41: Rick Duckett, Ballwin, Missouri '97 Ford F-350
To some, Rick may have committed the ultimate sin; however, in our opinion it only betters his chances of persuading would-be voters. There may be more than meets the eye lurking under this Ford's sheetmetal.
Engine: 468ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Divorced NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Welded/Welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Leaf springs/Leaf springs
Tires: 49-inch Super Swamper Iroks
Special features: Balanced and blueprinted 468, full-roller valvetrain, Holly Dominator carb, hydraulic steering, full cage, double bead locks
Driver experience: 15 years
42: Brandon Goodwin, Port Orchard, Washington '71 Ford Bronco
This mix-match of componentry is inarguably well-suited for battle, though diehard brand loyalists may prevent Brandon's creation from competing based on principal. Cast your vote today.
Engine: Chevy 350 TPI V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP205 with Klune V
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Spool/Spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilover shocks/Four-link, coilover shocks
Tires: 47-inch Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: Warn 8274 winch, full hydraulic steering front and rear, full tube chassis
Driver experience: 17 years
43: Byron Hair, Spanish Fork, Utah '77 Jeep Wagoneer
Not your grandmother's Wagoneer. This big-block-powered monster allows Byron some serious potential; however, permission to compete is up to you.
Engine: 455ci Buick V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Divorced NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, coil springs/Three-link, coil springs
Tires: 53-inch Michelin ZXLs
Special features: 20-inch bead locks, a six-point cage, custom bumpers, 12,000-pound winch
Driver experience: 10+ years
44: Frank Ross, Evarts, Kentucky '72 Chevy K-5 Blazer
Not much K-5 remains, yet Frank still wants to hold it down for Blazer brotherhood. We're cool with it, as long as the readers speak up and vote this Kentucky tube chassis in.
Engine: 350ci propane-injected Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP203
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, Race Runner air shocks/Four-link, Race Runner shocks
Tires: 44-inch Super Swamper TSLs
Special features: All tube chassis, PSC hydraulic steering, 9,000-pound T-Max winch
Driver experience: 20 years
45: Danny Marlow, Cedar Falls, Idaho '86 Chevy S-10
LPG motivates this redefined version of beef. Able to spin 8,000 rpm all day long, we expect a strong showing for this home-brewed concoction. The question is: Will it convince our readers?
Engine: Balanced 468ci propane-injected Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilover shocks/Three-link, coilover shocks
Tires: 13.6/28 Firestone agriculture
Special features: Full exocage, hydraulic steering, bead locks, full roller valvetrain, 1410 U-joints, pinion brakes, 80,000-psi rod ends on four-link arms
Driver experience: 6 years
46: Phillip James, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada '88 Chevy Blazer
Equipped? Sure is, as long as you count the underdog. Will James' lack of tire prevent his sweet S-10 from securing the necessary votes? You decide.
Engine: 350ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH700R4
Transfer case: NVG231 planetary doubler, NVG241HD
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Dana 60
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/Spool
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, Walker Evans coilover shocks/Double-triangulated four-link, XJ coils
Tires: 42-inch Super Swamper IROKs
Special features: 10-point cage, bead locks, 4340 shafts, Warn XD9000 winch
Driver experience: 10 years
47: Josh Sanborn, Glendo, Wyoming '04 Tube Buggy
Practice makes perfect, right? Only you can decide if Sanborn and his Bogger-laden creation have what it takes to tackle the Tow Test.
Engine: 502ci Chevy Ram Jet V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Welded/Welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coil springs/Four-link, coil springs
Tires: 44-inch Super Swamper Boggers
Special features: Hydraulic four-wheel steering, fuel cell, bead locks, hand-fabricated body
Driver experience: 12+ years
48: Ryan Carruthers, Airdrie, Alberta Canada '85 Chevy 1500
Carruther's long list of equipment ends with "Bring on the Tank Trap!" We'd like to take him up on that, but the decision is up to you. Send in your vote today!
Engine: 406ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Stak three-speed
Axles, f/r: 416 Unimog 4-ton/Unimog 4-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Selectable air locker/Selectable air locker
Ratio: 6.52:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilover shocks/Four-link, coilover shocks
Tires: 47-inch Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: Double bead locks, Warn 12,000-pound winch, full roller valvetrain, 150hp nitrous, Holley MPI, interior and exocages, cutting brakes, dual batteries, sealed electronics, onboard air
Driver experience: 8 years
49: Jeff Wood, Las Cruces, New Mexico '66 Jeep CJ-5
Jeff's holding it down for our fellow oil burners. With a whole assortment of custom fabbed parts, this Jeep should be pretty interesting to see compete.
Engine: 3.9L Cummins turbodiesel I-6
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, coil springs/Four-link, coil springs
Tires: 49-inch Super Swamper IROKs
Special features: Propane injection, aluminum radiator, 20-inch steel wheels with internal bead locks, Freightliner steering box, Warn 9.5XI winch, onboard air, custom fuel cell, full cage, 117-inch wheelbase, flat belly, Ouverson axleshafts, over 1,400 hand-fabricated pieces.
Driver experience: 26 years
50: Dusti Domenici, Cool, California '97 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Domenici's rig is a proven rockhound, though stunted by stock power and 40-inch tires, some may tend to overlook this cool rockcrawler.
Engine: 4.0L Jeep I-6
Transmission: Stock AX 15
Transfer case: Atlas four-speed
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Dana 60
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Rubicon Express leaf springs/Four-link, coil springs
Tires: 40-inch Goodyear MT/Rs
Special features: None listed
Driver experience: 7 years