Sometimes a vehicle build takes many twists and turns before the project is finished and we end up with a different rig than we planned on. When Carl Buckingham of Aspen, Colorado, bought his '74 K20 Blazer new, he never dreamed it would turn out to be the classic-looking hybrid Power Wagon it is today.inline_mediumwraptextrightThe front axle is an '82 GM Dana 60 with 5.13 gears, an ARB locker, and chromoly inner and outer shafts. Bobby Long Super Joints were used for peace-of-mind strength. The steering system uses Offroad Design's high-steer arms and crossover steering components and is fitted with a custom PSC hydro-assist.31034826/featuredvehicles/131_0912_1944_dodge_power_wagon_hybrid131_0912_01_z+1944_dodge_powerwagon+front_view_rocks.jpgTrue

Hobart Welders: Official Welder
The Hobart team shows up bright and shiny at the beginning of the week, but within a few days they're covered in dirt, grease, and sweat. Lucky for us, they're still smiling and having a great time cutting, welding, and grinding. This year, as in the past, the Hobart Tech Trailer offered up every option of stick, MIG, TIG, plasma, torch, and grinder you could imagine. The good news is all of Hobart's products will also fit in your very own garage for your next build or repair project. Our perennial favorite, the mobile MIG Trek 180, served up duty in places not able to be reached with an extension cord. Look for our full review in a future issue.
www.hobartwelders.cominline_mediumwraptextright25686290/eventcoverage/131_0912_2009_ultimate_adventure_sponsors131_0912_01_z+2009_ua_sponsors+hobart_welders.jpgTrue

Planning and executing the Ultimate Adventure has become an art over the years because it's such a herculean event. As much as we'd just like to throw a clean pair of socks and underwear in the glovebox and hit the highway, the UA just wouldn't be the same without detailed planning. We're not saying that it's as complicated as moving the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to a new theater of war, but it does demand comprehensive logistics and a lot of local support.

In addition to the five selected readers and our much-appreciated sponsors of the Ultimate Adventure, a handful of knuckleheads accompanies the group each year. Some of these guys are alumni from the inaugural trip 10 years ago, while others are barnacles who have latched on and kept coming (sneaking) back into the group every year. These guys are the grease in the ball bearings of the UA. They keep the group together acting as mid and tail gunner of the troupe on road days. They have enough experience to help fix just about any carnage or catastrophe while on the road or trail. And they bring plenty of humor to the week like only dirt-encrusted whackjobs with an amazing ability to get a week off work each summer can do. Trying to scrape these leaches from the trip, we do require different rigs each year; but they figure out ways around that rule-and we're glad they do, as we couldn't make it 1,200-some miles across viper-infested swamps and highway-patrolled highways without them, nor would we want to.

Welcome to Part 2 of the '09 Ultimate Adventure. For those of you just joining in, here's a refresher on what the UA is all about. While the off-road convoy can easily be confused for a traveling circus, the reality is that this off-road adventure is great mix of people, trails, camping, and drives through the amazing countryside and small towns across the nation. With the expedition covering fresh territory each year, it has evolved into one of the most challenging and incredible weeklong wheeling trips on the planet.inline_mediumwraptextright25684901/eventcoverage/131_0912_2009_ultimate_adventure_four_wheeling_2131_0912_05_z+2009_ua_midwest_2+4x4_mud_puddle.jpgTrue

It seems like only yesterday we were getting the Stupid Duty ready for the journey to Colorado by sweeping the trash and leaves out of the bed (interior too), throwing the abandoned and rusty parts over the bedside, and then testing its roadworthiness by driving a few hundred miles. Afterward we made a call to James and Stephen Watson at Offroad Design and told them, "Hey, it's ready. Meet us in Vegas and pick the truck up." Crossing our fingers, we didn't look back as they drove away; we ran back into the hotel room and locked the door behind us, hoping the Stupid Duty would get them home.inline_mediumwraptextright26813197/projectbuild/131_0912_2009_ua_2002_ford_f250_ultimate_ranch_truck_part_5131_0912_01_z+2009_ua_2002_ford_f250+aerial_view.jpgTrue

Did you witness "the flip"? If you did you must have been at the 4th Annual Vermonster 4X4 competition, home of the world's first monster truck backflip. Twice a year thousands gather in Bradford, Vermont, for the Vermonster 4x4 mud fling weekend. People from 12 states and two Canadian provinces attend the event. It is held twice a year: the first weekend in May and the last weekend in September. This whole event is thanks to the imagination of Randy Oakley. Oakley started it as a place to have his own mud run. Each year the event gets bigger. In May there were 2,500 people in attendance each day.inline_mediumwraptextrightPreparing to attempt the world's first monster truck backflip, Larry Quick had been practicing the stunt in his hard-charging Ghost Ryder truck-but lost out to gravity this time. Quick successfully did his 360-degree flip later that evening to become the world's first monster truck to complete a backflip. You can check it out at Vermonster4x4.com.26811952/eventcoverage/131_0912_2009_vermonster_4x4_monster_trucks_race131_0912_03_z+2009_vermonster_4x4+truck_backflip.jpgTrue

Wheels can make or break the look of almost any vehicle. Though we're not huge fans of super-big and high-bling dubs, we do enjoy a nice, clean, and functional wheel on our trucks. All too often years of wheeling and weather can turn a once sharp-looking wheel into a faded and pitted relic. Though the rough look might not affect the rim's function, sometimes the eyesore is enough to make you want to buck up for a new set of wheels.inline_mediumwraptextright31040841/techarticles/wheels/131_0912_powdercoated_wheels_aluminum_rims131_0912_01_z+powdercoating_wheels+powdercoating_method.jpgTrue

Prerunner Bumper
Addictive Desert Designs has released a bolt-on prerunner bumper. The bumper fits '03-'08 Dodge 2500 and 3500 HD two- and four-wheel-drive trucks. The bumper flows with the grille, giving it cool looks and durability with its 0.120-inch wall tubing strength. It is finished with a glossy black powdercoat and 1/8-inch aluminum skidplate.
Information: Addictive Desert Designs, 480.671.0820, www.addictivedesertdesigns.com.inline_mediumwraptextright25789181/products/131_0912_december_2009_new_4x4_truck_products131_0912_03_z+2009_december_4x4_parts+prerunner_bumper.jpgTrue

Rally Fighter Coming In 2010
The Rally Fighter from Local Motors is a high-tech desert buggy you don't just buy-you can also help build it. Local Motors' concept is unique: A group of likeminded enthusiasts came together with ideas for a vehicle, which was then designed by group member Sangho Kim. His Rally Fighter will be built in a microfactory in Phoenix, one of many microfactories Local Motors hopes to set up around the country. Anyone buying a Rally Fighter is invited to help the professionals at the microfactory build the car.inline_mediumwraptextright26925493/features/drivelines/131_0912_december_2009_4x4_truck_auto_news131_0912_01_z+december_2009_4x4_news+2010_rally_fighter.jpgTrue

Submission Information
4-Wheel & Off-Road welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include an address or a telephone number so the sender can be verified. Once verified, your name may be withheld at your request. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes. Due to the large volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot reply to unpublished letters or return photos. Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file.

Write to:
Editor
4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704.

Email to:
4wor@sorc.com

For us it's over. Ultimate Adventure 2009 is in the bag. The stories are written, the posters have been made, and by the time you read this the DVD should be available for sale at Desert Rat (800.528.3402, www.desertrat.com/UADVD). We love the event, as do those who get a chance to participate. It has grown so big over the years that we now have to split the coverage into two issues, and that takes up lots of space. Which is also why we always ask ourselves: "Is this worth it to the readership?"inline_mediumwraptextright26924311/4xforward/131_0912_ultimate_adventure_truck_event_suggestions131_0912_05_z+2009_december_4xforward+ua_jeep.jpgTrue

You could have 700 horses steaming with muscle at the crank, but if you can't get the power to the ground, then all you have is an angry stable. When we first thought up this crazy idea of stuffing an 8.3L Dodge Viper engine into our '99 Durango, we knew that our transmission options would be limited. Since the six-speed that's standard in the factory coupes weren't designed for the type of wheeling and drivetrain we had in mind, we needed to look in a different direction.inline_mediumwraptextright31038255/projectbuild/131_0912_1999_dodge_durango_48re_transmission131_0912_01_z+1999_dodge_durango+48re_automatic_transmission.jpgTrue

AAM Answers
Question: I am planning a Land Cruiser wagon build (FJ-60). I plan on daily driving the truck and using it for my family wheeling shenanigans. I have sourced a 12V Cummins, and I am planning on running an A518 auto tranny mated to an NP203/205 combo. I am going to run a Dana 70 rear, but I don't have a front axle. I have found an AAM front axle out of a newer Dodge diesel. Pros and cons to using this axle? I want a seclectable locker. Available options? Is the 205 front output going to be OK spinning all the time? Are the front axles going to hold up? Am I crazy for swapping in something with unit bearings?
Rob B.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
inline_mediumwraptextright31132608/techarticles/nuts/131_0912_december_2009_nuts_and_bolts131_0912_04_z+december_2009_4x4_questions+land_cruiser_wagon.jpgTrue

Everyone needs a vacation. It doesn't have to be an exotic trip to Thailand, but it's good to break away from your regular routine, if only for a few hundred miles from the place you call home. And while it's usually more fun to have a place to wheel when you arrive, sometimes the journey to your destination can be just as relaxing and enjoyable.inline_mediumwraptextright26572492/eventcoverage/131_0912_camping_at_jellystone_national_park131_0912_01_ford_f350_vacation+yogi_bear.jpgTrue

Through the mud, this '65 Chevy C10 truck looks like any other restored classic Chevy truck ready to hit the next show 'n' shine at the local fairgrounds. The body is straight, the side molding is still intact, the windows aren't cracked, and the paint ain't peeling. But look again. This truck was built for muddin' and daily driving, not polishing and ogling over.inline_mediumwraptextright30767259/featuredvehicles/131_0912_1965_chevy_c10_mud_truck131_0912_04_o+1965_chevy_c10+front_view.jpgTrue

In case you're reading about the Scratch-Built Scrambler for the first time, here's the lowdown. We wanted a rig that was reliable and extremely capable on the trail while comfortable on the highway for traveling long distances. In Part 1 of the suspension build (Nov. '09) a TJ or JK Tera Flex Pro LCG long-arm system was installed on our Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler. The installation was relatively easy (not a bolt-on) and we really like the geometry of the system. Through forced articulation testing (with the help of a forklift) in the shop, we found that the system will perform nicely off-road without binding.

The dreaded death wobble has been a problem on 4x4s for ages. The warning sign is a shudder or shimmy in the front axle while on the road. This can develop into a violent shaking and near loss of control. While many factors contribute to death wobble, some are primary culprits from the get-go. Other than whacked-out tires and rims, the track bar on many vehicles with coil-spring front suspension is often worn out, at the wrong angle, or damaged. Add to this a lift kit, big tires and wheels, and a few hard miles, and you have a recipe for sure disaster.

Four Wheeler magazine's annual Top Truck Challenge is like off-road summer camp. When you first get there you don't know anyone, but by the end of the week you have a whole new group of friends. Every day you do something different, and only the guys in charge (the Four Wheeler camp counselors) really know what's next. It is easily one of the most fun events you can take your truck to if you can get in.inline_mediumwraptextright30750795/projectbuild/131_0912_toyota_fj_cruiser_top_truck_challenge_2009131_0912_01_+toyota_fj_cruiser+front_view.jpgTrue

Basics To Basic
The art of shifting gears is being lost. Every year more and more drivers are opting to have their gears shifted for them rather than doing it themselves. In fact you can probably count the number of new 4x4 models available with manual transmission on two hands. That's a sad state of affairs.inline_mediumwraptextright25337405/techarticles/engine/131_0912_manual_transmission_technology131_0912_01_manual_transmission_technology+engine.jpgTrue

Worthy Cause
Vehicle: '41 Dodge WC-43
Owner: Ken Johnson, Beaumont, CA
Tires & Wheels: 7.50-16 Firestone military-issue tires on split-rims
Suspension: Stock
Drivetrain: Stock
Performance Mods: 230ci
Other Doodads: Aftermarket turn signal system and seatbelts
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great
Anything you would change?: Add a winch
Anything to add?: After a four-year ground-up restoration, she's finally completeinline_mediumwraptextright26550712/readersrides/131_0912_december_2009_readers_rides131_0912_01_+4_wheel_readers_rides+1941_dodge_wc.jpgTrue

Spot Off
My spotter told me I had the right line!
Andy Hoffman
via 4wheeloffroad.cominline_mediumwraptextright26548012/whoops/131_0912_december_2009_whoops131_0912_02+whoops+turned_vehicle.jpgTrue

FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR PICKUP WINS PETERSEN'S 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD 2010 4X4 OF THE YEAR COMPETITIONinline_mediumwraptextright31382934/featuredvehicles/131_0911_2010_4x4_of_the_year_winner_ford_f150_svt_raptor131_0911_02+4x4oty_2010_winner_ford_raptor_svt+raptor.jpgTrue

The fundamentals of fabrication revolve heavily around time and patience. While some have the natural knack for fab work, for others it's a skill that takes years to develop and perfect. When tackling a project as big as our Viper-powered Durango, it was important to equip ourselves not only with the right tools but the right professionals too.

As any project build goes, plans and parts change as quickly as minds do, as newer technology is always rolling down the turnpike! Our scratch-built Scrambler started a number of years ago when 35-inch tires were considered big and custom short-arm suspensions were hot. Suspension technology has definitely evolved since then, and 40-inch tires are now as common as 31s were back in the early '80s.