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

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

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.

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

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.

The build of the Ultimate Adventure Ranch Truck has been very detailed and intricate for the last few months-it's hard to imagine it's almost over. A blur of sleepless nights in Offroad Design's shop and an incalculable amount of high-tech and creative fabrication have brought to fruition one amazing truck.

One of the best things about building a truck with 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axles is being able to throw obnoxious amounts of power at them. That's not to say they'll never break, but they're certainly not a weak link either.

A few month's back we asked you to help vote us into our sister magazine Four Wheeler's Top Truck Challenge (Drivelines, May '09), and we're here to thank you. As it turns out, we had just enough votes to make it into the magazine's top 10. By the time you read this we will have competed in its massive quagmire of an off-road event.

The deadline to complete the Ultimate Ranch Truck is coming up faster than an interstate mile marker at a 110 mph! Our goal is to have the truck built and trail-tested a few weeks before the Ultimate Adventure. James and Stephan Watson at Offroad Design in Carbondale, Colorado, have their crew of topnotch fabricators cutting, welding, grinding, and wrenching around the clock. We are looking forward to leisurely cruising the Ultimate Ranch Truck across America for the start of UA!

Keeping in step with tradition here at 4-Wheel & Off-Road, our '09 Ultimate Adventure truck build is extreme and moving along. Every year we build a flagship vehicle to lead our band of merry adventurers (and some misfits) across lands not fit for the average vehicle. Occasionally we build the rig with economy in mind, and sometimes we go a little crazy and weld on the best of everything we can find on it.

Performance is a word that means so much to so many people. Ask any car guru to describe performance and he's likely to come back with a million different supercharged or high-boost engine upgrades that he would love to have. Ask the same question to a Jeep guy and he'll probably mention things like coilover shocks and long-arm suspensions. To us they are both right. For most veteran auto enthusiasts, performance is something that is sought after throughout the entire vehicle.

Finishing a project vehicle is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, you're seemingly finished for the moment and out of the shop, but now you have to see how it matches up against the tough terrain that you built it for. With the first turn of the engine, your mind begins to race harder than ever. As flashes of the past few months race through your head, you search rapidly through your mental tech library, wondering if there were any bolts left loose or if your buddy remembered to fill the differential before he left the shop last night at 3 a.m.

Without question, the Ultimate Adventure is the highlight of the year for us at 4-Wheel & Off-Road. The UA takes the staff and some loyal readers and sponsors-along with a handful of good ol' boys unofficially adopted by the magazine-on one of the toughest four-wheeling adventures in America. Past Ultimate Adventures have taken us over thousands of miles of torturous trails and long highway runs in just a few short days.

Project vehicles are never finished. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that we're done, there is always one more thing that keeps us from saying "fin."

There's been a lot of wrench time over the past few months on our Heavy Metal Mudder project. To complement the past six issues covering the build up here are some highlights and never before seen web exclusive build pictures. From the tan paint to the 2 1/2 ton axles there is definitely plenty to see. A special thanks goes out to all the helped participate in phase 1 of the build and for all of you attentive readers stay tuned as phase two is sure to be just as crazy as the first part.

The Fun Buggy is alive! It happened over four years and then all of a sudden it was ready to go. Well, not completely ready to go. There will definitely be more things to do, changes to be made, upgrades, downgrades, and things that seemed like a good idea four years ago but when they came together they didn't work as planned. But before I get the cart ahead of the horse, let me recap some of the most recent steps that led to the photo below, taken on its inaugural run.

Creating your own suspension system doesn't have to be an overcomplicated nightmare. From the first time we fired up the torch to the last Nylock nut, our Heavy Metal Mudder's suspension was an exercise in matching function, simplicity, and off-the-shelf parts. Still down in East Texas with the Rockwell experts at Old Town Customs, we sat down in front of the monster Durango and begin exploring suspension options.

We couldn't tell you with any honesty that we are ever truly finished with a project vehicle. There's always someone making some cool component we'd like to bolt or weld onto our rigs. But for now we are wrapping up the buildup on Project Super Equator after the addition of a pair of custom MasterCraft racing seats and rocker guards from Shrockworks.

Our project Super Equator is moving right along, and we're still very pleased with the truck's grit and off-roadability. As we work our way down our list of modifications, we reached the point when we needed to install front body armor and a winch for recovery.

Are you ready to rock? That's good, because after last month's teardown of our '99 Dodge Durango, dubbed the Heavy Metal Mudder, we're ready to get this mud-lover farther from the shop and closer to the pit. Still firing away in Eastern Texas with Carl Yarborough and his crew at Old Town Customs, we turn our focus this month to building up the already beefy 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axles. We refreshed the massive axles ("2 1/2-Ton Teardown," Mar. '09) using a set that we picked up from Red River Parts & Equipment, and began the prep for all of our aftermarket axle upgrades. Though not much needs to be done to toughen up the 16-spline six-lug beast, we do have a few important items to address.

Even though we have a passion for tinkering with carburetors, we feel that electronic fuel injection (EFI) was a considerable achievement in the modernization of engine efficiency. Electronic fuel injection can increase a vehicle's performance, mileage, power, efficiency, and throttle response. In the 4x4 realm of things, EFI is a great addition to any powerplant because it allows the engine to run better at altitude and at extreme angles--even upside-down!

Our first 4-Wheel & Off-Road show truck in the history of the magazine (or at least in recent history) is just about finished. We've been building Project Black Sheep, an '09 Dodge 1500 Ram over the past three issues, and with this installment, we're wrapping it up. But let's not forget that a show truck from this magazine is still more go than show. In fact, this truck will quickly make it into the dirt, sand, and mud just as soon as we sneak it out of the show circuit it's destined to run.

Last month we introduced our '09 Dodge 1/2-ton project truck. This build is a bit different than many of our other projects in that it's going to sort of be a show truck. Yes, we know that is blasphemy around here at 4-Wheel & Off-Road, where hard-core tech and battered bodies rule the roost, but that's why this truck was named Project Black Sheep, because it doesn't really fit into our flock. Now don't throw away this issue just yet, because if you keep reading you'll find that even a flashy 4WOR truck still has the guts to go wheeling. It's just that this one's not gonna get battered up until it's done visiting some shows. It's kind of like mom telling you that you can't get your good clothes dirty until after church.

It's the newest heavyweight to rock onto the pages of 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine, decked out in deep purple and black leather. Let's hear it for this '99 Dodge Durango, better known as the Heavy Metal Mudder! Now you may ask yourself, "Self, what the heck does heavy metal and mud have to do with a Durango?" Well, it could have something to do with the 4WOR crew's job moonlighting as an '80s hair-metal cover band, but when you mix in the massive weight of 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axles, killer mud cleats, and a healthy V-8, it's a pretty fitting title-and way better than Durangosaurus, Barney, or Mutated Purple Peanut.