It all started when Tony Lorenzo of Grass Valley, California, bought a GMC Suburban 2500 from a friend for his wife to drive. For two years it was a stock, reliable grocery-getter. Eventually it was replaced by a new car and it was at this point Lorenzo had an epiphany. He decided to build the “ultimate family wheeler” using the Suburban as his foundation.

The ’97-’06 Jeep Wrangler TJ is one of the most popular and well-supported build platforms on the planet. Like most things in life, the 93.4-inch wheelbase Wrangler isn’t exactly perfect right out of the box, although the Rubicon models are pretty close. We’ve had our ’97 Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade now, and over time its suspension system, along with our trail appetite, has evolved substantially. Like many of you we started out with a basic budget boost, then moved up to a short-arm lift, and ultimately to a 4-inch Superlift long-arm suspension system. While the long-arm upgrade was a huge improvement over the stubby factory control arms, we felt that the Jeep still had plenty of room to grow.

Spied! Refreshed F-150
In the latest picture sent in from our spies, we can clearly see a lightly camouflaged ’13 F-150. This configuration is built for work with an 8-foot bed and the Heavy-Duty Payload package that comes with seven-lug wheels. The mirrors also indicate it is equipped with Ford’s Max Trailer Tow package, which already puts the current 1⁄2-ton F-150 in 3⁄4-ton territory, but with better fuel economy. This preproduction example is sporting a new headlight treatment and a grille that more closely matches the current Super Duty and redesigned Ford Flex. On the side, this test mule appears to be wearing an EcoBoost badge and the exhaust looks to be standard fare, so we can’t speculate on any drivetrain changes at this point, but it wouldn’t surprise us if something interesting were lurking under the hood. With an all-new, and significantly lighter, F-150 due by 2016, this will be the last refresh of the current generation truck.

SEMA 2011 was another successful event for the automotive aftermarket with nearly 2,000 new products being introduced from countless companies trying to invent the next big thing. We walked the endless miles of aisles to touch, feel, and smell as many of these products as possible and have narrowed our list of favorites down to the 15 cool, interesting, and noteworthy products you see here.

We were thumbing through the July ’97 issue of Four Wheeler, and tucked in between the sixth installment of The Turtle Expedition’s trip to Russia and a Ford F-350 show truck was this fascinating story about a “junkyard-dog ugly” ’76 International Scout II.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association, better known as SEMA, throws a gargantuan show every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s known as the SEMA Show (imagine that!) and it’s the largest annual specialty-equipment show on the planet. The four-day 2011 show, held this past November, drew over 100,000 people from over 100 countries. The show featured 12 themed sections including Mobile Electronics; Tools and Equipment; Wheels and Accessories; and Trucks, SUVs, Off-Road. It also contained the New Products Showcase with over 1,500 newly introduced parts, tools, and components (you can read more about the new products elsewhere in this issue). But that ain’t all. In addition, the show hosted seminars, demos, celebrity appearances, and special events.

JK Crossover Solution
Having problems with front driveshaft clearance after lifting your ’12 Jeep Wrangler? If so, aFe has the solution you have been looking for. The aFe Mach Force XP Jeep Y-pipe reroutes the factory exhaust from the front of the of the transmission crossmember to behind the transfer case, freeing up valuable space needed by the front driveshaft when a lift, or increased travel, has been added. This Y-pipe maintains the equal-length characteristics of the stock exhaust and features stainless steel mandrel-bent tubing with OE flanges and 100 percent hand-TIG welded construction that resists corrosion. A true merged collector is used to increase and balance flow while reducing backpressure to diminish exhaust noise. The smooth curves and increased diameter (two 2-inch tubes into one 2.5-inch tube) helps remove restriction and keeps exhaust gas flowing smoothly for improved performance and durability on and off the trails. All components are supplied for a hassle-free installation with no modifications necessary.
Info: Advance Flow Engineering
951/493-7155, www.afepower.com

Our Cummins-powered ’96 Dodge Ram 3500 dualie has over 274,000 miles on the ticker. A couple of years ago we hastily purchased it from a private owner in Iowa when our Power Stroke-equipped Super Duty left us stranded on the side of the highway near Des Moines, so we know little about the 3500’s history except that it was used on a farm. The truck is equipped with the NV4500 five-speed manual transmission, which has performed flawlessly so far. However, recently the clutch began to show signs that it was nearing the end of its service life. Its demise was hastened by some engine mods that increased the Cummins’ horsepower and torque, thus resulting in clutch slippage even during normal driving.

Snow Tired
I have a ’10 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4. I need a tire that is great in snow and will get me where I need to go when going up and down steep hills in snow. But, I want a tire for towing and occasional off-road use. Can you help me find the right tire for my ride?
Chris Newsman
Roxboro, NC

With 7,500 miles rolled on to our ’11 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s odometer, we are still very much enjoying our time with the SUV. This vehicle offers exceptional comfort in a daily driver role, not only offering outstanding around town and highway performance, but also a slew of entertainment options for passengers, such as Sirius satellite radio and a rear seat entertainment system.

Everyone knows the story of how Willys-Overland successfully capitalized on a World War II military design in the post-war civilian world. Fewer know that Dodge did the same thing. In 1939, Dodge developed a military ½-ton 4x4 that evolved into the legendary model WC ¾-ton design that continued in production thru the war, to the tune of more than 250,000 units. The Dodge WCs, along with the jeep and Jimmy deuce-and-a-half, were the vehicular heroes of WWII and are fondly remembered by those who served.

Brake Advice
I just got the Dec. ’11 issue in the mail, in October. I still haven’t figured that one out. Anyway, great mag, I love the fact that you seem to be scaling back lately and featuring more budget-minded tech articles and simple installs and repairs that the everyday wrench can relate to. That brings me to my point. While reading through the mag, I came across an article (“Stop it!”) which caught my attention. As a technician at a Ford dealership, I know of the brake corrosion problems on this era of well. Many front rotors have come off in pieces. I wanted to address a couple of issues your vehicle seems to have that I’m sure you dealt with but I felt needed bringing up. First off is the swollen front brake hose in photo number three. The swage where the rubber hose meets the metal line is covered with another piece of rubber and this traps moisture and causes the connection to rust and disintegrate. This is a common problem and one good panic stop will let you know about it. Second is the issue with the parking brake shoes. Judging by pictures numbers 15 and 16, I assume that your shoe linings fell out onto the floor upon rotor removal and should have been replaced. I know that these are little things, but they could cause big problems down the road. I hope this was useful and keep up the good work.
Brian
Via email

I think some readers are often surprised by the 4x4s in my personal fleet. Maybe it’s that they expect me to have really expensive rigs with all the latest gadgetry. Am I supposed to be wheeling something that the detailer stops by to wash and wax weekly? Well, I hate to disappoint you, but that’s not the case—not by a long shot. I’m way too practical and I like beaters.

Four Wheeler of the Year, our annual new 4x4 competition, was started way back in 1974, with our inaugural winner being the fullsize ’74 Jeep Cherokee. Back then the award was simply called the “Four Wheeler Achievement Award.”

Fifty years ago I was 18 years old, had bought my second of many Jeeps—a brand new CJ-5—and along with several others had started the Drifters Jeep Club in Pomona, California. A small publication called Four Wheeler magazine had just come out and I was ecstatic over it. It listed itself as “The Magazine of Back Country Driving and Camping.” That said it all, and not much has changed over the years. Yes, I wore out that first issue of 30 pages reading it from cover to cover over and over again, and somehow managed to hang on to the second issue, as well as most of the early years. The cover price was $.50, while a year’s subscription was $4.50. I’m not sure if it was that year or the next that I actually got to meet the editor/publisher Robert Ames while on the Hemet Jeep Cavalcade. I thought what a great job he had, four wheeling and writing about it—but me actually writing for Four Wheeler was the least of my thoughts at that time.

This quarter the big Power Wagon didn’t see as much mileage as you might expect, however, we did take it on several long road trips, including one to Arizona for a new product launch. It was also used to shuttle us around to various desert locations for photo shoots, seeing it has the capability to get us in and out of those places.

Wheelers love to debate about what works and what doesn’t. Verbal punches thrown around a campfire or work bench often revolve around topics like lockers and tires as well as which vehicle brand is the King of the Hill. But another topic that really fires people up is Jeep versus fullsize.

Have you ever dreamed about jumping into a fully modified extreme 4x4 camper and making it your home on wheels for … as long as you feel like it? How about exploring both sides of the world and meeting people on almost every continent on Earth while having that fully outfitted 4x4 camper to keep you comfortable, no matter if you are deep into Mexico or driving across Siberia? For the past 40 years, Gary and Monika Wescott have been living that dream while building a fleet of ever-improving ultimate camping vehicles to transport them all over the globe.

Anti-Ante
While the rig in “Upping The Ante” (Oct. ’11) is a fantastic ride, I don’t see how it can be called an FJ45. The particular vehicle in the article has nothing on it that is in common with the FJ, aside from the noted vague likeness of the front grille.

Oil filtration might not be as sexy a topic as locking differentials or coilover shocks, but clean oil is the lifeblood of your engine. You may think that your oil filter is not that important, but this small, inexpensive part is far from trivial. It plays a vital role in protecting your engine from premature wear by cleaning the oil as it passes through the filter element. Each moving part in the engine requires uncontaminated oil for proper lubrication and long life.

We’d be remiss if we ended our 50th Anniversary issue without paying proper homage to the irreplaceable Granville King. King was Four Wheeler’s Baja correspondent from 1984 until the time of his death in 1989 at age 70. He was a former aerospace engineer and TV screenwriter who retired in 1981 and fled modern society. He and his four-legged companion Superdawg moved into a trailer on a bluff south of San Felipe, Mexico, miles from paved roads and electricity. From this location he wrote a variety of stories for Four Wheeler, including his “From the Backcountry” series, which was an account of a life devoid of many modern trappings, but filled with backcountry adventures and mechanical tips.

It’s the one ½-ton truck that everyone loves, even our own mothers. That is until they pull up to the gas pump. Unfortunately, nearly everyone on staff who has been behind the wheel of the 6.2L V-8-powered Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has complained or at least made a comment in the logbook about the dismal fuel economy. But let’s put it in perspective. This is a 411hp ½-ton pickup with Baja-bred and -proven long-travel suspension that rolls on 35-inch tires. It features a rear selectable locker that works in any transfer case selection and it has 4.11 axle gears. This is the truck we would try to build, only we wouldn’t be able to put the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Ford has into the design and testing of such a truck. Dollar-for-dollar you can’t beat the Raptor with a similar truck modified with aftermarket parts. And the truth is, any truck outfitted similarly would likely get the same fuel economy if not worse than our Raptor. So we consider the Raptor an ideal bargain if these are the kind of modifications you planned to make on your own anyway.

The Four Wheeler Top Truck Champions’ Challenge (TTCC) is only a few months away and this means that past Top Truck Challenge Grand Champions will soon be converging en masse for this unprecedented event.

Ram Changes for 2012
Ram Trucks has made more official announcements for 2012, including the anticipated Ram Box option on the 6-foot-4-inch bed found on heavy-duty trucks. Other previously unannounced changes include new trim levels for the Power Wagon, which include the SL model which starts at $41,625, the previously standard SLT model, which now starts at $45,565, and the luxurious Power Wagon Laramie, which starts at $51,000. The Power Wagon Laramie also deletes the Power Wagon sticker package and marks the return of the chrome “Power Wagon” lettering across the tailgate. Additionally for 2012, Ram is extending the availability of its V-8-for-the-price-of-a-V-6 Express model to include Quad and Crew Cab configurations and offering a limited run of Ram Mossy Oak Edition Outdoorsman trucks, featuring the Mossy Oak camouflage brand as a central theme.

Buick V-6 Identity Crisis
I would like to install a Buick V-6 into my early solid-axle Toyota. I have found the kits to do this and plan to use the TH350 automatic transmission. I know they made both an even-fire and an odd-fire version, but I’m not really sure how to tell them apart.
Steve Martin
Austin, TX