Innehållsförteckning för November 2021 från Four Wheeler

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM Is it True? 1 Is Maine actively deregistering Mitsubishi Delica vans that were imported to the United States and previously registered in Maine under the 25-year federal import rule? Sleuths at Crankshaft Culture reported that a modification to Maine’s state law 29-A MRSA 354 has recently reclassified the Delica as an “off-road vehicle,” which cannot be registered for on-road use, according to Maine. Delica owners have allegedly received notices in the mail indicating their vehicles can no longer be operated on public roads and that “the registration may not be used as proof of ownership to sell this vehicle as an automobile.” Did California ask its residents to stop charging electric vehicles during a recent heatwave to conserve electricity? The answer is a solid “No,” but the state’s Flex…

editor@fourwheeler.com Hey, there’s nothing wrong with drum brakes, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep them forever. As long as they’re properly maintained and adjusted, drum brakes actually stop pretty well. The downsides to drum brakes are things like a higher potential for packing with mud, silt, and debris off-road; poorer wet-weather performance; and more complicated servicing. They also tend to run a bit hotter and are more susceptible to fading and overheating than disc brakes. So, if you’re custom building an aftermarket axle like we were, prepping a junkyard takeout, or want to upgrade your daily driver, TSM Mfg has what you’ll need to do a disc brake conversion on your axle, like the Ford 9-inch conversion kit we used for our project. SOURCE TSM Mfg. Co., Inc.…

editor@fourwheeler.com In last month’s issue we introduced you to this Grand Cherokee that had a few issues in the front suspension. Our buddy Jeff either ran out of smooth trail one night or ran out of talent behind the wheel. The truth is, this happens to everyone who pushes the limit off-road, and we can respect and relate to that. If you’re not breaking parts or getting stuck, you’re not pushing the limit. The result of whatever happened was a collapsed lower control arm mount and a bent front axle. Among other things, these issues caused some death wobble that nothing would fix without a new axle and some better suspension. Somehow, Jeff talked us into figuring out the best course of action to take, and after a few weeks…

editor@fourwheeler.com One of the ever-present challenges in just about any Jeep is the lack of secure storage areas, and the latest Wrangler JL and Gladiator JT are no exceptions. Whether you enjoy topless Jeeping or cruising around encased in full doors and a hardtop, there is always the concern about protecting your valuables when you walk away. Even when compared to the JK, the JL has more electronics and modules taking up areas previously available for aftermarket lockable storage solutions, such as under the driver seat. Fortunately, there is a solution to your secure storage needs in the form of the Tuffy Security Products Center Console Security Safe. This lockable console insert is brilliant in the fact that it is simple to install and turns your factory console into a…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM COOLER OIL PAN Whether the stock stamped steel oil pan on your ’12-’18 Jeep Wrangler has been damaged, rusted through, or you want a simple bolt-on upgrade with improved performance, the PPE Cast Aluminum Oil Pan is here for you. PPE built the pan with deep cast-aluminum fins for more cooling and airflow and the cast gussets add strength and rigidity. Also on the upgrade list are the high-power neodymium magnet-equipped drain plug to trap any metal contaminants in the oil and a flat-bottom design for complete oil changes and an increased oil capacity. INFO: PPE, 725/238-2002, ppepower.com BUSINESS IN THE FRONT Tired of the worn-out and flimsy frontend parts under your ’13-’21 Ram 2500 or 3500? BD Diesel’s heavy-duty sway bar endlinks are built to be strong and…

editor@fourwheeler.com After much anticipation, the fully electric, battery-powered ’22 Ford F-150 pickup is finally here and it’s called the Lightning. Ford has been teasing the truck’s existence and giving glimpses into development for quite a few years now. However, the unveiling finally gives us the full rundown on this impressive truck. The F-150 has been America’s best-selling truck for 44 years, something that Ford is immensely proud of, so when approaching how to build a battery-electric version of the pickup Ford knew they needed to get it right the first time. At first glance, Ford has nailed it with the F-150 Lightning. The Lightning looks like a truck, it does all the things a truck needs to do, and comes in at a price that arguably won’t break the bank.…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com When Peter Hansen wants to get the whole family into the woods for a trip, it’s his wife’s Toyota 4Runner. When rockcrawling is in the plans, it’s his stroked and lifted ’74 Land Cruiser on 35s. But when Peter wants to take both his girls on an adventure to camping spots far beyond the reaches of pavement, the ’02 Chevy Avalanche is just right. Peter bought the Avalanche new in 2002 and before long, the truck added family off-road camping trips to its list of duties, alongside looking slick and hauling home-improvement supplies around town. The truck came loaded with a few niceties that improved its utility on the trails. The independent front suspension and factory rear locker give traction and a comfortable ride in the bumps, the built-in…

editor@fourwheeler.com For years, the Toyota Tacoma has been a truck-based, off-road-aimed vehicular Swiss Army knife. And Bilstein 8112 front coilover shocks with ZoneControl paired with rear 8100 bypass shocks can hone this off-road “knife” to a razor’s edge. This story should be a love letter to Bilstein because these shocks on this vehicle make for a competent off-road rig that can float over rough terrain better than you—or even we—could imagine. Soaking up relatively big bumps when your choice is to send the truck into a nosedive with the brakes, or floor it to float … the Bilsteins make the truck float over small to medium bumps (big, 2-3-foot whoops will still be a problem, albeit less of a problem than before). Making a competent bumpy dirt road vehicle much…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM DIFF DROP OR NOT I’m upgrading my lift kit from a budget Pro Comp kit to the Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Full Kit (2–3-inch lift, new shocks, coils, full leaf pack, and carrier bearing drop kit) on my ’10 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab. The truck is my daily driver and weekend overlanding/camping rig. I don’t do any extreme off-roading or rockcrawling. Usually trails with softball-sized rocks at most. My question is, currently I have a 1-inch diff drop that came with the budget kit. The Ironman kit does not have a diff drop (has a carrier bearing drop) but has the same amount of lift as the old kit. Do I need the diff drop? I can’t seem to get a straight answer from anyone. I spoke with Ironman,…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM OLD 4X4S FOR THE WIN I’m a bit behind in my magazine reading and I just read your Firing Order (“Old 4x4s for the Win!”) column in the November 2020 issue of Four Wheeler. In that column you asked for readers’ stories about old 4x4s. Like you, I like old vehicles. I’ll go even further and say that I don’t like new vehicles. I don’t like how my dad’s ’20 Honda Pilot aims the rearview mirrors at the ground when you shift into Reverse. I don’t like how my wife’s ’18 Jeep Renegade won’t shut the engine off unless you are in Park, and how it automatically applies the parking brake when you open a door. Not liking new vehicles means that I drive old ones, and plan to…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com The 2021 Overland Adventure Presented by Jeep was more than just three days on the trail. We gathered adventure enthusiasts from all corners of the U.S. and different walks of life who were joined by their shared passion for exploring what lies beyond the paved road. As we led the way through the lesser-known parts of Utah, we carved out as many memories as we logged miles on our odometers. Friendships were made, photographs were taken, and we shared stories, meals, and even the spare seats in our vehicles. This was the 2021 Four Wheeler Overland Adventure Presented by Jeep. It Began With a Call to Adventure Show us how you get off the grid, into the wild, and away from it all. Show us the tools you use…

editor@fourwheeler.com We’ve got a buddy who recently moved to L.A. to work in the TV and movie industry. Relax, he’s not an actor, just one of the grunts. But while we were stoked to see an old friend make the move from New England to the land of perpetual sun and stars, we were a bit taken aback by the condition of his ’00 Chevy Silverado 1500. It was just wrong. We couldn’t in good conscience let him drive such a pile to shoot locations and movie lots, so while he was out of town for a week, we snatched it and threw some much-needed upgrades its way. Superlift 3.5-Inch Suspension We wanted to throw a little lift under the transfer case, so we opted for a Superlift 3.5-inch suspension…

editor@fourwheeler.com Ah, yesteryear. It was a simpler time, not only in the pace of life but also in the engineering that powered the vehicles of the time. The 134-cube Go Devil engine that was the motivation behind every WWII and civilian flatfender Jeep from 1941 through 1953 was a relatively simple, very durable, and (for its time) relatively powerful design. The design was so good that when the U.S. Military standardized jeep production in WWII, it had Ford use the Go Devil engine design in its GPW jeep in lieu of the 45hp 119ci Ford engine that powered the pre-standardized Ford GP. But even the best engine designs can fall prey to the ravages of time, wear, and neglect. When we purchased a ’48 Willys CJ-2A with a crankcase full…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM Even good things must eventually come to an end and there were definitely a few tears shed as our long-term ’20 Ford F-250 Super Duty pulled away from our driveway. This truck served us faithfully for more than 25,000 miles and proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was deserving of the Truck Trend Pickup Truck of the Year award. The Super Duty spent its time commuting to school, running road trips on the open highway, hauling bed loads of random stuff, running off-road trails, and towing trailers of all shapes and sizes. Basically, it was a big truck that we did big truck stuff with, and it performed every task we threw at it with strength and finesse. During our final few months with the truck,…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM ★November 2-5 What: SEMA Show Where: Las Vegas, Nevada Hosted by: Specialty Equipment Market Association Info: semashow.com ★November 4-6 What: Death Valley Exploration Trip Where: Death Valley, California Hosted by: Jeep Jamboree USA Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com ★November 4-7 What: Pro Rock Racing Hillclimb Finals Where: Oliver Springs, Tennessee Hosted by: Windrock Park Info: windrockpark.com ★November 4-7 What: Trucks Gone Wild at Redneck Mud Park Where: Punta Gorda, Florida Hosted by: Trucks Gone Wild Info: trucksgonewild.com ★November 6 What: Sasquatch Hunt Where: Attica, Indiana Hosted by: Badlands Off-Road Park Info: badlandsoffroad.com ★November 12-13 What: Trucks Gone Wild at Twitty’s Mud Bog Where: Ulmer, South Carolina Hosted by: Trucks Gone Wild Info: trucksgonewild.com ★November 12-14 What: Panamint Valley Days Where: Trona, California Hosted by: California Four Wheel Drive Association Info: cal4wheel.com ★November…