Innehållsförteckning för October 2022 från Four Wheeler

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM ELEVATED 392 Skyjacker’s ADX 2.0 Adventure Series Remote Reservoir Aluminum Monotube Shocks are designed to excel in higher-speed applications and also perform while rockcrawling. The external remote reservoir separates the nitrogen gas from the oil with an Internal Floating Piston (IFP). The majority of the reservoir contains pressurized nitrogen gas. The IFP prevents the gas and oil from mixing or foaming (cavitation). When paired with Skyjacker’s dual-rate, long-travel coil springs and the other heavy-duty components of the company’s 3.5-inch Suspension Lift System, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392 can benefit from a more aggressive off-road stance and improved flex on the trail while maintaining quality on-road handling characteristics. INFO: Skyjacker, 318/388-0816, skyjacker.com SEAL YOUR SCOUT Need help keeping the weather out of your ’71-’80 International Scout II? The Vent…

editor@fourwheeler.com Long before social media influencers were a thing and probably long after they’re gone, off-roaders around the world will be guided and inspired by more experienced people they’ve met off-road. These off-road veterans, sometimes from an older generation, share their knowledge, which is honed by years of experience. The result is a better off-road world, a place where off-roaders learn from each other and can accomplish more than they could alone. Whether it’s how to reseat a tire bead in the middle of nowhere, what to do when an axle breaks, how to tune a carburetor, or the finer points of trail etiquette, these experienced off-road veterans are indispensable and very valuable sources of guidance and information. Randy Solis is just this kind of person, an unofficial guide to…

editor@fourwheeler.com In the August 2022 issue of Four Wheeler, we told the story of purchasing a vintage ’75 Ford F-100 Dentside in Reno, Nevada, and the adventure of driving it home to Southern California. In Part 2 (Sep. ’22) we detailed a series of upgrades to the classic Ford, including flooring, gauges, tires, wheels, and more. The result was significantly improved truck that was coming together nicely. Unfortunately, as we noted at the end of Part 2, the truck was stolen from the owner’s shop. In an effort to recover the truck the owner immediately utilized social media to broadcast news of the theft. The owner reports that the post resulted in over 50,000 Instagram views and over 500 shares in 24 hours. Possibly due to the social media blitz,…

editor@fourwheeler.com Jim Dunaway of Bayberry Vintage Autos in Hampton, New Hampshire, was approached by repeat customer Michelle Lemay, who had an interest in Ford’s new Bronco. She liked that the new Bronco was incorporating many iconic styling cues from the SUV’s heyday and she was highly anticipating the arrival of her preordered Bronco. But Michelle was itching for something to drive while waiting for her Bronco to arrive. Jim suggested finding an older, vintage Bronco and restoring it while she waited. Michelle thought that was a great idea. Hearing about the hunt for a vintage Bronco, a shop that Jim had worked with in the past called and informed him of a ’73 Bronco that was available. The Bronco appeared to be a decent older restoration that just needed paint…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM CJ-5 MEMORIES I loved the article entitled “Jeep CJ-5 Buyer’s Guide” in the April 2022 issue. In 1967, I bought a surplus M38A1 the year I graduated from high school in east San Diego County. Someone had put the Buick 225ci engine in it, but it had the stock wheels. I haven’t found a picture of it yet. I was “Jeep hooked.” In 1973, after the Marines, I bought a new CJ-5 with the soft top for (wait for it) $3,500 with the 258ci straight-six that had great torque. That was a lot of money at the time. I had saved money when I was in Vietnam (tracked vehicle mechanic) and put $1,000 down. I think my payments were about $80 a month. I had that vehicle for 15 years,…

editor@fourwheeler.com Having a good off-road jack when you are out on the trail or on the side of the road is very important. There are many off-road jacks available, from the venerable and classic Hi-Lift to offerings from Pro Eagle, ARB, the Tauler Jack Kit from Brennan’s Garage, and more. A new jack that we recently got to spend a lot of time with is the 7-Ton TacJack Tall Jack from Redridge Industries. The jack we tested was a prototype and that’s why it says 6 ½-ton in some of the images, but we’ve been assured by Redridge that our prototype is the same as the production 7-ton jack. There is also a 7-Ton Short TacJack from Redridge, which is shorter than the 7-Ton Tall TacJack but is otherwise identical.…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com SPONSORED BY When he moved from Colorado to California, Robert Marquez was amazed to find a wealth of off-road action within easy reach of his new home—and he knew exactly the 4x4 he wanted to explore it all. Before the move, Robert’s ’16 Jeep Wrangler had 35-inch tires and enough off-road modifications to get him through his favorite Colorado trails and keep up with his friends. As he planned his move to the Los Angeles area for work, Robert didn’t expect to be as close as he was to 4x4 trails. It wasn’t long before his Dodge Challenger Scat Pack got the boot and he found himself looking toward Jeep’s resurrection of the Gladiator nameplate. He knew he wanted a Jeep and the addition of the pickup bed behind…

editor@fourwheeler.com Removable hardtops are common in the off-road world and can be found on Jeep CJs and Wranglers, International Scouts, Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers, Land Rover Defenders and Series vehicles, and Daihatsu Rockys. There are even a few aftermarket sources for Suzuki Samurais and Geo Trackers. Hardtops offer a sealed interior environment when you want it but can be relatively easily removed when you want open-air wheeling. Some tops are made from composite materials like fiberglass or plastics while others are made of steel or aluminum. The focus of this article is an early Ford Bronco hardtop that had seen better days. There was some rust in the top that needed to be patched to keep the top in service and prevent leaks and future damage from the elements. Follow…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM Sometimes a trailer is more than planks and loading ramps, more than the camper on its rails, or the toys and tools it transports. For Ed Meyers, the custom utility trailer was an extension of his truck both visually and in its ability to help out on the jobsite. Looking back to the August 1990 issue of Four Wheeler, we explored what Ed Meyers considered one of the greatest assets to his carpentry career: this Centari Shadow Blue ’86 Ford F-250. Ed purchased the truck new and when he was replacing the stock bed with a utility bed, he hatched a plan. Instead of completely retiring the factory floor and bedsides, he decided to give them new life a bit farther behind the cab. Enlisting the help of Mike…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM In the News ■ Color us not-shocked about how a AAA survey found that drivers want “automakers to improve the performance of existing driver support features” rather than fixate on building self-driving vehicles. ■ For real: The results of the Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey conducted by Buglife and the Kent Wildlife Trust are in. They analyzed UK license plates for dead flying bug and guts and found a 60 percent decline over the course of 17 years. We’re unclear whether the messaging is for us to stop driving or that insects are finally figuring things out and the uprising is coming. ■ As we went to press, the stats according to ISeeCars.com had Fairbanks, Alaska, as the most expensive locale for buying a used Jeep Grand Cherokee and…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com Mickey Thompson’s Baja-inspired radial mud-terrain rolled with us across the United States for a 10,000-mile whirlwind adventure spanning both coasts. Baja Boss is the name emblazoned on the sidewall and the tire is as much a continuation of the company’s off-road legacy as it is a round-and-black testament to the latest in mud-terrain technology. While “mud-terrain” is in its name, Mickey Thompson made sure to optimize the tire for the improved surfaces found between the trailheads. Face up to the Baja Boss and you’ll see an asymmetric tread pattern. Larger-sized tread elements along the outboard portion of the tread contribute to on-road stability while their wide spacing and subsequent voids help grip loose substrate. Looking inward, the tread elements are smaller and spaced closer together. This is said to…

editor@fourwheeler.com In Part 1 of The Road to Relic Run (Aug. ’22), we documented how we combined two Intermediate CJ-5s into one. In Part 2 (Sep. ’22), we reported on the overlanding trip to the event, from a suburb of Phoenix to southern Wyoming. And while the trip began with some drama (we blame the heat and a dubious repop temp sender and gauge), the rest of the trip—despite a few hiccups along the way—was downright pleasurable. And the 2021 Relic Run event was a pleasure, too. The Relic Run is a vintage overland event hosted by Expedition Utah. Relic Run is best described as an assemblage of old off-road vehicles (mostly 1989 and earlier), camping gear, family fun, and more. Relic Run is about vintage 4x4s, but also about…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM FORD RANGER IFS TO LONG-TRAVEL, TTB, OR SAS? I have an ’01 Ford Ranger with the 4x4 off-road package. The torsion bar front suspension sucks. I want to install a Twin-Traction Beam like what came from the factory on my ’88 Bronco II. Is this possible with my truck having rack-and-pinion steering? What would fit? Maybe a frontend from a ’00 Ford Explorer? I would like your expertise on this matter, please, because where I live no one knows. MIKE VIA EMAIL Great question. We understand why you are displeased with the torsion bar IFS front suspension on your Ranger. We are willing to bet that many folks have had the same thought about changing it out for the venerable Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) suspension found on older Rangers, Explorers,…