4 Wheel & Off Road - July 2015 USA

LINK SUSPENSION SECRETS!
HOW
TO TOW
YOUR 4X4
TRAIL SUSPENSION
ROCKPROOF LOWER ARMS
IFS TOYOTA UPGRADES
LONG JEEP LIFT KIT
TUNDRA
FROM
DOWN
UNDAH
LINKED &
LOCKED
WRANGLER
CHEVY-POWERED
TOYOTA CRAWLER
KING OF THE HAMMERS
WINNING RECIPE
TRAILERING BUYERS GUIDE
JULY 2015 VOL. 38, NO. 7
68
COVER SECTION
SUSPENSION SECRETS
48 DONT OVERDO IT
An off-road newbie lifts a Tacoma
56 ON TRACK
PART 2: Our tiny Tracker grows some long
legs with a custom suspension
62 DOIN IT RIGHT
A Tundra on Old Man Emu springs to protect
the trails
72 LIFTING THE LONG JEEP

An LJ visits 4Wheel Parts and comes home
Rubicon-ready
76 STONGEST LINK
Anatomy of a suspension link
SPECIAL SECTION
TOWING TIPS
72
26 GET THERE IN ONE PIECE

Tech for traveling with a trailer
30 TIED TIGHT
Strappin down your junk so it doesnt off
34 TONS & A LIFT FOR YOUR TRAILER?

Trailer repair for a bigger load and
taller tires
38 THE HITCHIN POST
30
From trailer balls to hitch hooks, we round

up some cool couplers
81
FEATURES
46 BUY LOW
A second-hand JK that works better

than ever
68 UNCOMMON TOYLET
A Toy with a Chevy heart
81 BOMBER KING
The parts to build a King of the Hammers
winner
DEPARTMENTS
08 4XFORWARD
83 NEW PRODUCTS
10 IN BOX
84 NUTS & BOLTS
14 READERS RIDES
87 MARKETPLACE
18 DRIVELINES
90 WHOOPS!
COPYRIGHT 2015 BY TEN: THE ENTHUSIAST NETWORK MAGAZINES, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ON THE COVER: Roving Reporter Harry Wagner was out in front of the pack to catch
Shane Dohertys Wrangler exing over boulders and twisted around rocks. Plus, he was
there to catch some towing tips for our giant
tow rig section.
LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS BUILD
4 6 .17 8 3 61, -12 3 . 9 8 10 0 3
ANYWHERE IS POSSIBLE // #GT100
W W W.GENER ALTIRE.COM
WWW.4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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CONTRIBUTORS Ricky Berry, Drew Hardin,
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McGee, Tom Morr, Harry Wagner
2015 FORD
3 are styles:
Pocket Style
Extend-A-Fender
OE
2014 Style
TOYOTA TUNDRA
Extend-A-Fender Flares
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

ART DIRECTOR Alan Huber
color matching
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Pre-nished for a
perfect match
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BY
4xFredWilliams
BOINGERS, BOUNCERS,
SPRINGERS & LINKERS
California Gold
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From the inventors of the M.O.M. Mechanized Overprotective Mother
Hood Ornament
Quickly cleans and enhances,

while adding depth and clarity.
Whether youre at home or on the
go, its easy to give your ride that
striking showroom shine.
MOTHERS.COM
S 4X4 ENTHUSIASTS WE ARE CONSTANTLY
discussing suspensions. Better designs for

more tire clearance, off-road performance,
and vehicle control. How can we keep our center of gravity low but stay up high out of the
rocks or mud, while letting big rubber twist
and ex over obstacles yet still propel us down the trail and road safely?
And dont even start to talk about speed. When we want speed out of our 4x4s it multiplies everything and we start talking about shocks: emulsion, air, coilover, nitrogencharged, remote-reservoir, bypass So many fun shocks to play with! And all designed
to help control those springs: coil, leaf, air, and so on.
Suspensions are fun to talk and bench-wheel about, and sure as rain on a wedding
day I get the same question all the time: What is the best suspension for my [ll in the
blank]? I wish I had dollar for every time I heard that questions. (Hmm, I am now charging a dollar for that question!) But the problem is I have not lifted every single make
and model 4x4, nor have I used every single brand of suspension component for every
single make and model 4x4, so sadly my answer is often pretty boring.
I can tell you that I am a huge fan of a pretty basic suspension design, where the
back of the vehicle uses leaf springs (spring over or spring under) and the front uses
some sort of link suspension with coils (three-link or four-link with or without a Panhard/track bar). I have found this setup to work pretty well most of the time over a variety of terrain and with a variety of payloads. In fact, its about perfect for the all-around
4x4s that we usually build for the Ultimate Adventure, and thus has been under at least
three that I can think of (Rubiwagon, CJ-17, Tug-Truck). Thats probably why I like it, and
its been proven to work well with solid axles under everything from early Broncos to
late-model Ford and Ram heavy-duty trucks. No, its not a perfect race suspension for
ultimate performance or for an ultra-twisty rockcrawler, but if youre building something that you want to drive daily and wheel on the weekends, Id say at least consider
the front link, rear leaf recipe. But what do I know?
What also might be amazing to you reader is that most auto owners have no idea
about any of the stuff under their vehicle. We the 4x4 fanatics love to dive under a vehicle and see how it works. Noncar people probably have no idea what a coil spring is
versus a leaf spring, a shock, or a suspension link. I wonder what those strange beings
talk about when they are sitting around the campre out in the middle of nowhere?
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
At Mothers, were always thinking of ways to make the world

a better place for cars. And while some ideas may never make
it onto the shelves, rest assured, well never stop innovating.
BY
DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH
CRAWLING CRITTERS
just read the opening column in the

March issue [4xForward, Trail Dogs]. It
hit home. We put our one dog down this
past summer. He was always willing to
chase whatever vehicle we were out in
the back forty with. He was always nearby
when we were out with sleds, quads, and
bush buggies. This is a photo of him on
the hood of a Samurai my brother brought
home one day. Keep up the good work on
the magazine. I enjoy reading it.
BRAD JUNGAS
Via email
Thanks, Brad! Its ridiculous how
important these four-legged fur balls can
be in our lives.
BANZAI!!! OR BONSAI?
ove the magazine, Fred, but given that

the caption for photo 13 of your Telluride to Tuweep article (Mar. 15) says
from Page, we bonsai-ed to the nal
destination, dont you think its rude not
to show readers the miniature trees you
were working on? It admittedly shows
your sensitive naturalist side, but we
need to see the results. Of course, theres
a chance that you actually banzai-ed
to Tuweep Overlook. However, given the
desperate, fanatical, and suicidal connotations of the banzai charge, that doesnt
seem quite right, either. Regardless,
thanks for the informative report.
MIKE HISCOX
Portland, OR
Hmm, Im stumped, Mike. I agree I was
in no way planning a suicide run off Tuweep
Overlook. So I guess Im stumped. Like a
little tiny miniature tree stump.
10
JULY 2015 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD
just got done reading my May 15 mag

and I loved it. I know you guys try to hit
all areas of the off-road world, which I can
appreciate. But when it comes to DED or
off-roading road trips, that is right up my
alley. Reading the DEDs and stuff like CA
to PA in a CJ is what really drives me and
makes me want to save up some coin and
hit the road for a week. Which leads me
to my question. In the May 13 4xForward,
Rick Pw talked about a trip through
the U.S. and Canada in the attie he took
to Alaska. Ive been waiting patiently for
this story. So lets print it out; I would love
to read it. Also, please pass this on to Mr.
Pw: If he ever feels the need to sell his
1948 CJ-2A (Pete) please call me rst. I
saw that CJ in your mag on a DED in 2004
and have been in love with it ever since.
Thanks for a great magazine.
Fred Williams
2-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD
just got the Feb. 15 issue of Petersens

4-Wheel & Off-Road. A question was
posed to the readers: Should you cover
two-wheel-drive off-road vehicles? I am all
for it. Your name is 4-Wheel and Off-Road,
not just 4-Wheel. I would like to see a
prerunner-type build, or why not a competition-type race truck for a Baja or SNORE
race? Love the mag. Keep it up!
NICK WALDER
Via email
Thanks for your input. Does it count
that both Harry Wagner and Verne Simons
have undertaken project trucks that started as 2-wheel-drives? (Both will be getting
converted to 4x4 though.)
MATT H.
Via email
The infamous trip to Alaska and back
in the atfender is of epic proportions. I
have heard some of the stories from Pw
and his co-drivers, David Freiburger and
Ned Bacon, but I doubt anyone will ever
read that story. I can only say that if you
had to decide between waiting to read this
tale or saving up dollars to x your own
Jeep and then driving it to Alaska and back,
you would be better to invest in doing the
trip yourself. Dont wait on those guys to
write the storygo live your own adventure, and maybe well run your story!
Oh, and if you want to buy a Pw attie
you better write his wife and hope she outlives him. Otherwise Im pretty sure he has
a burial plot big enough for himself and his
collection.
WHERES DED?
hen is Fred going to do more Dirt

Every Day episodes?
SAM SCHRADER
Via email
Really? You like that guys silly show?
Well, we have a whole new season in the
works for 2015 and a new title sponsor,
4Wheel Parts. The next airdates we have
planned are: May 12, June 9, July 7, July 28,
Aug. 18, Sept. 29, Oct. 27,
Nov. 24, and Jan. 5. You
can watch the show on
the Motor Trend channel
on YouTube (goo.gl/nBtui).
Thanks for watching!
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
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COMPILED BY
Tom Morr
JACKED-UP POWERSTROKE
VEHICLE: 1996 F-250 OWNER: Colt Colorado Jack, Washington State TIRES & WHEELS:
35x12.5R16 Toyo Open Country A/Ts on
stock black rims SUSPENSION: 4-inch Rough
Country lift DRIVETRAIN: 7.3L Powerstroke,
5-speed transmission, front Dana 50 axle,
rear Dana 60 axle, 4.10 gears PERFORMANCE
MODS: 120-hp injectors, Garrett turbo housing with Banks guts, Banks oil cooler, 4-inch
turbo-back exhaust, K&N air lter OTHER
DOODADS: Front bumper, canopy, CB whips
DOES EVERYTHING WORK THE WAY YOU
WANT?: So far, yes ANYTHING YOU WOULD
CHANGE?: 37-inch Nitto Mud Grapplers ANYTHING TO ADD?: When in doubt, throttle out
YOTA KILLER
HOT SHOT
WATER WRANGLER
VEHICLE: 2010 Jeep JK OWNER: Rocky Knell, Roland, OK TIRES: 35x12.5R18 Toyo
Open Countrys SUSPENSION: 212 -inch spacer lift, stock springs and shocks DRIVETRAIN:
Stock 3.8L V-6, 6-speed manual trans OTHER DOODADS: Smittybilt bumper and fender
ares, LED spotlight on windshield, LED oodlights on bumper, Ramsey Platinum 9500
winch, quick-disconnect sway bar, Rhino-lined interior, Hi-Lift jack on the hood FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: I bought it on a Thursday and lled it full of water the following
Saturday crossing a creek with my wife DOES EVERYTHING WORK THE WAY YOU WANT?:
Everything works great for an everyday driver and a weekend warrior ANYTHING YOU
WOULD CHANGE?: 4.56 gears, lockers, 1-ton axles, Vortec V-8 ANYTHING TO ADD?: I am
a father of ve with a factory job and Ive never paid anyone to do anything to my Jeep. I
learn as I go and always involve my kids. Four of them want a jacked-up 4x4 for their rst
vehicleone proud daddy!
14
VEHICLE: 2006 Nissan Titan OWNER: Darrel

Townsend, Porterville, CA TIRES & WHEELS:
35x12.5R17 BFG KM2s on XD Addicts SUSPENSION: 2-inch leveling kit, Rough Country
UCAs, Bilstein 5100s DRIVETRAIN: Stock
PERFORMANCE MODS: S&B intake, custom
cat-back exhaust OTHER DOODADS: Legit
Accessories LEDs, Glassworks fenders, 2-inch
wheel adapters, homebuilt rock sliders and
bumper, two 10-inch light bars FUNNIEST
WHEELING INCIDENT: Showing up Nissan
haters everywhere I go and having to hold on
before pulling people out so their friends can
take photos DOES EVERYTHING WORK THE
WAY YOU WANT?: Very well for fullsize. Could
use more ex and clearance. ANYTHING YOU
WOULD CHANGE?: Going to boat-side the bed
and build custom rear bumper, installing dualrow bar in place of the two single-row bars,
long travel kit ANYTHING TO ADD?: I need to
make Moab soon!
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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READERS RIDES
VORTEC WILLYS
ROCK-HARD BODY
VEHICLE: 1990 Nissan Hardbody OWNER: Jason Dickert, Pueblo West, CO TIRES &
WHEELS: 33x12.5 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/As on American Racing wheels SUSPENSION:
8-inch lift, including front Fox coilovers with Eibach springs, HD torsion bars, custom
upper A-arms, Trail Master rear leaves with Fox reservoir shocks DRIVETRAIN: 4.88 gears,
limited-slips PERFORMANCE MODS: KA24E 2.4L I-4, CAI, header, high-ow exhaust, dual
10-inch electric fans OTHER DOODADS: Custom aluminum roof rack with two spare tires,
Hi-Lift jack, Pro Comp spotlights FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: Behind the Rocks trail
in Moab, when my buddys FC Jeep broke both front and rear driveshafts. I bent both outer
tie-rod ends on the same outing. Made the 400-mile trip back to Colorado with a tapemeasure alignment and some used tires on the front.
VEHICLE: 1947 Willys Jeep OWNER:

Barry Weckwerth, Boise, ID TIRES &
WHEELS: 35x12.5R17 General Grabbers
on 17x10 rims SUSPENSION: 4-inch TJ
Rock Krawler long-arm suspension built
to a custom frame Drivetrain: Chevy
4.3L V-6, 4L60E automatic, NV231C
transfer case DOES EVERYTHING
WORK THE WAY YOU WANT?: So far,
wouldnt change anything yet
CHEROKEE GRANDEUR
MT MB
VEHICLE: 1942 Willys MB OWNER: Justin Kostelecky, Laurel, MT TIRES: Old 6.50x16 bias
all-terrains SUSPENSION: Stock Drivetrain: 100 percent original PERFORMANCE MODS: Dry airelement air cleaner OTHER DOODADS: Bullet hole in the windshield DOES EVERYTHING WORK
THE WAY YOU WANT?: Runs great and gets tons of looks! ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE?:
Full restoration someday, but too much fun right now FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: Took it
to a car show, all muddy, and more people were checking out the Jeep than the 1968 Camaro I
parked next to ANYTHING TO ADD?: Ive been inspired by Pw, Freiburger, and Williams over the
years, and I nally got my rst Jeep. It has been a ton of fun bringing the old girl back to life.
Send us a picture of your ride if youve
never done so. We keep a surplus of Readers
Rides submissions, but only one submission
per person, and we love all off-road vehicles
so send in your entries whether your rig is
stock or not. Make sure each digital image is
at least 1,600 by 1,200 pixels (or two megapixels) and saved as a TIFF, EPS, or maximumquality JPEG le. WRITE TO: Readers Rides,
4-Wheel & Off-Road, 831 S. Douglas St., El
Segundo, CA 90245
EMAIL TO: readersrides@4wheeloffroad.com
16
> VEHICLE (year, make, model)

> OWNER (name, city, state)
> TIRES & WHEELS (size, make, model)
> SUSPENSION (lift, springs, shocks)
> DRIVETRAIN (tranny, transfer case, axles)
> PERFORMANCE (engine mods)
> OTHER MODS
> DOES IT WORK THE WAY YOU WANT?
> ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE?
> FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT
> ANYTHING TO ADD?
VEHICLE: 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee

WJ OWNER: Dennis Miller II, Leechburg,
PA TIRES & WHEELS: 315/75R16 Wild
Country MTs on 16x8 Pro Comp 7031s,
1.5-inch Spidertrax spacers SUSPENSION: Clayton 6-inch long-arm kit with
2-inch Budget Boost, Bilstein 5125
14-inch-travel rears, 11-inch-travel
fronts, Pro Comp stem-mount adapters, JKS disconnects, JKS track bar
DRIVETRAIN: NVG242 transfer case,
front Dana 30 axle, rear Ford 9-inch
upgraded to 35-spline, Aussie locker,
Quick Performance rear truss, Clayton
upper 4-link truss and bracket kit,
disc brake conversion PERFORMANCE
MODS: 4.0L I-6, BBK Big Bore throttle
body, K&N cold air intake, throttle body
spacer, MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust,
Borla header, Bosch 4-hole injectors,
Superchips FlashPaq tuner OTHER
DOODADS: Cree 40-inch LED bar, Cree
4x4 LEDs on the A-pillars, Rigid Duallys
in the bumper, Protofab bumpers, JRC
rock sliders, IRO transfer case skid,
Bushwacker cutout ares, Badlands
12,000-pound winch, Viair onboard air
system, 60-inch Hi-Lift jack
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
TOM BOSTIC
EXTREME CUSTOM FABRICATOR
LOOK FOR THE SIX-PACK DESIGN ON OPTIMA YELLOWTOP, REDTOP AND BLUETOP BATTERIES AT A RETAILER NEAR YOU.
The OPTIMA logo, OPTIMA Batteries, The Ultimate Power Source, Spiralcell Technology, YELLOWTOP, REDTOP, BLUETOP and The Six-Pack Battery Design are trademarks of Johnson Controls, Inc. 2014
BY
Drew Hardin
TRUCK DEBUTS AT 2015 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
here was a time when the American

automakers would debut their newest
cars at the Detroit auto show and then
follow that a month later with new truck
reveals at the Chicago auto show. This
year, though, Detroit hosted several signicant
truck unveilingsRaptor, Titan, Tacomaleaving
Chicago out in the cold, so to speak. Still, GM and
Fiat Chrysler used the event to debut pickups at
either end of the price spectrum. And Kia (yes,
Kia) showed off an interesting AWD concept that
could be a lot of fun.
RAM LARAMIE LIMITED
am describes the new topof-the-line Laramie Limited

pickups as The benchmark in
truck opulence. Inside youll
nd black leather upholstery
with contrasting gray piping
including lots of leather on the
18
doors and instrument panel

real wood trim, knurled chrome
rings around the gauges, and
Berber carpet oor mats.
Exterior design cues include
a newly designed grille; a
body-color front fascia with
foglamps; a painted rear
bumper (or optional chrome

plating on both bumpers);
halogen projector headlights;
LED marker, turn indicator, and
taillights; 20-inch multisurfaced (polished and painted)
forged aluminum wheels; and
a massive chrome Ram badge
on the tailgate.
The Laramie Limited trim will
be available on 1500-series
trucks later in the 2015 model
year and available on the 2500
and 3500 Heavy Duties in
2016. Pricing details will come
closer to their on-sale dates.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
The benchmark in truck opulence
THIS
JUST IN
KIA TRAILSTER
ts about time Kia made an off-road version of

the Soul crossover. Just a concept at this point,
the Trailster has a through the road hybrid
drivetrain consisting of a 185hp turbocharged
four-cylinder gas engine powering the front
wheels and an electric motor sending 35 hp and
100 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Theres no
mechanical connection between the two powerplants; the motor engages on an as-needed basis
to power the car under light throttle application,
assist the gas engine in acceleration events like
merging onto a freeway, and when the onboard
computers sense the front wheels are slipping.
To clear off-road obstacles the Trailster has

been raised 212 inches over the production Souls
ride height. Pirelli winter tires enhance traction,
while KSport coilover shocks damp rough terrain.
Kia didnt say if the Trailster would go into production, but theres a good chance the driveline
will wind up in future products as a means of
enhancing fuel economy.
THE ONE ESSENTIAL TOOL
SPEAKING OF EXPENSIVE
OWNERS OF THE NEW JEEP
you need to never get stuck

while driving off-road was the
gotta-see-this headline of a
recent story by Motoramic on
Yahoo Autos. The story turned
out to be a review of the Land
Rover LR4, and the essential
tool was a Warn winch. OK,
now you know.
British SUVs, Rolls-Royce has
announced it will build an
all-new, high-bodied RollsRoyce designed to satisfy the
contemporary, highly mobile
lifestyles of our discerning
clients around the world. Jaguar and Bentley have already
announced plans to add SUVs
to their product lines, and
those should be available by
2016. The on-sale date of the
Rolls will be announced in a
few years time, says a rep.
Cherokee are still lodging
complaints about the way
the nine-speed transmission
works, says Automotive News,
so Fiat Chrysler will notify
owners about a transmission
software reash available
at dealers. The x applies to
those Cherokees tted with
the 2.4L MultiAir2 Tigershark
engine, not the V-6.
TRACK LAYING JUKE!

CHEVROLET SILVERADO CUSTOM
ack to basics is the phrase Chevrolet

uses to characterize its latest Silverado
Custom trim package. Based on the double-cab
LS, the package adds 20-inch aluminum wheels
and chrome bumpers, mirror caps, and door
handles to the trucks exterior. Inside buyers get
a 40/20/40 cloth front seat, a tilt steering wheel,
cruise control, power windows and door locks,
and Chevy MyLink with 4G LTE Wi-Fi. When tted
with the 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8 engine, the Silverado
Custom 4x4 has a base price of $37,800, below
the $40,000 to $50,000 transaction price most
Silverados carry. You can nd them now at your
Chevy dealers.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
f the tracked Jeep FC

that Daystar brought
to the 2014 SEMA Show
was too retro for you, how
about this snowstorming Juke? A team of Nissan engineers in Finland
adapted a Dominator track
system to a Juke Nismo RS,
reprogrammed the torquevectoring AWD system, and
opened up the front and rear
bodywork a bit to clear the
treads. Then they bombed
around Lapland to test it,
hitting more than 50 mph in
weather that hit 30 degrees
below zero. Thats cool.
4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD JULY 2015
19
DRIVELINES
EARTH WATCH
THE BLM HAS PUBLISHED A NOTICE
A SIMILAR PLAN ALREADY DRAFTED
of Intent to conduct an environmental

review for the Ocotillo Wells Recreation
Area in Southern Californias Imperial
County. The review will consist of an
environmental impact statement to analyze the efciency and effectiveness of
resource and recreation management at
the popular State Vehicular Recreation
Area and a proposed amendment to
the BLM California Desert Conservation
Plan. The California State Parks, which
manages the SVRA, will jointly prepare
an environmental impact report for their
General Plan update. Public comments
on planning issues, environmental concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and
mitigation measures are being solicited
through early April. Comments can be
submitted via the BLMs website (blm.gov/
ca/st/en/fo/elcentro.html) and by email
(blm_ca_ocotillo_wells_ramp@blm.gov).
by the BLM for the Las Vegas area has

raised concerns among the staff of the
BlueRibbon Coalition. As BRC continues
to review the draft plan with our legal
counsel, legislators, and local users, it
is our initial opinion that this proposal,
unless modied, will have a signicant
impact on historic dispersed OHV recreation, the functional elimination of competitive motorized events, and the closure
of virtually all OHV use of sand washbased trails, said BRC. If youre interested
in reviewing the plan yourself, its available on the BRCs website (sharetrails.
org), but be forewarned: Its more than
2,000 pages long and tough slogging.
CALENDAR
JUNE 3-5: Off Road Expo and Rock

Junction, Grand Junction, CO. Info: gmjc.org
JUNE 4-7: SCORE Baja 500 off-road race,

Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Info: score-international.com
JUNE 5-7: Razorback Ramble by the

Razorback Land Cruisers, Hot Springs ORV
Park, Hot Springs, AR. Info: razorbacklandcruisers.com/razorback-ramble
JUNE 6: Getting Started Off-Road Driving

Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures,
Hungry Valley SVRA, Gorman, CA.
Info: 310.374.8047, 4x4training.com
JUNE 7: Getting Started Off-Road Driving Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Mojave,
CA. Info: 310.374.8047, 4x4training.com
JUNE 7: Speed Energy Formula Off-Road

Series Stadium Super Trucks race, Texas.
Info: stadiumsupertrucks.com
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
LEON WINKOWSKI
LEON WINKOWSKI
LEON WINKOWSKI
PEDAL
DOWN.
PULSE
UP.
JEEP FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES BANTAMS
75TH ANNIVERSARY
n June 12-14, 2015, Butler, Pennsylvania, will host the fth annual Bantam
Jeep Heritage Festival, which is expected
to draw thousands of Jeep fans for three
days of Jeeping events and activities. This
year marks the 75th anniversary of the rst
Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC), which
was built by the American Bantam Car Company in Butler. If youre up on your Jeep history, you know the Bantam vehicle was one
of three prototype light reconnaissance

vehicles submitted to the government
for use in the military. This years Heritage
Festival will have a display of 1940s-era
Jeeps, including several from the Omix-ADA
collection and the only known recreation
of the rst BRC. Other events on the docket
include trail rides, a mud pit, a show-andshine, and an attempt at forming the
longest Jeep parade in history. Event organizers hope this years parade will be even
bigger than the Festivals 2011 parade,
which set a Guinness World Record. For
more information on how to get in on the
fun, visit bantamjeepfestival.com.
JUNE 11-13: Tillamook Jeep Jamboree,

Tillamook, OR. Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com
JUNE 18-20: Penns Woods Jeep Jamboree,

Bradford, PA. Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com
JUNE 12-14: Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival

and 75th Birthday Bash, Butler, PA.
Info: bantamjeepfestival.com
JUNE 19-21: Nevada Trophy navigational

rally raid by Off-Road Experience, northern
Nevada. Info: offroadexperience.com, email
wcbr@netzero.com
JUNE 12-14: Speed Energy Formula Off-Road

Series Stadium Super Trucks race, Toronto,
Canada. Info: stadiumsupertrucks.com
JUNE 13: Crawlfest Competition, Kansas

Rocks Recreation Park, Mapleton, KS.
Info: ksrockspark.com
JUNE 13: Winching Clinic by Badlands
JUNE 17-20: Moose on the Loose expedi-
Off-Road Adventures, Mojave, CA.

Info: 310.374.8047, 4x4training.com
JUNE 20: Getting Started Rock Crawling

Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures,
Lucerne Valley, CA. Info: 310.374.8047,
4x4training.com
KNFILTERS.COM | 800-858-3333
JUNE 25-27: Silver Valley Jeep Jamboree,

Mullan/Wallace, ID. Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com
JUNE 26: Outdoor Adventure Summer Fest,
Frazier Park, CA. Info: 310.374.8047,

4x4training.com
JUNE 18-20: Drummond Island Jeep

Jamboree, Drummond Island, MI.
Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com
JUNE 26-28: Mud and Crawl by North

Idaho Mud and Crawl, Naples, ID.
Info: northidahomudandcrawl.blogspot.com
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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JUNE 20-21: Off-Road Driving School, Iron

Range OHV Park, near Minneapolis/St. Paul,
MN. Info: ironrangeoffroad.com
tion adventure by Northeast Overland,

northern Maine. Info: northeastoverland.
forumotion.com
GET MORE OF WHAT GETS

YOUR MOTOR GOING
SUPERIOR AIRFLOW.
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SOME INTAKE SYSTEMS ARE NOT LEGAL FOR

SALE OR USE ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED
MOTOR VEHICLE IN CALIFORNIA OR STATES
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SEE KNFILTERS.COM FOR CARB STATUS ON
EACH PART FOR A SPECIFIC VEHICLE.
SPECIAL SECTION: TOWING TIPS
TIPS FOR TOWING

YOUR RIG
TO THE TRAIL
GET
THERE
IN ONE PIECE
Harry Wagner
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN SUMNER
AND HARRY WAGNER
HEY SAY THAT GETTING THERE
is half the fun, but if you end

up in a ditch you probably are
not having much fun. That is
why it is important to tow your
rig safely to the trail. Breaking
at slow speeds when youre
rockcrawling or in the local mud pit is
expected, but you dont want to be on the
side of the road with your tow rig or trailer
broken down. Trust uswe know from
experience. The upside is that you can
learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them. That means more time wheeling
and less time whining.
26
We prefer to
have one person hook up the
trailer to the truck.
While it may seem
quicker to have
someone help,
splitting the job
raises the possibility that something
gets overlooked.
We have left the
foot on the jack
down when we
thought someone
else was securing
it, only to have the
jack tear off the
trailer when we
left the driveway.
Not a good way to
start your trip.
1
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
V
W
JK WRANGLER COILOVER KIT

FEATURING FOX SHOCKS
GET THERE IN ONE PIECE
Trailers take specic tires that are typically

bias-ply construction and are made to withstand the unique loads that trailers are subjected to. They are not the same as passenger
or light truck tires.
Trailer tires spend the bulk of their life sitting, so they often dry rot or become unusable long before they wear out. Covering your
tires, and even lifting them off the ground, is
a low-cost investment that will help your tires
last much longer.
If you have full-width axles, adding box

tubing inside the fenders will allow you to
drive over them without bending the fenders.
There is no need to replace the entire fender.
An alternative we have seen used is railroad
ties or other sturdy wood that is cut to match
the prole of the fenders.
5
5
28
This is what can happen if you drive over

your fenders without reinforcing them. The
fender bent into this tire. Fortunately it was
caught before a blowout, but it still had to be
replaced when it was discovered.
Note how we did not place the straps over

the brake lines and risk kinking them. We
also attached the straps to the axles and not
the chassis, allowing the suspension to function on the vehicle being towed. If you attach
straps to the chassis, you risk them coming
loose or breaking as the suspension cycles.
Wood decks tend to be less expensive than

metal decks and are much quieter when
loading and unloading, particularly when using
chains and binders. They do require more maintenance than metal decks though, and you
cannot weld attachment points to the deck of
the trailer.
Chains are less prone to being cut than

straps, and graded chain can be stronger
than straps. But chains and binders can be
more expensive than straps and more difcult
to get in the precise length you need. Some
people use a chain on the rear of the trailered
vehicle and then tighten the load down with a
strap on the front for a balance between convenience and strength.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
10
11
12
These straps were afxed in a cross pattern

to stabilize the vehicle both lengthwise and
side to side. Typically we will cross the straps at
one end of the trailer and run them straight from
the trailer to the vehicle on the other end.
10
We prefer D-rings to stake pockets when

using straps, as they allow the hook to
completely seat and the latch to close. Stake
pockets have bent and damaged the latch mechanisms on our straps in the past. The D-rings are
inexpensive and easy to add around the perimeter of your trailer.
11
When you stop for fuel check that the straps

are still tight. When the strap is tightened
the handle must be closed in order for the latch
mechanism to be secured. Wrapping the excess
strap over the handle adds even more security.
12
Additional jacks at the rear of your trailer

are useful to load or unload a vehicle without the trailer hooked up to a tow rig, and they
can also be used to keep the trailer tires off the
ground when the trailer is not in use or you need
to service the axles.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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1
PROPER
WAYS TO
STRAP A
TRUCK
TO A
TRAILER
TIED TIGHT
Fred Williams
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY FRED WILLIAMS
OWING YOUR TRAIL RIG TO
the dirt is something many

of us do so we can drive like
total idiots off-road and still
get home when we have
broken our junk. However,
this idiotic driving fun comes
with responsibilitynamely, strapping
your 4x4 down safely to the trailer for
the drive to and from the trail. We have
all seen countless vehicles on trailers
with no shortage of lousy strap-jobs.
And sure, the tow-rig driver may be ne
with his lack of safety, but what happens
when something goes wrong? What if
you have to punch the brakes and quick
as a ash your wheeler has snapped a
30
cheap tie-down and comes leaping into

the bed of your tow rig? Weve seen it
happen. Or what if a maneuver to dodge
highway debris sends your prized wheeling machine tumbling off your trailer
because you were too lazy to tie it down
right? If youre lucky youll get off with
a smashed-to-smithereens trail rig. If
youre unlucky your big-tired crawler
will end up crushing a minivan carrying
a family that happens to be the cousin
of a powerful senator who will then push
for legislation against big-tired crawlers
and close down all our trails! Thanks, you
lazy bum. You ruined it for everyone!
The fact is you should be diligent to tie
down your ride with quality straps and
with redundancy so if one should fail you
have a backup strap or two for holding
that beautiful rock-scarred atrocity you
If you have the money to buy a trailer and a

tow rig, to own a vehicle that gets towed,
and to ll two vehicles with fuel for a trip to the
trail, then we bet you have the money to buy
good straps. Call up Macs Custom Tie-Downs.
They can set you up with a value pack for under
$150 and a top-of-the-line set of four ratchets
and axle straps for around $255. Thats cheap
insurance against your ride falling off and killing
someone. Each strap can hold 10,000 pounds,
but dont be dumb and use only one; use all four.
love to drive off-road like an idiot. You are

a representative of our sport because
its hard to hide how much fun wheeling
is when nonwheelers see such a magnicent tube machine on your trailer as
you roll down the highway. Those fancy
shocks and big tires are just feeding the
envy of other drivers. So do you part. Tow
safe, strap down well, stop and check
those straps regularly, and have fun.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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TIED TIGHT
What if an evasive maneuver

sends your prized wheeling machine
tumbling off your trailer?
2
but Macs standpoint is to run them all straight.

If you run them crossed and one strap fails or
comes loose, the vehicle will have a tendency
to move sideways. If the straps are all straight
and you lose a strap, the other three will still
work to hold the vehicle in place.
We tie all our vehicles down by the axle

tube, the lower A-arm, or a lower suspension link, but the best bet is throwing an axle
strap around the axle tube. Put the straps over
smooth metal. Attaching the straps to the
frame or to bumper recovery points is not a
good idea because the 4x4s suspension can
compress and rebound as the trailer goes down
the road, in effect loosening the straps. This
can shorten the life of the straps, break the
straps, or cause them to come unhooked if they
do not have hook enclosures.
There is a longstanding debate about

whether you should cross your tie-down
straps or run them straight. We always used to
run the fronts straight and the rears crossed,
32
Before we go any further, when you put

your 4x4 on the trailer, put it in low range,
hubs locked (if you have hubs), either in gear
or park, and set the parking brake. This is good
insurance that it wont move. But again, dont
be dumb. You still need to strap it down.
Some people cross their straps because

their 4x4 is too long and trailer too short
and their straps are long when combined with
axle straps. A better option is to get a set of
Macs Cinch Pack straps. These combine the
axle strap and ratchet strap into one piece that
goes around the axle and then cinches tight.
Using the ratchet with its built-in hook reduces
the overall length from hook to axle tube.
Trailers with side-mounted stake pockets

are a pain in the butt to hook tie-down
straps to. Plus, they dont run the straps
straight but rather at an angle from the axle
tube around the tire to the outside stake pockets. If you are stuck with a stake pocket trailer
you need a set of straps with chain extensions
7
so that the chain can attach to the stake
pockets. Wed rather see properly installed tiedown points on the trailer deck.
No matter how you attach the straps to

your vehicle, the goal is to have the reinforced axle straps run over smooth metal. We
have attached axle straps around lower links
and pulled them tight against the axle mounts,
but the mounts are never round and smooth.
Theyre usually straight and sharp and can
reduce the life of an axle strap immensely.
Looping an axle strap around a lower A-arm

on an independent suspension isnt bad,
but again, feel around the arm for sharp metal
that could cut or otherwise damage your axle
straps. Some cast or fabricated arms have
sharp edges on the inside.
When routing the axle straps around your

axle tubes, watch for brake lines and speed
sensor wires. Its better to run under these than
over, as they can get pinched or broken. It is even
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
PRO 4
10
PRO 2
11
possible to route your axle strap through the lower
portion of your steering C as a tie-down point.
10
When tightening up your ratchet strap,

give it about two or three wraps on the
ratchet drum before you get it tight. This added
friction around the drum helps retain the tightening, where a single wrap can work loose.
11
There are many ways to tie up your loose,

unused ends of the ratchet strap. Macs
offers these trick little Velcro straps, but you
can also use a small bungee, or run it under the
ratchet handle as long as you can ensure that
it goes into the locked position. Dont let your
straps drag. Theyll get frayed, youll ruin your
investment in straps, and you may get dirty
looks from the locals or lawmen.
SOURCE
MACS CUSTOM TIE-DOWNS
800-666-1586
macscustomtiedowns.com
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
GET THE NEW

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The new Deegan 38 wheels from Mickey Thompson, designed in
cooperation with racing icon Brian Deegan, deliver the style
youll need for off-road adventure.
Complete the look and enhance your ride with
new, complementary Deegan 38 tires.
For a dealer near you, call

877-783-7208 or visit @
Deegan38Tires.com

Fred Williams
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY IMAGO TRAILER
E ALL KNOW THAT
xing up your 4x4 to

stronger parts can
allow you not only to
run bigger tires but
also do more work with
your vehicle, but did
you know that its possible to do the same
thing with your trailer? How many of you
have nice trailer that you think is perfect for
hauling your 4x4 to the desert, but by the
time you are all loaded up with trail rig, spare
parts, camping gear, tools, and so on, you
are over the safe cargo limit of the trailer?
Our friends at a local 4x4 shop were in just
that predicament. To make matters worse,
they had a big lifted truck that they wanted
to tow with, requiring a massive drop hitch.

Most boxed/atbed trailers equipped
with a six-lug axle and a 15-inch wheel/
tire combo are rated at between 3,500
and 6,000 pounds per axle, so that is
7,000 to 12,000 total pounds of load
hauling ability, including the weight of
the trailer. And just like larger truck axles,
an eight-lug trailer axle is usually rated
at 5,200 to 7,000 per axle so somewhere
between 10K and 14K gross weight. The
trailer that our friends were using was only
equipped with the smallest 3,500-pound
rated axles. After much use and abuse by
hauling heavy loads, the poor trailer was
succumbing to the weight. The options
were replace the trailer or upgrade. They
chose to take it to Imago trailers in Colton,
California, for an upgrade to beeer
7,000-pound rated eight-lug axles.
EIGHT-LUG TRAILER AXLE UPGRADES

FOR BIGGER TIRES & MORE WEIGHT
TONS & A LIFT FOR
34
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
R YOUR TRAILER?
When you carry more than a trailers
capacity, it results in premature wear
When you carry more weight than a trailers

capacity, it results in premature wear and
possible failures. The most common failures are
uneven tire wear, tire sidewall damage, and bent
or broken axles and spindles. The best advice is
to not get in this mess in the rst place by buying a trailer with the correct capacity for what
you haul, but it is possible to upgrade the axles
and suspension for heavier cargoto a point. In
the case of this 26-foot box trailer, it had been
upgraded with interior cabinets, extra tools, and
spare parts for a big trail Jeep that runs tons and
42-inch tires. The poor little six-lug axles and
15-inch tires were not surviving.
The rst step in upgrading is removing the

small stuff. The crew at Imago Trailer took
torch to the torsion axles because they dont
just bolt to the trail chassis. The torsion axles
are not a bad option, but they can be limited in
the amount of repairs possible short of replacing
them completely. The consensus was that swapping over to a set of leaf-sprung axles would gain
us 4 inches of height and better weight distribution over a similarly rated torsion axle.
3
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
Gaining height may seem counterintuitive for a

trailer. Why raise your cargo even higher from
the ground? But in fact it opens up three positives

for this particular trailer. First, the trailer can now
run a bigger G-rated 235/85R16 tire, up from the
prior C-rated 225/75R15 2540. Second, these
tires can hold more weight. Third, these tires are
taller, which isnt a bad idea for a trailer that gets
drug down rutted dirt roads where it would often
bottom out and get banged into the ground.
In order to clear the bigger tires, the leaf

springs needed additional help. A 4-inch
subframe was added between the springs and
the trailer chassisa body lift of sorts. This
brought the trailer up enough to clear the bigger
tires from stufng into the body/fenders of the
trailer and, as an added benet, meant that the
giant tow rig no longer needed a big drop hitch
to hook up to the trailer because it now rode
higher. The leaf-spring design of the new suspension uses an equalizer bar between them to
help distribute the load more evenly over both
axlesanother bonus.
SOURCE
IMAGO TRAILER MFG.
909.420.0107
imagotrailers.com
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Trencher, Saw Mill (Item 61712/62366/67138), Predator Gas Power
Items, open box items, in-store event or parking lot sale items. Not
valid on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase date with
original receipt. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented.
Valid through 8/24/15. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
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$340
44", 13 DRAWER
INDUSTRIAL QUALITY
ROLLER CABINET
29 PIECE TITANIUM
NITRIDE COATED
HIGH SPEED STEEL
DRILL BIT SET
We have invested millions

of dollars in our own
state-of-the-art quality test
labs and millions more in
our factories, so our tools
will go toe-to-toe with the
top professional brands.
And we can sell them for a
fraction of the price because
we cut out the middle man
and pass the savings on to
you. Its just that simple!
Come visit one of our
550 Stores Nationwide.
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12 TON HYDRAULIC
PIPE BENDER
LOT NO.
32888/62539
Item
32888
shown
SAVE
$100
79
99
35999
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
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SAVE
$100
$
REG. PRICE $179.99
10999
Weighs
105 lbs.
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SU UP VERTICAL AIR COMPRESSOR
CO
SAVE
$70
Item 67847
shown
14999
REG. PRICE $219.99
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
9 PIECE 1/4", 3/8", AND 1/2"

DRIVE WOBBLE SOCKET
EXTENSIONS

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Capacity
SU UP
CO
STEP STOOL/
WORKING PLATFORM
LOT NO.
66911/62515
LOT NO.
67971/61278
SAVE
56%
Pair of Arbor
Plates Included
9999
LOT NO.
68056/60706/62319
REG.
PRICE
$199.99

Item 68887
shown
LOT NO.
33497/60604
REG.
PRICE
$199.99
Item
68056
shown
LOT NO. 67847

61454/61693
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12 TON
SHOP PRESS
$97
Item 68784 shown
SAVE
$90
SAVE
OVER
$52
79
LOT NO. 5889

61637/62281
REG.
$ 99$24PRICE
.99
RAPID PUMP
4 TON
HEAVY DUTY
STEEL
FLOOR JACK
90 AMP FLUX
WIRE WELDER
LOT NO. 68784

69387/62270
62591
REG.
PRICE
$699.99
SUPER
COUPON
LOT NO. No Gas Required

68887/61849
Weighs
245 lbs.
Item
61637
shown
WOW
How Does Harbor Freight

Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools
at the LOWEST Prices?
Item
60604
shown
Item
67971
shown
1099
REG.
PRICE
$24.99
Item 66911
shown
SAVE
28%
2499
REG. PRICE $34.99




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Item
46163
shown
MECHANIC'S
SHOP TOWELS
PACK OF 50
LOT NO. 46163
61878/69649
61837
40 PIECE HOSE CLAMP

ASSORTMENT
LOT NO. 61523

60395/62325/62493
SAVE
50%
$ 99
REG. PRICE $19.99

HIGH LIFT RIDING

LAWN MOWER / ATV LIFT
SAVE
50%
Item
60807
shown
LOT NO. 62363

60807/67578
REG.
$ 99PRICE
$9.99

SAVE
$60
Item 61523
shown
300 lb. Capacity
8999
REG. PRICE $149.99

6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV
SAVE HORIZONTAL SHAFT

$150
GAS ENGINES
LOT NO.
60363/69730/68120
LOT NO. 69727
CALIFORNIA ONLY
Item 69727
shown
9999
REG.
PRICE
$249.99

FOR
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12,000 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH

WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND
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LOT NO. 68142/61256
60813/61889
FREE
WITH ANY PURCHASE
3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT

NINE LED
ALUMINUM
FLASHLIGHT
AWARD
WINNING
QUALITY
$29999
SAVE
$300
Item
68142
shown
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot

be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original
purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original
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LOT NO. 95578/69645/60625
SAVE
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900 PEAK/
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2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE
GAS RECREATIONAL
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ITEM 69052
69111/62522/62573
Item 69052 shown
$ 99
VALUE
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Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567.
Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not
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3 TON HEAVY DUTY

STEEL JACK STANDS
LOT NO. 38846
69597
61196/62392
LOT NO. 66619

69381/60338/62472
Item 38846
shown
SAVE
$80
WE CARRY
A FULL LINE
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AND CUT-OFF
WHEELS
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Item 60625
shown
Item
69381
shown
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2 TON FOLDABLE
SHOP CRANE
LOT NO.
69514/60388
Includes Ram,
Hook and Chain
SAVE
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Item
69514
shown
17999
REG.
PRICE
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OFF-ROAD LONG-RANGE
TRUCK LIGHT SYSTEM
SAVE
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$
99
For off-road
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WIRELESS WINCH
REMOTE CONTROL
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62%
REG.
$
99$79.99
PRICE
LOT NO.
69229
61474
Item 69229
shown
REG. PRICE $39.99
29

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3-1/2 Ton Capacity
SAVE $
33%
Item 6530
shown
3999
REG.
PRICE
$59.99
16" x 30" TWO SHELF

STEEL SERVICE CART
220 lb.
Capacity
Item 5107
shown
7499
REG.
PRICE
$129.99

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500 LB. CAPACITY

STEEL CARGO CARRIER
LOT NO. 66983/69623
Item
66983
shown
SAVE
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4999
REG. PRICE $99.99

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32 PIECE
SCREWDRIVER SET
SAVE
60%

LOT NO. 6530/60668
LOT NO.
61259
90764
REG.
$ 99 PRICE
19
LOT NO. 3029
SAVE
57%
SAVE
$55
Item 90764
shown

42" OFF-ROAD/
FARM JACK
700 ft. lbs.

Max. Torque
LOT NO. 68424
9999

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1/2" INDUSTRIAL QUALITY

SUPER HIGH TORQUE
IMPACT WRENCH
REG. PRICE
$179.99
REG. PRICE $19.99

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7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6"

CAMOUFLAGE TARP
LOT NO.
46411/61765
LOT NO.
5107/60390
$2999
SAVE
37%
Item 46411 shown
REG.
$ 99 PRICE
$7.99
$14.99

SAVE
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Tools sold
separately.
LOW-PROFILE
CREEPER
300 lb.
Capacity
"
40
LOT NO. 69262

2745/69094
61916
19"
1999
Item 2745
shown
REG. PRICE $49.99

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MIG-FLUX
WELDING CART
LOT NO. 69340/60790
90305/61316
SAVE
41%
Welder and
accessories sold
separately.
Item 69340 shown



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EVERYTHING YOU
NEED TO TOW SAFELY
1
Harry Wagner
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE
MANUFACTURERS AND HARRY WAGNER
EAVY-DUTY TRUCKS HAVE
come a long way in the last

decade, with horsepower
and tow ratings increasing
every year. Just because
your new truck is rated to
tow 28,000 pounds though
doesnt mean that you have everything
necessary to get the job done. And if you
have an older truck that didnt come from
the factory with a brake controller or
backup camera, you still have the option
of adding those components, and more,
via the aftermarket. We rounded up some
of the best towing products on the market
so that you can go a long way too, just like
those fancy new trucks.
38
MACS ULTRA PACK
The Ultra Pack features separate axle

straps and ratchet straps in your choice
of black, blue, red, or yellow. The pack
comes in 6- and 8-foot options and can be
ordered with a twisted snap hook, a direct
hook ratchet, or a chain extension
to meet whatever the situation
requires. Macs straps have more
than twice the number of stitches
than most competitors straps,
giving it a 10,000-pound capacity
rating. INFORMATION:
Macs Tie Downs,
800.666.1586, macstiedowns.com.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
THE HITCHIN POST
2
3
5
2
CURT TRIFLEX BRAKE CONTROL
The TriFlex is so named for the triple-axis

(X, Y, Z axes) accelerometer to sense the inertia of your vehicle, allowing it to apply the
perfect amount of brake power for safe, efcient stops. The TriFlex proportional brake
controller features a digital display and
automatic leveling and calibration, and it can
be used with up to four axles. INFORMATION:
CURT Mfg., 800.738.7213, curtmfg.com.
3
HUSKY CENTER LINE TS
The TS hitch from Husky has weight distribution with built-in sway control, is easy
to install, and even comes with hitch ball
already installed. This system employs a
combination of steel types, trunion bolts,
head plate design, and clamping forces to
produce over 1,800 pounds of very quiet
sway resistance. A smooth ride is achieved
through precisely engineered tapered
spring bars. INFORMATION: Husky Towing
Products, 877.544.4449, huskytow.com.
4 TRANSFER FLOW
REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK
Mileage drops when you are towing a

heavy load, so extra fuel capacity can make
the difference between getting to your
destination or sitting on the side of the
road. Transfer Flow makes replacement and
40
auxiliary fuel tanks from 12 and 14-gauge

aluminized steel for superior corrosion
resistance and strength, are bafed for
extra support and to reduce fuel slosh,
and come with new straps and mounting
hardware. Applications are available for
most diesel and gasoline-powered fullsize pickups. Information: Transfer Flow,
530.893.5209, transferow.com.
5
REESE DROP-IN HITCH
This new fth wheel hitch ts Ram 2500

HD and 3500 HD trucks with the OE tow
package (factory-installed OE rail system).
Rated for 20,000 pounds of capacity with
a 5,000-pound pin weight capacity and
featuring the Reese Elite Series fth wheel
head, this new hitch has a black powdercoat nish, is SAE J2638 Compliant, and has
a limited lifetime warranty. INFORMATION:
Reese, 800.632.3290, reeseprod.com.
6 WESBAR AUXILIARY LED
WORK LIGHT
Wesbar helps light up your workspace

with auxiliary LED work lights. Available
in round or rectangular, the lights have a
12-volt power adapter or can be hardwired
directly to your vehicle. The portable lights
come with a 19-foot extended coiled cord
and a magnetic base with protective lm
7
that secures the light rmly so that it can
withstand high vibration. INFORMATION:
Wesbar, 800.632,3290, wesbar.com.
7
CURT CARGO STRAPS
CURT offers both cambuckle and ratchet

cargo straps. The companys cambuckle cargo straps have a work load of 300 pounds
with a break strength of 900 pounds, are
equipped with S-hooks, and are available
in 15- or 16-foot lengths. The ratchet cargo
straps are designed for even heavier loads,
having capacities from 500 to 3,333 pounds
and break strengths of 1,500 to 10,000
pounds. They are available with S-hooks,
J-hooks, or at hooks. INFORMATION: CURT
Mfg., 800.738.7213, curtmfg.com.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
BAJA MTZ
P3
is an incredible mud terrain tire that has

been specially designed with a unique silica
reinforced tread compound for longer wear,
enhanced wet weather capability, and
superior cut and chip resistance.
SHOP, COMPARE, SAVE.

Click the Buy Now button at
MickeyThompsonTires.com.
NEW M/T METAL SERIES WHEELS & DEEGAN 38 WHEELS AVAILABLE!
BAJA ATZP3
MM-245
CLASSIC III BLACK
BAJA MTZP3
MM-366
SIDEBITER II
DEEGAN 38 PRO 4
BAJA CLAW TTC
For a dealer near you, 866-943-6729 MickeyThompsonTires.com
MM-489
NEW
BAJA STZ
CLASSIC III
NEW
CLASSIC BAJA LOCK
MM-164M
NEW
MM-164B
DEEGAN 38 PRO 2
DEEGAN 38
THE HITCHIN POST
11
12
9
10
13
HIDDEN HITCH CLASS III/IV

MULTI-FIT
have a trailer. This folding tow bar from

Husky is lightweight and easy to install
and features a 5,000-pound capacity and
adjustable arms. It easily connects and disconnects from the bumper mounting brackets by two pull pins and folds for compact
storage. The quick-latch coupler ts 2-inch
trailer balls. INFORMATION: Husky Towing
Utilizing solid all-welded construction,

these Class III/IV Multi-Fit hitches by Hidden Hitch ensure a perfect t. They offer
top towing performance ,which allows
the tow vehicle to withstand road abuse
within specied capacities. Rated up to
6,000 pounds GTW weight carrying and
10,000 pounds GTW weight distribution,
this receiver features an A-coat base with
a black powdercoat nish and a lifetime
limited warranty. INFORMATION: Hidden
Hitch, 800.632.3290, hiddenhitch.com.
TEKONSHA PRODIGY P2
BRAKE CONTROLLER
9
This brake controller works with electric over hydraulic brake systems and is
designed with reverse battery protection
for both vehicle and breakaway. Numerous mounting options, digital display,
self-adjusting, quick disconnect, and
continual diagnostic checks are just
some of the useful features found on the
Tekonsha Prodigy P2. The innovative
Boost feature allows users to apply more
initial trailer braking power when towing
heavier trailers. INFORMATION: Tekonsha,
800.632.3290, tekonsha.com.
10
HUSKY FOLDING TOW BAR
Flat towing is a great option if you dont
11 PRO SERIES ADJUSTABLE

BALL MOUNTS
Pro Series adjustable ball mounts are

available in dual, tri-ball, and pintle congurations to cover all of your bases. Each ts
a 2-inch receiver and is rated up to 14,000
pounds GTW, with an adjustable height
up to 1012 inches. Dual (2 and 2516 inches),
tri-ball (178 , 2, and 2516 inches), and pintle
mount options all feature an adjustable
cast shank and knurled bolt pin(s) with a
secure lanyard. INFORMATION: Pro Series,
800.632.3290, proseriestowing.com.
12 HUSKY ASCEND BRAKE
CONTROLLER
The Husky Ascend brake control features three separate components so you
can mount them where they work best
for you. The display can be mounted on
the A-pillar, dash, or rearview mirror. The
manual control can be placed within easy
reach. The brain mounts out of sight. All
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
14
three components plug in together for the
ultimate in exibility and safety. Advanced
proportional technology can control up to
eight brakes and mirrors the braking of the
tow vehicle. INFORMATION: Husky Towing
13 DRAW-TITE PRO SERIES
PINTLE COMBO
This pintle hitch from Draw-Tite is a great

choice for towing off-road. It comes with a
pintle hook with a 2516-inch ball hook rated
at 16,000 pounds, a ball rating of 14,000
pounds, and a 3,000-pound maximum
vertical load. Black powdercoat, Grade 8
hardware, and a limited lifetime warranty
complete the package. INFORMATION: DrawTite, 800.632.3290, draw-tite.com.
HUSKY BRUTE POWER

JACK 4500
14
The rugged Husky Brute 4500 Power

Jack lifts up to 4,500 pounds with gear
reduction for fast travel speeds. The jack
includes a 6-inch adjustable dropdown leg.
The 214-inch main tube ts most A-frame
couplers. Features include a ball screw
design for smoother operation and longer
motor life, SmartStop technology that controls the jacks range, and three LED lights
to illuminate the hitch area. INFORMATION:
Husky Towing Products, 877.544.4449,
huskytow.com.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
Get more mileage

out of your vinyl,
leather and rubber.
Mothers VLR: Vinyl-LeatherRubber Care safely cleans the
most stubborn ground-in dirt,
soil and stains. Plus, its infused
with neatsfoot oil and lanolin,
to safeguard against drying,
fading and cracking. Its the
simple way to get the most
out of your vinyl, leather
and rubber.
PACKAGE DEALS!!!
CALL FOR PACKAGE PRICE ON ANY TIRE & WHEEL

COMBINATION. INCLUDES COMPUTER SPIN
BALANCING. LUGS & CENTERS.
HUGE SELECTION OF SIZES & STYLES.
5 Garden Court Wheeling, WV 26003

Open 8 to 7 Mon-Fri - Sat 9 to 1
NTWonline.com
Tech 1-304-233-7917
super swamper
M-16
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RADIAL
ATZ-P3
STZ
MTZ
MAXXIS
XMT2
KM-2
KO2 NEW
Buckshot
Mudder
XMT RADIAL
DEEGAN 38
MUD CLAW
FUN
MUD
TRAIL
COUNTRY COUNTRY CRUSHER COUNTRY
Buckshot
Mudder
XMT
KO
TTC
GRAPPLER
TERRA G2 EXO AWT
MUD
TRAIL
MADE BY
COOPER
FEDERAL
FEDERAL MT
TOYO OPEN COUNTRY FIERCE ATTITUDE ATTURO COURSER
MT
AT II
RT
NEW MT
TRAIL BLADE MT
XMT BY COOPER
WILD PEAK
MUD GRIPPER M/T
THOUSANDS OF WHEELS AVAILABLE FROM THESE FINE MANUFACTURERS
AMERICAN
H U G E I N V E N T O R Y O F T H E S E F I N E S U S P E N S I O N C O M PA N I E S
ATV &
UTV
TIRES
&
WHEELS
CHECK OUR LOW FREIGHT RATES

Swamp Lite
Radial Reptile
Black Mamba
Mamba Lite
Vampire
Interforce
This Is A Sampling Of Our Huge

Inventory. CALL or CLICK!!
NTWonline.com
JEEP BUMPERSLED LIGHTS &MOUNTS
Wheel Spacers
8 Lug Spacers
8X6.5, 8X170, 8X180,
8X200, 8X210
1.5, 2, 3 & 4
5 & 6 Lug 1.5, 2, 2.5

Profession
Dually Wheels In Stock Installation
16, 17, 19.5 & 20 Available
FENDER FLAIRS & MORE
Walk-Ins Welcome 9-5 M-F/9-1 Sat All Tires Plus F.E.T.

TECH LINE 1-304-233-7917FAX 1-304-233-2286TRACK ORDERS 1-800-391-1113
NO returns after 30 daysNO returns on Special Order ItemsAll returns subject to 20% restock feePrices Subject To Change
NTWonline.com or 1-800-847-3287
Best Customer Service
SHOCKS
INC.
GM
2015 . . . . .GM 1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-$1199 . . .7.5 $1199

07-13 . . . . .GM 1500 3 $249 . . . . . . . .5 $999 . . . . . . .7 $999
07-13 . . . . .GM 1500 2 w/Nitro Shocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 129
99-06 . . . . .GM 1500 No Drop Torsion. 4 $999. . . . . . . ...6 999
00-06 . . . . .GM Tahoe Yukon & SUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1299
88-98 . . . . .GM 1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 $519. . . . . . . 6 999
11-14 . . . . .GM 2500 HD NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1399
02-10 . . . . .GM 2500 HD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1295
01-06 . . . . .GM 1500 HD & 2500 Non HD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1295
07-13 . . . . .GM 1500 (Spacer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 64
99-13 . . . .GM 1500/2500 Torsion Bar Key . . . . . . . . . . . .2 99
67-87 . . . . .GM Straight Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 4 & 6 CALL
Easiest Install Best $ Value

LEVELING KITS (most $99 or less)
JEEP
07-15 . . . . .Jeep JK w/N20 shocks . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .499

07-15 . . . . .Jeep JK w/N20 shocks . . .6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .999
97-06 . . . . .Jeep TJ w/N20 shocks . . . .2.5 $299 . . . .3.25 369
97-06 . . . . .Jeep TJ w/N20 shocks . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .499
97-06 . . . . .Jeep TJ w/2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .599
97-06 . . . . .Jeep TJ X-Series . . . . . . . . .4 $999 . . . . . .6 1049
87-96 . . . . .Jeep YJ w/N20 shocks . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .449
97-06 . . . . .Jeep TJ Long Arm . . . . . . . .4 $1599 . . . . .6 1649
NEW . . . . .Jeep Long Arm Upgrade XJ $649 . . . . . . . .TJ 899
84-01 . . . . .Jeep XJ Cherokee . . . . . . . .3 . $255......6.5 X . .899
84-01 . . . . .Jeep XJ Cheroke . . . . . . . . .4.5 $459. . . . . . 6 829
84-01 . . . . .Jeep XJ w/rear springs . . . .4.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .655
84-01 . . . . .Jeep XJ Long Arm . . . . . . . .4 $1299 . . . . 6 1449
93-98 . . . . .Jeep ZJ Grand Cher . . . . . .3.5 $379 . . . . . 4 599
93-98 . . . . .Jeep ZJ ...4 (adj. links) . . .$749 . .Long Arm 1499
99-03 . . . . .Jeep WJ Grand Cher....4 $499 .Long Arm CALL
03-07 . . . . .Jeep Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .359
76-86 . . . . .Jeep CJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 $409 . . . . . .4
. 439
2015 . . . . .F150 (new body) . . . . . . . . . .4, 5 or 6 . . . . . .$1299

2014 . . . . .F150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 or 6 . . . . . . . . . . .999
09-13 . . . . .F150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 or 6 . . . . . . . . . . .999
04-08 . . . . .F150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 or 6 . . . . . . . . . . .999
97-03 . . . . .F150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .999
80-96 . . . . .F150 w/arm & Free Steering Stablizer . . . . . .4 469
80-96 . . . . .F150 w/arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .499
04-08 & 09-13...F150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leveling . . . . . . .2.5 99
05-13 . . . . .Super Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leveling . . . . . . .2.5 99
FORD
11-15 . . . . .Super Duty (spacer) . . . . . .3 $379 . .(coil) 3 $499

11-15 . . . . .Super Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.5 649
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11-15 . . . . .Super Duty 4 Link Adjustable. . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1299
08-10 . . . . .Super Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 $499. . . . . . 6 799
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.. 649
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05-07 . . . .Super Duty 4 Link . . . . . . .6 $1279 . . . . 8 1659
99-04 . . . . .Super Duty 2 $339 . . . . . . .5 Excursion . . . . . .799
99-04 . . . . .Super Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .809
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80-98 . . . . .F250/350 Gas or Diesel . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609
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09-13 . . . . .Dodge 1500 (inc. 1.25 Body Lift). . . . . .3.75
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249
03-13 . . . . .Dodge Ram HD radius arm drop $669.......5 .770
03-13 . . . . .Dodge Ram HD (with adjustable links). .. . ..5 999
94-13. . . . .Dodge RAM HD. . . . . . . . . . Leveling. . . . . . .2.5 99
14-15 . . . . .RAM 25/3500 HD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 999
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07-15 . . . . .Jeep JK w/N20 shocks . . . .2.5 $329 . . . .3.25 379

07-15 . . . . .Jeep JK w/N20 shocks . . . .3.5smooth ride . . .499
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FEATURE
TECH SPECS
2009 JEEP WRANGLER
UNLIMITED
DRIVETRAIN
ENGINE: 3.8L V-6

TRANSMISSION: 42RLE 4-speed automatic
TRANSFER CASE: Advance Adapters Atlas II
FRONT AXLE: Currie Rock Jock 60 with 5.13
gears and ARB Air Locker

REAR AXLE: Currie Rock Jock 60 with 5.13
gears and ARB Air Locker
SUSPENSION
SPRINGS & SUCH: Trent Fabrication long
arm with King air bumps and front Fox

coilovers and rear Synergy lift springs
TIRES & WHEELS: 40x13.5R17LT Maxxis
Trepador radials on 17x9.5 Raceline
Monster beadlocks
STEERING: PSC hydraulic assist
OTHER STUFF: Poison Spyder front bumper,
Rigid Industries LED light, Warn XD9500i
winch, Masterpull synthetic winch line,
Shrockworks rock sliders, Shrockworks
rear bumper and tire carrier, Synergy Mfg.
skidplates, Bayshore 1350 drivelines, AEV
snorkel, Optima RedTop battery, York air
compressor, sPOD switch panel, Xenon
fender ares
BUY LOW
THIS JK IS NO MALL CRAWLER
Harry Wagner
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY HARRY WAGNER
TEVE CASCI IS ONE OF THOSE
guys who change rigs more

often than most of us change
socks. He is constantly selling
old projects to make room for
something new. After his 2009
JK Unlimited sat dormant for
eight months while Steve was out enjoying trails in a Polaris RZR, he decided to
unload the Jeep. Shane Doherty snatched
up the 5-year-old JK with less only 9,000
miles on the odometer for a bargain.
Shane has his own project, a CJ-7 that
he is restoring, but the four door JK is ready
to wheel right now and has more room for
Shanes son and other passengers. Plus,
Casci had already put the rst (and second,
and third) scratch in the Jeep, so Shane
can wheel it hard without worrying about
putting the rst dent in his new (to him)
Wrangler. On the contrary, the hard work
has been done and the money spent, and
now Shane can just enjoy the ride.
46
After bending the factory axles, they were

replaced with Currie Rock Jock Dana 60s
with 5.13 gears, ARB Air Lockers, and eight-lug
F-450 outers. The axles are located by a custom long-arm suspension fabricated by Trent
Fabrication with radius arms in the front and a
three-link conguration in back.
The interior is largely stock, with the addition of a Yaesu 8800 2m radio and Cobra
CB, with the mics for both secured to the Tuffy
Flip-N-Lock Tray. Toggles for the air compressor
and ARB Air Lockers are located under the HVAC
controls and in front of the twin shifters for the
Atlas II transfer case, where they are easy to
reach yet not likely to be accidently bumped.
Well-worn Synergy skidplates protect the

automatic transmission that was upgraded
with a Rock Krawler deep sump pan and the
Advance Adapters Atlas II transfer case. The
ability to just engage the front axle (front dig)
with the Atlas II is useful on tight trails where
the longer wheelbase of the four door JK is a
disadvantage.
Got that out of the way! This Jeep had body

damage before it had even had its rst oil
4
change. That makes it easier to tackle tough
trails where the 40-inch tires and Currie axles
are required.
The front suspension uses 12-inch-travel

Fox coilovers and Eibach dual rate springs,
while the rear retains coil springs from Synergy
Manufacturing since coilovers would either
have to be mounted through the tub or hang
down below the centerline of the axle. Both
ends use King hydraulic bumpstops and Synergy limit straps to control the suspension travel.
The 3.8L V-6 has less than 10,000 miles on

it, so it hasnt given Shane any reason to
change it. The engine breathes through an AEV
snorkel and is equipped with a York belt-driven
air compressor, dual Optima RedTop batteries,
and a sPOD power distribution block.
The rear taillights were replaced with

housings from Warrior Products that hold
common round LED lights and are far less susceptible to damage than the stock taillights.
Also visible are the side markers to stay legal
and the air hose tting for the onboard air next
on the Shrockworks rear bumper.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
47
COVER SECTION: SUSPENSION SECRETS

Harry Wagner
BY
DONT
OVERDO
IT
SKYJACKER
TACOMA
INSTALL
48
OU DONT OFTEN READ
about this in magazines,

but the truth is that lifting
your 4-wheel vehicle can
be like opening Pandoras
Box. First you install the
lift, but that is just the
beginning. Next you add larger tires.
Wasnt that the whole point of lifting
the truck in the rst place? Then you
need to purchase lower gears to turn
your bigger tires. As long as you are
inside the axles, it is a good time to add
a locking differential
If you have planned for all of these
events, you will not be disappointed in
the capabilities of your vehicle when
you are done. If you are on a limited
budget though, it may be more prudent
to install a modest suspension lift and
slightly larger tires because they are
not only less expensive than larger tires
but do not require new axle gears.
No one is on a more limited budget than a high school kid, so when
Wyatts dad offered to buy him a
Skyjacker suspension for his Tacoma
if Wyatt got As and Bs on his report
card, he had to explain that the budget
for the modications was not endless.
Welcome to adulthood, Wyatt.
When discussing moderate lift
heights, Skyjacker might not be the
rst name to come to mind. While it
is true that the company makes lifts
up to 8 inches tall for a variety of
applications, that is not all they offer.
Skyjacker has been in business for
over 40 years and has a variety of suspension heights and options available
for nearly every 4x4 on the market,
including Wyatts Tacoma. Adding a
2-inch lift to the truck allowed tment
of 235/85R16 General Grabber AT2s.
The stock suspension on the Toyota
was shot, so adding inexpensive spacers above the factory struts was not an
option. Instead, Skyjackers replacement struts were used with the stock
coils in the front to retain the factory
ride quality. Tacomas are notorious
for breaking leaf springs, so although
Skyjacker offers an add-a-leaf, Wyatts
truck was upgraded with full replacement leaf springs and Skyjacker M95
monotube shocks. These were not the
least expensive options, but knowing
that there would be no additional costs
in the future made it easier to invest in
the high-quality Skyjacker suspension.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
DONT OVERDO IT
Motivation can come in many forms. Wyatts

father made a promise to buy him this Skyjacker suspension if he could maintain a 3.5
grade point average. New shocks for a good
report card is a fair trade.
from 1 to 3 inches of lift. Skyjacker does not

recommend running more than 2 inches of lift
unless your Tacoma is equipped with manual
locking hubs, where the CV axles are not spinning unless the hubs are locked.
Since the lift height offered by the Skyjacker suspension is modest, there is no need
for new steering knuckles, drop crossmembers,
extended brake lines, or sway bar extensions.
This allows Skyjacker to offer high-quality
shocks and springs at an affordable price.
The Skyjacker S8000 front strut has an

adjustable spring seat to offer anywhere
Comparing the body of the factory strut to

the new strut, it is easy to see where the
added lift height comes from. The Skyjacker
S8000 uses a 14mm chrome hardened shaft and
a 150-psi, twin-tube, gas-charged design for a
rm yet controlled ride.
A spring compressor is necessary to remove
the factory spring from the stock strut and
install it on the Skyjacker strut. Spring compressors can generally be rented from your local
parts store for free.
The stock front struts were easy to remove

from the Tacoma, while the longer Skyjacker
struts were more challenging to install (well,
challenging for Wyatt while his dad and granddad
coached from the couch). The lower ball joint was
unbolted from the knuckle to create the necessary space to install the S8000 strut.
Yes, Wyatt got off easy with a two-post lift to

install his new Skyjacker suspension. The rear
suspension consists of leaf springs though and
could easily be performed with jackstands in the
driveway if you dont mind lying on your back.
4
50
7
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
DONT OVERDO IT
11
10
10
Skyjacker offers add-a-leaf kits for the rear

of Tacomas, but the companys Softride full
replacement springs offer more wheel travel and
a better ride. Note that 199512 -1997 Tacomas
(like Wyatts) used shorter leaf springs than 19982004 Tacomas. We learned that one the hard way,
and leaf springs are not inexpensive to ship.
Skyjacker Softride springs use Teon sliders between the leaves, tapered ends, and
bolted (instead of clamped) leaf retainers. All
of these features reduce friction for increased
articulation and a smoother rider.
ITIO
OMPET
NON-CVERSION
The rear leaf springs are complemented

by Skyjacker M95 monotube shocks
that are valved specically for the Tacoma and
are longer than stock to match the height and
travel of the leaf springs. The M95 shocks use
high-pressure nitrogen and a oating piston for
fade-free performanceeven when subjected
to a teenage driver.
11
One sure way to spot a truck that never

really goes off-road is that the U-bolts hang
down and are unharmed. Flipping the U-bolts so
they face upward is the ideal solution, but then
new lower shock mounts must be fabricated.
Wyatt simply cut the excess off the new Skyjacker
U-bolts that were included with the springs.
12
13
12
Sam Cothrun at Samco Fabrication mounted up our new General Grabber AT2 tires
on Toyota TRD rims. The Grabbers are the perfect tires for this truck, as they are more aggressive than stock while providing great traction
in a wide variety of environments from sand to
pavement to snow.
13
The 235/85R16 General Grabber AT2s

are nearly 4 inches taller than the tires
that are being replaced, but they are only half
14
an inch wider. The pizza-cutter tires maximize
ground clearance while keeping weight and rolling resistant to a minimum.
14
The last step required was an alignment

before hitting the road. Then it was back
to school for Wyatt. His new Skyjacker suspension and General tires have denitely taught him
the value of getting good grades! Hello Ladies,
this bench seat has room for three
SOURCES
GENERAL TIRE
800.847.3349
generaltire.com
SAMCO FABRICATION
775.856.4100
samcofabrication.com
SKYJACKER SUSPENSION
318.388.0816
skyjacker.com
PART 2: BUILDING A
CUSTOM LINKED
SUSPENSION
ON TRACK
W
Harry Wagner
BY
E KNEW FROM THE
start that we were

going to ditch the
independent front
suspension on our
Tracker project for
a custom linked
suspension front and rear. While that decision was easy, determining exactly what
would t and meet our needs for extreme
rockcrawling while remaining street legal
was a bigger challenge. And as with many
projects, we fell a little behind schedule.
This month we will talk about the theory
behind the suspension conguration and
components we chose, and next month
56
we will go into more detail on how the nal

product was install on the Tracker.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Front solid-axle link suspensions can

consist of a three-link, a four-link, or radius
arms, which in that order decrease from
more to less articulation. All of these suspension designs utilize a track bar (Panhard
bar) to locate the axle laterally. The bar
should be parallel to the drag link in order
to minimize bumpsteer. A triangulated front
suspension would require full hydraulic
steering or a complicated bell crank steering system to avoid massive bumpsteer as
the suspension articulates. Neither steering
system was considered practical for our
lightweight, street-legal Tracker.
Radius arms and four-link suspensions
have been used on the front of everything

from Early Broncos to JK Wranglers. They
provide good stability and are consistent
from side to side (react the same regardless of whether the driver side or the passenger side is compressing). They also
tend to bind during articulation, which
can be useful since it acts as roll resistance (the same effect as a sway bar), but
binding limits articulation.
We chose a three-link front suspension
for our Tracker with two lower links to position the axle, one upper link to prevent the
axle from rotating, and a track bar to locate
the axle laterally. The distance between
the upper and lower links must be great
enough to prevent the axle from rotating
when power is applied, but an overly tall
upper link mount will limit uptravel before
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ON TRACK
4
contacting the frame and can swing into
the frame or oil pan under articulation
depending on location. With only one
upper link, binding is greatly reduced
when compared to a four-link suspension,
but it must be built strong enough to control axle twist, and we anticipate adding
a sway bar to add stability on the street.
The track bar will be positioned parallel to
the steering drag link to minimize bumpsteer and ideally at at ride height for an
improved roll center.
REAR SUSPENSION
The rear suspension does not have to
share space with steering components
5
or concerns about tire clearance at full
lock, simplifying the process. Common
rear suspensions consist of four links
with a track bar, such as is found on the
rear of JK Wranglers, and three links or
triangulated four links that eliminate the
requirement of a track bar. Like the front
suspension, using a four-link with a track
bar allows for abundant vertical wheel
travel but can cause binding when the
suspension articulates. This is why many
Jeep owners convert to a triangulated
rear suspension, whereas you do not
have the bumpsteer issues that prevent
this suspension conguration from typically being used on the front of 4x4s.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
On the front of the Tracker, the new Diamond

axle needed to be positioned far enough
forward to clear the sump on the oil pan at full
compression. While this had the added benet
of stretching the wheelbase and improving the
approach angle, it made packaging the track bar
and drag link more challenging.
Haines built a crossmember out of

134x0.156-wall tubing to mount the front
suspension links. Since the crossmember is
under the transmission, tube clamps from TrailGear were added to service the drivetrain.
Jesse Haines measured the centerline of the

axle to make certain that it was centered
under the chassis. Mounting the lower links to the
axle means nding a balance between tment on
the axlehousing and a separation wide enough
for stability yet compact enough to allow the tire
to turn to full lock without contacting the link.
Rod End Supply makes rod ends in a number

of sizes and materials for everything from
carburetor linkages to Trophy Truck suspensions. We chose chromoly steel XM rod ends that
are self-lubricating with a Nylaber matrix race.
While they more economical rod ends, Rod End
Supplys Bob Douglas stated that XM rod ends
are a great long-term value since they stay tight
for so much longer than conventional rod ends.
Misalignment spacers allow more angularity out of a rod end at the expense of the
hardware size. We will be using misalignment
spacers from Rod End Supply on our drag link,
but suspension links will not require them due to
the orientation of the rod ends.
Weld washers dont offer as much angularity

as misalignment spacers, but they also do
not require a smaller fastener to be used. Haines
recommended running weld washers on all the
control arm brackets to add a small degree of
angularity. The larger benet though is the ability to build thinner, and thus lighter, brackets
without concern of the holes becoming eggshaped after hard use off-road.
Misalignment spacers, jam nuts, and weld-in

bungs are all available from Rod End Supply.
If you know the length of control arms you need,
you can even purchase completely welded links
in DOM or chromoly from Rod End Supply.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
Mothers Back-to-Black Heavy

Duty Trim Cleaner Kit. Its not a
cover up. It deep cleans, allowing
you to erase years of neglect,
including oxidation, dirt, road grime
and even stubborn embedded
wax. Restoring your exterior trim
and textured plastics to their
original, like-new color (not just
black) has never been easier.
Apply cleaner to
cool, dry surface.
Scrub with supplied

brush.
Buff to reveal a
naturally clean finish.
Mothers Back-to-Black Trim & Plastic Restorer. The original

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oxidation, dirt, wax residue and surface film with ease, while locking
in the richness and protecting from future damage.
For severely neglected surfaces, first use Mothers
Back-to-Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner.
Pour restorer onto

a dry terry cloth
or sponge.
Massage into surface

then buff for brilliant
results.
ON TRACK
10
11
12
AIR SHOCKS OR COILOVERS?
DS makes all kinds of shocks, from

2-inch-diameter coilovers to 5-inchdiameter bypass shocks for Trophy
Trucks and everything in between, including the 212 -inch-diameter air shocks that
we chose for our Tracker. The most common advantages attributed to air shocks
are their low cost and easy packaging compared to coilover shocks. The downside is
that air shocks offer less tuning since the
ride height and spring rate are both a function of the nitrogen charge in the shock.
The issue with a triangulated four-link

is packaging of the upper links, particularly with a vehicle like our Tracker, where
we are trying to keep the ride height as
low as possible and still allow for 5 inches
of uptravel. Nothing can be in the way of
the upper links as the suspension articulates, making it difcult to package a fuel
tank or exhaust components. For these
reasons, fabricator Jessie Haines recommended running a three-link suspension
with a track bar mounted in the opposite
orientation from the front suspension
(frame side of the bracket on the passenger side, and axle side of the bracket
on the driver side). This allows us to move

the axle rearward to lengthen the wheelbase and improve our departure angle
without concerns about the upper links
contacting the chassis or the body on
full compression, and it allows plenty of
space for our exhaust system.
Now that we have decided on the right
suspension geometry for our application,
it is time to install our ADS air shocks,
Trail-Gear steering components, and
heat-treated chromoly links with Rod End
Supply chromoly rod ends. Check back
next time to see how it all turned out.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
13
Mounting the lower links on the centerline

of the axletube maximizes ground clearance
and also minimizes the angle of the links at ride
height. Haines made the links 32 inches long,
long enough to provide plenty of articulation
and minimize angle change as the suspension
cycles but still be short enough that they do not
hang down excessively and impede progress
when the front tire rolls over a boulder.
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Cloth, Suede, or Leather
An FJ60 steering box was sourced from TrailGear. This Toyota box is much more robust than
anything Suzuki ever offered, and unlike a more
common Toyota pickup steering box, the pitman
arm faces forward on the FJ60 box. This positions
the drag link forward for increased clearance with
the suspension components.
10
The front suspension on Haines previous

atfender buggy used a triangulated fourlink with a traditional steering box to conform
with rules for the class it was raced in. The steering box was mounted on the rewall and used a
bellcrank system. This maximized articulation
and minimized bumpsteer, but it was heavier and
more complex than we wanted on our Tracker.
11
Haines rockcrawling buggy uses an offset

rear differential and a three-link rear suspension with a track bar. We plan to mimic this
setup on our Tracker. Note how much longer the
track bar bracket is than a typical Jeep suspension. This increases the roll center of the vehicle,
providing stability in off-camber situations.
12
Another popular rear suspension option

is a triangulated four-link. By triangulating the upper suspension links, they not only
prevent the axle from rotating but also locate it
from side to side. The only reason we chose not
to run this form of suspension on our Tracker
was for packaging concerns with the low ride
height of the vehicle.
GTS II
Sport Seat
Baja XP
Moab
SOURCES
$369
$299
$299
$239
ADS SHOCKS
Baja RS
Baja XRS
Harness Belts
Sportline RRS
$299
$369
$85 - $149
$475
13
Weight is an important factor for this project. The 212 -inch-diameter, 12-inch-travel
ADS air shocks we used only weigh 14 pounds
each. Comparable coilovers would weigh over 20
pounds at each corner. Some of that weight savings will be offset by the addition of a sway bar,
since air shocks offer very little roll resistance.
520.748.0005
adsshocks.com
JESSE HAINES FABRICATION
facebook.com/jesse.haines.12
ROD END SUPPLY
800.284.2902
rodendsupply.com
TRAIL-GEAR
559.252.4950
trail-gear.com
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
Corbeau
801-255-3737
info@corbeau.com
www.corbeau.com
DOIN IT RIGHT
ALL LIFTS ARE NOT
CREATED EQUAL
Harry Wagner
BY
LENTY OF PEOPLE WANT THE
look of a lifted truck but dont

spend a lot of time in low
range. Strut spacers (commonly called a leveling kit) are
a great way to t bigger, more
aggressive tires at an affordable price and retain the factory ride
62
characteristics, since the stock

coil springs are retained. They have
their drawbacks when subjected to
hard trail use, such as this Toyota Tundra
encounters on a routine basis as part of
Colorados Stay the Trail program (see
sidebar below).
Strut spacers mount on top of the factory strut, so when the strut is in the neutral position, the steering, control arms,
and CVs are not in the neutral position. In
the middle of suspension travel, where
most trucks live when used on the street
and dirt roads, this is not a problem. If you
use all of the suspension travel though,
CV binding and even breakage can occur,
since the CV axle essentially becomes the
limiting factor to suspension extension

(droop). Old Man Emu (OME) has a suspension that addresses all of these issues.
We headed to Toyota specialist Slee
Off-Road, where technicians Joe Risavi
and Nick Briscoe were able to complete
the installation in a day. They taught us
some tricks about Toyotas in the process.
The Old Man Emu suspension provides
just 2 inches of lift height so it doesnt
require new knuckles or crossmembers,
just quality struts and springs. While the
cost is higher than a leveling kit, the OME
suspension offers more wheel travel and a
better ride than the strut spacers both on
the street and the trail. That is important
for trucks like this that get used hard.
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Rock rejection ribs help dislodge rocks caught between
the tread blocks
Enhanced upper sidewall treatment for better cut and
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DOIN IT RIGHT
Old Man Emu has a suspension that

addresses
all of these issues
The Tundra came to Slee Off Road with a

spacer lift installed above the factory strut.
This adds ride height at a low cost, but the
travel of the coilover strut is out of phase with
the CV and control arms.
Note how the overall length of the factory

strut and spacer is the same as the new Old
Man Emu strut. This accounts for the 2-inch
lift over factory height. The OME strut uses a
longer coil though, which provides additional
wheel travel without any binding.
Unlike most suspension manufacturers, Old

Man Emu offers multiple lengths and spring
rates for most of its suspension systems. The
company understands that not every truck
is loaded or used the same way. Those with
heavy bumpers and front winches will benet
from longer and rmer coils, while those with a
lighter truck will achieve the best results with
a lower spring rate.
Since different coil rates are available, the

coils do not come installed on the Old Man
Emu struts. A coil spring compressor is necessary to install the new coils. If you are doing the
installation at home, you can typically rent one
of these tools from your local auto parts store.
The only component that gets reused on

the front suspension is the factory top
hat. Joe Risavi of Slee Off-Road explained
that if you live in the Rust Belt, the stock parts
might require replacement due to excessive
corrosion, but they are available new from
Toyota. Note the out that should be used to
orient the top hat upon reinstallation.
Even at full droop, the CV does not bind with

the new Old Man Emu suspension. You never
want items like brake lines or CV joints to be
the limiting factor for suspension travel.
The spacer lowers the entire strut assembly,

so by the time the strut is full extended the
upper control arm makes contact with the coil
spring and the CV binds. The Old Man Emu suspension is engineered to prevent these issues.
The factory upper control arms were

retained on this Tundra, but Slee Off Road
recommends installing Specialty Products
upper control arms if your budget allows. The
Specialty Products arms allow you to adjust
the caster and retain factory ball joints for
long life and reliability.
4
64
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4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
65
DOIN IT RIGHT
STAY THE TRAIL
ince 2003, the Responsible Recreation Campaign,

and its agship Stay The
Trail Colorado (STT) Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) educational
program, have been focused on encouraging responsible OHV recreation on the roads
and trails that are open to motorized use on public lands within Colorado. STT offers educational outreach over the season in a variety of ways. The STT educational trailers are
staffed by STT employees and volunteers, and are operated statewide to spread the message of responsible motorized recreation. The staffers offer people free maps showing
where to ride legally, tips on trail ethics, and other educational information.
The rear of the Tundra uses leaf springs,

but although they are lower technology
than coilover struts they are not all created
equal. Note how the new OME springs have
more leaves than the factory springs, but each
leaf is thinner and tapered at the end of for a
smooth ride. They also used bolted clamps,
which allow more wheel travel than the factory
spring clamps.
10
Whenever youre changing leaf springs,

it is important to install new U-bolts.
U-bolts stretch when they are torqued, and
that stretch helps to keep them tight, similar
to an engine head bolt. The Old Man Emu suspension comes with new U-bolts.
11
Old Man Emu makes longer shackles

to take advantage of the travel added
by the companys leaf springs. The shackles
use uted bushings and hardware tted with
grease zerks to allow them to be greased. The
grease keeps the shackles moving smoothly
and free of noise.
12
The Old Man Emu Nitrocharger shocks

use low-pressure nitrogen and multistage valving, which eliminates oil starvation
at high speed and greatly reduces heat and
pressure buildup. Note the metal shock boot
to protect the hard chrome shock shaft.
13
Joe Risavi uses a paint pen on all suspension hardware. This is a race car trick
that is useful on your daily driver as well since
it makes it easy to tell if any hardware has
loosened with a quick glance.
14
Old Man Emu includes details in its suspension systems that some other manufacturers deem optional. One example is this
brake line extension, which is easy to install
and ensures that the rear brake lines do not
over extend at full droop.
15
The Tundra was t with 285/75R18 Nitto

Terra Grappler G2 tires from Discount
Tire on factory rims when it came into Slee OffRoad. The same size tires were used with the
new OME suspension. These tires are a more
aggressive than the stock tires without any
compromises on the pavement.
16
The nal step with any new suspension

is an alignment. Slee has a state-ofthe-art Hunter 4-wheel alignment machine in
house so they dont have to worry about the
local tire store sending them home because it
cannot align a lifted vehicle with big tires.
SOURCES
ARB USA
SLEE OFF ROAD
866.293.9078
arbusa.com
888.494.7533
sleeoffroad.com
DISCOUNT TIRE
discounttire.com
SPECIALTY
PRODUCTS
NITTO TIRE
800.525.6505
spcalignment.com
nittotire.com
Powerboard Rebate From BESTOP

Valid 2/1/15 to 6/30/15
STAY THE TRAIL
720.600.3740
staythetrail.org
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
14
10
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Elkhart Lake, WI August 28-30
Charlotte Motor Speedway

Concord, NC July 25-26
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Fountain, CO August 8-9
Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational

Las Vegas, NV November 8-9
The OPTIMA logo is a trademark of Johnson Controls, Inc. 2015. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
67
FEATURE
MINI TRUCK
WITH STRONG
BONES
Jay Kopycinski
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY JAY KOPYCINSKI
HEN YOU RUN TRAILS
for a long time, you

come to a better
comprehension of
the exact vehicle
youd like to tackle
your favorite terrain
with. Symon DeVries cut his teeth wheeling
the forests in the state of Washington 25
years ago, but now calls the desert and
mountain trails of Arizona his stomping
grounds. Over the years he has rened
the Toyota truck you see here to help him

negotiate the kinds of rock trails he enjoys.
What he has ended up with is a slightly
stretched 1985 Toyota pickup with an Xtra
Cab sitting on a modied standard-cab
frame. He wanted to achieve a 105-inch
wheelbase, a length that settles right in the
sweet spot for Southwestern rock wheeling. The extended cab gives him comfortable inside space, and he has a shortened
bed still capable of supporting a 37-inch
spare tire, spare parts, and tools, plus room
to carry weekend camping items.
The factory drivetrain is no longer
intact. Now, a Chevy 6.0L V-8 feeds a
700R4 four-speed automatic and GM 203/
Dana 300 combination transfer case. The
resulting setup provides speed, torque,
and go-slow gearing to a pair of fully built
Dana 60 axles. Wrap it all together with
linked suspensions front and rear and
youve got a highly capable wheeling rig.
Possibly the perfect Toylet?
The factory front fenders are gone and tubestructure fenders built in their place, which
were then covered with race-car plastic sheeting.
The custom dove-nose was completed with an FJ
Cruiser grille anked by Halogen and HID lighting.
Symon built a custom front bumper to support a
Warn M8000 winch spooled with Amsteel Blue rope
threaded through a Beyond Insanity aluminum
fairlead. Rolling rubber consists of 37x12.50R17LT
Pitbull Rocker Radials locked onto 17x9 Robbie
Gordon beadlocks with a six-lug pattern.
Symon swapped an Xtra Cab cab onto a

standard pickup frame to buy himself greater
cab space without an excessive wheelbase for
his needs. When the weather is nice, the factory
doors come off the truck and a set of tube doors
sits in their place. Inside are racing suspension
seats with Simpson ve-point harnesses to provide comfort and safety. A full complement of
Auto Meter gauges displays engine vital signs,
along with speed and engine rpm.
Custom steel work is laced throughout this

Toyota, including both bumpers and a frameconnected bed cage built from 112 x 18 -wall DOM
tubing. Rock sliders use the same type tubing,
but in 14 -inch wall thickness.
68
UNCOMMON T
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
TOYLET
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
The factory bed has morphed into a custom dove-tailed structure fabricated mostly from tubing, then also covered in plastic race-car sheeting. The bed holds another 37-inch tire as a spare, and a custom toolbox
under the tire carries tools and spare parts on the trail. The dual Optima
batteries also reside in the bed to improve weight distribution, and a bedmounted CO2 tank is available for ination needs. Since the truck is also
driven on the street, Symon fabricated a pair of custom rear quick-release
fenders/mud aps to keep the law off his tail. While on the trail, they pin in
place around the spare tire as shown here.
69
UNCOMMON TOYLET
TECH SPECS
1985 TOYOTA SHORTBED PU
DRIVETRAIN
ENGINE: 2003 GM 6.0L V-8

TRANSMISSION: GM 700R4
TRANSFER CASE: GM NP203 crawl box,
Jeep Dana 300

FRONT AXLE: Narrowed Dodge Dana 60,
5.38 gears, Detroit Locker, Yukon shafts,

Longeld Super Joints, Yukon hubs
REAR AXLE: Currie RockJock Dana 60,
5.38 gears, Detroit Locker, 35-spline
shafts, disc brakes
SUSPENSION
SPRINGS & SUCH: Custom 3-link, Jeep
TJ Rubicon Express lift coils, Fox 4-inch

bumpstops, Rancho 9000 shocks (front);
homebrew double-triangulated 4-link,
Jeep TJ Rubicon Express lift coils, Rancho
9000 shocks (rear)
TIRES & WHEELS: 37x12.50R17LT Pitbull
Rocker Radials mounted on 17x9 Robbie
Gordon beadlocks
STEERING: Saginaw steering box with PSC
hydro-assist
OTHER STUFF: Xtra Cab swap, dovenosed front and tail with tubular fender
structures, custom bumpers and cage
work, tube doors, hidden spares storage,
Warn M8000 winch, rock lights
Popping the modied hood reveals why the

bonnet has been modied to bump up in the
middle of the sheetmetal. Underneath lies a
2003 Chevy LS4 6.0L V-8. Owner Symon DeVreis
swapped it in using a Jims Performance computer and harness converted to drive-by-cable.
The stock V-8 expels hot gases through LS7
exhaust manifolds, which feed a single 3-inch
Flowmaster mufer. Cooling upgrades include
a Ron Davis two-row aluminum radiator and a
pair of Spal electric fans. The transmission is a
GM 700R4 with a lockup converter that feeds a
GM NP203 crawl box and a twin-stickequipped
Jeep Dana 300 transfer case.
Possibly the
perfect
Toylet?
70
The closed-knuckle Toyota front axle is

long gone. In its place sits a built axle
using a Bent Metal Customs narrowed Dodge
Dana 60 kingpin housing. The sturdy hardware stuffed inside includes a Detroit Locker
spinning Yukon 5.38 gears, Yukon 35-spline
chromoly shafts, Longeld Super Joints, and
Yukon Hardcore locking hubs. A Saginaw power steering box now pushes a DOM draglink
and tie rod, both using 34 -inch rod ends. PSC
hydro-assist keeps Symon from building Popeye arms after a long day on the trail.
Not wanting to deal with the spring wrap

and clearance issues associated with
front leaf springs, Symon fabricated a custom

front three-link suspension. The lower links are
constructed from 2x 38 -wall DOM tubing, while
the upper links are made from 112 x 14 -wall. Currie Johnny Joints provide ex and rotation at
the link ends. Symon found that 412 -inch Jeep
TJ lift coils from Rubicon Express gave him the
height and spring rate he wanted. Lastly, Fox
4-inch nitrogen bumps provide the cushion
over the last inches of compression travel.
In the rear is a matching Dana 60 chunk.

This one is a Bent Metal Customs/Currie iron
RockJock housing terminated with GM 14-bolt
spindles supporting Solid Axle six-lug hubs. Like
the front, theres a Detroit Locker and Yukon
5.38 gears. The full-oat axle uses Dutchman
35-spline chromoly shafts to get the torque to
the wheels. The gas tank tucked under the tail
of the truck is the stock Toyota pickup fuelinjected tank, but now uses a GM in-tank pump.
Symon also fabricated a double-triangulated four-link in the rear using similar link
components as he did in the front. Again, 412 inch Jeep TJ lift coils from Rubicon Express were
used here. Rancho 9000 shocks with 14 inches
of travel provide the damping on all four corners
of the coil-sprung truck, and each corner runs a
1
2 -ton GM truck brake caliper and rotor combo.
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Jay Kopycinski
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY JAY KOPYCINSKI
E ACQUIRED A 2006
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, known

as an LJ. It was bone
stock and in need of
suspension upgrades.
We considered a
variety of lift kits on the market in the 3- to
4-inch range and ultimately chose to go
with an offering from Rubicon Express.
We opted for the companys ExtremeDuty Long Arm System. Rubicon Express
offers the comprehensive kit for the LJ
and TJ models in lift heights from 312 to
512 inches. Since we were targeting to
run 33-inch tires on our Jeep, we went

with the shortest of the kits. However, an
advantage to this system is that it can be
upgraded in the future to a taller lift easily
should tire and wheeling desires grow.
Whats the advantage of a long arm kit?
Well, quite simply, suspension geometry,
handling, and articulation are improved.
The short factory suspension arms work
well on a Wrangler at stock heights or for
very short lifts. But as lift height increases,
so do the resting angles of the links, and
this starts to diminish the handling stability
and traction capabilities of the suspension.
While this lift can be installed by most
competent home mechanics, it does
require some skills in cutting to remove
factory frame brackets and welding to
secure some of the new hardware. In our

case, we let the technicians at our local
4Wheel Parts store in Phoenix, Arizona,
tackle the job and we documented the
process to show you whats involved.
While we were there we also had the
crew mount us a set of 33x12.50R15LT
Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ-P3 tires onto
ATX Wheels SLOT rims in an 8-inch width.
These tires offer what might be termed
an aggressive all-terrain tread, along
with sidewall side-biters for additional
traction. 4Wheel Parts mounted the spunbalanced tires on the Jeep and then put it
on the alignment rack for nal tuning of all
the suspension links and steering. In two
days we were ready to hit the highway
and head for the dirt.
LIFTING THE
LONG
JEEP
RUBICON
EXPRESS
HEIGHTENS
A JEEP
LJ
72
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
1
7
4
8
Heres the overall parts pile used to complete the Rubicon Express Long Arm System.
You can see the large metal plate structures
that form the transfer case skidplate and link
mounts. Its a complete suspension replacement
that includes all new links and track bars.
With the stock Wrangler on the lift, 4Wheel

Parts service manager Brett Corder got started with the teardown. The kit can be installed as
a driveway project, but working on a hydraulic
lift with a variety of tall screw jacks that can be
used under the axles is immensely faster.
The factory Jeep skidplates and crossmembers were removed and the drivetrain supported with a jack. These components are replaced
with the new Rubicon Express assembly.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
The stock monster mufer wont clear the rear

links, so it was removed and a new cat-back
exhaust will be fabricated after the lift install.
Here you can see that Corder has temporarily

assembled the 14 -inch-thick steel threepiece crossmember. This is the main structure of
the new lift kit and includes link mounts for all
the new links.
The new crossmember not only serves as

a skidplate and link mount point but also
supports the transfer case and structurally ties
both framerails solidly together. Several tting iterations are needed to mark and drill new
mounting holes as well as to get the crossmember lined up for nal assembly.
The crossmember bolts to the frame using

the six factory threaded holes on the bottom
of the frame. Then its also secured with a pair of
frame side plates and additional bolts that run
through sleeves installed in the framerails.
One-inch holes are drilled to insert the frame

sleeves for the crossmember. While its not
required to weld the sleeves to the outside edge
of the frame, Rubicon Express does recommend
it. Corder burned ours into the frame for solid
mount points.
Here is the nal assembly of the new crossmember. With all the 14-inch steel wrapping
around the frame, it makes a sturdy structure. Once
installed, the at center piece can be removed independently for drivetrain access and maintenance.
73
LIFTING THE LONG JEEP
15
12
16
10
13
11
14
10
The kit provides stainless steel braided

brake lines to accommodate the lift.
Corder prefers to replace the lines at this point
in the install. If brake uid drips on painted
parts it can remove the paint. Care is taken not
to let any drip, but Corder would rather have it
eat paint on the old parts than the new parts.
11
Coils, shocks, and lower links were then

removed from the axles, leaving the upper
links intact to hold the axles in place. Corder suggested, in general, leaving as many parts in place
as long as you can to keep the axle positions
more stable and make the overall install easier.
12
With the belly pan fully installed, it was

time to pull out the heat wrench and
torch the factory lower link mounts off the
frame. Once Corder did the torch work, he
stripped the leftover slag line off with an air
chisel and then smoothed the framerails with
a grinder. A coat of paint hid the evidence that
the brackets were ever there. No turning back.
74
13
The new links went on next, but not

before setting their length based on
the instructions and lift height chosen. All the
joints got new zerk ttings and a few shots of
grease. Its a good idea to index the ttings at
this time so they can be accessed with a gun
later after mounting. The lower control arms
are beefy 2x0.25-wall chromoly tubing. Nice.
14
The kit includes a bracket to raise the

track bar mounting at the rear axle. Its
secured at three different points with bolts.
15
The factory rear shock mounts needed to

be cut off and Rubicon Express provided
new mounts that were welded to the axletubes.
16
Heres the completed rear suspension

with the new upper and lower links. The
new coil springs and shocks were installed, as
were extended sway bar links for the factory
sway bar. Our Rubicon model came from the
factory with a standard ange output at the
17
transfer case and a CV-joint driveshaft. Otherwise, conversion to a rear slip-yoke eliminator
and new driveshaft would have been needed.
17
The front end was completed with the

new radius-arm lower links, coils, and
shocks. The kit comes with extended links for
the factory sway bar with quick-disconnect
pins to disable the sway bar action on the trail.
18
The frame hole for the front track bar had

to be enlarged for the new heavy-duty bar
with rod end. Both front and rear track bars were
adjusted and fully connected once the Jeep was
back on the ground sitting at ride height.
19
With the lift on, it was time to swap

to larger treads. We opted for a set of
33x12.50R15LT Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ-P3
tires. These are described as a hybrid design
between an all-terrain and a mud-terrain. Sure,
the latest rage is taller and taller wheels but
we prefer the philosophy of running a rim no
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WARN VR
18
PACKED WITH SOMETHING

RARE IN ENTRY LEVEL WINCHES:
DEPENDABILITY
Choose from 8-,

10- and 12,000
pound capacities
19
Available with steel

or Spydura
synthetic rope.
20
taller than half the height of the tires. We could
have run a 16-inch wheel, but 15s t over our
calipers and allow us a little more sidewall and
the choice of using Load Range C tires.
20
For wheels, we chose the ATX Wheels

SLOT in an 8-inch width. The wheels are
nished in a satin black with a machined edge.
Backspacing is 334 inches. You can see the
aggressive sidewall on the Mickey Thompsons
here. The crew at 4Wheel Parts mounted and
spun balanced our new tires, and nished the lift
with a full alignment procedure.
SOURCES
ATX WHEELS
MICKEY THOMPSON
atxwheels.com
330.928.9092
mickeythompsontires.com
4WHEEL PARTS
877.474.4821
4wheelparts.com
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
WARN ENGINEERED. TESTED TO THE EXTREME.

The WARN VR may be an affordable entry-level winch, but its
built to help you make a quick exit from tough situations. Bolt
one to your bumper now, and its yours for the long run. After
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Get one today

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Learn more at
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RUBICON EXPRESS
877.367.7824
rubiconexpress.com
G O P R E PA R E D
STRONGEST
LINK
ANATOMY OF A
SUSPENSION LINK
Fred Williams
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY FRED WILLIAMS
OME OF YOU RECALL WHEN
suspension links swept the

off-road scene. For the longest
time leaf springs were king,
and then all of a sudden the
link suspension technology
seemed to pop up everywhere.
Before you knew it, leaf springs were old
news and you had to have a link suspension to even consider going off-road. Ok,
thats not true. You can go wheeling with
leaf springsin fact, leaf springs work
quite well but a link suspension has such
a high-tech look and offers such a great
ability to ne-tune your suspension performance that it really is a step above most
leaf suspensions.
Nowadays link suspensions are old
news. Lots of garage built wheelers have
them, and the art of suspension geometry
has really grown and been ne-tuned by
many. This isnt a tech piece about that
geometry, but rather the hardware. This is
just about the parts to make a good link.
What type of material do you want to use?
Whats the difference between Heim, ex,
and Johnny joints? Whats the best way to
assemble everything? Thankfully there is
nothing set in stone herethere are lots
of right ways to do stuff and a few wrong
ways to steer clear of, but that should allow
you to develop your own best solution.
There are many styles of links in a linked suspension, but for this article well concentrate
on the basic four-link with two lowers and two
uppers, and the three-link with two lowers and
one upper. Sometimes the two uppers are triangulated; other times the links are all parallel and
a track bar is added to control the lateral movement of the axle. The lower links on a 4x4 need
to be the strongest links since they will see the
most abuse when smashed into and drug over
rock obstacles. Lower links see three forces: the
compression and the tension of the axle trying
to rotate and a bending force should they land
on or hit a trail obstacle. Upper links usually
only see compression and tension forces as they
keep the axle from rotating. For this reason,
upper links can be made of thinner material than
lower links, but we would recommend not going
thinner than wall tubing of 0.120 inch (18 inch)
on the uppers. Lower links are often found in
2x0.25-wall (14 inch) and maybe thicker wall if
the rig is heavier and abused on rocks.
Factory suspension links are pretty basic

and boring: a tube link with no adjustment,
and a big pressed bushing in the ends. These are
great for a road-going 4x4 and work OK for offroad exing, but as we lift or modify our vehicles
these single length links can be too short, or too
weak for bashing into rocks.
Most suspension links are made out of steel

tubing, and for this we recommend DOM
steel tubing, usually round tubing, but we have
seen some square tube links. DOM (drawn over
mandrel) steel tubing is a forming method that
works the material and makes it stronger than
standard non-DOM welded seam steel tubing.
Remember that your lower links will see the
most abuse while your upper links are less likely
to get rock rash, so they can be lighter.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
Wide Open Design (WOD) offers massive

solid 7075-T6 aluminum suspension links
made to order in size from 112 to 212inches in
diameter. These are touted as a memory material
because they want to spring back into a straight
line should they hit an obstacle. When coupled
with 114 -inch shank FK rod ends, these are some
very strong suspension links. WOD starts with
the solid stock and then cuts them to length and
drills and taps the ends for your chosen rod-end
shank thread size.
One of the best options for suspension links

is heat-treated chromoly because it is very
resilient to bending and much tougher against
abuse than untreated chromoly or mild steel.
Links that are heat-treated start as chromoly
tubing and are either threaded or have chromoly
bungs welded in the ends before being sent to
a special facility where they are hardened. Not
many companies offer heat-treated suspension
links, but Shaffers Offroad will make them for
you (expect the price to be higher than a standard mild steel link).
The threads in the ends of the suspension

links are either cut right into the tube or
come in a bung that is welded into the link end.
When welding in the bungs, take care that you
dont get the bung so hot that you distort the
threads inside. Threading the tube itself can
require a very large tap and is better done on
a lathe. If you want either end of the link to be
opposite threads, you will either need to buy
two taps, or two different bungs (a left hand and
a right hand).
There are two schools of thought on threads

on the ends of a link suspension. Some folks
say you want both ends threaded the same way,
usually both right-hand thread, as that is the
most common (right-hand threads are the same
as a normal bolt: righty tighty, lefty loosey).
This argument is based on the fact that if your
jam nuts should come loose the link will not
lengthen or shorten and is effectively locked
at a length. However, if you want to adjust the
length of the link you need to pull one end from
its mount on either the frame or axle.
7
77
STRONGEST LINK
10
13
11
14
12
15
When you run a link with left- and righthand threads you can easily adjust the
link length right on the vehicle because it will
screw in or out of both ends at the same time.
Just loosen the jam nuts and turn the link. However, if the jam nuts should work loose (as can
happen when you bash them against rocks)
the link can start to walk longer or shorter, and
this is bad. It can throw your suspension out of
alignment and bind shocks and driveshafts if
not caught. The rule of thumb for any direction
thread is to keep those jam nuts tight. Note
the small groove in the end of the link (arrow).
This designates the end as left-hand thread,
and most weld-in bungs also have this warning
groove cut in them as a reminder for easier use.
The at spot on some links is so you can use

a large wrench to turn the link and adjust it
on the vehicle. You can also hold the link from
turning while tightening down your jam nuts.
10
Another option for ease of link adjustability is a Synergy Double Adjuster

Sleeve. This small threaded sleeve goes inside
the link, and the rod end screws into it. When
the clamping bolts are loosened the length of
the entire link can be adjusted by turning just
one large threaded adjuster sleeve.
11
Not every suspension link needs a highdollar Heim or rod end at the mounting
ends. These lower links on a truck built by Randy Ellis Design use bushings at the ends for simplicity and because the suspension geometry
has been set up such that the axle doesnt need
super-exy joints. You can nd plenty of bushing options at Daystar and Energy Suspension.
Note how the upper links have a slight bend in
them to clear the framerail at full compression.
78
12
The exible joint at the end of your link can

come in many different styles and sizes
(and prices). Heim joints, or spherical rod ends,
are the top tier of joints. We have used many
different brands of Heim joints, from FK to QA1
to EMF. The rod ends thread into the end of link.
The rod ends are the part of the link that allows
the axle to twist and not bind. Most of the time
you will want to add high misalignment spacers
to the rod ends so that the suspension can twist.
Some are designed for abusive environments
such as racing but need replaced when many
miles of off-road use make them loose.
13
Another common link end is a Johnny

joint, or ex joint. There are a lot of different versions of this joint but most involve
a polyurethane liner, with an inner ball and a
steel outer body. As an added benet, Johnny
joints are rebuildable after years of use. Currie
originated this design and still offers a variety
of sizes and material grades, from forged to
billet machined versions. Many suspension
companies offer a similar design in their lift
kits, such as BDS Suspensions ex joint.
SOURCES
These types of joints are perfect for a streetdriven trail rig that needs some noise damping
between the axle and the frame.
14
Jam nuts are just one way of keeping

your suspension links tight. Jam nuts are
threaded onto the threaded shank of your suspension joint before it is screwed into your link.
Once the joint is set to length you spin the jam
nut up to the end of the link and jam it tight.
This keeps the threads from working loose.
15
It is important that you show as little

thread of your rod end shank as possible.
At the very least you want the same amount
of threads inside the link as the diameter of
the rod end shank, but in most cases you want
most of the threads inside. This means proper
measuring of your links before so you dont
need as much adjustment. In a perfect world
youll have just one thread showing and then
jam the nut up against the link end with the
majority of threads in the link.
BDS SUSPENSION
ENERGY SUSPENSION
SHAFFERS OFFROAD
517.279.2135
bds-suspension.com
888.913.6374
energysuspension.com/
510.999.7766
shaffersoffroad.com
CURRIE ENTERPRISES
FK ROD ENDS
SYNERGY MANUFACTURING
714.528.6957
currieenterprises.com
800.662.4003
fkrodends.com
805.242.0397
synergymfg.com
DAYSTAR
QA1
WIDE OPEN DESIGN
800.595.7659
daystarweb.com
800.721.7761
qa1.net
615.962.9135
wideopendesign.com
EMF
RANDY ELLIS DESIGN
877.236.3545
emfrodends.com
602.803.1122
randyellisdesign.com
56'':
SECURITY
PRODUCTS
GETTING YOUR
GEAR STOLEN
IS NO ADVENTURE
SECURE STORAGE COVER
CARGO SECURITY STORAGE
SECURE CONSOLE STORAGE
The JK locking cubby cover

replaces the existing flimsy cover
that comes from the factory.
The JK security deck enclosure

creates a large storage area
completely protected on all sides.
The security console insert turns

the center console into a heavy-duty
lockable storage area.
STEEL SECURITY DRAWER
CONCEAL CARRY SECURITY
SECURITY GLOVE BOX
The security cargo drawer

slides on heavy duty roller bearings
and can be securely locked.
The conceal & carry security drawer

mounts inconspicuously under the seat
out of sight of would-be thieves.
This steel glove box

is a secure replacement
for the plastic factory glove box.
MADE IN USA
TRUCK STORAGE LOCKBOX
The under rear seat lockbox secured contents are easily accessed by
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56'':
SECURITY
PRODUCTS
FEATURE
BOMBER KING
WHATS IN A KING OF THE
HAMMERS WINNING BUGGY?
Fred Williams
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY RICKY BERRY
F YOU HAVENT HEARD OF KING
of the Hammers (KOH) then youre

probably not into rockcrawling
or desert racing. KOH is a giant
rockcrawling and desert race held
every year in Johnson Valley California at the Hammers trails. This
year Randy Slawson won the race for the
second time, and did so by starting 45th
off the line and crossing the nish 215
miles later in just around nine hours, but
ahead of everyone else. And he did it in a

buggy he built himself at Bomber Fabrication based in Gardnerville, Nevada. When
asked what type of training he does for a
200-plus-mile off-road race he replied, I
just recreate, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, and
four-wheel thousands of miles a year. My
lifestyle revolves around going fast in the
dirt. If youre interested in what is in a winning KOH buggy check out these details.
SOURCE
BOMBER FABRICATION
909.499.3537
facebook.com/bomberfab
21
1. Custom Built Motors (CBM) 425ci LS3

engine (est. 600 hp)
2. 4L80E Maximum transmission
3. Atlas II 2.0 transfer case
4. Spidertrax axles
5. Gearworks 10-inch diffs; high 10 front with
Gearworks locker
6. 5.43 ring-and-pinion
7. King shocks 3.0 bypass and 2.0 coilovers
8. PSC steering full hydro
9. JeReel Drivelines 13.50 yokes
10. PRP seats
11. Bulldog winch
12. Baja Designs LED lights
13. BFGoodrich 39-inch KR2 tires
14. BTR 17x8 wheels
15. CBR radiators
16. Steinjager Heim joints
17. Sierennet horn/siren
18. PCI radio and intercom
19. K&N air lters
20. Dynomax exhaust
21. Bomber Fabrication chassis
12
15
17
10
18
6
4
19
11
8
20
16
5
13
14
My lifestyle revolves
around going fast in the dirt
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
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MR. GASKET HEADLOCK BOLTS

New Headlock bolts are designed to fasten headers to the engine without the use
of lock washers. The design incorporates 24
serrated teeth to maintain consistent fastener clamp-load. Preapplied Thread-Lock
Patch compound is self-sealing and also
promotes torque-retention. The bolts are
made from 300-spec Grade 8 stainless steel.
Applications are available for many popular
Detroit Three engines. Each kit includes a
hex-key socket tool. INFORMATION: Mr. Gasket, 216.658.6413, mr-gasket.com.
BDS RAM 8-INCH 4-LINK KITS

For 2013-2014 Ram 2500/3500 4x4s, BDS offers an 8-inch long-arm suspension system. This kit replaces the factory radius arms with a four-link design to improve wheel
travel, handling, and control. The link arms are made from 2x316-inch DOM tubing and
poly bushings. Arm brackets are made from 14-inch-thick steel; other kit brackets include
a track bar relocator and a transmission crossmember driveline-correction piece. The
rear is leveled with replacement leaf packs and blocks. Numerous options include Fox 2.0
shocks. INFORMATION: BDS Suspension, 517.279.2135, bds-suspension.com.
REPLAY XD PRIME X CAMERA

Replays newest POV camera uses a mini-prime, 12 -inch-format cinema lens with a
140-degree wide-angle operating at T/2.8, f/2.7. Highest denition is 1080 pixels at
60 frames per second. Still images are a maximum 16 megapixels. The Prime X has a
time-lapse feature. The cameras new sensor is designed for 33 percent less power consumptionup to 312 hours on a single charge. Integrated Wi-Fi allows the camera to be
remotely controlled on a smartphone using the Replay XD app. A variety of mounts and
accessories are available. INFORMATION: Replay XD, 805.480.9800, replayxd.com.
OFF-ROAD SOLUTIONS
EXTINGUISHER QUICK RELEASE
This NHRA-approved system is designed
to exibly mount 1- , 2 12 - , and 5-pound
extinguishers. The main bracket has chamfered holes for screwing to at surfaces, or
the Quick Release can be secured to round
tubing using standard hose clamps or
optional billet clamps. Pulling the 38 -inch
stainless-steel retaining pin releases the
extinguisher from the mounting bracket.
Construction is from 6061-T6 billet aluminum. Finish options are bare aluminum or
black-anodized. INFORMATION: Off-Road
Solutions, 901.231.5071, ors4x4.com.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
RADIUM FUEL SURGE TANKS

Uneven terrain can slosh fuel away from
the fuel pump, causing fuel starvation
and a lean condition that can damage
an engine. To combat this, Radium Engineering offers a line of bolt-on Fuel Surge
Tanks. The OE pump lls and maintains a
consistent fuel level in the surge tank, and
the tank then forwards pressurized fuel to
the fuel rail. Excess fuel is returned to the
tank. The tanks install between the fuel
tank and fuel rail with no modication to
the existing tank or pump. Various model
are available to handle different fueling
requirements. INFORMATION: Radium Engineering, 971.221.6417, radiumauto.com.
ROCK SMASHER 2WAY AIR

This new system uses a centralized
manifold that allows simultaneous ination/deation of all tires. Setup involves
plumbing the vehicle with the kits 38 - and
1
4-inch polyurethane manifold tubing and
push-to-connect ttings. Once the tire
whips are attached, all tires can be inated or deated simultaneously through
one valve on the central control station.
An adjustable pressure set-point valve
prevents overination. Kits for six-, eight-,
and 10-tire vehicles are also available.
INFORMATION: Rock Smasher Engineering,
702.981.6081, rocksmasher.com.
83
BY
FEBRUARY SPRING FOLLOW-UP
I am writing in regards to two articles

in the Feb. 15 issue. In Old -School
Tire Test, the attie in the article has
spring-over in the front and is springunder in the rear. What springs were
used? What was overall diameter of tires
tested? Second [third? ed.], in Franger
or Nord, one of the captions states that
the center pin on the springs was moved
rearward 212 inches. Can you drill an second hole in a leaf spring and not lose too
much strength? Maybe its OK if the original hole is supported by the spring pad?
Thank you in advance for any information
you can provide.
JIM HARSHMAN
via nuts@4wheeloffroad.com
We always appreciate getting questions from readers that indicate they

read the magazine rather than just looking
at the pictures, and your questions are
good ones. The attie belongs to Senior
Editor Verne Simons and has been through
many different builds over the years,
84
mostly in our sister publication Jp. Its one

of the coolest atties out there because
its simple and well thought out, the result
of years of renement. Although Verne has
used several different suspension setups
in the past, the current version is one of the
best. On the front spring-over, Verne uses
modied stock YJ rear leaf springs. The
spring-under rear of the attie is supported
by heavily modied stock Wagoneer front
springs (mounted backwards) with extra
leafs from YJ lift springs to get the desired
ach. Confused? So are we, but the combination works and is the result of years of trial
and error. Verne has had the rear setup as a
spring-over with a traction bar in the past,
but he could never get axlewrap under
control and maintain the ex he wanted.
A spring-under conguration places less
wrap-inducing leverage on the springs and
also puts the axle in the spot where the
springs were designed to properly control
it. The Coker tires in the test measured right
at 36 inches tall.
As for your second question, theres
more to the story on the rear springs under
Trenton McGee
Mike Marreros Frontier than we could cover

in a single caption. I reached out to Marrero
for clarication, and he explained that he
initially had a set of rear springs built to his
specications by a custom spring manufacturer. The manufacturer got most of it
right but missed the location of the centering pin. A second attempt yielded similar
results. Under a time crunch, Marrero ended
up combining the custom packs with the
old off-the-shelf 64-inch GM lift springs he
had been using to create the combination
that you saw in the article. He reports that
its not ideal (axlewrap remains an issue),
but it worked at the time and its in basically the same conguration to this day.
He plans to have a local custom spring
shop make him a set of springs that should
resolve the issues once and for all. Such is
the lot of anyone building something outside the box
Your concerns regarding redrilling a centering pin in a spring pack are valid. It is not
a good idea to redrill a centering pin hole
in a leaf pack, especially a main leaf. Stress
cracks usually develop at the original hole
or the new one, and the leaf eventually
ends up snapping in two. I have redrilled
main leafs in a pinch, but about half the
time Ive ended up with a broken spring
even when the hole locations were rmly
clamped under the U-bolt plates. Its usually better idea to drill another centering
pin hole in the axle pad if small wheelbase
adjustments are needed.
4WHEELOFFROAD.COM
When you have

an ostomy bag,
use extra tape to
cut down on leaks.
Mark, age 47, California
Mark smoked and got rectal cancer.

His ostomy bag was taped over a hole
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NUTS & BOLTS

suspects (oil leaks, tire condition, exterior
and interior condition, and so on) it shouldnt
be all that hard to nd a clean vehicle that is
a solid base for a mild vehicle build that can
take you just about anywhere.
SIDEKICK TIPS
Im looking to purchase a 1990s twodoor Suzuki Sidekick for my everyday

ride and would like to build it for light to
medium trail use. Nothing too crazy since
I have a back injury, and these seem to be
about the only 4x4 that I can sit in. Are there
any years to avoid, or that I should look for?
I prefer a manual tranny and few frills.
MIKE
Via nuts@4wheeloffroad.com
For advice on the best Sidekicks to buy,

I turned to our resident Geo Tracker
owner (identical to the Sidekick) and frequent contributor, Harry Wagner.
HARRY WAGNER: I think that the Sidekicks

(and their Tracker twins) make great little
wheeling rigs that get decent mileage on
the street. From 1989 through 1998 they
were pretty consistent; the only thing that
comes to mind is the use of both 8-valve and
16-valve 1.6L fuel injected engines. The 8V
uses throttle body fuel injection, while the 16V
has multiport fuel injection (and it should say
16V on the timing cover). The 8V is rated at
80 hp at 5,400 rpm and 94 lb-ft of torque at
3,000 rpm, while the 16V is rated at 95 hp at
5,600 rpm and 98 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
MARCH 6
MARCH 21
APRIL 25
MAY 1
> Daytona Beach, FL

> Salt Lake City, UT
> Sacramento, CA
> Las Vegas, NV
WATCH ON
OCT 3
OCT 17
NOV 7
NOV 22
While the 16V is preferable, I would just

try to nd the cleanest example with relatively low miles. The one issue with these
engines is that they use a timing belt, but
they are noninterference engines. If the
vehicle has over 100,000 miles on it, ask
the seller for evidence that the belt has
been changed, or use that as a bargaining
tool to lower the price. With 31s and a rear
locker I was amazed at where my Tracker
would go, although the short wheelbase
and automatic locker were a handful on
the street (much more so than my Toyota
pickup or Ford truck with Detroits).
So there you have it. Sidekicks and Trackers are generally pretty solid, inexpensive
vehicles. Beyond checking for all the usual
> Denver, CO
> Everett, WA
> Boise, ID
> Ontario, CA
PITS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ALL DAY FREE
Confused? Email your questions

about trucks, 4x4s, and off-roading
tech using Nuts, Im confused as the
subject and include a picture (if its
applicable). Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels
(or two megapixels) and be saved as a
TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG
le. Also, Ill be checking the forums
on our website (4wheeloffroad.com),
and if I see a question that I think more
of you might want to have answered,
Ill print that as well. Otherwise drop
it old-school style with the envelope
addressed to the address below. Letters published in this magazine reect
the opinions of the writers, and we
reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes. WRITE
TO: Nuts & Bolts, 4-Wheel & Off-Road,
831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA
90245 FAX TO: 818.566.8501 EMAIL
TO: nuts@4wheeloffroad.com
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Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Grill Design are registered trademarks of Chrysler LLC.
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88
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The terms Quadratec and Essentials are Registered Trademarks of Quadratec Incorporated, Registered at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Quadratec, Inc., an independent supplier of accessories for
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Rubicon, Unlimited, Mopar, Cherokee, and the Jeep Grille Design are registered trademarks of FCA
and are used for identification purposes only. 2015 Quadratec Incorporated.
COMPILED BY
Tom Morr
PINZ ON THE ROCKS

The Green Bunny took his punches on
the Rubicon. Its a 1972 Pinzgauer 710K
Swiss Army radio truckmostly stock and
original, still 24-volt. We winched it over
and kept on going. Thing is badass!
AARON HAGAR
Rat Runners Garage

Via whoops@4wheeloffroad.com
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WRITE TO: Whoops!, 4-Wheel & Off-Road,
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EMAIL TO: whoops@4wheeloffroad.com
JULY 2015
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VOLUME 38, NUMBER 7
4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD (ISSN 0162-3214). Copyright 2015 by TEN: The Enthusiast Network Magazines, LLC.
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LINK SUSPENSION SECRETS!

JULY 2015 VOL. 38, NO. 7

An off-road newbie lifts a Tacoma

72 LIFTING THE LONG JEEP

26 GET THERE IN ONE PIECE

34 TONS & A LIFT FOR YOUR TRAILER?

38 THE HITCHIN POST

From trailer balls to hitch hooks, we round

A second-hand JK that works better

84 NUTS & BOLTS

4 6 .17 8 3 61, -12 3 . 9 8 10 0 3

ANYWHERE IS POSSIBLE // #GT100

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