Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Four Wheeler

Four Wheeler|April 2018

About Those Prices of New 4x4s

Readers often send us emails and messages lamenting the high prices of new 4x4s. The highest concentration of correspondence usually follows our SUV and Pickup Truck of the Year test when folks read how much each 4x4 costs. The first time I was shocked at a car price was in 1978. My friend’s dad earned a good income managing a large factory, and he bought his family a new, fully loaded ’78 Chevy Caprice Classic. It was two-tone blue and had those fancy wire hubcaps. If I remember correctly, the car’s sticker price was in the mid-$8,000 range, which to the 15-year-old me was an unbelievable amount of money for a car. In 1980, one of my friends bought a used ’79 Pontiac Trans Am. Black, T-tops, loaded. If I…

3 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

The ’18 Jeep Wrangler—and, Yeah, Some Other New Vehicles

We’re starting to see the future of automobiles unfold—well, the very near future of 2018 and 2019 SUVs, at least. At long last, solid details about the ’18 Jeep Wrangler JL, as well as some interesting new offerings that unfortunately picked that vehicle to compete with for headlines. Here’s a look at what showed up at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show: Jeep Wrangler The ’18 JL is really why anyone cared about the 2017 LA Auto Show. Some quick highlights: a new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, a new eight-speed auto transmission and new manual six-speed, a new look inside and out, the next coming of Dana axles, better ground clearance, fold-down windshield, and the promise of a 3.0L EcoDiesel in 2019. The full scoop can be found on fourwheeler.com, including…

2 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

LUGGED & LOADED

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com IF YOU’RE LIKE US, YOU LOVE NEW TIRES. WHETHER YOUR WORK RIG NEEDS them to get around the farm or they’re clawing you up the gnarliest obstacle on the trail, this is where the rubber hits the road. We’ve wrangled up 34 new tires to handle anything from snowy highways and sloppy ruts to rainy commutes and rockcrawls. Get a grip and check ’em out! Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Tire Talk: Just like the name says, this tire keeps you and your rig safe on the road, in the rain, and through the snow. Asymmetric tread blocks maintain traction when the road is dry, while the sweeping grooves and zigzag edges bite into snow and ice, directing water outward. Sizes: 195/65R15 to 245/50R20 Info: goodyear.com GroundSpeed Voyager MT Tire Talk:…

9 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

DECEPTIVE TREAD

editor@fourwheeler.com MAXXIS SAYS THAT THE RAZR MT IS THE company’s flagship mud-terrain and that the tire was engineered with know-how gained from involvement in off-road racing. We say don’t let the extremely aggressive and open-lug tread pattern of the Maxxis RAZR MT fool you. Of course, it’s obviously a mud-terrain tire, and most of us would assume that the large voids and chunky lugs would make for an extremely loud on-road experience. This could not be further from the truth. Interestingly, the Maxxis RAZR does create audible noise up to about 55 mph. After that, the tire starts to quiet down, and by the time you reach 70 mph, the Maxxis RAZR tread emits about the same noise as a much less aggressive all-terrain tire or mildly treaded mud-terrain. We…

3 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

The Little Things

When talking to the Jeep team about the JL, you get the impression they’ve thought of everything down to the smallest detail. There are a slew of stories and use cases the team went through to ensure this was the best Wrangler ever built. They took the time to listen to experts and customers, and the little problems they solved are going to make living with a JL enjoyable every day. Here are a few of our favorites: The sport bar is now full length and body colored, looking great when the top is off. It is made from high-strength blow-molded steel and exceeds all current roof crush standards. Long gone is the padding covered in gray fabric that would turn purple after a season in the sun, replaced by…

3 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

A TALLER RAM FOR BIGGER TIRES

editor@fourwheeler.com THE SUBJECT WAS A ’13 RAM 1500 4WD. The owner was looking for a rise in height of the truck and the ability to run 35-inch tires. Skyjacker was the answer. The company offers both 4- and 6-inch lift kits for these trucks, but the 4-inch kit fit the bill justfine and was a complete lift solution. The independent front suspension was raised using taller knuckles, and the proper geometry was maintained by moving the lower A-arms and front axle assembly downward using new crossmembers. The factory front struts were retained with the addition of spacers, so the original spring rate and ride were maintained. The Ram has a standard straight-axle in the rear, located with a linked suspension and coil springs. The Skyjacker kit included new dual-rate coil…

6 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

BACKWARD GLANCES

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM IN 1979, INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER (IH) WAS on the decline but still fighting. The IH board had finally begun to realize that managing the Scout brand was going to take some outside auto industry expertise, not just laterally promoted commercial truck or agricultural sales guys. To that end, they hired Jim Bostic (1940-1996), who had been a sales exec with AMC. There began some marked changes in the way things got done, and by the summer of 1979, the Scout Division, later to be called the Sports/Utility Division, had been created, and it gave them a little more autonomy as a group. Among the many things Bostic did was to push for a dealership expansion to bring Scouts onto “main street” and not just at truck or ag dealers. He…

9 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

2017 Ram 1500 Rebel 4x4

KEN.BRUBAKER@FOURWHEELER.COM OUR 2016 PICKUP TRUCK OF THE Year–winning Ram 1500 Rebel long-term test truck has completed its yearlong stay with Four Wheeler, and it has most likely returned to the Ram mothership in Auburn Hills, Michigan. If the Rebel could talk, it would regale the Ram folks with stories of trails, cargo, trails, a hurricane, trails, towing, trails, long trips, and trails. As a matter of fact, it’s safe to say that the Rebel saw more trail use than any other long-term Four Wheeler test vehicle in recent memory, and it handled the trails, as well as all the other tasks, with great aplomb. During our year with the Rebel we wheeled it almost weekly, which may seem hard to believe, but it’s true. That’s the beauty of living very…

5 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

Flashback May 1965: V is for V-Drive

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM The year was 1965, and the world of four-wheel drives was about to change—or so we thought. Folks much like us wondered: Will there ever be a passenger car that can pull with all four wheels? If you so desired, 4WD could be added to the package on some station wagons of the time, but those vehicles were essentially trucks—with high gear ratios, stiff solid-axle frontends, and tall profiles. The thought of a comfortable, mild-mannered four-wheel-drive passenger car remained largely a dream. Enter stage right, the engineers at Dana. Contracted by Chevy to improve the drivelines of Blazers, vans, and station wagons, Dana devised a propulsion system involving more driveshafts than we were accustomed to seeing underneath 4x4s. They called it the V-Drive system. The V-Drive system was built…

2 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

INBOX

KEN.BRUBAKER@FOURWHEELER.COM COINCIDENCES Too many coincidences! I just received my December 2017 issue of Four Wheeler magazine. I did a double take in the Contents section. The picture for your “T-Case Upgrades” article featured a Bronco similar to mine, on the same spot as one of my favorite pictures of my Bronco. Mine was taken on my 40th birthday, Labor Day weekend 2017, on the V-notch on Poison Spider Mesa trail in Moab, Utah. Furthermore, that is the same spot I met a young man with another fullsize Bronco, and he has the same birthday as me (September 2)! I’ve subscribed for more than a decade and would love to get my Bronco in your magazine. ’94 Bronco specs 5.8L engine (stock) with rebuilt E4OD and stock BorgWarner 1356 T-case Solo…

5 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

MOTORTREND ON DEMAND

Catch these shows on motortrendondemand.com Feb 2 Put Up or Shut Up, Episode 8 Feb 5 Roadkill, Episode 75 Feb 7 Ignition, Episode 188 Feb 9 Dirt Every Day, Episode 73 Feb 12 Hot Rod Garage, Episode 62 Feb 14 Head 2 Head, Episode 98 Feb 19 Roadkill, Episode 76 Feb 23 Junkyard Gold, Episode 5 Feb 26 Roadkill Garage, Episode 27 Feb 28 Engine Masters, Episode 32 Mar 2 Put Up or Shut Up, Episode 9 Mar 5 Roadkill, Episode 77 Mar 7 Ignition, Episode 189 Mar 9 Dirt Every Day, Episode 74 Mar 12 Hot Rod Garage, Episode 63 Mar 14 Head 2 Head, Episode 99 Mar 19 Roadkill, Episode 78 Mar 23 Junkyard Gold, Episode 6 Mar 26 Roadkill Garage, Episode 28 Mar 28 Engine Masters, Episode…

1 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

MODERN BUCKSHOT

editor@fourwheeler.com THE MAXXIS BUCKSHOT MUDDER HAS BEEN A quintessential mud-terrain favorite tire for many years, so it was only natural that it would receive some modern updates, giving us the all-new Maxxis Buckshot Mudder II MT-764. Visually, the Buckshot Mudder II tread ghosts some of the original design features, but the more aggressive sidewall tread and other characteristics make it a completely different and more aggressive-looking tire. The Buckshot Mudder II features new talon-shaped tread blocks said to be designed specifically for muddy and rocky conditions, a cut-resistant tread and shoulder compound, and stone and mud ejectors for self-cleaning capability. Just like on the original Buckshot Mudder, the tread blocks are pinned, allowing the installation of studs for those that need extra traction in icy conditions. The Maxxis Buckshot Mudder…

3 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

THE NEW DESTINATION

editor@fourwheeler.com WHEN WE GOT OUR FIRST LOOK AT FIRE stone’s Destination M/T2 mud tires last year, it was deep in the woods of Virginia. We were driving Jeep JKs shod with the new treads, some rolling on their biggest competitors’ tires. It was an enlightening and fun daylong opportunity to test the off-road performance of the second-generation of the popular M/T mud tire that hit the market back in 2002. We put the M/T2s through a heavy dose of clingy mud, slippery rocks, creek crossings, and wooded hillside climbs. As noted in our first impressions, the tires were impressive. But one day off-roading doesn’t really give the opportunity to see all sides of a tire, at least not in our way of thinking. That’s why we mounted one of the…

4 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

Behind the Wheel

A lot of work went into making the ’18 Wrangler “better,” but what exactly does that mean on the trail? In many ways the JL is as familiar as the JK, while at the same time being much improved. Our initial drive took place in the New Zealand backcountry with both automatic and manual-equipped Pentastar JLs, as well as an export market JL equipped with the 2.0L turbocharged four. The updated Pentastar feels a lot better in terms of low-end power delivery than the current JK. The lower crawl ratio of either transmission is immediately apparent and gives the JL so much more flexibility when crawling through boulder fields. As a bonus, we never smoked the clutch, as we have in the past with the JK in similar situations. However,…

3 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

MAKING TRACKS

editor@fourwheeler.com DEEP SNOW SLOWS DOWN MOST 4X4S, EVEN WHEN TIRE PRESSURES ARE DROPPED INTO SINGLE digits andlockers are engaged. It’s just tough to get traction and make headway when Old Man Winter comes knocking. But hip-deep snow, whether it’s the fluffy powder of mid-winter or the icy, layered remnants of early spring, don’t put much of a crimp on Paul Champagne’s winter wheelin’. Most of the year Paul’s ’02 Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon Country runs on 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2s. But when the heavy snows start piling up in the Cascades near his home in Central Oregon, the all-terrains can be replaced with the vehicle equivalent of snowshoes: a set of 16-inch-wide Mattracks 105M1-A2 tracks, providing more than 3,000 square inches of surface contact area and reducing…

4 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

SOLID-AXLE SWAP

editor@fourwheeler.com THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER side of the off-road fence. We spend a lot of time and money modifying our rigs, changing what OEM designers and engineers spent years refining and fine-tuning. Purpose built, purpose driven. That’s how a good many 4x4 owners look at their rides. A great example of such thinking is those who go through the effort of swapping out their 4x4’s independent front suspension (IFS) for a straight-axle. IFS works wonderfully to smooth out the ride as each front wheel moves independently from the one on the opposite side, but many wheelers see IFS as a hindrance, not a help, when smooth roads give way to big rocks and deep ruts—when strength becomes more important than weight, or the need for greater…

7 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

TECHLINE

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM TOYOTA REPOWER Q I have an ’85 Toyota shortbed 4x4 pickup truck. It was my first truck. I got it when I was 15. I am now 37. Unfortunately, I rolled the truck when I was 19. The truck became a farm beater. I replaced the body, but it’s still a beater. Now I think I want to fix it up. I’m thinking about installing a Chevy drivetrain. I would like to hear your thoughts. My factory 22R engine has been rebuilt, but due to abuse and neglect it doesn’t run good at all. YOTAFREAK VIA FOURWHEELER.COM FORUMS A There are generally only three main reasons for a 4x4 enthusiast to make an engine swap. These include more power, improved fuel economy, and the usually incorrect idea that an…

6 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

RPM AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM THAT’S INTERESTING Our sibling Motor Trend named the Ford F-150 as its 2018 Truck of the Year. Winners of SEMA’s Hottest awards for 2017 went to the Jeep Wrangler for 4x4-SUV and the, oh, you again: Ford F-series for the truck category. The new supercharged Crate Hemi Engine Kit from Mopar is the first supercharged 707hp 6.2L factory crate engine. Its hipster name is Hellcrate. Audi is planning a new facility for producing e-diesel. The company has been doing research on e-gasoline and synthetically manufactured e-diesel for a few years. “Audi e-diesel has the potential to make conventional combustion engines operate almost CO2-neutrally,” said the automaker. What says Kelley Blue Book about the best auto technology for 2018? Stuff like connected apps, tech that controls teens (we mean things…

4 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

PARTS RACK

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM FREE-WHEELING HD Dynatrac now offers the Free-Spin hub conversion kit for ’15-current Ford Super Duty and Ram 2500/3500 4x4 trucks. Each kit is 100 percent made in the USA and includes new forged outer axleshafts and spindles for larger 1550-sized steering joints. The Free-Spin system replaces the factory unit bearings with fixed spindles and serviceable wheel bearings for improved durability and performance. All Dynatrac Free-Spin hub conversion kits include heat-treated chromoly spindles, top-quality bearings and seals, DynaLoc locking hubs, and new 35-spline, 1550 outer axleshafts. Everything you need to replace the factory unitized bearings is included in the kit. INFO: Dynatrac, 714/596-4461, dynatrac.com SWAP FITTINGS Earl’s Performance Plumbing has introduced a vast assortment of new products. These products include LS/LT GM V-8 oil cooler and oil filter adapters, one-way…

4 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

REDESIGNED GEOLANDAR

editor@fourwheeler.com COMPLETELY REDESIGNING A TIRE LIKE THE Yokohama Geolandar M/T can produce polarizing reactions from off-road enthusiasts. On the one hand, you’ll always receive unappreciative groaning from the die-hards that loved the old tread design. But on the other hand, you have to acknowledge that there had to be room for improvement with new advancements in tire technology. The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is a completely redesigned tire from the air cavity out. It looks nothing like the previous generation M/T, piquing our interest further and requiring a closer long-term look. The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is available in 34 sizes up to 37 inches in diameter. Most available tire sizes come with an E load range rating. These E-rated tires have a three-ply Geo-Shield sidewall, while the lighter-duty D-…

4 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

⋆⋆FIRST LOOK⋆⋆2018 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON

editor@fourwheeler.com LET’S IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU WORKED for a car company and your next project was to create a new category of vehicle for management. The objective would be to build a vehicle that could traverse difficult terrain, while living daily life as a competent driver that could easily cover long distances at 80 mph. To meet these objectives, this vehicle would be equipped with large all-terrain tires, high ground clearance, and a four-wheel-drive system, and it would also have to be comfortable and have the latest technology and safety features. Of course, this would require meeting all applicable government and fuel economy standards. Oh, and did we mention it should come in two body styles, be a convertible with removable doors, and have a windshield that should…

12 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

CREW CAB CRAWLER

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com THIS RIG STARTED ITS LIFE ONE DRIVESHAFT SHORT OF WHAT NORMALLY APPEARS IN FOUR WHEELER. Tom Bingenheimer took what used to be his wife’s commuter, an ’01 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner, and much like a child with fresh modeling clay, he began cutting, building, and reshaping until his truck transformed into the trail-taming machine it is today. Tom is a lifelong dirt junkie. He grew up surrounded by Baja Bugs and Trophy Trucks in California and only recently traded the desert for the big open sky in Wyoming. The ’01 Toyota began in the stock two-wheel-drive form with a 3RZ engine and automatic transmission. Tom’s plan from the beginning was twofold—keep the truck simple, but make it a capable crawler. Accomplishing this goal of “keep it simple” involved some surgery.…

5 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

Driving Impressions

What’s it like to drive a tracked vehicle? Paul tossed us the keys to his 110 Defender during our jaunt up the snow-covered mountains for the photoshoot. It was a unique driving experience. First, driving a tracked 4x4 like this quickly made us an expert at 20-point turns and avoiding sidehills—a tractor-trailer rig has a smaller turning radius, and dozer-style ribs on the tracks don’t provide much, if any, lateral traction. The tracks also turn light steering into heavy steering. Those factors aside, the improvement in flotation and traction provided by tracks compared to aired-down tires is incredible. We quickly tossed away any fear of sinking in deep snow and we drove with more of the mentality of a snowmobiler than a four-wheeler. These Mattracks tracks added about 1,600 pounds…

1 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

2017 Ford Raptor SuperCab

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE Ford Raptor is an absolute beast in the dirt. With 13 inches of travel in the front and 13.9 inches in the rear, nine-zone Fox internal bypass shocks, 35-inch tires, a rear locker, front Torsen differential, and 450 hp, there isn’t another factory vehicle on the planet that can go toe-to-toe with the wide-track Ford off-road. However, we seem to go toe-to-toe with every other vehicle on the planet, especially during our daily hour-and-a-half commute on Southern California’s notorious 405 freeway. So what’s it like to live with the Raptor day in and day out? The truth is, the Raptor is quite livable and docile in the city. Visibility is generally very good, and other than taking up more lane space and having…

5 min

Four Wheeler|April 2018

CALENDAR

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM March 30–April 1 What: 26th Arch Canyon Jeep Jamboree Where: Blanding, Utah Hosted by: Jeep Jamboree USA Info: 530/333-4777, jeepjamboreeusa.com April 5 What: Shakedown Run (open to past customers) Where: Gilbert, Minnesota Hosted by: Iron Range Off-Road Info: ironrangeoffroad.com April 7 What: Getting Started Off-Road Driving Where: Gorman, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 310/613-5473, 4x4training.com April 8 What: Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving Where: Mojave, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 310/613-5473, 4x4training.com April 10 What: Easter Safari For First Timers Where: Moab, Utah Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 310/613-5473, 4x4training.com April 11–14 What: 14th Tennessee Mountains Jeep Jamboree Where: Oak Ridge, Tennessee Hosted by: Jeep Jamboree USA Info: 530/333-4777, jeepjamboreeusa.com April 19 What: Go Topless Day Where: Gilbert, Minnesota Hosted by: Iron Range…

1 min