Newer Rig: '94 Chevy Silverado K1500 Z-71
Owner: Jeff Bauer
Location: Graham, WA
The Dirt: Jeff starts off his letter by saying, "I Love Your Magazine!" Flattering the editors is always a sure way to see your truck in "Readers' Rigs." That and having an impressive rig. Jeff's Chevy has so many modifications that we don't know where we'd get enough pages to list them all (Hey boss, how 'bout a special one-shot: "Jeff Bauer edition of Four Wheeler"?), but we'll start by covering the basics like the 12-inch Full Throttle suspension lift coupled with a 3-inch body lift, 4-inch blocks, 4-inch torsion-bar keyways, and 38-inch Interco 38-inch SSRs that bring the Silverado to new heights. The modified axles are stuffed with 4.88 gears and Detroit Lockers. Motivating this monster is a 383ci stroker small-block with 425 hp. We'd say Jeff is an enthusiast if we ever saw one.
Newer Rig: '97 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Jeff Grocke
Location: New Port Richey, FL
The Dirt: Jeff likes to run around Florida in his 2.7L Tacoma. A set of 31x10.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws tires keep him from sinking in to the terra firma, and a black canvas top can be erected over the bed to get some protection from the Florida sunshine, as well as downpours.
Newer Rig: '95 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Owner: Dan the Mystery Man
Location: Anderson, CA
The Dirt: Here is another reader vehicle that has been built to tackle serious trails. Dan (who forgot to tell us his last name), from Anderson, California, and a member of the Bad Habits 4x4 Club, wrote in to tell us all about his YJ with its 3-inch body lift stacked on top of a Rubicon Express 4-inch suspension lift. This YJ sports 35x12.5 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws mounted on 15-inch alloys, 4.56s in the axles, and ARB Air Lockers, front and rear. A Warn 9000i winch handles the recovery duties, while the engine has been modified with an Akimoto intake, throttle-body spacer, and custom headers and exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler. Dan goes on to tell us how much he loves his Jeep and that his next modification will be a beefier front axle.
Newer Rig: '97 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Mando Ruiz
Location: San Antonio, TX
The Dirt: Texas resident Mando Ruiz owns this clean Tacoma. Since buying the truck, he has installed a 4-inch Pro Comp suspension lift and a set of 33x12.5 BFG A/Ts on a set of 15x10-inch Eagle Alloy 203 wheels. Westin step bars, stainless steel brake lines, and a Pro Comp skidplate round out the additions. He says he loves to hit the dirt whenever he gets the chance, but mostly uses his Toyota for commuting.
Newer Rig: '90 Ford Bronco
Owner: Robert King
Location: Nampa, ID
The Dirt: We love seeing fullsize Broncos on the trail, and this one is no exception. Owner Robert King, of the High Desert Off Road Club, built his trail machine with a 4-inch Tuff Country lift with 33x12.5 Wild Country EXT tires on 15-inch Mickey Thompson rims. A healthy 302, helped with some Flowtech headers and a Flowmaster exhaust, give this Bronco some grunt on the trail. Robert threatened to keep sending us pictures until he saw his truck in the magazine. Our inbox was full, so we decided to run it.
Newer Rig: '99 Toyota Tacoma
Owner: Daniel Dunn
Location: St. Marys, GA
The Dirt: Daniel Dunn wanted to get a fullsize truck with a V-8, but couldn't afford it, so he bought the next best thing, what he calls one of the best minis money could buy. He also points out that his '99 Tacoma can go many places those big trucks can't and has given him more thrills during the short time he has owned it than he would have otherwise gotten in a fullsize truck, with cheaper gas and insurance to boot.