Driver: Clifton Slay, Denver, COEngine: Jeep 360, Howell EFITransmission: Turbo 400Transfer Case: Atlas IISuspension: King coilovers with four-link built by Poison Spyder CustomsFront Axle: Dana 60 with Detroit Lockers and Dynatrac 35-spline axleshafts, 4.88 gearsRear Axle: Dana 70 with Detroit Lockers and Dynatrac 35-spline axleshafts, 4.88 gearsTires: 38-inch Mickey Thompson Baja ClawsWheels: Custom bead locksSpecial Features: 1410 High Angle driveshafts, Mastercraft seats and belts, full hydraulic steering, JET Hot-coated exhaust
'01 Jeep Wrangler TJAfter the past few Ultimate Adventures we joked about outlawing red TJs on this year's trip, but since the guys from Warn didn't get that memo, they showed up in their '01 red Jeep TJ. Steve Schoenfelder and Pat Meiwes from Warn are good guys to have around. They always had gloves if you needed to winch, and even a spare cable when we boogered ours up. Amazingly the only problems the little red TJ had the entire trip was when it got stuck in the Mississippi mud, and somehow they got Feature Editor Fred Williams to hump through the muck and pull the winch cable. Looking back, we think it may have even been staged to show how fast the Warn 9.5ti winch works. Now if we can just convince them that next year's Jeep should be Incredible Hulk Green.
Drivers: Steve Schoenfelder and Pat Meiwes, Clackamas, OREngine: 4.0L six-cylinderTransmission: AutomaticTransfer Case: NVG231Suspension: Skyjacker 4-inch long-arm kit with 1-inch body liftFront Axle: Dana 30 with ARB Air Locker, 4.10 gears, Warn 5-on-511/42 front hub conversion, Warn inner and outer alloy shaftsRear Axle: Dana 35 with Detroit Locker, 4.10 gears, Warn 5-on-511/42 rear floater kit, Warn alloy shaftsTires: 35x12.50-15 BFGoodrich Mud-TerrainsWheels: 15x8 Champion bead locks with outer ring faded to pinkSpecial Features: Warn rockcrawler bumpers (rear with tire carrier, front with optional grilleguard), Warn rock sliders, Warn steering-box skidplate, Warn stainless steel differential skidplates front and rear, Warn urethane fender flares (they stayed on when the competitors flares were ripped off another Jeep on the same rock during UA), Warn receiver shackle bracket in rear, 9.5TI Thermometric winch with full recovery kit, Warn custom logo seat covers, Warn custom logo floor mats, Tuffy center console, Warn SDB 160 dual-beam lights
'03 Jeep Wrangler TJ RubiconWhen Gary Enterline, the technical marketing manager at BFGoodrich, needed a ride for Ultimate Adventure, he contacted Fred Perry from Clemson Off Road. Fred is one of those Southern gentlemen who can wheel circles around most of us young whippersnappers; he knows the trails better than a fat kid knows cake and is always ready to lend a hand or some insight on a troublesome rock or boulder in the Southeast. Fred's '03 Jeep Rubicon had been sent through the Clemson shop and came out with some upgrades that would make any Rubi owner envious. The Jeep Rubicon is better than almost any other Jeep outta the box, but Fred knew that every stock vehicle needs some upgrades, so he dropped in an Avenger Supercharger, did a Warn locking hub swap, and replaced the coil springs with an AiRock airbag suspension system (see "Air Spring Options," June '03). This little white Rubi did well, but had a problem when one of the airbags punctured. The simple solution was to swap in a coil spring till they got home.