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 900485515.
Or send your description and high resolution digital photos to us via www.fourwheeler.com.
TTC Retiree
Kevin Kaylin of Gaffney, South Carolina, once placed third at our annual Top Truck Challenge event in a tiger-striped Jeep called the Siberian Scrambler. Today he drives this mildly built '05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon edition. Yes, he admits it's a step down in capability from his big-block-powered monster Jeep, but these days Kevin caters to Kayla, his 9-year old daughter. We don't fault him for the downgrade, especially since he's a stay-at-home dad-after all, priorities are priorities. But just because Kayla required carting around didn't mean Kevin couldn't customize his ride. First he added a 4-inch Pro Comp Stage II suspension lift with MX6 adjustable shocks. Next he installed a Hanson front bumper and Interco 33x14.50 TrXus STS tires mounted to American Eagle 15x12 aluminum wheels. To keep the mud from these wide tires where it belongs, Kaylin added a set of 7-inch Warn fender flares painted OEM black. The rig may be a step down to some, but to those who really matter, this new Jeep is the coolest in the world.
Yee Haw K5
Tim Wylie of Blacksburg, South Carolina, wheels this '84 Chevy Blazer every chance he gets. The rig rides on 1-ton Chevy axles; a Dana 60 front with limited slip and a 14-bolt rear with Detroit locker and 4.56:1 gears. Under the hood lurks a built 383 stroker motor and NV4500 five-speed tranny with an Advance Adapter for the NP205 transfer case. A set of 35-inch A/Ts are mounted to Mickey Thompson wheels. A hot Viper Red paintjob was sprayed by Hee Haw Customs.
Southern Toy
Kenneth Cooper of Gaffney, South Carolina, built this '88 Toyota pickup as a daily driver. Cooper says it does a decent job getting him to and from work during the week, though the weekends are a whole different story. When off pavement, the 32-inch Brigadier A/Ts on 15x10 American Racing wheels hook Cooper up with traction to tackle just about any trail in the region. The factory four-cylinder and five-speed tranny may not impress on paper, but when connected to Cooper's right foot, watch out! Soon this rig will get a solid front axle, lockers, and 35-inch tires.
Southern Hybrid
Brian "Biggen" Wylie is from Blacksburg, South Carolina, and this custom '83 Chevy S-10 was build from the ground up to steal the show at local mud bogs and trail rides. The rig started out with the fabrication of a rectangular steel tube frame. The S-10 body was mounted and then painted with Corvette Yellow and Prowler Purple paint. Next, a 1-ton Chevy drivetrain was installed featuring Detroit Lockers and 5.13:1 gears. A big-block 454 motor was added along with a Holly Avenger carburetor to keep fuel flowing at extreme angles. The power is fed to a Turbo 400 automatic and an NP205 transfer case. The 42-inch IROKs are mounted to 15-inch Steel wheels. A trusty Warn 10,000-pound winch is on standby in case lesser rigs should require assistance.
Jeep To The Rescue
This Whitesboro, New York, Jeep Cherokee serves as a daily driver that sometimes also runs emergency calls for the Whitesboro Fire Department. Mike Visalli built the rig to be versatile and reliable. As such, Visalli added a K&N drop-in filter, a Magnaflow high-flow cat and muffler, a Rubicon Express 4.5-inch Super Flex suspension system, a slip-yoke eliminator, and 32-inch BFG A/T tires on American Racing Outlaw II wheels. Emergency equipment isn't always required when this rig hits the trail, but when it is, the Surco safari rack sure comes in handy. Once on the scene, a whole assortment of strobe lighting by NOVA Industries let's everyone know the rescuers have arrived.
Clean Sleeper
This '99 Jeep TJ owned by Randy Mancini of Pleasanton, California, is motivated by a California smog-legal Chevy 5.3L swap. From there power is sent through a 4L60E and Atlas II transfer case. Axle beef comes from a pair of Dynatrac-built Dana units: a 60 in the rear and 44 up front, both sporting ARB Air Lockers. For suspension, Mancini added a Rubicon Express long-arm up front and then installed a Gen-Right four-link stretch kit for the rear. This makes room for 37-inch Goodyear MT/R tires. A Hanson Off-Road front bumper houses a Warn 9500 winch and a set of PSC tubular fenders provide a more aggressive look. The motor swap was performed by Deetz Off-Road in Tracy, California, and the recent stretch conversion was completed by Dennis at Extreme 4x4 in Pismo Beach, California. Nice Jeep, Randy.