20. Mike Erickson, Sand City, California
1973 Chevy K30
This California wheeler loves hitting the trail so much that he built a truck big enough for his friends to come along. If you vote him in, he’ll need all those seats for his support crew.
Engine: 454ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP208
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension, f/r: Leaf springs/leaf springs
Tires: 39.5-in Interco Super Swamper TSL Boggers
Special features: Front 12,000-lb MileMarker winch, rear 6,000-lb 24-volt Warn winch, custom flatbed, six seats with five-point harnesses
Driver experience: 10 years
21. Larry Dowd, Winnemucca, Nevada
1980 Chevy K10
First-time entrant Larry Dowd wants to represent the readers at TTCC with his narrowed Chevy. Will you let him show up the reigning champs in the Frame Twister?
Engine: 350ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Spool/spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilovers/quarter-elliptical triangulated four-link
Tires: 49-inch Interco IROKs
Special features: Narrowed and shortened body, 12,000-lb Warn winch
Driver experience: 10 years
22. Leroy Latham, Golconda, Nevada
2008 home-built buggy
Leroy Latham competed in Top Truck back in 2009 and must love punishment, because he has thrown his rear-engined buggy back into the ring for TTCC. You aren’t going to let TTC 2009 be his last, are you?
Engine: 460ci Ford V-8
Transmission: C6
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: 3-ton Rockwell/3-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit No Spin/welded
Ratio: 6.80:1
Suspension, f/r: Triangulated four-link, 16-in-travel King coilovers, King hydraulic bumpstops/triangulated four-link, 16-in-travel King coilovers, King hydraulic bumpstops
Tires: 54-in Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTCs
Special features: Warn 8274 winch, “all stock”
Driver experience: 10 years
23. Joachim Güeppner, Schoenbrunn, Germany
2007 Sledge Hammer buggy
You may remember Germany’s own Joachim Güeppner from his entry back in 2010. He is so hungry for Top Truck that he is willing to ship his rig all the way to California to represent the readers. Are you interested in seeing the buggy from Deutschland?
Engine: 502ci Chevy Ram Jet V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Atlas II, 3.0:1
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, Sway-A-Way 2.5 air shocks/four-link, Sway-A-Way 2.5 air shocks
Tires: 54-in Interco Super Swamper TSL Boggers
Special features: Rear steer, home made
Driver experience: 15+ years
24. Daniel & Phillip Sparks, Fayetteville, Arkansas
1982 Chevy S-10
Here is an S-10 that has been built with the Tank Trap in mind. If you love S-10s like Brubaker loves S-10s, this might just be the rig that you want representing your interests at TTCC.
Engine: 6.0L Vortec V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Atlas 5.0
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson spool /Ouverson spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Triangulated four-link, Wildhorse coil springs, Rancho 9000XL shocks/ triangulated four-link, Wildhorse coil springs, Rancho 9000XL shocks
Tires: 47-in Interco Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: Dual Optima YellowTop batteries, Ouverson pinion brakes, 3-in Ballistic joints, Summit aluminum radiator
Driver experience: 5 years
25. Rob Murphy, Millmont, Pennsylvania
2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Will five times be the charm? After four unsuccessful attempts at entering Top Truck, will you finally let Rob have his way with the courses in Hollister?
Engine: 355ci propane-injected Chevy V-8
Transmission: SM420
Transfer case: Dana 300/Klune-V doubler
Axles, f/r: Dodge kingpin-style Dana 60/Sterling 10.25
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, 14-in-travel coilovers/cantilevered four-link, 12-in-travel coilovers
Tires: 47-in Interco Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: MRT beadlocks, full-hydro steering, custom half-cab, exo cage, 10,000-lb T-Max winch
Driver experience: 18 years
26. John Retzloff, Covelo, California
1977 GMC K15
Last year John rolled past the gates of Hollister Hills as a last-minute alternate. He got a taste of what TTC is all about, but now he is ready for the full meal.
Engine: 454ci propane-injected GM V-8
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: Custom dual NP205s
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: OX Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.88:1
Suspension, f/r: 52-in leaf springs/63-in leaf springs
Tires: 53-in Goodyears
Special features: 20-in Velocity wheels, 9,500-lb Warn winch, street legal, half-doors, Staun double beadlocks
Driver experience: 16+ years
27. Paul Hill, Archdale, North Carolina
1988 Ford/Jeep hybrid
What happens when you mate a Ford F-250 with a Jeep Wrangler YJ? Well, we don’t know what to call it either, but it looks beefy enough to hold its own at TTCC. Are you as curious as we are?
Engine: 7.3L International Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8
Transmission: 4R100
Transfer case: NP273
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Grizzly Locker/Grizzly Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Parallel four-link, 16-in-travel coilovers/triangulated four-link, 16-in-travel coilovers
Tires: 52-in Michelin XZLs
Special features: YJ crew cab, Harbor Freight 12,000-lb winch, Summit Racing seats, custom heavy-duty ABS braking system
Driver experience: 18 years
28. Cliff Steelman, Walla Walla, Washington
1963 Ford F-100
Cliff Steelman first saw the Tank Trap at TTC in 2000 and barely made it home in time to see his second daughter enter the world. With the blessing of his supportive wife, Cliff is ready to take a run at the Trap once again.
Engine: 455ci Oldsmobile V-8
Transmission: NP435
Transfer case: NP203/NP205 doubler
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Dana 60
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension, f/r: Leaf springs/three-link, coil springs
Tires: 49-in Interco IROKs
Special features: Warn 8274, John Deere combine steering ram, rear-mounted radiator
Driver experience: 27 years
29. Chris Durham, Easley, South Carolina
1949-2004 Jeep
He entered his rig sporting a Petersen’s front license plate. Will you hold it against him or let him be a part of our own ultimate adventure known as the Top Truck Champions’ Challenge?
Engine: 360ci Mopar V-8
Transmission: Chrysler 904
Transfer case: Atlas 3.0
Axles, f/r: High-pinion Dana 60/Shaved GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Custom multilink, Zone coils and shocks, Daystar bumpstops/ Custom multilink, Zone coils and shocks, Currie Antirock sway bar, Daystar bumpstops
Tires: 42-in Goodyear MT/Rs
Special features: Walker Evans 17x9 beadlocks, AGR hydraulic assist, Superior axleshafts, 1-in body lift; Warn RC 9,000-lb winch; rear line-lock; Chris Durham Motorsports hood, front bumper, top, and bed; 110-in wheelbase
Driver experience: Born behind the wheel
30. Ryan Knoche, Hamburg, New York
1990 Suzuki Samurai
It is thought that New Yorkers are tough, but the Tank Trap is tougher. Knoche wants to prove that wrong and has entered his Sammy once again. Does this Samurai buggy have the chops to go up against the best of the best?
Engine: 4.3L GM V-6
Transmission: TH700R4, manual valvebody
Transfer case: NP205/205 Jed’s Machine doubler
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Spool/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Dual-triangulated four-link, 16-in-travel King internal bypass coilovers/ Dual-triangulated four-link, 16-in-travel King internal bypass coilovers
Tires: 47-in Interco Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: 9,000-lb Warn winch, 40-spline RCV shafts, rear steer
Driver experience: 16 years
31. Burmann Axel, Helststraat, Belgium
2011 Poison Spyder Bruiser buggy
In the U.S., Belgium is known for really good wheat beers and tasty waffles, but not so much for awesome 4x4s. Burmann Axel wants to change that by representing the readers and proving Belgium is more than just a tasty meal. He also promised us beer and waffles.
Engine: 502ci Chevy Ram Jet V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Atlas
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/ ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 4.88:1
Suspension, f/r: Linked, King shocks/linked, King shocks
Tires: 42-in Interco IROKs
Special features: Triple 24-volt Gigglepin winches, built for KOH
Driver experience: 22 years
32. Aaron Fava, Gold Beach, Oregon
1989 Chevy K30
When this K30 left the factory in 1989, we are pretty sure it didn’t know it would one day end up being volunteered for a sheetmetal rearranging at the hands of TTCC. You know what they say about size and Top Truck? If not, vote Fava’s K30 in to find out.
Engine: 454ci Kodiak Marine V-8
Transmission: TH400 w/NP208 range box
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Welded/welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: 56-in leaf springs/65-in leaf springs
Tires: 49-in Interco IROKs
Special features: Racesource hydraulic steering, custom dual beadlocks, four-wheel disc brakes
Driver experience: 21 years
33. Doug Evans, Hayfork, California
1999 Dodge Ram 3500
Normally we worry about full-bodied rigs shedding body panels during TTC, but Doug Evans was nice enough to remove all of his ahead of time. We’d say that makes him good to go. Mud pit anyone?
Engine: 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel I-6
Transmission: Stock auto
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: 2½-ton Rockwell/2½-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Double-triangulated four-link/double triangulated four-link
Tires: 49-in Interco IROKs
Special features: Onboard welder, onboard air, nothing stock
Driver experience: 10 years