Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Four Wheeler

BLUETOOTH SWITCHES ARB now offers the LINX, a touchscreen Bluetooth interface that provides control of existing and new 4x4 accessories. LINX eliminates the need for numerous switches and centralizes the command of devices in one touchscreen display, effectively decluttering the dashboard of any 4x4. LINX is built on an expandable platform so it can continue to evolve as your on- and off-road driving habits and accessories change. The system can be used to control driving lights, ARB Air Lockers, dual batteries, air compressors, and more. LINX offers a single point of control via its Bluetooth-enabled touchscreen display, while the main control hub can be hidden out of sight. Each LINX comes with six pre-installed modules that include front and rear traction, compressor control, accessory switchboard, battery monitor, speedometer, and air…

THE CONSTANT EVOLUTION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES IS A BUG THAT BITES MANY OF US. WHETHER it’s to further improve the ability or look of our 4x4s, or to switch gears to a different type of wheeling, most projects never actually end. Brian Bohrer knows this all too well, and in a couple different ways. Brian is a Jeep guy at heart. He has owned many Jeeps over the years and they have been great to him, especially for tight trails. However, the bug got him good. He decided he wanted something bigger, louder, and something most people don’t see on a regular basis. He wanted a rockcrawling Dodge pickup. As a Dodge fan and owner already, Brian knew the path he was heading down was almost divine. “I really wanted…

OUT OF THE BOX, THE ’18 JEEP WRANGLER JL is an absolutely impressive machine. While it might not look drastically different from the outgoing JK, it’s very much so an all-new Wrangler. As with any new 4x4, we were curious how the new JL would react to a mild lift and larger tires. Would it throw the same electronic fits as the outgoing JK if the computer wasn’t calibrated? How would the new electric-over-hydraulic steering system handle larger tires? The list of questions went on and on. To find out for ourselves, we stopped by Low Range 4x4 in Wilmington, North Carolina. There, we followed along as the crew installed a Stage 1 2.5-inch Enforcer Overland Lift from EVO Manufacturing on an ’18 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport. EVO made its…

The big news item on the ’19 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the Desert Air Intake. Toyota made it clear it isn’t a “snorkel” meant to increase water fording depth, and there is no water fording depth listed on any of the specs. The Desert Air Intake is meant for getting cleaner air into the engine bay. Toyota tells us they got the idea from seeing vehicles crossing the Australian Outback in convoys. Many of these vehicles have high-mounted intakes that connect to the airbox in order to avoid clogged air filters, or worse, thick, dusty air pushing into the engine. After a few days of driving in convoy fashion, often in a wall of dust, we removed the air filters from the Tacoma and 4Runner and did a side-by-side…

WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER Scout was introduced on November 21, 1960, International was operating on a set of assumptions that proved woefully incorrect. The first was that the Scout was going to be a minor addendum to the company’s light-truck line—maybe 6,000-10,000 units per year. The second assumption was that people mostly wanted a pickup version of the Scout. Finally, they figured people only wanted bare-bones Scouts. So, let’s talk about flawed assumptions and how International came out smelling like roses anyway. Almost immediately, International had more Scout orders than they could handle. A second shift was added on January 23, 1961, the first time for a second shift since the Fort Wayne plant opened in 1923. Production rose to 164 units per day, a gobsmacking statistic for the normally…

FROM A SURPRISING CONCEPT that debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014 to a full-fledged production truck in 2018, Chevy has awakened the souls of any midsize off-road enthusiast tired of being on the receiving end of a Tacoma butt kicking. With real performance in mind, the team at Chevy got serious with their midsize performance truck by enlisting the help of Multimatic for a revolutionary shock design, engineering an electronics-off off-road driving mode, and equipping the ZR2 with front and rear lockers. It is clear that Chevy’s Colorado ZR2 team came to win. And win they did, by taking home the 2018 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year Trophy. As with every winning pickup, we were able to spec one out for a yearlong evaluation. We…

“IT WASN’T REALLY A TRUCK. I PUT IT TOGETHER WITH A CAB FROM ONE RIG, FRAME PARTS FROM TWO OTHERS, DOORS FROM ANOTHER, AND SO ON.”—DOUGLAS LEE Douglas Lee is always glad to tell the story of his ’57 Chevy pickup, but just make sure you have some time to spare—there is far more to this red truck than meets the eye. As he hints at when describing its origins: “It wasn’t really a truck. I put it together with a cab from one rig, frame parts from two others, doors from another, and so on.” Back in the February 1995 issue, we sat down to hear the details. The Industrial Arts instructor from Miami, Oklahoma, had the technical training to build the truck of his dreams, and the “hands-on”…

FARSON’S COLLECTION I enjoyed your article on ugly 4x4s and I am over 40 now, and while I have not been asked about whether I want a senior discount, it has been quite a while since anyone has asked me for my ID when purchasing my favorite beverages (normally Captain Morgan for my rum and coke!). Getting older sucks sometimes, but it has its benefits too, though being called “sir” by someone in their 20s or 30s isn’t one of them! Anyway, I have owned four ugly 4x4s and two pretty ones (a ’97 S10 ZR2 and my current daily driver F-150). I actually still own two of the uglier ones. One is a ’92 Bronco that a previous owner decided to Plasti Dip. The “Beater Bronco” (Photo A) doesn’t…

FROM THE JOBSITE TO THE TRAILHEAD, FRONT-MOUNTED WINCHES ARE RATHER popular. You can even walk away from a Ram dealership with a Power Wagon hiding a 12,000-pound winch behind the front bumper. There is, however, a problem with front winches—they only perform their duties in the front of the vehicle. Since a big part of four-wheeling is problem solving, read on, and let’s solve this winching dilemma by looking at it from a different direction. Front-Winch Woes Imagine this scenario. Though wheeling alone is not something we recommend, it happens. The cold winter night is falling, and that quick backwoods shortcut that was supposed to shave minutes off your trip has turned to mud. Your rig inevitably takes a nosedive into a snow-covered, sludgy chasm of a mudhole such that…

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE ’19 GMC SIERRA DENALI catches your eye. No longer sharing any body panels (save for the rear doors and roof) with a certain sibling, the Sierra’s tough yet elegant exterior demands attention. A unique face, asymmetrical wheel openings, and a ton of exclusive tech and innovation finally allow the Sierra to stand on its own. In order for us to get more familiar with GMC’s new 1⁄2-ton, we headed out to picturesque St. John’s in Newfoundland and rolled on some miles, er, kilometers. The Sierra features a new platform, known internally as T1, to replace the older K2 trucks. These new trucks have grown in most dimensions, with a mixed-materials strategy (steel and aluminum) in order to retain strength, while lowering the curb weight up…

TO HELP YOU PREP YOUR 4X4 (AND YOURSELF) FOR THE cold winter season, we’ve got a bundle of gear and products designed for getting through the cold months, including ones that offer better performance and traction. You’ll also find items for the exterior and interior as well as comfort for your person. And we also asked Four Wheeler readers for their real-world survival tips! IMPROVED WINTER PERFORMANCE DUAL ELECTRIC FANS FOR DIESELS What: This dual electric-fan system might seem counterintuitive for cold weather, but in winter, diesel engines take longer to warm up. Go ahead and double that time for the interior. This works in ’94-’09 Rams with the Cummins. Some tech: The direct-fit, bolt-on setup features a variable speed controller so that you can decide at what temperature the…

BACK IN JEEP’S FORMATIVE years, the only way to travel was with no top and no doors. Mud, wind noise, and sunburns were all part of the experience. We have come quite a way since the days of the Dana 20 transfer case and OD Green paint, and many agree those are improvements. Nowadays, Jeep owners ride in comfort with touchscreen navigation, air conditioning, and power everything. While it is part of our job at Four Wheeler to tell readers all about the advances in 4x4 technology, we also can’t help but to harken back to the good ol’ days sometimes. When our new staffer pitched the idea of driving a two-door ’17 Wrangler from Los Angeles to Ohio and back, we hatched a plan. Take off the doors, leave…

RETURNING TO OURAY, COLORADO, FOR ITS 12th iteration was the annual FJ Summit. Five days of food, friends, and FJs could be found in what is known as the Switzerland of America. The town of Ouray is nestled in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado and takes its name from the Native American Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe. Both the city and the surrounding hills have a mining history dating back to the late 1800s, when it was said there were more horses and mules in the town than people. During the week of FJ Summit, there might have been more 4x4s than people in Ouray, with a massive turnout of folks ready to experience what the area had to offer. Trail rides led parades of vehicles over…

DIVORCED DRIVE Q I need an intermediate shaft between my transmission and divorced NP200, right? I just pulled the 351M out of my Kaiser M725 to make room for the 454, and whoever hacked that Ford stuff in there U-jointed the slip-yoke right to the NP200 input. JOHN CRANDALL VIA FACEBOOK.COM/JOHNCAPPA4X4 A Working with a divorced transfer case introduces a few problems that are not an issue with a married transfer case. Just like with the driveshafts between the transfer case and axles of a traditional 4x4, the U-joint angles of the driveshaft between the transmission and transfer case need to be spot on or there will be significant driveline vibration. Many people have fabricated transmission and transfer case mounts that only utilize one U-joint between the transmission and divorced…

THAT’S INTERESTING Hennessey Performance opted to go big rather than go home by building the Goliath 6x6. What started as a ’19 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss Z71 became this new truck via another round of rear suspension and 8 inches of lift, plus an engine upgrade to the factory 6.7L V-8 that included a 2.9L supercharger and exhaust for 705 horses and 675 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a custom bed. And yes, you can buy one. Do you have $375,000? Hey, it includes the truck, you bargain hunter. Ogle it some more at hennesseyperformance.com. Do you stare at the ceiling every night asking yourself, “Where is Ford going to build the ’20 F-150 hybrid?” Sleep soundly. The answer: Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan. Pricing for the ’19 Nissan Frontier:…

SOMETIMES THE TOOL THAT SAVES THE DAY isn’t sitting in your toolbag—it’s mounted on your rig. The winch. This mighty tool can be the difference between un-stucking yourself and waiting helplessly for a recovery strap. We’ve seen winches help fix trail-altered 4x4 parts that would otherwise leave the vehicle stranded, and with the throw of a switch, a winch can move toys and trucks onto trailers with ease. If a winch is on your want list (and we argue it should be), then look no further than the next few pages where we have 31 winches for your perusal. TUFF STUFF HOOK: The Trailhead winch from Tuff Stuff not only packs 13,000 pounds of pulling power, but also a three-stage planetary gear drivetrain, a 6.6hp series-wound motor, and a gear…

GMC’s MultiPro Tailgate is one of the smartest innovations we’ve ever seen on a pickup, with the ability to completely change how people interact with their truck bed. Exclusive to GMC and standard on SLT, AT4, and Denali, this revolutionary tailgate offers the user six distinct modes of operation and has been tested to the same durability standards as a traditional tailgate.…

OUR CONVOY OF CLEAN, SUPER WHITE TOYOTA TRD Pro vehicles left the majestic mountain oasis of Ouray, Colorado, bound for an overlanding journey that included splashing through mountain streams, climbing over massive rocks, and nearly getting lost in dust clouds. As we left Ouray, it was the last time we would see the TRD Pros that clean, and that’s just the way we like it. The four-day overland camping trip was the brainchild of Toyota, and the trip was designed so we could test out the new trio of TRD Pro vehicles. Our trip would see us drive across the 160-mile Rimrocker Trail on our way to Moab, Utah. Spending about 80 percent of our trip aired down on dirt paths while craning our necks to take in the stunning…

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER (IH) WAS A CELEBRated American company with a history that spanned more than a century and a product line that encompassed everything from rifles to refrigerators and tractors to trucks. As a result, when it comes to gatherings, conventions, shows, and celebrations, there is plenty to choose from. All have a smattering of IH products from all genres, but most have a specific theme. In the case of the Scout & All Truck Nationals (midnitestar.org), the main theme is the IH Light Line, which includes the light trucks and cars from 1907 to 1975 and the Scouts from 1961 to 1980. The 2018 gathering at WACO Airfield in Troy, Ohio, marked the 29th year of the event. Until a couple of years ago, it had been known as…

THERE ARE FEW MODIFICATIONS THAT TRULY change the utility of a truck as much as a bed cap. A cap can not only keep your gear out of the elements, but it allows you to transform your truck into everything from a basecamp to a mobile workshop. In addition, a cap creates a secure place to haul cargo for when the cabin is packed with people. Our ’18 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a great example of a versatile pickup that quickly runs out of room with the family on board. This fact, along with our travel needs, led us to look for a cap to cover our Crew Cab’s shortbed. After looking at the available options, we landed on a cap that met all of our wants and needs. It…

February 1-9 What: King of the Hammers Where: Johnson Valley, California Hosted by: Ultra4 Info: ultra4racing.com February 2 What: Tire Repair/Hi-Lift Mini Clinic Where: Borrego Springs, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 4x4training.com February 8-10 What: SnoBlind Where: West Branch, Michigan Hosted by: Mud-Chuggers Four Wheel Drive Club Info: mudchuggers.com February 9 What: Getting Started Off-Road Driving Where: Gorman, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 4x4training.com February 10 What: Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving Where: Mojave, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 4x4training.com February 15-17 What: California Four Wheel Drive Association Convention Where: Rancho Cordova, California Hosted by: California Four Wheel Drive Association Info: cal4wheel.com February 16 What: Starting Rock Crawling Where: Lucerne Valley, California Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Adventures Info: 4x4training.com February 23-24 What: Dayton…