Day 1 Event 1: The Tow Test
Unlike your normal run-of-the-mill, yawn-inducing truck pull, our Tow Test takes place on a dirt hill that climbs approximately 13 feet in altitude over its 150-foot length and has a maximum angle of approximately 16 degrees. This year we hitched each competitor’s rig to a 39,907-pound cement mixer and we turned ’em loose. Each competitor is allowed one pull and there is no time limit. A pull is completed when forward momentum ceases or the front axle of the cement mixer crosses the fnish line, whichever comes frst. The front axle of the cement mixer (and not the tow vehicle) is used as the measurement point to compensate for tow strap stretch. This is an event where a heavy vehicle is a good thing. This year, only one competitor drove to a full pull.

The Play-By-Play
Austin: Started with the TH350 transmission in First gear, shifted to Second gear during the run, didn’t like it, and shifted back to First gear. Ran with the Advance Adapters Atlas four-speed T-case in 2.72 low range, the front and rear sucked down with the winches, and with 10 psi in the 44-inch tires.

Burton: Lowered the front tire pressure to 4½ psi and the rear pressure to 12 psi. Used the winch to draw down the front end. No wheelhop out of the 54-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires.

Campbell: Started with the TH400 transmission in First gear and the Advance Adapters Atlas 3.0 Tcase in low range. Shifted to Second gear along the way. The 42-inch Goodyear MT/R tires were aired up to 30 psi.

Duffy: Drew the front end down with the Warn 9.5xp winch. Stayed centered on the track nicely, but could’ve used more momentum.

Ellis: Ran with the fve-speed manual transmission in Second gear, the transfer case in low range, and the paddle tires infated to 10 psi rear and 14 psi front. The transfer case popped out of low range during the run due to body tub-to-shifter contact.

Fox: The TH400 automatic transmission was put in Second gear and it shifted along the way. The Advance Adapters Atlas four-speed transfer case was in 3.8:1 ratio low range and there was 25 psi of pressure in all of the 40-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires.

George: Never shifted from First gear with the BorgWarner 13-45 T-case in low range, ag tires pressurized at 20 psi, and 500 pounds of tractor weights hung on the front of the chassis. The engine stumbled along the way possibly due to a propane vaporizer extension that was installed so it wouldn’t ingest mud or water in other events.

Gray: Drew down on the front end with the winch slightly and ran 12 psi in the rear tires and 14 psi in the front tires. Began the pull with the TH400 transmission in Second gear and the Doubler T-case in double-low.

Green: The front tires were set at 11 psi, the rear tires were set at 8 psi, and the front end was drawn down with the front 20,000-pound winch. The buggy had so much momentum that the cement mixer rolled up the hill after the buggy’s ag tires lost traction.

harrell: The custom-cut tires were reversed so they wouldn’t bite as much and they were flled about 75 percent full of water with 20 psi of air pressure (this gave each tire an estimated weight of 350 pounds). In addition, a wheel and tire (also flled with water) was strapped onto the front of the buggy for added ballast.

Karwath: Ran with the buggy’s front tires at 20 psi and the rear tires at 25 psi in hopes of eliminating wheelhop. Also drew down the front end with the Warn 9.0Rc winch. No wheelhop out of the 54-inch Mickey T’s.

Kraatz: The front end was drawn down with the Warn 8274 winch and the rear end was drawn down with ratchet straps. Ran with 8 psi in the front tires and 15 psi in the rear tires. Completed the run with the C6 transmission in First gear and the NP205 Tcase in low range. Pretzeled the rear driveshaft, but had a spare on hand.

Montpas: Wheelhop central with all four 54-inch Interco Boggers off the ground at times, but the driver stayed in the power. The front end was drawn down with the winch and the tires were pressurized at 16 psi front and 14 psi rear. Destroyed the bull gear in the 2½-ton Rockwell rearend.

Naeger: Strapped a spare wheel and tire onto the front of the rig for added weight. Aired the ag tires to 8½ psi, and ran with the nitrous on and the TH400 transmission in First gear with the Doubler T-case in 4:1 low range. The engine got into the rev limiter three times during the run.

Sanders: Feathered the throttle to combat wheelhop and breakage. The 54-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires were set at 4½ psi of pressure, the SM465 transmission was in Second gear, and the NP205 transfer case was in low range.

Thorson: Used the Warn 9.5xp winch to draw down the front end and lowered the tire pressure in the 54-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires to 4 psi. Shifted the TH400 transmission from First to Second gear during the run.

Waddell: A tight build schedule meant no time to dial in the spring rates on the Sway-A-Way RaceRunner coilovers before competition. Suffered non-violent wheelhop with 8 psi in the rear tires and 6 psi in the front tires.

Wager: Chained the IFS and IRS cradles together to enhance strength under load. Didn’t have a tire pressure gauge but estimated the 46-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw’s pressure was around 8 psi per tire. Ran with the T-19 transmission in First gear with the Advance Adapters Atlas II T-case inhigh range.

Finish Line Quotes
-“It felt good. Halfway up the hill I was amazed that we still had the speed that we did. We were still accelerating.”
– Mike Karwath

-“I wish I would’ve got a full pull. I was going to go for another gear but I was afraid the hop would get worse.”
– Brian Waddell

-“We should’ve practiced some of that stuff at home or something.”
– Shannon Campbell

-“I’m happy with what we did. I’m surprisedm we got this far. No bouncing, I’m stoked.”
– Ron George

-“I’m used to a lot heavier rig, so it’s a little different for me.”
– Clayton Kraatz

-“It’s impressive trying to pull something that heavy up a hill.”
– Tony Fox

-“This rig isn’t built as heavy-duty as all these other ones so we didn’t want just to pull on the rear cradle and rip it out so we thought if we chained ’em together we could just rip ’em both out at the same time.”
– Geby Wager

-“I was pleased. I didn’t start hopping around. That was good. It was pretty smooth.”
– Matt Thorson

-“I couldn’t believe the load. At home I could get to Third. That was First all the way through in low.”
– Jeremy Naeger

Results
(elapsed time or overall distance traveled if DNF)
1. Green ............................................... 17.56 sec.
2. Burton ............................................ 128 ft. 0 in.
3. Montpas ......................................... 125 ft. 6 in.
4. Thorson .......................................... 124 ft. 0 in.
5. Gray ............................................... 116 ft. 8 in.
6. Waddell .......................................... 115 ft. 4 in.
7. Harrell ............................................ 112 ft. 5 in.
8. Karwath ......................................... 111 ft. 6 in.
9. Naeger ........................................... 110 ft. 2 in.
10. Sanders .......................................... 104 ft. 1 in.
11. Duffy .............................................. 103 ft. 8 in.
12. Kraatz ............................................ 100 ft. 0 in.
13. George.............................................. 98 ft. 0 in.
14. Austin .............................................. 95 ft. 8 in.
15. Fox .................................................. 94 ft. 0 in.
16. Wager ............................................... 93 ft. 3 in.
17. Campbell .......................................... 81 ft. 3 in.
18. Ellis ................................................. 66 ft. 4 in.