Does this TJ look long to you? Well it is, because the wheelbase has been stretched to 101 inches. The rear frame has been notched, plated, boxed, and tied into the rollcage. Fox modified an off-the-shelf front bumper and made the rear bumper as well as the rocker protection. The front bumper holds a Warn M12000 winch with Master Pull 3⁄8-inch Superline. The rear flares are modified Poison Spyder DeFender units and the front fenders are stock Poison Spyder DeFender units. The body sits on a 1-inch lift and the louvered hood is mainly for aesthetics though it does help to provide lower underhood temperatures. TrailReady HD Series beadlock wheels are surrounded by 40-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar tires. The rig’s Emerald Green paint was applied by Long’s Auto Body in Bremerton, Washington, and any visible striping was done by “Washington’s finest pine and fir trees.”

Does this TJ look long to you? Well it is, because the wheelbase has been stretched to 101

Name: Alex Sanders
Champion in: 2011 (Buggy Class)
Driving: 2008 Homebuilt Buggy

After pulling off an upset win in the 2011 Top Truck Challenge Buggy Class, Alex Sanders has the unheard of opportunity to take the trophy home in consecutive years. Returning with his ’08 home-built buggy, Sanders has a few changes up his sleeve, but overall the buggy will be familiar to those who monitored Top Truck in 2011, following the philosophy of “If it ain’t broke, go win Top Truck again.”

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from 2011: “All of it! Mainly when I didn’t wheelhop or break in the Tow Test. And partyin’ with and meetin’ so many cool people.”
Wants First Place in: “Mini Rubicon. Because even though I love the Tank Trap the Mini Rubicon seems the most technical.”
Sanders says: I just plan on driving smart and having fun this year.”

“I don’t plan on winning this year with all of the great competitors, but then again I didn’t plan on winning last year either.”
—Alex Sanders

Believe it or not, we’d never had a rule requiring a firewall before and in 2011 Sanders showed up without one. After reexamining our rulebook, we modified the rules requiring all rigs to have a firewall and Sanders complied. Even with the new addition, the cab is as sparse as possible with only two gauges that monitor oil temperature and oil pressure. A www.12voltguy.com winch switch is positioned between the seats and the VW brake and clutch pedals are a nice touch.

Believe it or not, we’d never had a rule requiring a firewall before and in 2011 Sanders s

The Details
Driver name/city: Alex Sanders/Salem, Arkansas
Occupation: Mechanic
Vehicle model: 2008 homebuilt buggy
Estimated value: Priceless
Engine: 406ci Chevy “long rod” V-8, TRW flat-top pistons, 5.7 rods, custom-ground Comp cam, Flowmaster exhaust
Transmission: GM Muncie SM465
Transfer case: NP205
Suspension (f/r): Custom “grader-ball,” coil springs, custom shocks/Tuff Country GM front leaf springs, Tuff Country shocks
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, welded gears/2½-ton Rockwell, welded
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20-in steel 5-ton military
Tires: 54x19.5-20 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC
Name: Brent Burton
Champion in: 2006
Driving: 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Since winning Top Truck in 2006, Burton’s Jeep has undergone a few changes worth noting, such as a Magnuson blower on top of the LS1 small-block, a new roll cage, half-doors, MasterCraft Safety seating, and the addition of 54-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC’s mounted on Stazworks wheels.

Since winning Top Truck in 2006, Burton’s Jeep has undergone a few changes worth noting, s

Name: Brent Burton
Champion in: 2006
Driving: 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

We last saw Burton in 2006 when he took top honors at TTC in his stretched Jeep Wrangler TJ. Burton’s TJ is notable for its four-door configuration, which Burton began building in 2005, over a year before the four-door Wrangler was offered from the factory. The ’97 TJ body was grafted to the rear tub of a Wrangler YJ, and even includes a trick, narrowed CJ-7 tailgate. Burton mowed down the obstacles once at TTC, will he be able to do it again?

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from 2006: “In the Tank Trap canyon something on the Jeep started smoking real bad and we were not sure what it was. It was so bad I had to shut the engine off to let it clear so we could see. Really was not sure it was going to restart. Luckily once we winched a bit and leveled out the smoke got better and we were able to finish.”
Wants First Place in: “Tank Trap. Double points and what we all came to conquer.”

“I enjoy tinkering with Jeeps, trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, sand rails, or anything with a throttle. I have to thank my parents for that, as my first trail ride happened when I was just five months old and have been hooked ever since.”
—Brent Burton

With stretched bodywork and seating for five, Burton doesn’t have to choose between his family and his gear on the trail. Overall, the interior retains a stock feel, but factory buckets have given way to MasterCraft Safety racing seats while a www.12voltguy.com winch controller falls at Burton’s fingertips. Auto Meter gauges supplement the stockers for relaying vitals to the driver.

With stretched bodywork and seating for five, Burton doesn’t have to choose between his fa

The Details
Driver name/city: Brent Burton/Colstrip, Montana
Occupation: Electrical Contractor
Vehicle model: 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Estimated value: N/A
Engine: 347ci Chevy LS1 V-8, Magnuson supercharger
Transmission: Turbo 400 w/manual valvebody and reverse pattern, Art Carr shifter
Transfer case: NP205, Klune-V 2.7
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, 16-in Sway-A-Way coilovers/four-link, 16-in Sway-A-Way coilovers
Axles (f/r): Rockwell 2½-ton, Ouverson Locker/Rockwell 2½-ton, Ouverson Locker
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20x13 steel Stazworks
Tires: 54x19.5-20 Mickey Thomson Baja Claw TTC