Thirty-nine-inch BFGoodrich Krawlers wrapped around 17x9 Allied beadlocks are the rolling stock of choice for this slick two-seater. Constructed from 1.75-inch DOM tubing all around, the buggy relies on a pair of winches for extraction—a Warn 9000 in front, a Harbor Freight 2,000-pound unit in back—but judging by the looks of this rig, we’re betting they don’t need to be used very often.

Thirty-nine-inch BFGoodrich Krawlers wrapped around 17x9 Allied beadlocks are the rolling

Buggy class: Buggin’ In
A last-minute call-up as our Buggy Class alternate, Brian Whitford came ready to “set a course record” at the Tank Trap this year. An ambitious quest, for sure, but his Any 7 Offroad buggy could well be up to the task, with plenty of gearing and a heavy-duty driveline, though the 39-inch BFGs are rather small by today’s TTC standards. All assembled for a modest price, this rig is proof that you don’t need a six-figure budget to assemble a Rubicon-ready rockslayer.

The Details

• Owner name/city: Brian Whitford, Any 7 Offroad/ Oakley, CA
• Occupation: Auto mechanic
• Vehicle model: 2010 11th Hour Chassis buggy
• Estimated value: $10,000
• Engine/aspiration: 302ci Ford V-8, Ford E303 cam; Ford Motorsport headers, Dynomax mufflers
• Transmission: Ford C4 w/3,000rpm stall converter
• Transfer case: Atlas II 3.8
• Suspension (f/r): Four-link, F-O-A 2.5 coilovers/four-link, F-O-A 2.5 coilovers
• Axles (f/r): 35-spline Dana 60/40-spline Dana 60
• Axle ratio: 5.13:1
• Wheels: 17x9-in steel Allied beadlock
• Tires: 39x13.5-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers

The 11th Hour Chassis buggy runs a tried-and-true four-link front suspension with F-O-A 2.5 coilover shocks. The Dana 60 frontend is stuffed with 35-spline shafts, a Detroit Locker and 5.13:1 gears, and the job of turning those 39-inch Krawlers is made easier by the addition of Howe full hydro steering.

The 11th Hour Chassis buggy runs a tried-and-true four-link front suspension with F-O-A 2.

Brian Whitford, Team #29

• Most looking forward to:“Tank Trap, of course. Looking forward to setting a new course record.”
• Not looking forward to: The Mud Pit. I hate cleaning mud off my rig!”
• Playing on his iPod/CD player: No iPod, but in my CD player is Kid Rock’s “Cocky” and Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem.”