Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Four Wheeler

 WHEN ROBERT WARKE ROLLS INTO A station to get fuel, heads turn. His bright yellow ’69 Bronco rumbles like an open-class desert racer at idle and sits atop 42-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs. It’s hard to miss. But what’s a little confusing to first-time observers is he gets it filled at the propane filling station, not at the gas pumps. That’s because the rumble of the exhaust comes from a 408ci Ford stroker built for circle track racing that Robert converted to run on propane. The engine, which Robert says “turns 6,500 rpm all day,” cranks out north of 500 hp thanks to a heavily modded block and heads stuffed with some of the best racing parts offered for a balanced-and-blueprinted, stroked-out 351. He designed and plumbed the propane fuel system…

 FLASHLIGHTS ARE PORTABLE and handy, but when you have trouble out nightwheeling and you need a light, it’s no fun remembering you left your vehicle flashlight at home on the workbench. A simple, rig-mounted light can mean you always have illumination with you, and one powered by your vehicle means there’s no keeping up with alkaline battery condition. Many of you may recall the reel underhood lamp that was used on most ’88-’98 GM pickups. From what we could find, GM sold the reel light under two part numbers: 15990293 and 15528774. However, both are now listed as discontinued. These lights can still be found at salvage yards, and we thought we’d try one again but with a new twist. The reel lights use an 1156 base bulb, so we…

 WHAT’S THE FIRST THING WE AS FOURwheelers do with a new-to-us 4x4? We add bigger tires and aftermarket wheels, of course. We do this to change the look and improve off-road performance. Sometimes this modification also involves a leveling kit for a bit more space or perhaps the addition of a high-end custom suspension system to make more room for the tires and increase off-road performance. We may also add body armor, bumpers, winches, tire carriers, and other accessories that increase safety and utility. Before we know it, it’s time to regear the axles to compensate for the larger tires and add engine performance enhancers to help compensate for all those heavier components. It’s a vicious cycle, but we do all this in hopes that our 4x4 will take us…

MOST OF US CRINGE IN FEAR WHEN THE check engine light in the dashboard of a modern 4x4 is tripped on. Your mind begins to spin in frustration wondering what could have triggered it, how bad it really is, and most importantly, how much is it going to cost to fix it. In the old days, you typically needed an experienced mechanic to help diagnose vehicle engine problems. Today, we have code readers. They come in many shapes and sizes and some are more useful and specific about identifying problems than others. However, all of them access your vehicles engine information via the OBD-II port, which is typically located under the steering column and dash, just above the pedals. All vehicles that are ’96 model year and newer have an…

“IN 1972, THE FONDMETAL BRAND WAS BORN.” Italians are no strangers to superior design, impressive quality, and technical achievements. If one country could give us the Sistine Chapel, the LaFerrari, Sophia Loren, and Lamborghini– then there’s no doubt it could also give us a major contender in the luxury wheel market. Fondmetal has a deeply rooted history as an elite Italian wheel manufacturer that specializes in luxury, performance, and exotic car applications. Gabriele Rumi, the founder of Fondmetal, comes from a family who has worked within the metal industry for three generations—so you know they’re as familiar with forging as Michelangelo was with his paintbrush. In 1970 Gabriele Rumi opened an iron foundry in Brescia, Italy, making parts for the likes of Maserati and Fiat, which ultimately set the foundation…

IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOUR FAVORITE SAND spot is on the beach, in the dunes, or down a desolate desert wash, there will inevitably always be a 4x4, motorhome, tow rig, or commuter car hopelessly stuck with its axles planted in the sandy surface. All too often we see off-road enthusiasts get themselves captured in these precarious predicaments because of poor planning and execution. Most of these situations occur because of a pin it to win it heavy throttle attack, which is a gamble. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Rather than let your sand wheeling adventure turn into an unpredictable game of chance, we’ve compiled some critical components to consider as well as some driving tips to help get you through the soft stuff. Vehicle Setup As with any…

 IN OUR NEVER-ENDING QUEST FOR INTERESTING LIGHTING IDEAS, WE CAME across a number of sources that offered 12V LED lighting mounted in rigid aluminum strips. Waterproof versions are available so we were curious how one might work for underhood lighting. Simply put, these lights throw a long beam of light where you need illumination coverage greater than a single-point source. Designed to be used for applications such as under-cabinet lighting, the strips can be connected end-to-end to make a long line of light. We found them available in several hues of white. SOURCE Amazon amazon.com…

 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER (IH) HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BUILDING agricultural and trucking equipment. The company was founded in 1902 and has just about as long a history building light trucks. Fast forward to the early ’60s when the company began producing an economical, utilitarian vehicle for the public. It was known as the Scout and was introduced as a ’61 model. This IH lineage would grow in popularity and survive model changes over a 20-year timespan. The Scout was generally a wagon or SUV body style, but truck models were produced as well. Engine choices would range from fourcylinder to V-8 powerplants, with an occasional diesel thrown in. All this sat on tried and true straight axles supported by traditional leaf springs. Today, many of the half-million Scouts live on,…

SOUTHWEST DESERT RACING BECAME A motorsports phenomenon in the late ’60s, and motor vehicle manufacturers recognized the marketing gold right away. Companies sponsored race teams, and those sponsorships brought opportunities for drivers and builders. Some big racing names got involved, and new names soon became big. One of the names you didn’t see in the early days was International Harvester (IH), but that would change. It started with one man and one Scout. A San Diego–based racer named Jimmy Jones bought a new ’69 Scout 800A as a family vehicle, but it didn’t stay a schlepper very long. By the end of the year, it had competed in the 1969 NORRA Mexican 1000 and placed 13th in its class, but that was only the beginning for Jones. By 1972, he…

 Once you read the title and see the rides that grace this page, there’s really not much more to say. From the menacing looks of these vehicles, you can tell that American Vintage Steel is this wheel maker’s passion, which is why it should come as no surprise that the company behind it all is called Mob Steel. The onetime hobby turned automotive lifestyle— and now business—was all executed by Adam Genoi; and now he and his team of artisans have become frontrunners when it comes to designing and crafting the world's most menacing and tricked-out vehicles. We met this team of artisans years ago and since then, they’ve continually pumped out some of the most awe-inspiring project builds we’ve seen in that time. “THAT COMPANY? DETROIT STEEL WHEELS. "…

WEB: WWW.ROLLINGBIGPOWER.COM They say that history and style repeat itself, yet they always fail to mention that it’s a feat that could not be possible without at least one individual, or company, actively re-creating and promoting it. That said, RBP was one of the first companies to actively push and promote the big wheel/thinner tire trend, and for 2016 they’re back with even more style and grace. Since day one, RBP has remained focused on off-road trucks, and they’ve gone on to introduce their own line of accessories and performance products, which include custom wheels, exhaust systems, side steps, grilles, bolt-on fenders, and more. Crafted from world-class materials, Rolling Big Power is a brand that has become synonymous with style and grace, and they’ve continued to be one of the…

WEBSITE: RACELINEWHEELS.COM Lifted Jeeps and 4x4s have stormed the market in record numbers, and when it comes to customization, well that’s taken off too. What started off a few years back as a specialty market has now made way into a movement that is taking the global truck market by storm. Lifted trucks have been in the process of making a serious comeback and now they’ve introduced a whole new segment that sports bigger wheels oftentimes fitted with lowerprofile off-road tires. Of course, we’ve come a long way from the traditional offroad wheels with bubble tires, and here today is a look that’s rough, menacing, refined, and industrial—a look that takes its main styling cues from true beadlockstyle wheels used in off-roading. For those of you wondering, beadlock wheels were…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM 2017 GMC Sierra HD All Terrain X Looking for the most hardcore off-road rig GMC offers? Check out the ’17 Sierra HD All Terrain X, a limited-edition 2500 HD Crew Cab 4x4. It’s available with a gas or diesel mill, and features the Z71 suspension package, aggressive Goodyears, underbody protection, Eaton auto-locking rear diff, sport bar for lights, front skidplate, and appearance add-ons.  Photos: GM “WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE TECHNOLOGY ARE HERE; WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DOING THAT ON A HIGHWAY. WE ARE STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGES, ITERATING ON THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.”  — “LIOR RON, PRESIDENT AND COFOUNDER OF UBER’S OTTO UNIT, ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG. THIS HAD TO DO WITH UBER AND ANHEUSER-BUSCH TEAMING UP TO SEND A TRACTOR-TRAILER…

 IF YOU HAVE SAND FEVER AND THE ONLY CURE IS RUNNING YOUR 4X4 ACROSS gritty beaches and dunes, we got you covered. We searched high and low to find the larger, more popular 4x4 accessible sand hotspots. We have all four corners of the United States covered and everything in between Alaska, Florida, Washington, Michigan, and California We’re sure we left out a few, so if you have a favorite sand hotspot, drop us a line at editor@fourwheeler.com and tell us about it. We love photos, too! In the meantime, fire up the GPS, prep your 4x4, choose the location you wish to visit and then hit up it’s website for the most up-todate information and start planning your cross-country sandcation. ALASKA Knik River Public Use Area Most of the…

WHEN YOU NEED IT, GOOD interior lighting can be vital. We had long ago covered up the factory incandescent dome light in our Tacoma when we installed a rollcage and had a stringer tube running right under the light. Over the years we had tried a couple homebrew solutions to gain better lighting, but they were mediocre in illumination and visually inelegant. We sought a better solution and found it with Baja Designs LED dome lights. The compact lights draw only about 0.42 amps so they are power friendly. We mounted one of the company’s lights to our overhead cage tube and now have broad, bright light in a package that looks professional. SOURCE Baja Designs 800/422-5292 bajadesigns.com…

THERE ARE WAYS TO ADD auxiliary lighting to your vehicle in a number of locations. Editor Brubaker tasked us with finding one method of illuminating a winch spool for nighttime recovery tasks. We thought of various means to accomplish this and finally settled on using a waterproof Lerway LED rigid strip lightbar, but we cut it down to better match the width of our winch spool. The solution was compact, inexpensive, and cast plenty of bright light on our spool and line. We can imagine these strips used in other locations where you desire a longer illumination path than a single bulb can provide. These could be used for inbed cargo lighting or for trailer interior lighting, with their low current draw and ample bright light. SOURCE Amazon amazon.com…

 OUR ’01 TACOMA HAD BEEN RUNNING ALLPro Off-Road rear leaf packs and had taken us a lot of places. We’ve logged many miles on the highway and thousands of dirt miles. We’d done everything from rockcrawling (where we regularly stretch one spring pack while we push the other to its bumpstop) to multi-day exploration trips fairly heavily packed for camping while running moderate-rated trails. Nevertheless, time and use can take their toll on even the finest suspension, and our seven-year-old leaf packs were showing their wear. We were noticing increased rear axlewrap while accelerating off the line and more rear axle chatter when climbing loose hills. We had used them a long time, and they had served us well. We contacted Jon Bundrant at All-Pro Off-Road to see what the…

 YOU DIDN’T LIKE IT WHEN A $94,000 Range Rover Sport won our 2014 Four Wheeler of the Year award. “Too expensive!; You’re elitist jerks!; Nobody can afford one of those!” Man, we got it from all angles. So we weren’t at all surprised when the complaints came pouring in like a waterfall after the even more expensive Range Rover Sport SVR easily took the prize in our 2016 Four Wheeler of the Year competition. But despite the fact that there’s a luxury badge on the grille and the sticker price can induce hallucinations and heart palpitations, there’s one underlying consideration you can’t ignore: under all that premium leather, fancy paint, and carbon fiber lies a vehicle that really can go offroading. The Land Rover brand was founded on off-road utility…

 We’re back for yet another installment of the largest wheel and tire guide available on newsstands. As always, we’re bringing you the latest and greatest when it comes to aftermarket wheels and tires for cars and trucks. From imports to Euros, domestics to classics, we’ve got a little bit of everything, ranging from mild to wild. As the wheel industry picks up steam for 2016, there are plenty of options and styles to choose from to set your ride apart from the pack. In the past year we’ve seen an upsurge in the amount of classic and restomod trucks being built—and when it comes to 4x4s, well, they’ve become all the rage, too. From C10s to Jeeps, the truck market is on fire, so we’ve included a few features that…