In the past, we've used dump trucks and a 920 military truck as dead weights in our Tow Test. This time around, we bumped it up a notch and used one of San Benito Supply's 40,300-pound cement mixers. Even though the weight came in a new form, the objective was the same---competitors had to drag the monster up an incline in an effort to get the furthest pull. This event tests horsepower, traction, and durability.
Six hundred feet of steep, loose terrain with some guy staring at you with a stopwatch in his hand is enough to give anyone the willies. That is unless you're the guy in the Willys. Don Brown casually drove his big-block-propelled rig up the hill to secure 1st Place. | 
It said a lot about the stoutness of the rigs in this year's event when only one rig broke while pulling our 40,300-pound San Benito Supply cement mixer in this year's Tow Test. Josh Tippit (shown here) finished 7th overall. |
The 125 feet of boulders translated to a major migraine for many of the competitors. Even though most of the rigs made it through, most fought for every inch of forward progress. | |
Our rock course is approximately 125 feet in length, and like its namesake, is packed full of boulders. In this competition, standard rockcrawling rules apply and points in the form of seconds are assessed for infractions. Naturally, when it's all said and done, the lowest overall time wins.
Team Duffy made the Tank Trap look easy. They only winched at the steepest spots and suffered no major breakage to their CJ-8.
The beauty of the Tank Trap is that it's consistent year after year. Consistently difficult, that is. This evil trail treks though the bottom of a natural gorge. It features loose dirt climbs, steep rock waterfalls, sick off-camber sections, and seven deep, ridiculously murky water holes that are lovingly filled by the Hollister Hills SVRA staff. The Tank Trap is approximately 1/4 mile in length (though it seems much longer when you're driving or walking it), and increases 195 feet in elevation from start to finish. This event is worth double the points of the other competitions. Do well here, and you can bolster a good score or make up for bad luck in another competition.
After battling the Tank Trap's deep water and slick waterfalls, not to mention a blown fan fuse, JP Magazine Commandant John Cappa had progressed to within sight of the finish line. It was about then he decided to straddle the last big rut but slipped in and rolled his M715 onto its side. After he and co-driver Clifton Slay got done "laughing like two kids who just stole a Volvo," they quickly righted the rig but timed out without making much forward progress. | 
With 15 minutes elapsed on the clock, Team Bargmann was on their side within sight of the Tank Trap finish line. Brad Austin, the team's co-driver and last year's Tank Trap and TTC winner, quickly spooled out the winch cable and instituted a fast recovery. Due to this fine effort, Team Bargmann crossed the finish line with minutes to spare, earning a 2nd Place finish in the Trap. |
Josh Tippit timed out in the canyon of the Tank Trap after battling for every inch of forward progress. The canyon walls rearranged the sheetmetal of his rig and broke the bead of the left rear tire. | |
That may be a cliche, but it's true at Top Truck Challenge because we show up with a truckload of prizes. Hey, everyone leaves with something ... even the staff and judges. We usually leave with a stellar case of poison oak. After a killer barbecue breakfast on Friday morning, we broke our silence and announced the winner. To see America's Top Truck for 2005, and the final results, turn to the next page.
Spielberg has nothing on us when it comes to action videos. Our Top Truck Challenge '05 video will leave you riveted and will alter life as you know it. TV-melting action will put you in the driver's seat and the minds of the competitors as they battle each other and the gnarly California terrain. To get one, call 800/213-5668, visit www.4wheelparts.com or get to your local 4Wheel Parts Wholesalers retail location. If you want to see still more off-the-hook Top Truck Challenge action, go to www.fourwheeler.com for streaming video and in-depth pictorials.