Driver: Fred Perry, Clemson, SCEngine: 4.0L six-cylinder with Avenger supercharger and Borla exhaustTransmission: Stock automaticTransfer Case: NVG241ORSuspension: Rubicon Express 511/42-inch extreme-duty long-arm suspension, AiRock Air Spring system powered by Kilby onboard air, Edelbrock remote-reservoir Xtreme travel shocksFront Axle: Dana 44, 4.10 gears, selectable lockerRear Axle: Dana 44, 4.10 gears, selectable lockerTires: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich KrawlersWheels: 17x9 Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels with Trailready bead locksSpecial Features: Warn 5-on-511/42 hub conversion, Big Daddy front and rear bumpers and tie rod, Warn 9.5 ti winch, Bestop swing-out tire carrier, Tomken skidplates, Ready Welder
'99 Dodge Ram 1500Bryan Richman has this habit of always calling us "sir." This is odd to us because we are not used to real Southern hospitality and respect, and because we live in California and consider ourselves a bunch of crazy 4x4 nuts, not "sirs" at all. Bryan also has the cool habit of wheeling his fullsize Dodge on our crazy tight trails with never a whimper, whine, or fuss, even when faced with body-bashing rocks and trees. Basically, Bryan is a perfect Ultimate Adventurer, and it was a blast to hang with him for the week. In addition, Bryan and his pit crew members Andy Westfall and Seth Blitch could laugh off any problem whether it be MRT bead-lock issues or denting every single body panel on the truck except the hood. Did we mention that he cooked us up one hell of a red snapper fry at our campout?
When we found some mud Bryan really started to let loose. That '99 Dodge Ram 1500 would just get mean at the mere scent of mud, and those 39.5-inch Boggers would start chucking the goo all over expensive camera gear and innocent cameramen just trying to do their job. There was even a point in Mississippi where he was backing in to pull out stuck trucks, and never even putting the big Dodge into four-wheel drive.
Driver: Bryan Richman, Robertsdale, ALEngine: Stock 5.9 LTransmission: 46 RE with TransGo shift kitTransfer Case: Atlas II, Highlander with heavy-duty output shaftsSuspension: Skyjacker 5-inch single flex with 3-inch Pro Comp blocks and 3-inch body lift Front Axle: Dynatrac Dana 60, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker, 35-spline shafts, Warn premium hubsRear Axle: DTS Dana 60, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker, 35-spline Moser Engineering shafts, disc brakesTires: 39.5x18-15 BoggersWheels: 15x12 MRT bead-lock rimsSpecial Features: Tom Woods 1350 CV-joint front driveshaft, Tom Woods 1410 rear driveshaft, homemade bumpers with a Warn 9.5ti in the front and a Warn 9.5ti in the rear, Sterling Triple Cascade rollbar, homemade rollcage
'80 Jeep J-10Tommy Galbreath made the trip to our starting point in Murphy, North Carolina, from his home in Courtland, Virginia, where he works as a mechanic on Jeep and Chrysler vehicles. Then he fired up his '80 Jeep J-10 and started kicking butt on the trails of the Southeast. Tommy definitely had the most basic rig on the trip, but it was strong where it needed to be. We loved watching him smoke the 38.5 Swampers, and surprisingly the Spicer 5-760X U-joints in his front Dana 44 held up. Tommy also had the benefit of running a fullsize rig without concern for body damage-a good thing since his doors didn't open very easily at the end of the trip. In addition to his capable rig, Tommy also brought along spotter and co-driver Andy Willman. What's crazy is that Tommy only met Andy a few days before the trip, and Andy didn't have any idea what type of adventure he was getting into. These guys were another perfect example of no whining or complaining and just taking everything in stride.