Old Crony
Jeepish Buggymobile
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ Buggy
Driver: Trent McGee
Co-Driver: Sam Gillis
Stomping Grounds: AZ, AL
Trent McGee is the other crony who has been on every Ultimate Adventure, and he returned this year in his Jeep TJ tube car with Sam Gillis riding in the right seat. These guys worked tail gunner for most of the week helping broken-down 4x4s, eating the most dust on dusty days, and helping herd the cats that make up our UA group to camp each night. Gillis missed the trip last year because he was deployed to Iraq, so we were happy and honored that he could meet up with us for a week of wheeling. McGee has worked in many areas of the off-road industry, from magazine writer to television host to marketing guru for various companies. This year his buggy returned with a burly front Dana 60 axle, making broken front Dana 30 parts a thing of the past.
Drivetrain
Engine: 122,000-mile 4.0L I-6, AirRaid intake, JBA header
Transmission: AX-15
Transfer Case: Atlas 4-speed
Front Axle: 60 from ’96 Ford F-350, RCV shafts, Dynatrac knuckles and 5-on-51⁄2 hub conversion, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: Ford 8.8 from Exploder with alloy shafts, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker
Steering: Hydraulic ram assist
Suspension
Springs & Such: 5-inch lift with Superlift long-arm kit, Rusty’s Off-Road track bars, Rusty’s Off-Road steering, Fox 2-inch coilover shocks
Tires & Wheels: 37x12.50- Nitto Trail Grapplers on 17x9 Spyderlock wheels
Other: Warn 9.0RC winch
Reader
Folded Taco
2005 Toyota Tacoma
Driver: Jody Ardrey
Co-Driver: Joe Eaves
Stomping Grounds: Clayton and Disney, OK
Jody Ardery’s Tacoma, built by co-driver Joe Eaves of Toy Soldiers, started the week as one of the best-looking trucks in the group. The orange and blue paint was fresh and the fiberglass fenders and factory four-doors straight as can be. All that changed by the final day, as the Taco earned its stripes. These were the only guys on the trip running fully hydraulic steering, and although many have done it before, they had some major handling issues with it on the road days. The Tacoma performed great off-road and made for a five-star camping rig with both a fridge and microwave in the backseat, but a few dents and dings were earned during the week when this rather large truck was squeezed through rocks and boulders.
Drivetrain
Engine: 4.0L V6
Transmission: Stock automatic
Transfer Case: Inchworm dual cases 2.28/4.7 gearing, chromoly shafts
Front Axle: Chevrolet Dana 60, Yukon Joints, chomo 35-spline shafts, 5.38 gears, ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Chevrolet 14-bolt with chromo shafts, 5.38 gears, ARB Air Locker
Steering: PSC full hydro
Suspension
Springs & Such: 3-link with ORI 14-inch struts in front, Alcan springs in rear
Tires & Wheels: 40/13.50/17 Goodyear MTR with Kevlar on ATX Slab beadlock
Other: Handmade front and rear bumpers, 10K Smittybuilt XRC, chromoly rollcage tucked up under the headliner and plastic panels, exocage tied to internal rollcage, most every single bracket on the truck is one-off handmade, Fiber-X front fenders and removable rear bedside, onboard air, custom tool/storage box, fridge, microwave
Sponsor
Hazzard FabWorx: Official Fabricator
2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Driver: Luke Shuman
Co-Driver: Rocky Dorame
Stomping Grounds: WA, Johnson Valley, Moab
Luke Shuman and Rocky Dorame signed up to build this year’s official vehicle, the orange JK we refer to as OJ the Off-Roadster (“OJ the Ultimate Orange Jeep,” Aug.-Nov. ’12 and ongoing). It has a stretched frame, front and rear steer, and of course the infamous trunk made from a front Jeep clip. As official fabricators of the UA, they also came along on the trip. For wheels they chose Shuman’s Jeep TJ over Dorame’s less than road-legal rock buggy. This TJ is a wild ride for sure, with coilover shocks and bumpstops in every corner, big Dana 60 axles, and a healthy 4.0L I-6. Dorame’s driving skill and Shuman’s positive attitude would have earned these guys a trophy, but as you well know, you can’t “win” the Ultimate Adventure—it’s about having a good time wheeling, roading, and camping in the dirt.
Drivetrain
Engine: 4.0L I-6
Transmission: Automatic
Transfer case: 4.3:1 Atlas
Front Axle: Ford Dana 60, 5.38 gears, ARB Air Locker, 35-spline chromoly shafts
Rear Axle: Dana 60, 5.38 gears, ARB Air Locker, 35-spline chromoly shafts, Stillen brakes
Steering: PSC hydraulic ram assist
Suspension
Springs & Such: Stretched short/long arm with Panhard bar in front, custom triangulated 4-link in rear, Bilstein 47mm coilovers front and rear with ACV valves and 4-inch air bumpstops
Tires & Wheels: 40-inch Nitto Mud Grapplers on 17-inch Raceline Monster beadlocks
Other: PRP seats; GenRight Comp-Corners; high fenders and sliders; custom Hazzard Fabworx cage, back tubular frame section, tire carrier, bumpers, and cooler mount; 22-gal fuel cell