
Anything you would change?: Front locker and a winch
Trail Badge
Vehicle: '04 Jeep Liberty
Owner: Brad Cahn, CA Tires: 265/75/16 Dick Cepek Radials
Suspension: 2.5-inch Skyjacker
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: K&N cold air intake
Other Doodads: ARB front bumper, Warn winch, Mopar skids
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Losing a rear coil spring and watching the guy at the bottom of the hill run up with it in his hand!
Does everything work the way you want?: The KJ does have its limits, but I enjoy finding just how far and how hard I can push it.
Anything you would change?: Solid-axle swap, 4.56 gears, and a few more inches of lift
Anything to add?: It's not just trail rated, but trail driven
DIY XJ
Vehicle: '97 Jeep Cherokee
Owner: Jonny Zastrow, Bemidji, MN
Tires & Wheels: 33x10.50 BFG KM2s on 15x8 American Racing wheels
Suspension: 6 1/2-inch Rough Country coils, Iron Rock Offroad control arms, 5 1/2-inch Iron Rock rear springs, 1-inch Rough Country shackles, Rough Country shocks
Drivetrain: AW4, NP241, Dana 30 front, 8.25 rear
Performance Mods: 4.0L, K&N filter
Other Doodads: Custom sliders and bumpers, Warn winch
Does everything work the way you want?: Surprisingly well for what it is
Anything you would change?: Dana 44 front, 9-inch rear, lockers, 4.56 gears
Anything to add?: I did all the work myself at the house and had fun doing it!
Mud Truck Slayer
Vehicle: '88 Suzuki Samurai
Owner: Chris Crowley, Poplar Bluff, MO
Tires: 31x10.50 Daytons front, 31x12.50 Pro Comp Mud Terrains rear
Suspension: Spring-over axle conversion with stock leaf springs
Drivetrain: Welded rear, 5.13 gears
Performance Mods: Stock
Other Doodads: Skidplates and custom cage
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great
Anything you would change?: New engine, 4.16 transfer case gears, front locker, and 33s
Anything to add?: The Samurai is way more fun than my old monster mud truck
DG-7
Vehicle: '81 Jeep CJ-7
Owner: Dave Groenjes, Kaukauna, WI
Tires & Wheels: 33-inch SSRs on 15x10 steel wheels
Suspension: 4-inch springs with a U-bolt flip
Drivetrain: TF999, Dana 300, Dana 44 front with a OX Locker, Dana 60 rear with a Detroit Locker, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: 258ci
Other Doodads: Tie rod flip, 1-inch body lift, custom bumpers
Does everything work the way you want?: Almost
Anything you would change?: Front shock mounts are too short and limit travel
Simple Green
Vehicle: '83 Toyota
Owner: Dave and Jen Grunert
Tires: 37x12.50x15 SSRs
Suspension: 3-inch springs with 2-inch shackles
Drivetrain: Limited slip front, spool rear, 5.29 gears
Performance Mods: 22r, Cherry Bomb exhaust, Weber carburetor
Other Doodads: 2-inch body lift, custom cage
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Vortec 78
Vehicle: '78 Chevy K-10
Owner: Larry Wittman, Pueblo, CO
Tires: Super Swamper Q78x16
Suspension: 6-inch Superlift springs up front, custom rear setup via Offroad Design parts
Drivetrain: SM465, NP205, Dana 44 front with a Trutrac, 14-bolt rear with a Detroit Locker, 4.56 gears
Performance Mods: 8.1L
Other Doodads: Front and rear winches, roof rack
Does everything work the way you want?: It's getting there
Anything you would change?: NV4500 and a Dana 60 front axle
Anything to add?: This buildup has been going on for the last 15 years
Thirsty Horses
Vehicle: '74 Ford Bronco
Owner: Ryan Cucullu, Wasilla, AK
Tires: 37x13 Boggers Suspension: Custom 4.5-inch
Drivetrain: Dana 44 front, 9-inch rear with a Detroit Locker
Performance Mods: 351ci, bored and stroked
Other Doodads: 2-inch body lift, 'cage, Wild Horses traction bar
Does everything work the way you want?: For the most part
Anything you would change?: Front locker and beadlocks
Anything to add?: A gas station at the top of the mountain would be nice!
Italian Toy
Vehicle: '95 Toyota KZJ70
Owner: Matteino Zampieri, Ferrara, Italy
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50 Maxxis on 16-inch Mickey Thompson wheels
Suspension: 2.5-inch Old Man Emu
Drivetrain: R150F, 8-inch Toyota differentials, ARB Air Lockers, 4.88 gears
Performance Mods: 3.0L Turbo diesel (1KZ-T)
Other Doodads: 1 3/4-inch body lift, custom snorkel, Optima battery, Warn winch, custom bumpers, onboard air and water system, hydraulic assist steering
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: Ditch some of the weight
Submission Information
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Vehicle (year, make, model)
Owner (name, city, state)
Tires & Wheels (size, make, model)
Suspension (lift, springs, shocks)
Drivetrain (tranny, transfer case, axles)
Performance (engine mods)
Other mods
Does it work the way you want?
Anything you would change?
Funniest Wheeling Incident
Anything to add?