2002: A Bronco rides off with the prize
Grand Champion: John Reynolds, La Crescenta, California
Vehicle: 1973 Ford Bronco
This Bronco sported a variety of Ford components along with some that weren’t, like the tube chassis, custom Strange/Unimog axles, and a custom four-link suspension. Reynolds drove his quasi-Bronco to three First Place finishes and two Second Place finishes. This was also the year you voted in a competitor from Israel.
The Details
Engine: Ford 426ci V-8
Transmission: C6
Transfer case: Atlas II
Axles (f/r): Strange centersections, custom axletubes, Unimog portal ends, Detroit Locker/Strange centersections, custom axletubes, Unimog portal ends, Detroit Locker
Suspension (f/r): Reverse four-link, King coilovers/reverse four-link, King coilovers
Tires: 42x15.0-16.5 Super Swamper TSLs
2003: Only one Tank Trap finisher
Grand Champion: Toby Harrell, San Angelo, Texas
Vehicle: 1975 Chevy Blazer
Readers voted in a whopping six GM vehicles this year and one of them even won. Texan Toby Harrell only won two events in his Blazer, but with only three minutes to spare he was the only competitor to complete the Tank Trap in the allotted time, and that helped earn him enough points to take home Grand Champion honors.
The Details
Engine: Chevy 466ci V-8, Holley Pro-Jection
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP203/205 Doubler
Axles (f/r): Dana 60, Detroit Locker/GM 14-bolt, Detroit Locker
Suspension (f/r): Spring-over-axle, leaf springs, shocks/spring-over-axle, leaf springs, shocks
Tires: 44-in Super Swamper TSL Boggers
2004: Street legality goes away
Grand Champion: Brad Austin, Mustang, Oklahoma
Vehicle: 1991 Jeep Wrangler
Austin’s big-block-powered Wrangler suffered no breakage during the entire week and it threw down a consistent performance in each event. Even though he only won two events he gathered enough points to edge out Chris Ross and his SuperScrambler. This was the first year TTC had no requirement that competitor rigs be street legal.
The Details
Engine: Chevy 454ci V-8, Holley EFI
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP203/205 Doubler
Axles (f/r): Dana 60, Detroit Locker/Corporate 14-bolt, Detroit Locker
Suspension (f/r): Superlift 4-in-lift leaf springs, Pro Comp shocks/custom three-link, coil springs, quad Pro Comp shocks
Tires: 44-in Super Swamper TSLs (front), 44-in Super Swamper TSL Boggers (rear)
2005: A retiree takes it all
Grand Champion: Jerry Duffy, Twin Falls, Idaho
Vehicle: 1981 Jeep CJ-8
Retired and on a fixed income, 47-year wheeling veteran Jerry Duffy built this rig in his garage. He then brought it to TTC ’05 and totally dominated by winning four of the seven events. This was the year we ditched the Show ’n Shine, Engineering, and Ride ’n Drive portions of the event.
The Details
Engine: Chevy 502ci V-8, TPI
Transmission: 4L80-E
Transfer case: Atlas II 3.8:1
Axles (f/r): Dana 60, ARB Air Locker/Dynatrac 60, ARB Air Locker
Suspension (f/r): Triangulated three-link, King remote-reservoir coilovers with Eibach springs/triangulated four-link, Alcan elliptical springs, King remote-reservoir shocks
Tires: 44-in Super Swamper TSLs
2006: Big tires + Jeep = win
Grand Champion: Brent Burton, Colstrip, Montana
Vehicle: 1997 Jeep Wrangler
This stretched TJ was rolling on 53-inch tires, which was the largest diameter tire under a Champion rig up to that point. Despite a lousy run in our new-for-’05 Obstacle Course, Burton won three other events and took Second Place in the Tank Trap to gather enough points to claim Grand Champion.
The Details
Engine: Chevy 347ci V-8, EFI
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP205, Klune V 2.7:1
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, factory locker/2½-ton Rockwell, factory locker
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, Sway-A-Way coilovers/four-link, Sway-A-Way coilovers
Tires: 53-in Michelin XZLs
2007: Big tires + Jeep = win (again)
Grand Champion: Matt Thorson, Santa Rosa, California
Vehicle: 2000 Jeep Wrangler
Big tires and a Jeep were the winning combination for the second year in a row. Thorson won three events, took Second Place in one, and Third Place in another. Despite a number of mechanical failures in the water-saturated Tank Trap he still gathered enough points to sneak by the Second Place S-10 of Donald Hadden to collect the overall win.
The Details
Engine: Chevy 502ci Ram Jet V-8
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: NP203/205 Doubler
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson spool/2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson spool
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, Sway-A-Way coilovers/four-link, Sway-A-Way coilovers
Tires: 54-in Super Swamper TSL Boggers