Official Fabricator/Build Shop: Hazzard Fabworx
Each year we dream up some over-the-top rig to build for the UA and then have to find a shop crazy enough to accept our challenge. Taking on a UA build means more than just providing labor; the shop has to absorb crazy deadlines and deliver never-before-seen ideas like cutting in half a Jeep that’s literally brand-new! This year’s official fabricator, Hazzard Fabworx, was up to the challenge. With Luke Shuman and Rocky Dorame hard on the job, in just a few months they hammered out the over-the-top JK we call OJ or the Off-Roadster (“OJ the Ultimate Orange Jeep,” Aug.-Dec. ’12). The guys were even nice enough to come on the adventure to make sure the week went trouble-free, which it did. Great job, guys!
Hazzard Fabworx
509.995.1176
www.hazzardfabworx.com
Official Axle: Spidertrax
A quality axle set is one of the most important and best investments that you can make under a vehicle. With the Spidertrax axle company moving locations, the crew was unable to attend this year’s UA, but they still showed their support by coming onboard as the official axle of the build. The custom Spidertrax housings under the Off-Roadster performed flawlessly all week, and the rear-steer axle gave the two-door Jeep the nimbleness it needed to make it through the trails virtually damage-free. From wheel spacers to builder-friendly axlehousings, Spidertrax has a host of American-made axle products.
Spidertrax
800.286.0898
www.spidertrax.com
Official Winch: Warn Industries
Warn, the UA’s longest standing sponsor, has been proving out its parts and winches on our trip for over a decade. This year was particularly special, as we got to see firsthand Warn’s headquarters and meet the men and women who manufacture the fine American-made products. With a wide range of winches, accessories, and topnotch recovery gear, Warn continues to sustain its legendary quality. Like years before, we and the majority of the crew used our winches almost daily and were happy to have Warn along to help.
Warn Industries
800.543.9276
www.warn.com
Official Armor: Synergy Suspension
Losing an engine midweek was only a minor setback for the Synergy crew, as the UA team was able to pull together and get their rig back moving. As the official armor of the event, Synergy fitted the Orange Jeep with dual front winch mount bumpers, skidplates, and beefy rocker guards. All of the armor did its job, and not even the boulder-lined trails could crumple the heavy-duty protection.
Synergy Suspension
805.242.0397
www.synergysuspension.com
Official Suspension: Zone Offroad Products
Offering quality and affordable components is a mainstay for the Zone Offroad Products brand. Using the company’s nicely dialed Jeep MJ on the trip, the Zone crew continued to R&D and prove out future products in the ultimate weeklong torture test. An ever-growing brand, the Zone product line is extremely diverse. With Zone’s JK prototype long-arm fitted under the Off-Roadster, we were happy to report that the suspension worked flawlessly and remained trouble-free throughout the week.
Zone Offroad Products
888.998.9663
www.zoneoffroad.com
Official Retailer: Off -Road Power Products
When you need a place to purchase your off-road goodies, Off-Road Power Products is a great place to start. As the official retailer for this year’s adventure, the OPP crew were always eager to lend a hand or try and round up a part for those in need. The guys at OPP are also big diesel enthusiast, which was very apparent by their 4BT-powered JK and the triple-turbo Cummins diesel Ram that hauled around our film crew all week. So the next time you are in the market for a new off-road widget, be sure to give these fun-loving guys a call.
Off-Road Power Products
866.379.8685
www.offroadpowerproducts.com
Helpful Handhelds
Communication on the trail and road is crucial when you have a group as big as ours. CB radios work great, but it’s nice to have something a little more mobile when you are trying to spot a rumbling rig from outside of the vehicle. Rugged Radio was nice enough to set up an Ultimate Adventure channel for the guys on the trip and lend us handheld race radios for the week. Theses rechargeable handhelds were a great help and worth checking out if you are looking for an easy way to keep in touch with your buddies on the trail from both inside and out of the vehicle.
Rugged Radios
www.ruggedradios.com