Sand Addiction
Eric Hoffman resides in Michigan, not far from the Silver Lakes Sand Dunes OHV area, which is likely the reason he built this 4x4 dune buggy. We picked his rig because everyone likes high-flying action shots like this one. The buggy features a Chevy 454 mated to a Turbo 350 transmission and a NP205 transfer case. The front axle is a '91 Chevy pickup front IFS assembly, and the rear consists of a '78 12-bolt. To move this beast, Eric added some 28-inch Hooker Scoop paddle tires in the rear and a pair of 14.5-inch street paddles up front. One unlikely mod that sets Eric's creation apart from other sand machines is the leather seats from an '01 GMC Jimmy.
Built, Then Bought
Bruce Owens credits his friend Mike for building this clean '73 Chevy truck. Bruce bought the truck from Mike some time ago and hasn't had to change much. He did, however, add a rollbar for safety reasons. Underneath the bright yellow paint resides a healthy 454ci big-block bored 0.030 over. Torque is fed to an SM465 transmission and a NP205 transfer case. To ensure traction, a 3/4-ton Dana 44 front axle features a Powr-Lok limited-slip differential. Out back, a Corporate 14-bolt axle is equipped with a Detroit Locker. The 35-inch BFG Mud-Terrains are mounted to chromed steel wheels.
Trail-ready TJ
Will Coburn is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Whenever he has time to play, he takes his '99 Jeep Wrangler out to the surrounding desert. With a 3-inch BDS suspension system and 33-inch Wrangler MT/Rs on 15-inch Eagle alloy wheels, traction is rarely a problem. Other performance mods include an Airaid air intake system, a Super 35 axle kit from Superior Axle and Gear and a Detroit Locker in the rear. This photo is good because it shows a challenging section of a trail instead of a suburban driveway.
Bluegrass Toy
Rick Potter shows his buddies how to pilot a truck through this mud hole near his home in Louisville, Kentucky. Rick's '84 Toyota features 33-inch TSLs and a 3-inch lift. Other accessories include a custom front bumper with an 8,000-pound Ramsey winch. The rear suspension also includes a custom-built track bar and buggy leaves. Aside from the rear spool, the rest of the drivetrain remains stock. This shot really shows how hard Rick had to push his truck to make it through the mud pit.
Shane's Big Red Sleigh
This '97 Dodge Ram 1500 belongs to Shane Welker of Buffalo, New York. The idea Shane had for shooting his Readers' Rigs submission in the snow was a good one because snow makes a vehicle stand out. Shane's truck features a 360 V-8 with a Hypertech chip and a K&N intake system. Set up on 35-inch BFG All-Terrains, this Ram is all Shane needs to negotiate the icy roads between home and work.
Altered to Perfection
Don't have the best photography skills? No worries-just do like Brad Houser of Auburn Hills, Michigan did and Photoshop your way to perfection. Brad sent us this picture of his friend Jeremy's Jeep buggy via the Internet. This creation is the handiwork of Campbell Enterprises in Gilbert, Arizona. It has a Corvette LS1 engine, an Atlas II transfer-case, Unimog axles with heavy-duty shafts and four-wheel steering, a flexible coilover suspension with dual-rate springs and nitrogen bumpstops, cutting brakes and an onboard air compressor to power the factory lockers and air up tires. Currently, this tube terror sits on 42-inch Super Swampers mounted to beadlocked wheels.
A Cut Above
This '96 Grand Cherokee was flipped while Jeff Pullinger was out wheeling. Like any true enthusiast would, Jeff turned his misfortune into a capable trail machine. First, Jeff grafted on a new roof, then a new driver-side door was installed, and finally he did some slight trimming around the rear until he found the look he wanted. With the bodywork done, Jeff moved down to the stock drivetrain, first installing two new driveshafts from Tom Woods, then a slip-yoke eliminator kit. The stock axles were removed in favor of a pair of Ford 8.8 units with Detroit Lockers and 4.56 gearing. Next, a custom rollcage was fabbed, and a custom soft top was built for the rear. The final pieces of the puzzle were a set of Dunlop 33x12.50 Mud Rovers. We like Readers' Rigs like this, where good old-fashioned ingenuity results in a clean and functional trail machine.
One Slick Slick-Rocker
This '99 Jeep Wrangler Sport caught our eye because its owner, Mike Walko of Sedona, Arizona knows how to take a decent picture, and his rig is nicely equipped for the trail. Non-stock equipment includes a 4-inch Rubicon Express suspension lift, a set of 33-inch Goodyear MT/Rs, a Wilderness roof rack, a Jet Performance chip, a K&N intake system and a Gibson stainless steel header followed by a Flowmaster exhaust.