Last month we gave you a detailed look at nine of this year’s Top Truck Champions’ Challenge (TTCC) rigs. This month we delve into the second half of the 18-vehicle field.

What is TTCC? Well, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the legendary Top Truck Challenge, and to celebrate we’ve invited all of the past champions of Top Truck back to Hollister Hills, California, to compete in an unprecedented, history-making, weeklong mega-throwdown on seven of the gnarliest challenges known in the wheeling world.

Top Truck began in 1993 and it has morphed considerably through the years to adapt to the changing world of off-road competition. Nowadays, Top Truck is lean and focused. Competitors at this year’s Top Truck Champions’ Challenge will compete in our seven famous events consisting of the Tow Test, Frame Twister, Mud Pit, Obstacle Course, Hill Climb, Mini Rubicon, and Tank Trap.

Past champions are invited to drive the rig they originally competed with or something completely different. What’s interesting is that the majority of TTCC competitors have chosen to drive their TTC-winning rigs. Others have created new rigs and some have even borrowed rigs.

Over the next several pages you can read a detailed overview of the second half of this year’s TTCC rigs (in no particular order) along with some comments from the drivers. Next month we’ll roll out the monster TTCC story and it’ll offer a detailed look at how each competitor did in each event. It was an incredible week of competition that generated some mind boggling drama and action. Some of the rigs ended up battered and bent, so get a good look at these vehicles over the next several pages and in last month’s issue of Four Wheeler, because many won’t look this way for long.

There are a few subtle changes to the exterior of the homemade tube-framed buggy, which uses a 5x3-inch rectangular subframe and 15⁄8-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall tubing. The most obvious changes from 2009 are that the custom-cut 53-inch ag tires are reversed and there’s a roof-mounted “mini spare tire,” which, as it turns out, is more than just a cute conversation piece (more on that next month). The tires are mounted on 24x12 homemade double-beadlock wheels. Green can winch from either the front or rear of the rig thanks to a front-mounted 20,000-pound Kingone winch and a rear-mounted Warn 12,000-pound winch. The rig boasts an impressive 36 inches of bellypan clearance.

There are a few subtle changes to the exterior of the homemade tube-framed buggy, which us

Name: Dave Green
Champion in: 2009
Driving: 2004 homemade buggy

Dave Green made history in 2009 when he drove his diesel-powered buggy to a narrow win. Why did this make history? Well, up until that point all of the TTC winners had been driving gasoline-powered rigs. Green’s win was also impressive because he drove with 32 stitches in a few of his fingers after an unfortunate run in with his rig’s engine cooling fan the day before competition began. He’s coming to TTCC with his rig virtually unchanged from 2009.

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from 2009: “I guess it would be not being at the meet and greet BBQ. I was at the hospital in Hollister getting three of my fingers put back together.”
Wants First Place in: “Like almost everyone else said, Tank Trap (double points).”

“I have a great sense of humor and get along with almost everyone.”
—Dave Green

A 5.9L Cummins 12-valve turbodiesel propels the buggy. Other than dual AFE air cleaners, a 4-inch custom exhaust and a Painless Performance wiring harness the engine is stock. A pair of Optima YellowTop batteries provides electrical current and a custom radiator with a front-mounted Ford Taurus electric fan helps to keep the Cummins cool. Power is routed through an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission and it’s sent to the axles via a twin-sticked NP205 transfer case and a pair of driveshafts made by Pat’s Driveline.

A 5.9L Cummins 12-valve turbodiesel propels the buggy. Other than dual AFE air cleaners, a

The Details
Driver name/city: Dave Green/Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Occupation: Self-employed
Vehicle model: 2004 homemade buggy
Estimated value: N/A
Engine: 5.9L Cummins I-6, turbocharged
Transmission: NV4500
Transfer case: NP205, twin-stick
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, 16-in-travel King remote-reservoir coilovers, King bumpstops/four-link, 16-in-travel King remote-reservoir coilovers, Gen-X Machining bumpstops
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson axleshafts, Detroit Locker/2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson axleshafts, welded spiders
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 24x11 homemade double beadlock
Tires: 16.9x24 West Lake CB 538 agricultural

Thorson built the 47-inch-wide chassis from 1.75-inch-diameter, 0.125-inch-wall DOM tubing. The body skins offer an added level of protection from the Tank Trap’s poison oak and they’re made from 14-gauge steel. As you can see, the buggy has incredible ground clearance as well as approach and departure angles. The big 54-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires help with that and they’re mounted on 20x12 Stazworks interior beadlock wheels with exterior rock rings. Mounted very high in the chassis is a front Warn 9.5xp winch and 8,000-pound Warn rear winch. Exterior LED lighting includes a pair of Fulkerson Fabrication forward-facing driving lights and six ground-facing LED lights to light the way during night wheeling.

Thorson built the 47-inch-wide chassis from 1.75-inch-diameter, 0.125-inch-wall DOM tubing

Name: Matt Thorson
Champion in: 2007
Driving: 2012 Thorson Hells Bells buggy

Back in 2007, Thorson won TTC with a tube-chassis TJ powered by a 502 Ram Jet V-8. He gathered three First Place wins, one Second Place win, and one Third Place win, which generated enough points to edge out the competition. This year he’s returning to Hollister in a brand-new, custom-built buggy that he hopes will carry him to the podium again.

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from 2007: “I won!”
Wants First Place in: “Tank Trap! It’s the most difficult.”

“Go big, or go home.”
—Matt Thorson

Under the hood is a ground-pounding supercharged GM LS9 376ci V-8 that generates 764 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. This fuel-injected engine sports aluminum heads and roller rockers. Exhaust gases are evacuated by headers and a 3-inch-diameter exhaust system with Schoenfeld sprint car mufflers. A Bosch 210-amp alternator and a pair of Optima BlueTop batteries provide electrical current. A rear-mounted Ron Davis radiator and Pacific Fabrication blower intercooler are mounted close together and air is forced through them via a pair of 16-inch dual electric fans. Torque is sent through a Setrab-cooled, Norcal Transmission-built TH400 transmission with Hughes Performance torque converter to an Off Road Design Magnum Box and NP205 transfer case. A pair of custom high-strength Driveline Services driveshafts with 1410 U-joints spin the axles’ internals. Also interesting underhood is a custom shaft that runs from the firewall to the Warn 9.5xp winch. This setup allows Thorson to control the free spool of the winch from the cab.

Under the hood is a ground-pounding supercharged GM LS9 376ci V-8 that generates 764 horse

The Details
Driver name/city: Matt Thorson/Santa Rosa, California
Occupation: 4WD design & fabrication/general contractor
Vehicle model: 2012 Thorson-built Hells Bells buggy
Estimated value: $200,000
Engine: GM LS9 376ci V-8, supercharged
Transmission: Norcal transmission-built TH400, B&M shifter, Setrab cooler
Transfer case: ORD Magnum Box, NP205
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, 14-in-travel Sway-A-Way RaceRunner remote-reservoir coilovers, Sway-A-Way RaceRunner remote-reservoir bypass shocks, Acme Rigging limiting straps/four-link, 16-in-travel Sway-A-Way RaceRunner remote-reservoir coilovers, Sway-A-Way RaceRunner remote-reservoir bypass shocks, Acme Rigging limiting straps.
Axles (f/r): Ouverson Violator housing, 2½-ton Rockwell gears, Ouverson Bull Gear Stud Girdle, Ouverson Violator Full Spool, Ouverson Violator axleshafts, Ouverson knuckles and “C’s,” Wilwood pinion brake/ Ouverson Violator housing, 2½-ton Rockwell gears, Ouverson Bull Gear Stud Girdle, Ouverson Violator Full Spool, Ouverson Violator axleshafts, Ouverson knuckles and “C’s,” Wilwood pinion brake
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20x12 Stazworks interior beadlock, exterior rock rings
Tires: 54x19.50-20 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC

As it was in 2005, Duffy’s rig has a custom rear tube frame made from 1.75-inch-diameter tubing. This chunk of frame gives the machine a current 109-inch wheelbase, an improved departure angle, and a narrower tail-end. This rig was designed around the engine, so the grille was moved 2 inches forward to make room for the radiator and cooling fans. The hood was lengthened to compensate and louvers were added to assist in decreasing underhood temperatures. The front fenders are custom, the windshield and cowl are stock, the half-doors are from a YJ, and the rear fenders are made from 16-gauge steel. Duffy also modified the rockers to create a 45-degree angle. Heck he even moved the body mounts up 1-inch to eliminate snag points. Up front is a Warn 9.5xp winch and the Jeep rolls on 44-inch Interco Super Swamper TSL tires mounted on 15x10 Champion beadlocks.

As it was in 2005, Duffy’s rig has a custom rear tube frame made from 1.75-inch-diameter t

Name: Jerry Duffy
Champion in: 2005
Driving: 1981 Jeep CJ-8

In 2005 Duffy brought his garage-built Scrambler to Top Truck and skillfully won four of our seven events including the gnarly Tank Trap. This 69-year-old retiree is making like a boomerang back to Hollister behind the wheel of the same vehicle he drove in 2005, albeit with a few changes.

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from ’05: “Most memorable moment was Ken Brubaker with mic in your face at the end of each event, or Water Hole 6.”
Wants First Place in: “First place in any one event would be the Tank Trap because it is the most challenging and the 20 points!”

“What you should know about me is my passion for Jeeps and wheelin’.”
—Jerry Duffy

Under the hood is the same ZZ 502 big-block engine that was found under the hood in 2005. This TPI engine produces more than 400 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It’s lightweight and makes 600 lb-ft of torque “right off idle.” The engine is fitted with a custom-ground camshaft, headers, and a custom exhaust by Advanced Suspension Design. Other underhood mods include a York engine-driven compressor, 230-amp alternator (with milk jug tethered to it to keep water out), and a pair of Optima RedTop batteries. Power is routed through a 4L80E automatic transmission with shift kit, TCI stand-alone computer, and deep aluminum pan. The transmission is cooled by a rollcage-mounted Flex-a-lite cooler with fan. Power is split to the axles by an Advance Adapters Atlas four-speed transfer case and carried by a front Six States ‘shaft and a rear High Angle Driveline CV ‘shaft.

Under the hood is the same ZZ 502 big-block engine that was found under the hood in 2005.

The Details
Driver name/city: Jerry Duffy/Kimberly, Idaho
Occupation: Retired
Vehicle model: 1981 Jeep Scrambler CJ-8
Estimated value: N/A
Engine: GM ZZ 502ci V-8
Transmission: 4L80E, TCI computer, Flex-a-lite cooler
Transfer case: Advance Adapters Atlas 4-spd
Suspension (f/r): Three-link, billet Currie Johnny Joints, 16-in-travel King Racing remote-reservoir coilovers, limiting strap/four-link, billet Currie Johnny Joints, 16-in-travel King Racing remote-reservoir coilovers, limiting strap
Axles (f/r): Currie RockJock, RCV axleshafts, ARB Air Locker, Howe hydraulic-assist steering/Dynatrac ProRock 60, RCV axleshafts, ARB Air Locker, hydraulic steering
Axle ratio: 5.13:1
Wheels: 15x10 Champion beadlock
Tires: 44x18.50-16 Interco Super Swamper TSL