When Is Black Bear Road Not?
My father was a member of the original Mile-Hi Jeep Club back in the late '50s and early '60s. He is now deceased, but as I was going through some of his old stuff, I came across a couple of old issues of Four Wheeler. Specifically, I have two particularly interesting issues (February and May '62). The February issue shows a picture of Jeeps from the now defunct Four Corners Jeep Club of Cortez making the descent down Black Bear Pass into Telluride. Do you have issues that go back this far? I'm also trying to validate the authenticity of a picture that has been circulated recently on a forum showing a vehicle with Washington state plates supposedly somewhere on Black Bear Pass (Colorado).
I believe Warn may have used this in some of their early advertising. I've been over this pass several times as a child back in the '60s, and although I remember it being fiendishly narrow and pretty scary as a kid, I don't remember it being as narrow as the photo depicts. Are you familiar with the photo, and if so, can you shed any light on the origin and authenticity?
Bill Hadden
Arvada, CO
Unless we actually see a copy of the photo you mention, we can't verify anything. We can verify, however, that the very first issue of Four Wheeler (yep, February of '62) did in fact have a photo of those Jeeps on Black Bear Road on the cover. It was taken by a freelance writer named Aileen Maxwell, who contributed to the magazine often in the '60s. And yes, we do have copies (i.e., one) of the issues you mention.
Wants "Most Complete" Lift For F-150
I just purchased a 1995 F-150 Super Cab with the 5.8L for a new toy. I've been looking for a lift kit that is the most inclusive on all the parts I need, but boy, do all these companies have my head spinning about what's included and what's not.
So what's the best bang for my buck if I'm trying to fit 35- or 37-inch tires? Could you please point me to a company that won't make me buy a bunch of parts separately? I know I will have to buy some, but some of these companies are ridiculous.) Also, what would be the best gears for this a somewhat-of-a-daily-driver, more-or-less work truck? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sgt. Ryan Treadway
Oak Grove, KY
Recommending a lift kit for a 15-year-old truck is an iffy proposition since suspension manufacturers sometimes discontinue older kits to make room in their inventory for lifts for later-model rigs. For what it's worth, however, a 6-inch suspension lift should allow you to clear 35s under your Ford, and possibly 37s with a bit of fender trimming. Rough Country, Skyjacker, Superlift, and Tuff Country all made kits for your truck at one time, though we can't say for sure if these kits are still in stock. Chances are that someone still has some kits available. Our advice would be to peruse the mail-order ads in this magazine and hit up the manufacturers' websites for information.
For The Love Of A Single Inch
I will be helping a friend install a suspension lift on his 2000 Wrangler Sport, and we are trying to decide on a lift. He really likes the Old Man Emu systems because of all the good reviews they get, but they only offer the kit in a 2.5-inch lift. He wants to run 33-inch tires, and the kit is advertised as fitting 32-inch tires max. So we are trying to decide if we should install the lift with 1-inch coil spacers or maybe put a 1-inch body lift on with the suspension lift. Or should we just look at another lift kit that has more height? Tire size wouldn't normally be an issue, but my buddy got a set of good 33-inch BFGs from another friend that he really wants to use. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Daniel Rex Hartman
Shippensburg, PA
If it were up to us, we'd opt for the spacers before the body lift. Then again, maybe you can run the bigger tires with the OME lift at the same time. See the next letter.