The Toy Group
Snow Way
Vehicle: 1998 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Dave T Shappat, Walla Walla, WA
Tires & Wheels: 35x13.50 Toyo M/Ts with custom grooving, 15x10 Centerline wheels
Suspension: 3-inch Toytec, Bilstein shocks
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: Stock
Does everything work the way you want?: Getting there
Anything you would change?: Solid-axle swap, gears, lockers, 39-inch Iroks
Mud Mojo
Vehicle: 1985 Toyota 4Runner
Owner: Marc Mojto, Glidden, WI
Tires & Wheels: 40x17.50 Ground Hawgs on 15-inch wheels with 2-inch wheel spacers
Suspension: Custom 12-inch
Drivetrain: TH350, Detroit Lockers, 4.56 gears
Performance Mods: 383ci
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great!
Anything you would change?: Add a winch and 37-inch Boggers
TRD Country
Vehicle: 2009 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Dave Holley, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Tires: 265/70/17 Dick Cepek Fun Country IIs
Suspension: 21⁄2-inch inch
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: TRD exhaust and cold air intake
Other Doodads: IPF lights
Does everything work the way you want?: Works well, but wouldn’t mind a few more upgrades
Anything you would change?: 3-inch lift, 33-inch MTRs
OR Wheeler
Vehicle: 1994 Toyota 4Runner
Owner: Don & Brandi Taylor, Monmouth, OR
Tires & Wheels: 33x12.50 BFG M-Ts on 15x8 aluminum wheels
Suspension: 4Crawler 11⁄2-inch ball joint spacers, 1-inch diff drop, Downey torsion bars, A-arm truss, and Mega Travel ball joints, Downey rear springs, 4Crawler track bar drop, Skyjacker shocks
Drivetrain: Marlin Crawler VF1A transfer case, 4.88 gears
Performance Mods: 3.0L, K&N air filter
Other Doodads: Warn winch, Hi-Lift jack
Does everything work the way you want?: Works very well so far, but still has room for improvement
Anything you would change?: ARB Air Lockers and a V-8 conversion
Anything to add?: Special thanks to the wife for allowing me to work on the family rig
Chevy Corral
Canadian Custom
Vehicle: 1998 Chevy S-10 body, custom frame
Owner: Mike Cahill, Garden Hill, Ontario, Canada
Tires & Wheels: 44-inch Boggers on 15-inch beadlocks
Suspension: Custom front and rear 4-links with 14-inch travel coilovers
Drivetrain: TH400, NP203/205 Doubler, Dana 60 front with a Detroit Locker, Dana 60 rear with a spool, 5.13 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci
Other Doodads: Fully hydraulic steering, rear-mounted radiator
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything to add?: I built this truck from the ground up in my shop with little more than a MIG welder and a mini grinder
Boggin Hood
Vehicle: 1993 Chevy Blazer
Owner: Josh Hood, Chesterton, IN
Tires & Wheels: 39-inch Boggers on Weld Racing wheels
Suspension: 6-inch Pro Comp
Drivetrain: ARB Air Lockers, 4.56 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: The tires are a little too wide and it could stand a little help in the mpg department
Torsion Twist
Vehicle: 2005 GMC 2500
Owner: Jeff Brisch, Sheridan, WY
Tires & Wheels: 285/75/16 Bridgestones on 16x8 American Racing wheels
Suspension: 11⁄2-inch torsion bar keys, Bilstein shocks
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: 6.6L Duramax diesel, Edge with attitude, Predator programmer, K&N cold air intake, MagnaFlow exhaust
Other Doodads: Auto Meter gauges, bed cover, steps, grilleguard
Does everything work the way you want?: It’s getting there
Anything you would change?: Needs a real lift. Turning up the torsion bars made for a rough ride.
Terra Chef
Vehicle: 1994 Chevy 1500
Owner: Trent Christensen, Bakersfield, CA
Tires & Wheels: 37x13.50 Toyo M/Ts on 17-inch Pro Comp wheels
Suspension: 6-inch RCD, Bilstein shocks
Drivetrain: 5.13 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci, Airaid intake, MagnaFlow exhaust
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift, Optima RedTop battery, custom fender flares and rollbar, Hella lights
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great
Lady in a Tie
Vehicle: 2005 Chevy 1500
Owner: Jessica Mabrey
Tires & Wheels: 315/75/16 Dick Cepeks on 16-inch Rogue wheels
Suspension: Zone 6-inch
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: V-8, Flowmaster exhaust
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: Supercharger and a 3-inch body lift
Anything to add?: I love the magazine and look forward to reading it every month
Open Door Policy
Vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500
Owner: Phil Hollowell, Central Square, NY
Tires & Wheels: 35-inch Dunlop Mud Rovers on Dick Cepek wheels
Suspension: 6-inch Tuff Country
Drivetrain: TH400, NP208, 14-bolt rear with a Detroit Locker, 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: 350ci, K&N air filter, Flowmaster exhaust
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift, Mile Marker winch, ORD steering brace
Does everything work the way you want?: So far, so good
Anything you would change?: More horsepower coming soon
The Night Jimmy
Vehicle: 1998 GMC Jimmy
Owner: James Mathis II, Wilmington, NC
Tires & Wheels: 31x10.50 BFG A-Ts on 15x8 Cragar Soft 8s
Suspension: 11⁄2-inch shackle and torsion bar keys
Drivetrain: stock
Performance Mods: 4.3L, DynoMax exhaust
Other Doodads: 2-inch body lift, custom front bumper, Superwinch, Wilco Products Hitch Gate
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: Solid-axle swap
To the Nines
Vehicle: 1976 Chevy K-10
Owner: Les Hite, Placerville, CA
Tires & Wheels: 37x14 Iroks on 15-inch wheels
Suspension: Superlift front springs with 2-inch shackles, custom 6-inch rear springs with an Offroad Design shackle flip kit, Rancho shocks
Drivetrain: TH400, NP203/205 ORD Doubler, Dana 44 front with a Lock Right, Detroit Locker rear Performance Mods: 350ci, Edelbrock intake and carburetor, Hooker Headers
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift, PSC hydraulic assist, custom cage and bed
Funniest Wheeling Incident: After 9 years of restoration and modifications I finally took it out. My daughter, grandson, and future son-in-law came out as well in his Toyota. I gave the camera to my wife and asked her to get pictures of my truck. When we got home all that was on the camera were pictures of the Toyota with my grandson in it!
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great
Anything you would change?: Dana 60 front and 14-bolt rear
Anything to add?: I started this truck as a frame-off restoration and switched to a rockcrawler halfway through. Everything has been pulled off, restored, or replaced and modified from top to bottom. I work for a company that has fabrication facilities and had access to a machine shop and a water-jet machine. All fabrication on the truck was done by me with help from friends at work. The flatbed was designed and built by me and my future son-in-law. The molly orange engine enamel paint job was done all with spray cans for easy upkeep and touch up.