Innehållsförteckning för May 2019 från Four Wheeler

ENERGY SUSPENSION IS KNOWN FOR ITS RED polyurethane cure to the deteriorating rubber bushings found on stock vehicles. The company’s patented Hyper-Flex material is said to be more durable than rubber and foam when faced with chemicals and salt, and it can also resist permanent deformation typical of the stock components that receive regular compressive force. With the dawn of the JL Wrangler, Energy Suspension dug into what made the new Jeep move and flex and realized the springs, sway bars, and control arms were a stout platform as they were—but with room for a bit of polyure thane improvement. Enter the Rock-Flex suspension system. The kit was designed to maintain many of the stock suspension components, using polyurethane bushings, spacers, and more to improve the vehicle’s suspension flex while…

What’s New The Range Rover HSE P400e features the same new PHEV technology and 2.0L turbocharged engine found in the Range Rover Sport. In fact, our impressions of the two are quite similar. So, how do they differ? The wheelbase is almost identical; however, the Range Rover is 4.8 inches longer than the Sport. Another difference is price; the Range Rover we tested cost $18,000 more than the Sport. Both Range Rovers feature a lightweight, all-aluminum independent suspension system that uses a double-wishbone setup in the front and a multilink layout in the rear. This air-controlled suspension boasts 10.2 inches of front wheel travel and 10.7 inches of rear wheel travel. Like the Range Rover Sport, Land Rover says the addition of PHEV capability does not affect the wading depth…

What’s New The Wrangler was completely redesigned for the 2018 model year, but the all-new JL wasn’t available for 2018 SUVOTY, making it eligible for 2019. The JL is available in a variety of configurations and trim levels, including Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon models with two or four doors (Unlimited), with either the trusty 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine or an all-new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled to a 48V generator that Jeep calls eTorque. Our Unlimited tester was a Rubicon model with the 2.0L turbo engine and a soft top. The Rubicon package includes locking differentials front and rear, a disconnecting front sway bar, 4:1 transfer case, steel bumpers, larger fender openings, and 33-inch-tall BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires. Ramp and Track The Wrangler scored an impressive 693 points…

AS ENTHUSIASTS, WE TEND TO LET OUR vehicles and projects take over our lives. Time spent dreaming, planning, and building will engulf us because we love it. When that focus is put into a vintage and iconic 4x4, the process gets multiplied. That is what happened with Louie Morosan and his ’76 Ford Bronco. Louie is no stranger to turning wrenches and pumping out amazing vehicle builds. As owner of LGE-CTS Motorsports in San Dimas, California, he has built some epic show vehicles, many of which have been featured at the SEMA Show, LA Auto Show, and many more. These vehicles aren’t just for shows, either; they are designed to be used and appreciated. Louie has owned this Bronco for over 18 years. For a long time, he couldn’t decide…

TWO-BY-FOUR CONVERSION Q I’m swapping a TH400 transmission and an NP208 transfer case into my ’71 GMC C25 after I do a solid-axle swap. Is there a slip-yoke eliminator kit available for the NP208 or should I stick with a stock-type driveshaft, in which case, is the slip-yoke at the transfer case end a limiting factor for rear wheel travel? Is a custom driveshaft in order? @AGUIJIMENEZ VIA INSTAGRAM @CAPPAWORKS A The need for a slip-yoke eliminator on your NP208 transfer case will ultimately be determined by the length, angle, and plunge requirements of the rear driveshaft. Shorter wheelbases and bigger lifts will dictate the need for a slip-yoke eliminator. The traditional slip-yoke also doesn’t do well with long–wheel travel suspensions. If after cycling the suspension and checking the angles…

WOODS RESCUE This here is my ’76 Chevrolet Bonanza 10. As it sits now it has a 350, SM465, twin-sticked 205, and ¾-ton running gear. She’s sitting on 37-inch Super Swamper TSL SXIIs with Mickey Thompson Classic III wheels. Also has an 8-inch Superlift suspension with a bunch of Offroad Design goodies, G2 rear diff cover, and a RuffStuff Specialties front diff cover. My uncle and I pulled her out of the woods about three years ago. It was far from what it is now. As you can tell she’s got some rust. I lucked out mostly because it sat in the woods for 20 years without a motor in it, so I was spared from having a truck that’s completely rotted out. The box is pretty much shot. When…

SWITCHER Advanced Accessory Concepts now offers the Trigger Six Shooter wireless accessories controller for wiring 12V to 24V accessories. The system eliminates the need to run wires under the vehicle dash or through the firewall, simplifying the wiring process. Each Trigger Six Shooter features six solid-state channels, including two 30-amp, two 10-amp, and two 5-amp solid-state circuits. The waterproof controller makes it possible to cut costs when installing LED and conventional lighting, E-Lockers, race radios, compressor systems, whips, cooling fans, and more. Each accessory can be controlled from inside or outside the vehicle with the RF Remote, or with a mobile device using the Trigger ACS Plus app. The RF Remote assembly included with every Trigger Six Shooter features a mounting base and a detachable backlit toggle switch assembly, and…

WHEN THE FORD RANGER SAID ADIOS TO THE North American market in 2011 and rode off into the sunset, it seemed likely that was the final entry in a long and storied history. In yet another “not so fast” moment, the Ranger rides back into the North American market for 2019, even more steely-eyed and sitting even taller in the saddle. The Ranger name was not new when Ford’s first in-house–built mini-truck made an initial public appearance in 1981. Ranger had long been a package identifier for Ford light trucks. It appeared first for an early-’50s Marmon-Herrington 4x4 carryall conversion of a Ford panel truck. By 1965, a top-line Ranger trim package had been added to the pickup line and the Bronco got one for 1967. For 1983, it was…

WHEN YOU GO TO PURCHASE A NEW SUV, you likely look at the price and the specifications. You might even get a short testdrive from the dealer. If you are buying an SUV you plan to take off-road though, this doesn’t cut it. That’s where we come in. For 46 years we have been testing 4x4 SUVs in extreme conditions, and the 2019 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) competition carried on that tradition. It covered five days and consisted of approximately 1,000 miles on- and off-road. The test included steep, loose hillclimbs; sand dunes; fast two-tracks; rough dirt roads; rocky trails; water crossings; and slippery snow-covered roads and trails. We test the vehicles in almost every way imaginable and pass our impressions on to you, so you can factor the…

What’s New The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk qualifies for 2019 with an all-new turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0L engine. This four-cylinder engine makes 270 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, and it features engine start-stop technology, which optimizes fuel economy and decreases emissions. The engine is mated to a nine-speed transmission, which has been tuned to match the performance of the 2.0L engine. The transfer case–less Cherokee Trailhawk with the Active Drive Lock system includes a selectable rear locker and a two-speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). Inside of each differential assembly is a set of 2.92:1 planetary gears that provide gear reduction. Trailhawk package features include improved approach and departure angles of 30 and 32 degrees, respectively; a 1-inch suspension lift; red towhooks; an exclusive Selec-Terrain Rock mode; hill descent control; 17-inch wheels;…

WHEN THE SMALL FORD TRUCK THAT BEcame known as the Ranger was being worked up in the late ’70s and early ’80s, an SUV variant was planned. It ran on a slightly slower development track than the Ranger did, but because the mechanical platforms were nearly identical, most of the unique work was in the body and interior. Close to fully developed prototypes were being tested in 1981 and 1982. The initial press reveal came in August of 1982 at the Dearborn Test Facility, where the new rig was presented as the ’84 Bronco II. Freelancer Tom Bonner was there and wrote about the new Bronco II for the January 1983 issue of Four Wheeler. He called it “frisky.” They drove some preproduction units that had a number of differences…

’20 Jeep Gladiator Pickup Jeep built a truck. Well, that took forever and three decades. The Jeep pickup we all knew was coming and have been waiting for that isn’t called Scrambler arrived for its official viewing in 2018 as a 2020 model and will be in dealerships around April 2019, and it is called…Gladiator. It’s the vehicle that Jeep calls “100 percent truck, 100 percent Jeep, 100 percent original.” Kind of. And now, this: The Gladiator has the traditional seven-slot grille, albeit wider than the “norm,” to make way for air intake for the midsize’s towing purposes: 7,650 pounds (and 1,600-pound payload capacity). At birth, the truck will have the 285hp 3.6L V-6 worth 260 lb-ft of torque that’s mated to a standard D478 six-speed manual transmission (optional is…

THE LAST BRAND-NEW FORD Ranger sold in the U.S. was an ’11 model, the last in a line of trucks whose bones dated back nearly 20 years. By the time it was discontinued, the compact Ranger was thoroughly outclassed by its midsize competitors, some of whom had seen two or three redesigns since the Ranger’s most recent. But its simplicity and long production run ensured the Ranger would retain a robust enthusiast following even after it was cancelled. In the ensuing years, the cheap and cheerful Ranger abdicated the small-truck sales crown it had dominated for decades, allowing the Toyota Tacoma to take the throne. The truck market has changed significantly since 2012—while fullsize pickups will probably always reign supreme, the success of the reintroduced-for-2015 Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon and the…

BDS SUSPENSION IS NO STRANGER TO SHOW-stopping truck builds. A past example is Project SD126, a fiery-orange ’17 Ford F-250 Super Duty shortbed single-cab conversion that was one of the most talked about 4x4s at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. In 2018, the imaginative minds at BDS were inspired by the upcoming release of the all-new ’19 Ford Ranger. Napkin sketches led to digital renderings, and it wasn’t long before the team dreamt up an adventure-themed off-road truck based on the Ranger platform. Before the truck arrived at the BDS compound, the team carefully studied Ford’s CAD files in order to tailor a BDS 6-inch suspension system specifically for the new truck. A dose of engineering also went into the truck’s length. The ’19 Ranger came outfitted with…

What’s New The big news for the Range Rover Sport is plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) capability, a first for SUVOTY. Its components include a 2.0L turbocharged engine, 141hp electric motor, and a bank of batteries. The engine and electric motor combination make 392 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Mated to the engine is a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission (which is where the electric motor is located) that is said to complete each shift in only 200 milliseconds to create almost imperceptible gear changes. The vehicle we tested was fitted with the available two-speed transfer case, which has an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the center differential. This system can distribute torque between the wheels at any ratio between 100 percent front and 100 percent rear. Land Rover notes…

What’s New The TRD Pro package fits the 4Runner with a variety of items, including new-for-2019 TRD-tuned high-performance Fox internal bypass shocks. Compared to the non-TRD Pro 4Runner, each front shock has a larger-diameter piston and shaft, and each remote-reservoir rear shock has a larger piston. The TRD Pro has TRD-tuned front springs that provide a 1-inch lift, and Toyota says that the TRD Pro suspension has 0.75 inch of additional wheel travel up front and 1.4 inches of additional wheel travel in the rear. Other TRD Pro features include LED foglights, 17-inch TRD alloy wheels, Nitto Terra Grappler tires, TRD-stamped front skidplate, unique front grille, black badging and lower bumper accents, TRD floor mats, and a TRD shift knob. Ramp and Track Our TRD Pro tester drove 55 inches…

WITH TRAILERS TO TOW AND CARGO TO haul, diesel pickup owners are always on the go. And as is par for the course in this blue-collar segment, there’s not always time to keep regular tabs on the truck’s suspension. After 21 years of use, you might be surprised at the kind of shape you can find a leaf-spring system in. Such was the case for this 210,000-mile ’97 Ford F-350 4x4. After more than two decades of living in the Midwest—where road salt, humidity, and regular exposure to precipitation had all wreaked havoc on the iron underbelly of the vehicle—its factory leaf springs, bushings, hangers, shackles, and hardware had all seen better days. Because this 1-ton crew cab is a workhorse whose duties include towing 4x4s to the trailhead, the…

THE MIDSIZE TRUCK SEGMENT is on fire these days, and a lot of that has to do with some exceptional choices out there, such as our 2018 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year winner, the Chevy Colorado ZR2. Manufacturers are finally starting to deliver fully engineered machines that are not only an enthusiast’s dream but also capable of performing double duty as primary transportation. We’ve put nearly 5,000 miles on our ZR2 during the second quarter through commuting and cross-country trips, and we’re managing to get in some really fun trail days. So far, we love the size of the Colorado, which is big enough to fit people and gear but small enough to maneuver in and around the city and on the trail. Functionally, it has everything we…

If you have stayed current with Firing Order, you know that Editor Brubaker has lauded the glory days of his “ugly ’77 International Scout II.” His $1,000, multicolor, rust-scourged machine attracted heaps of attention in its day. If we skip forward one model year, we see how Jeff Clouse and his ’78 Scout II attracted attention in a much different—and bigger—way. “It started out as just a paintjob,” Jeff told us in the June 1989 edition, “then things went crazy.” What began as a simple application of GM Classic White Imron led to the Scout’s body being removed from the frame, and then a slow, arduous process of replacing and detailing weathered parts. In natural gearhead fashion, Jeff dove into the engine bay and treated the 304ci IH V-8 to…