Innehållsförteckning för July 2022 från Four Wheeler

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM 1 General Motors announced an investment of more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, which is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. These investments are the latest step toward accelerating GM’s drive to become the EV market leader in North America by 2025. 2-3 Management of the Ultra4 Domestic Series has shifted from David Cole to Jason and Gayla Robinett. Hammerking Productions, including the King of the Hammers race, Ultra4 Europe, and Great American Shortcourse will still be owned by David Cole. This restructuring is said to bring with it improvements to the annual King of the Hammers race as well as new projects from Hammerking Productions. 4 Nissan plans to build its new electric vehicles in Canton, Mississippi, a state where 3 of every…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM COOL YOUR TRANS Keeping transmission fluid temperatures in check is key to extending the life of your transmission and Mishimoto’s 13-row universal stacked-plate transmission cooler can help. This universal kit applies to any vehicle needing an ancillary cooler to assist in hot climates, towing, or extreme driving conditions. Mishimoto’s heat exchanger features a 40,000 GVW rating, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications. The kit includes the necessary components for installation, including hose barb adapter fittings with an integrated O-ring, 50 inches of SAE J1532 transmission cooler hose, high-quality stainless-steel worm-gear clamps, ⅜-inch hose barb unions for mating the hose and fittings, and a set of four universal mounting brackets and associated hardware for easy installation. INFO: Mishimoto, 877/466-4744, mishimoto.com SPRINGS HAVE SPRUNG Enthusiasts seeking to amp up the power…

editor@fourwheeler.com We first learned about the Milestar Patagonia X/T tire at the 2019 SEMA Show. At the time, the folks from Milestar Tires explained that this tire, like several others from different manufacturers, was intended to fill the space between a mud-terrain and an all-terrain tire. That’s an ever-growing niche in the tire world that makes sense. After all, most off-roaders use their tires to the limit off-road—which would be best served by the mud-terrain—but still rack up many miles on-road. Milestar also intended for this tire to appeal to the overlanding crowd, a group of off-roaders who definitely use their tires to the limits on- and off-road while also pushing the weight ratings of their vehicles and tires. The design of the Patagonia X/T has a narrower and less…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com It all started when an unlucky driver plunged their brand-new ’71 Jeepster Commando into a water hole near the ocean. Attempts to crank the waterlogged engine were futile and the Commando was swallowed by the rising tide. To the insurance agency, the vehicle was a total loss. To a junior college-age Chris Schenk, it was a $1,000 ticket to the 4x4 of his dreams. He combed through the salt-encrusted machine and was surprised to find that despite the amount of ocean that entered the engine, the automatic transmission was in fairly good shape. “In two weeks I had it going again,” he recalled. That Jeepster became the motivator behind endless fun rides through Oregon logging roads and with every bump in the trail, it shed a little bit of…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com “I don’t sell stuff,” is what Robert Peters told us. At home, he has amassed a collection of toys: there are a couple of Jeep Cherokees, a CRD-powered ’07 Grand Cherokee, a first-gen Silverado 1500, and a Suburban of the same ’00 model year. There’s also a pair of commuter vehicles and a toy hauler trailer. The most recent addition to his paddock, the ’19 Chevy Silverado 1500 Trail Boss satisfied his needs for reliability and towing capacity, as well as his desire to explore. Growing up in northern Michigan, Robert loved camping among the forests and lakes that make up the Upper Peninsula. He eventually found that 4x4s, like his ’87 Jeep Cherokee XJ (his first vehicle, and the first of seven XJs he would come to own)…

editor@fourwheeler.com We love the functionality, strength, usefulness, and durability of ARB’s Air Lockers and ARB’s high-performance onboard air compressor. You can have complete traction or streetability via the Air Lockers with the flip of a switch or use the high-performance onboard compressor to air up tires or sleeping mattresses, blow the dust out of your air filter, or any other number of things. However, if there’s one gripe we can offer, the company’s Air Locker system comes with a somewhat flimsy air hose. We get that it’s easy to cut and quick to install, but things like heat from exhaust systems, movement from the suspension, or just sheer age can cause a defect that will leave you without air. Face it, plastic is for toys, not serious off-roading. So, when…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM July 1-3 What: Ohio Jeep Fest Where: Chillicothe, Ohio Hosted by: Ross County Fairgrounds Info: ohiojeepfest.com July 7-9 What: Silver Valley Jeep Jamboree Where: Mullan, Idaho Hosted by: Jeep Jamboree USA Info: jeepjamboreeusa.com July 7-10 What: Great Lakes Jeep Jam Where: Erie, Pennsylvania Hosted by: Wattsburg Erie County Fairgrounds Info: greatlakesjeepjam.com July 8-10 What: Annual A&A Auto Stores Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals Where: Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Hosted by: Bonnier Events Info: 4wheeljamboree.com July 9-10 What: W.E. Rock Western Series Round Two Where: Rangely, Colorado Hosted by: W.E. Rock Info: werocklive.com July 13-16 What: Annual Coal Mine Cruiser Classic Where: Coal Township, Pennsylvania Hosted by: Gotham City Land Cruisers Info: gclcli.com July 14-16 What: Crawl 4 The Cure Where: Gilbert, Minnesota Hosted by: Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area Info:…

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and this company conveyed the majority of its storytelling by spraying ink onto dead trees and then selling the finished product as tangible periodicals to which you could dog ear a page, newsstand sales contributed substantially to our corporate bottom line. So much so, in fact, that during the early 2000s the company was always looking for another idea to turn into a title they could sell through their newsstand distribution. That’s how I wound up launching a new brand. It was 2003 and then-Publisher John Stewart (former editor of Four Wheeler) and Editorial Director Doug McColloch (also former editor of Four Wheeler) got the idea to create a 4x4-themed newsstand-only title. They invited me to John’s office overlooking Angel Stadium to share any…

Could the upcoming fully electric Ram 1500 feature a range-extending combustion engine? Could Toyota be planning a steering wheel that expands and contracts to notify the driver that lane-keeping inputs are necessary? Are Yamaha and Toyota collaborating on a hydrogen-fueled 5.0L V-8 internal combustion engine? Are carbon-fiber wheels the way of the future when it comes to electric vehicles? Weight savings that lead to quicker accelerations, improved braking, and less energy consumption might outweigh the wheels’ high cost. Will Jeep’s first 100-percent electric vehicle be a crossover?…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com With races roaring in the background, we patrolled the outskirts of the 2022 King of the Hammers event looking for the most unique 4x4s Hammertown had to offer. What is Hammertown, you ask? Well, during the King of the Hammers race week, and for many days leading up to it, what is normally a tranquil dry lakebed becomes host to tens of thousands of off-road enthusiasts. Hammertown and its “suburbs” refers the network of pop-up race-prep shelters, campsites, off-road vendor displays, tasty food, and more that is built for the event. King of the Hammers features a week of racing where T1 trucks, side-by-sides, home-built 4x4s, and ultimately Ultra4 rigs compete in the legendary and rugged Mojave desert terrain. While the racing went down in the desert, we scanned…

editor@fourwheeler.com We’ve used and abused dozens of USA- and import-made winches over many decades. Although there are some really affordable winches made in China or other overseas locations that can be purchased way cheaper than those in this article, the focus of this story is the 10 best winches for your 4x4 whether new or used, not the most affordable. And we’re sorry, but while some China-made winches are pretty good, in our opinion none come close to the quality, durability, and performance of any of our picks below. So, if you’re willing to pay a little more for a lifetime of reliable pulling power, see which of these winches fits your fancy. WARN M8274 UPRIGHT The venerable Warn 8274 is durable, long-lasting, powerful, and easy to maintain. Unique in…

editor@fourwheeler.com Jeep always raises the bar with every new version of the iconic open-top Jeep known most recently as the Wrangler (since 1986 with the ’87 model year), but the company may have hit the pinnacle of Jeepdom with the ’04-’06 Jeep TJ Unlimited—also known colloquially as the LJ. The TJ Unlimited sits atop this pig pile for a few compelling reasons we will get into shortly, and no, not everyone is going to agree with our perspective, but the argument can be made … soundly. The LJ retains the rugged basic design of the open-top Jeeps since their inception and are the last Jeeps powered by the venerable AMC 4.0L MPI engine. They retain this Jeep simplicity while including some creature comforts like an HVAC integrated into the dash…

editor@fourwheeler.com Getting your first vehicle is a rite of passage. For many, it was simple transportation that was a few levels below what was even considered basic. Stuff like coat hanger antennas, duct tape glovebox latches, and doors that were so in need of hinge bushings the latches wouldn’t even line up. “You’ve gotta slam it!” Reliability? Bah, that’s for rich people. First vehicles were an experience in the laws of chance and probability. Would it start, or wouldn’t it? Let’s find out on this edition of, “I’m late for class and need to leave NOW!” But that was then, and by and large things have gotten better now. Believe it or not, despite all the moaning about how much better things used to be, in terms of vehicle design…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM We are halfway through our time with our 2021 Pickup Truck of the Year-winning TRX and we have used it for a variety of truck tasks, like hauling and towing, along with the usual school drop-offs and off-road trips. With our TRX fully broken in now, we have seen the already impressive 0-60 times drop to sub-4-seconds, 3.9 to be precise, with our quickest quarter-mile now registering 12.7 seconds at 103 mph. Incredible numbers for something that weighs 3.5 tons. Unlike other Rams, the TRX comes with the SRT Performance Pages App on the 12-inch Uconnect system. Performance Pages are super cool and track a bevy of information but takes a frustratingly long time to load. Thankfully, that’s not the case for Launch Control or Sport mode, which are…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM I am wanting to convert an ’01 Dodge 1-ton truck from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive. Do you have ideas and/or parts companies that can take care of my swap needs? I have a 5.9 Cummins and a six-speed standard. TIM VIA EMAIL We get plenty of 2WD-to-4WD swap questions, but the answers aren’t always easy. There are several parts that are different between the 2WD and 4WD versions of various trucks. Some trucks and SUVs are easier to swap, only requiring a few missing parts and a few parts changes, but an ’01 Dodge 1-ton truck isn’t really one of those. And while a 2WD truck may have had an easier life than a 4WD, this swap may end up being way more work and cost than it’s…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM Despite the “Ugly” title across the page, this story has been an inspiration to 4x4 enthusiasts far and wide. Take a look back with us to the September 1989 issue of Four Wheeler where we dug into Jimmy Nylund’s infamous ’51 Willys CJ-3A. This Jeep started its life in Sweden with about 30,000 punishing miles on the clock spent pushing around city buses and gathering rust, all things which prepared it for a life that favored function over chrome and body filler. In addition to the rust, it came equipped with a Dana 25 frontend, a Dana 44 out back, and a Spicer 18 transfer case. Reworking the battered Jeep began with a spring-over-axle suspension setup and relocating the rock magnet, or as some would call it, the tie…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM HOMEBUILT Here is my ’84 Jeep Scrambler CJ-8 with matching camp trailer. I started with an Aqualu aluminum tub and Throttle Down Kustoms frame. It has a ’99 Dodge Magnum 360 and 46RH four-speed automatic transmission out of a ’95 Grand Cherokee. I built the entire wiring harness out of the donor vehicles. Other driveline parts are a Dana 300 with homemade twin-stick, Dana 44 with limited slip, and Dana 30 with limited slip from a Volvo station wagon. A full rollcage was built and installed. Onboard air is installed with both bumpers as air tanks. Air conditioning was installed from various pieces and heated seats are from an ’04 Durango, making it a “Fire and Ice” edition. The trailer was built out of spare parts from CJ-7s, including…

It’s too big to be small (nothing like the Chevy S-10 mini trucks of 20 years ago), but also too small to be big, lacking the stature of the Silverado. What would make GM’s midsize truck—the Chevy Colorado—more lovable? A V-8 under the hood with gobs of horsepower, of course, which is something we’ll likely never see again from the factory. Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE), a GM Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer that creates turnkey GM muscle cars and trucks, has committed to building the truck that GM won’t. The new SVE ’22 Chevy Colorado Xtreme Off Road is a trail-oriented truck based off the ’22 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab with ZR2 trim. With prominent bedside graphics, beefy fender flares, a custom sport bar topped with optional LED lights mounted in the…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com James Urias of West Covina, California, has always been a fan of the Ford Ranger and he bought his first one in high school. At that time, going fast was the goal—but that got the better of him when his prerunner-destined Ranger carried too much juice through a turn and rolled over. Trevor Galvez lives across the United States on Long Island and is also a Ranger enthusiast. Trevor’s Ranger projects have a knack for shedding their bedsides, donning heavy-duty axles, grinding across rocks, and threading between trees. How do these two paths cross? Trevor decided he wanted a trail rig that was more street-legal than it was tube buggy. So, when he began working on a Torch Red ’06 Ford Ranger, he resisted the urge to shorten the…

editor@fourwheeler.com For those of you who have a snorkel on your 4x4 and have braved all the snorkel jokes out there about how deep the gutter to your local mall is, we know you are the enlightened ones. Of course, you know that snorkels have benefits beyond deep water crossings. You know that snorkels, such as the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) offering on our Wrangler JL, gets your intake out of the dense dust near the ground and up in cleaner, cooler air. Most snorkels are equipped with a ram-air intake head from the factory, but there are a number of bolt-on snorkel head upgrades that can give you even better performance by doubling down on air filtration without affecting engine performance. Our favorite among these snorkel heads is the…

editor@fourwheeler.com At some point in the mid-1970s or so, GM, with Delco-Remy, came up with a new electronic ignition system known as HEI, or High Energy Ignition. We’ve touted this as an upgrade for many engines and it continues to be a great upgrade for any older vehicle. Davis Unified Ignition (DUI) is a leader in supplying drop-in HEI systems for many engines, including the AMC 304ci V-8 in our ’74 CJ-5. These systems from DUI incorporate GM’s large cap distributor with an integrated coil and control module. Installation is simple, and the system offers not only a custom distributor recurve, but also a more powerful spark for the engine. We opted for all of the advance to come in at about 3,500 rpm, a place where our engine would…

editor@fourwheeler.com We bought this worn-out ’00 Ford Explorer at auction. It runs and was cheap, but there’s not much nice about it except the 5.0L V-8 and the revered 31-spline Ford 8.8 rear axle. The good news is that with a little time on a battery charger and after adding a little air to the worn-out tires, the auction Explorer drives just fine. The SUV has seen many trips to the grocery store and many more trips to and from work since it was bought, but our plan is to use it to build a cheap and hopefully capable off-roader. We paid only $1,250 for the Explorer and have been making it more capable as we go. But we want more. With a trip to a local salvage yard, we…

Previous report: Mar. ’22 Base price: $70,325 Price as tested: $92,080 Four-wheel-drive system: Full-time, two-speed OPTIONS AS TESTED Technology Group ($1,095), Trailer Tow Group ($195), Advanced Safety Group ($995), Bed Utility Group ($845), Lower Two-tone Paint ($250), TRX Carbon Fiber Package ($1,295), TRX Level 2 Equipment Group ($7,920), TRX Red Interior Accents ($1,495), TRX Exterior Graphics ($495), TRX Hood Graphic ($895), Mopar Rock Rails ($995), 19 Speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound ($1,195), 18x9-inch Beadlock-capable Wheels ($1,895), Trailer Reverse Steering Control ($495) LONG-TERM NUMBERS Miles to date: 8,544 Miles since last report: 5,066 Average mpg (this report): 10.99 Test best tank (mpg): 13.62 Test worst tank (mpg): 8.89 MAINTENANCE This period: Scheduled maintenance ($219.61) Problem areas: None WHAT’S HOT, WHAT’S NOT Hot: Plenty of room for the family, easy daily driver,…

We’re taking a break from the “normal” Techline this month to delve into a question that came up in conversation with a friend. This question relates to exploring more than technical repair, but we feel like it’s worth covering here. Can you drive into the Grand Canyon, right up to the edge of the Colorado River? The short answer is yes. It does involve permits and a rough dirt road, but it’s easy off-roading, unless weather conditions have caused some road damage. In the end, we feel it’s well worth the time and monetary investment to undertake. The idea of driving into the Grand Canyon came up while eating at our local secret taco place. Well, it isn’t really a secret, but it’s good, and it seems like not too…