Send Us Your Rigs
Want to see your vehicle in Readers' Rigs? Of course you do. So go ahead and send a description of everything you have done to your rig, and include a good photo of it. No, you don't need no stinking application.
Just go ahead and send it to:
Readers' Rigs, Four Wheeler,
6420 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515.
Or, send your description and high-resolution digital photos to us via www.fourwheeler.com.
Rock-Ready XJ
Ian Austin is a Marine currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, but he calls Louisville, Colorado, home. His '96 Jeep Cherokee is a "weekend daily driver" because most of the time he only drives on the weekends. He added a Rubicon Express 3.5-inch lift, JKS Quicker-Disconnects, a Rubicon slip-yoke eliminator with a CV driveshaft, 32-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrains on 15-inch steel wheels, and a K&N FIPK Gen-II air intake. A custom rear bumper with a swing-away tire carrier is out back while a Warn Magnum 9,000-pound winch is housed in the custom front bumper. Other goodies include an ORU roof rack and four Baja auxiliary lights.
Obscure Underpinnings
Steve Pelszynski from Danville, Illinois, sent in this shot of his '94 Jeep Wrangler YJ. Motivated by a factory 4.0L engine and a stock five-speed transmission and transfer case, this rig isn't exactly what you'd call highly modified-that is, until you check out the Ford F-250 axles Steve installed underneath the vehicle. Up front, there's a high-pinion Dana 44 with 4.10:1 gearing and a Lock-Rite locker, while out back is a tried-and-true Dana 60 with like gearing and another Lock-Rite. The Jeep's lift comes from a set of Skyjacker 4-inch springs relocated above the axles, leaving plenty of room for 33-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radials mounted to custom 15-inch eight-lug wheels.
Brubaker's Neighbor?
Mike Gnyra of Arlington Heights, Illinois, runs this '98 Dodge Ram 1/2-ton. It features a stock 360 V-8 engine, an open Dana 44 front axle, and a Chrysler 9.25 rearend with a Detroit Locker. Traction comes from a set of 36-inch Super Swamper TSL Radials mounted to American Racing wheels. Up front, the lift comes in the form of a 7-inch coil kit from Skyjacker. In the rear Mike added a BDS shackle flip and lift blocks. Nice Ram, Mike.
Gone Fishing
Roy Bleyl drives this '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee everyday. It features a Rubicon Express 3.5-inch lift and a set of Mickey Thompson Classic wheels wrapped in radial Baja Claws. Roy also upgraded both driveshafts to rid the vehicle of vibrations. This photo shows Roy's Grand shortly before a fishing trip near his hometown of Gloversville, New York.
Brazilian Ranger
Marco Aurlio Guimares drives this '05 3.0L turbodiesel Ford Ranger. He lives in Brazil, so it's no wonder we had to take a second look when we read about the truck's International 3.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. Marco says it makes 160 hp at 3,800 rpm and 280 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm. The rig features a 3-inch body lift and 33-inch Goodyear MT/R tires, a Warn 9.5ti winch with a synthetic rope, and a fiberglass camper shell to support a roof-mounted tent. We have just one comment for you, Marco: Goooooooaaalllll!!!
Texas Trail Tamer
This '98 Chevy 3/4-ton belongs to Tanner Reid of Lampasas, Texas. It features a 5.7L V-8 bored 0.030 over, a K&N cold air intake, and a 3-inch straight-pipe exhaust system. The power is routed through the stock five-speed transmission and transfer case. The truck still has the stock suspension under it, so Tanner had to crank up the torsion bars to clear the 33-inch Nitto Terra Mud Grapplers mounted on 16-inch wheels. Other mods include an Eaton electric locker in the rear 14-bolt axle, and a custom-made front bumper.