Solid-Suburban
Inconspicuous, March ’12, pg. 46
Cappa: If I had a family of five and more camping gear than a Boy Scout troop, I would own a Suburban like this. But I don’t, so I would prefer to have something smaller for my wheeling adventures.
Brubaker: Very well done, simple rig, with lots of interior space for family, friends, owners of other trucks that have broken down on the trail, and all their gear. I’m drawn to fullsize rigs, so this Sub is callin’ my name.
Mansour: This is another one of those rigs that unless you have a lot of friends, dogs, or a big family, it’s hard to justify. That being said, I really like how cleanly executed the rig is and would love to have a shorter Tahoe version of my own. It looks like something that you could easily daily-drive and with an estimated value of $30,000, it is realistic for the average guy to replicate.
The T-Rex 6x6
Chrysler’s T-Rex, April ’12, pg. 90
Cappa: I have no clue what I would do with it and the fuel bill has got to be ridiculous with that V-10, the extra weight, and the additional parasitic drivetrain friction. But I want it!
Brubaker: I wish Chrysler would’ve produced the T-Rex. Stan Prueitt’s version is the next best thing. The only thing I’d want to add is a Cummins under the hood.
Mansour: Chrysler’s concept had six tires, three Dana 60s, and a V-10. How could you not like it? Prueitt’s adaptation is still one of the coolest rigs Ram’s ever built. Ram bean counters, if you are reading this, build the T-Rex. America needs it.
Durham’s Jeep Thing
Chris Durham TTC entry, April ’12, pg. 32
Cappa: It’s a really cool truck that sits low. It would be great for climbing just about anything and it’s built with easy-to-get and repair parts. There’s nothing too oddball or expensive. It just freakin’ works. It doesn’t hurt that Chris can drive circles around most people.
Brubaker: If a class were taught in how to build a textbook trail machine, this would be part of the curriculum. Standard, proven components in a compact package.
Mansour: I’ve wheeled alongside this rig for a couple of years and it simply works great. The deceptively simple looking rig is packed with strategically placed components that allow Durham to run virtually no lift and still cycle a 42-inch tire. It’s definitely a unique creation and an excellent evolution of the low lift and big tire trend.
John Floyd’s 1982 HJ47
Frank, October ’12, pg. 50
Cappa: It’s hard for me to hate an FJ pickup. It’s not outfitted how I would want, but the truck itself is really cool-looking and rare here in the states.
Brubaker: This truck is so cool it hurts. It’s a concoction of a bunch of different body parts (hence the name “Frank,” which is derived from “Frankenstein”), but they all seem to blend together like a finely-tuned orchestra. The simple and rugged truck is fully decked-out with a custom tray filled with camping gear and a sleeping area; it’s turbodiesel-powered; and it’s even set up with two spare tires (which, of course, we all know isn’t really appreciated until tire punctures start to happen in the backcountry). If I had this truck, I’d slap a big ol’ winch on the front and back and bid adieu to civilization.
Mansour: At this point in my life I would probably modify this truck so wildly that FJ enthusiasts and Toyota purists would mail in angry letters for years. I like the concept and platform, but there would be no way I could just leave it the way it is. Maybe I will revisit this rig in a decade or two, when I am good and tired of crawling in and out of heavily-modified 4x4s.
1942 GPW
Bantam Or Bust, January ’12, pg. 36
Cappa: Who wouldn’t want the stock ’42 GPW piloted by Julius Lorentzson and Russell Dicks? I know it’s not very practical, I probably wouldn’t use it very often, and when something broke or wore out I’d screw the thing up by upgrading with aftermarket components. Next thing you know it would have 33-inch tires, a V-6 engine, and beefier drivetrain parts. Come to think of it, maybe I shouldn’t be allowed to own a restored military Jeep.
Brubaker: Even if I had something bad to say about this stone-cold cool machine (which I don’t), it would be un-American to do so.
Mansour: Living on the Carolina coast, it wouldn’t take long for the GPW to gain a weathered patina, which to me would only add to its appeal. I’ve been thinking seriously about building an old flatfender and either converting it into a flat rod or lightweight trail rig. (I can hear the Jeep purist cringing from here!) Ultimately, I wouldn’t leave it stock, and for that reason I’ll leave this rig to the old-timers.