2018 198 4WDrive - Jan/Feb
January/February issue of 4WD Canada.
January/February issue of 4WD Canada.
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P.O.R.N. INVASION - PIRATE OFF-ROAD A HUGE SUCCESS<br />
Canada’s premier<br />
off-road, sport truck<br />
and SUV magazine<br />
Chevy Colorado<br />
DOMINATION<br />
MORE CONCEPTS,<br />
MODELS & TRIMS<br />
HOW TO<br />
Shoot Better<br />
Off-road Video<br />
15 MINUTES of FAME<br />
READER’S RIDES<br />
SEMA 2017<br />
TOP PRODUCTS, JEEPS,<br />
FULL- & MID-SIZE TRUCKS<br />
$5.95 VOLUME 19 ISSUE 8<br />
suncruisermedia.com<br />
Canada Pub No: 42201513
DESIGNED FOR THE MOST DISCERNING<br />
JEEP ® ENTHUSIASTS<br />
Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC, Omix-ADA® is not affiliated with FCA US LLC<br />
ELITE HEADLIGHT GUARDS<br />
• CAST ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION – NO MORE RUST<br />
• UNIQUE GEOMETRIC DESIGN<br />
• COMPATIBLE WITH O.E. AND MOST AFTERMARKET<br />
MANUFACTURERS HEADLIGHTS<br />
ELITE FUEL DOOR<br />
• CAST ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION – NO MORE RUST<br />
• HIDDEN SPRING-LOADED HINGE PROVIDES<br />
EFFORTLESS OPENING<br />
• INCLUDES FUEL FILLER HOUSING & GROMMET<br />
ELITE DOOR HANDLE INSERTS<br />
• CAST ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION – NO MORE RUST<br />
• DESIGNED FOR FACTORY LOOK & FINISH<br />
• NO DRILLING REQUIRED<br />
ELITE TAIL LIGHT GUARDS<br />
• CAST ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION – NO MORE RUST<br />
• UNIQUE 2-PIECE DESIGN ENCLOSES THE TAIL LIGHT<br />
FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION<br />
• RUST-RESISTANT 316 STAINLESS STEEL HARDWARE<br />
SEE THE ENTIRE ELITE LINE AT WWW.RUGGEDRIDGE.COM<br />
Jeep ® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC, Omix-ADA ® is not affiliated with FCA US LLC<br />
2 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Publisher Perry Mack<br />
Editor-in-Chief Perry Mack<br />
Sales Manager Jason Tansem<br />
Online Editor Tracy Ubell<br />
Technical Editor Bryan Irons<br />
Art Director Cassandra Redding<br />
Advertising Consultants<br />
Lisa Di Marco<br />
Bill Kaprelian<br />
Kate Parfitt<br />
Business Administration Cindy Mack<br />
Social Media Megan Campagnolo<br />
Contributors<br />
Bryan Irons, Perry Mack, Brady Melville, Steve<br />
Rock, Tom Severin, Len Spencer<br />
Cover Photo<br />
General Motors<br />
<strong>4WDrive</strong><br />
@4wdrivecanada<br />
4WheelDriveCanada<br />
youtube.com/4wdmagazine<br />
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Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 3
CONTENTSISSUE 19.8<br />
18<br />
MORE DIRT ONLINE<br />
4wdrive @4wdrivecanada youtube.com/4wdmagazine 4WheelDriveCanada<br />
FEATURES<br />
6 INVASION 2017: THE 2ND ANNUAL P.O.R.N VALLEY INVASION<br />
18 HOW TO SHOOT BETTER OFF-ROAD VIDEO<br />
23 BLINDED BY THE LIGHT<br />
28 TOP 5 FULL-SIZE TRUCKS AT SEMA<br />
34 BEST 5 JEEPS AT SEMA<br />
46 TOP 5 MID-SIZE TRUCKS AT SEMA<br />
50 15 MINUTES OF FAME: READER'S RIDES<br />
REVIEWS & INSTALLS<br />
12 EIBACH PRO-TRUCK SPORT & RHA SHOCKS<br />
16 YOKOHAMA G003 M/T OFF-ROAD TEST<br />
24 1976 FJ-40 GETS BESTOP TRAILMAX II SEATS
REGULARS<br />
38 TRAIL TALK: WHEELING PREP CHECKLIST<br />
42 PRODUCT SHOWCASE: SEMA<br />
56 AROUND THE INDUSTRY<br />
46<br />
28
FEATURE<br />
Story by Len Spencer<br />
INVASION<br />
The second annual<br />
Pirate Off-Road Nation<br />
Valley Invasion<br />
Cindy Hiltz<br />
6 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 7
The question that arises after a<br />
successful event, and before the<br />
work starts again… is how can<br />
we make it better? Well… How about<br />
we make it bigger? How much bigger<br />
without compromising the quality of the<br />
event? Let’s double it in size baby! Let’s<br />
have more trails, twice the people, and the<br />
BIGGEST prize draw we’ve ever seen. Not<br />
only that, let’s have some rockin’ cosplay,<br />
coarse language (Check out FIOFOF on<br />
the P.O.R.N. FB page on Fridays), glittering<br />
fireworks, enthusiastic car crushing, dirty<br />
mud pit action, some outstanding live<br />
entertainment, and party with the people<br />
for three or four or even five days (some<br />
pirates are keen to get started and show<br />
up on Tuesday for an event where the<br />
registration is not until Thursday), and oh<br />
yeah… I almost forgot…<br />
GO WHEELING!<br />
This year we had about 200 rigs and over<br />
350 people on almost a dozen trails with<br />
everything from mild to wild. Many folks<br />
wanted to do an off-road 101 and learn<br />
about the rig they’re driving and then<br />
do some social wheeling. Enter John<br />
Cranfield (long time GM of Jeep Jamboree<br />
Canada) and his lovely co-presenter Larry,<br />
who not only entertained, but educated<br />
and astounded with over 250 years of<br />
combined off-road expertise. They’re old<br />
AF folks, but we love ‘em. Some wanted<br />
mud? They slipped on (pun intended)<br />
over to Cranfield’s Revenge where there<br />
was enough mud to clog the tires of even<br />
Cindy Hiltz<br />
the most fearsome mud warrior. Mud not<br />
your thing, ‘princess’? That’s ok; the lads<br />
took the more delicate drivers over to the<br />
Ringer where they didn’t have to worry<br />
about a little mud on the tires.<br />
Now don’t worry folks, if you’re<br />
somewhere between hairy-chested mud<br />
monster and delicate rock princess, it’s<br />
okay… there was something for everyone<br />
and there will be again in <strong>2018</strong>. From<br />
Jeff Hiltz<br />
8 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
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Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 9
scenic drives up the mountain to a trip<br />
down Tia’s Trail, dedicated to a beautiful<br />
and kind friend taken from us far too<br />
soon, to all manner of social wheeling<br />
trails of all levels. Tickets went on sale<br />
December 1st 2017 for Invasion <strong>2018</strong> and<br />
it WILL sell out fast, so get in there.<br />
People postponed weddings to drive<br />
across the country for this event. They’ve<br />
come from England and Florida, the<br />
islands (PEI and Newfoundland), and all<br />
points on the North American map. For<br />
<strong>2018</strong>, come out, dress up, see Roger in<br />
a skirt, party on with the Captain of the<br />
Fleet, sing, hoot and holler, meet friends<br />
old and new, and maybe… just maybe,<br />
you’ll be like Johnny Goodwin, and run<br />
across the field like your ass is on fire when<br />
you find out you just won a brand new<br />
Warn 8274 from our man Gary Mason at<br />
Dartmouth Dodge. You might be like Bob<br />
Shay, and have to rise unaided from your<br />
motorized recliner to accept a set of five<br />
tires of your choice from Chris Smith of<br />
General Tire (The Official Traction of the<br />
P.O.R.N. Valley Invasion) fame, to name<br />
but two of the many corporate partners<br />
that make this event fantastic.<br />
You know, life is a funny thing. One<br />
day you’re wheeling with friends in the<br />
1990s, then in the 2000s you’re working<br />
with Jeep Jamboree Canada, and then in<br />
the 2010s you’re sitting in a restaurant in<br />
Truro talking about the vision for Pirate<br />
Off Road Nation (P.O.R.N. not porn, calm<br />
yourself, this is a family publication).<br />
Finally you are on the phone, on the<br />
road, and on Facebook…talking to<br />
merchants, potential sponsors, and the<br />
most important people in any commercial<br />
venture…the people you serve. Finally,<br />
you are in the company of the BEST<br />
volunteer off-road event team ever, helping<br />
to run and organize the most superlative<br />
off-road, brand-friendly event in the<br />
country. To Captains of the Fleet Jeff and<br />
Cindy Hiltz, and the rest of a list too long<br />
for publication, this is a public shout out to<br />
all who make the Pirate Off Road Nation<br />
and the entire off-road community a better<br />
place. Bravo Zulu! It was my pleasure.<br />
You too, could be part of one of the<br />
greatest off-road party and wheeling<br />
events on the planet… Or you might just<br />
Cindy Hiltz<br />
Cindy Hiltz Cindy Hiltz<br />
10 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Kimberley Hingwell<br />
Dean Caldwell<br />
Cindy Hiltz<br />
Cindy Hiltz<br />
be too sensitive and flower-like to handle<br />
it. That’s not for the P.O.R.N. Krew to<br />
judge though, look in the mirror and make<br />
your own decision.<br />
So, to review people:<br />
• Something for everyone<br />
• Cosplay, coarse language, fireworks,<br />
and live entertainment<br />
• Drink/drug and drive? Stay the f*%k<br />
home, we don’t tolerate that AT ALL<br />
• Prizes<br />
• Great people<br />
• Awesome wheeling<br />
Call Heidi at the Fox Mountain Camping<br />
Park and tell her you’re a P.O.R.N.<br />
enthusiast, she’ll know who sent you. See<br />
you there in <strong>2018</strong>!<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 11
INSTALL<br />
EIBACH<br />
By Bryan Irons @bryanirons<br />
Pro-Truck<br />
Sport & RHA Shocks<br />
A<br />
company we know, trust and<br />
will return to is Eibach. Known<br />
for creating some of the highest<br />
quality suspension components, you could<br />
say that we "like" Eibach, but in truth,<br />
we're devout fans. Our last endeavor<br />
was installing a complete All-Terrain<br />
suspension kit in a Jeep JK a few years ago.<br />
Cliff notes; we loved that kit, and it is still<br />
running strong to this day.<br />
The focus of today's wrenching<br />
shenanigans involves a dead stock 2010<br />
Toyota Tundra TRD and our buddy Mark.<br />
The truck has 150,000 kilometres on the<br />
factory suspension, and the comfy ride we<br />
normally associated with the Toyota name<br />
is long gone — it rode like a New York<br />
City taxi cab shuttling too many patrons<br />
to the All-You-Can-Eat buffet. Mark<br />
knew it was time for the worn parts to<br />
hit a local scrap yard. We typically expect<br />
a set of factory shocks to last around<br />
75,000 kilometres provided the seals<br />
do not weep fluid. The oil formulation<br />
eventually breaks down, and the valves get<br />
weak resulting in poor dampening. This<br />
deterioration can lead to a loss in traction<br />
and a poor ride.<br />
After a quick call we had a fresh set of<br />
Eibach Pro-Truck Sport rear and Eibach<br />
Pro-Truck Sport RHA (Ride Height<br />
Adjustable) front shocks sent our way. The<br />
"Pro-Truck" and "Pro-Truck Sport" lines<br />
differ slightly in their performance, but to<br />
be honest, we doubt Mark would notice<br />
the difference while ham-fisting the wheel<br />
around town with a cup of Timmies. The<br />
main reason for us to step up to the Sport<br />
and Sport RHA were for the thick zinc<br />
coating to fend off rust and corrosion,<br />
PLUS the ability to level the front of the<br />
truck if so desired.<br />
Changing the rear shock involves a few<br />
wrenches and an attention span of more<br />
than 20 minutes per side. The front end of<br />
the truck requires a more extensive tool<br />
kit and a set of spring compressors to be<br />
able to swap the shocks out from the coil<br />
springs that wrap around them. Plan on<br />
a full day to get the job done both front<br />
and rear. More if you have to deal with<br />
rusty components or if you require more<br />
frequent refreshment breaks.<br />
Although we chose to keep the ride<br />
height in the stock position in the front<br />
end, the Eibach Pro-Truck Sport RHA<br />
units have machined grooves built into<br />
the shock bodies to allow easy adjustment<br />
from 0mm to 50mm above factory ride<br />
height. If leveling the front of your truck is<br />
warranted, then we strongly recommend<br />
loosening off all of the rubber bushing<br />
bolts in the front end of the truck and re-<br />
12 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
1 2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
torquing them once the truck is at the new<br />
ride height. This adjustment will reduce<br />
the additional wear and strain on the<br />
rubber components in the front end.<br />
After the install, which we will outline<br />
here, the initial results proved most<br />
impressive. The new dampers calmed the<br />
slight wheel vibration we had from before,<br />
and the ride was much improved with less<br />
"float" over bumps and imperfections in<br />
the road.<br />
Eibach Suspension<br />
eibach.com/america/<br />
With the wheel off and the truck supported by the frame, the<br />
1 swaybar needs to be disconnected and the top mounting bolts of<br />
the coilover can be removed.<br />
With some pressure applied to the bottom of the lower control<br />
2 arm with a jack, remove the two lower a-arm bolts that attach the<br />
ball joint to the knuckle. You can now remove the jack and the lower<br />
coilover bolt.<br />
Using a pry bar, wrangle the coilover assembly out from under<br />
3 the truck and rehydrate yourself.<br />
Slight compression of the coil spring is required to change the<br />
4 shock. Resist the urge to use ratchet straps or any other ill-conceived<br />
method of compressing the springs. We picked up a set of<br />
inexpensive compression clamps designed for the job.<br />
Disassembly of the strut can now begin. Remember to keep the<br />
parts in the proper orientation and order.<br />
5<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 13
Turn your attention to the<br />
6 new shocks. The grooves are<br />
machined into the body of the<br />
shock to adjust the ride height if<br />
you wish. To do this, adjust the<br />
position of the included snap ring.<br />
Reassemble the strut assembly<br />
and remove the spring compressors.<br />
Reassembly of the front end is<br />
7 just the reverse of the removal.<br />
Make sure to torque all the bolts<br />
once the truck is back under its<br />
own weight.<br />
The rear shock replacement<br />
8 was a simple endeavor compared<br />
to the front. No special<br />
tools or other pieces. We found<br />
that adding a little pressure to the<br />
spring pack helped us get the old<br />
shocks out.<br />
Our hang-up was the rusty<br />
9 hardware and poor Toyota<br />
design. We ended up with a pair<br />
of plyers holding the shock body<br />
while the top nut was removed.<br />
The rubber bushings from<br />
10 the original shocks need to<br />
be reused so don’t destroy them<br />
in the process.<br />
With the new rear shocks<br />
11 installed and all bolts torqued<br />
to spec, it’s time for a test drive to<br />
reap the benefits of our upgrade!<br />
7<br />
9<br />
6<br />
8<br />
10<br />
11<br />
14 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
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Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 15
REVIEW<br />
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PERRY MACK<br />
Yokohama<br />
G003 M/T<br />
Off-Road Test<br />
Climbing hard rock.<br />
Never go into the woods<br />
alone, but if you do, drive<br />
the Yokohama G003 M/T<br />
In the summer of 2017, we mounted a set<br />
of Geolander G003 Mud Terrains on 17”<br />
Deegan 38 rims and got ready to wheel our<br />
favourite trails. Then the flooding began,<br />
soon after that the fires started and the<br />
backcountry was closed. Tales of woe. It was<br />
October before the fire ban was lifted and I<br />
finally had an opportunity to test and review<br />
the tires that had so far only seen blacktop.<br />
I’ve had Yoko’s before and the traction<br />
of those All-Terrains was fantastic. I swear<br />
the grip was so good my Isuzu Rodeo<br />
could climb trees. However I wasn’t looking<br />
for trees this trip, I was looking for mud.<br />
Actually, I was looking for anything but<br />
pavement. After several days of rain I went<br />
in search of the trails I knew collected<br />
water, creating large muddy pools. I was<br />
so confident in these tires I felt I had to<br />
16 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Tree down across the trail<br />
handicap them by not airing down. Packing<br />
my rubber boots in case I was wrong, I<br />
started in the valley bottom on a sunny<br />
18°C day, navigating gravel forest service<br />
roads up through the hills. The rain was<br />
so hard and heavy that parts of trail had<br />
washed away. Excellent.<br />
Two massive windstorms that<br />
accompanied the rain days before had<br />
knocked down trees and power lines<br />
across the southern part of the province.<br />
The wind was picking up again, and<br />
weakened trees swayed dangerously in the<br />
forest, as I passed downed branches and<br />
trees on all sides.<br />
Heading out to test tires by myself was<br />
starting to look like a bad idea. At one point<br />
I thought I had been foiled yet again as a<br />
large tree was down along the trail. Pine<br />
needles and small branches raining down<br />
around me, I grabbed the saw to try and cut<br />
enough branches away to get past. Turns<br />
out I could, but just barely.<br />
The G003’s continued pulling me<br />
effortlessly up the steep mountainside<br />
as the trail turned from loose wet rocks<br />
to muddy pools of water. The air turned<br />
colder as the afternoon wore on and to my<br />
surprise the water on the trail turned to<br />
snow. Climbing higher, the snow thickened<br />
and the large mud pits of my dreams turned<br />
to slush. However there was still hope. The<br />
lake at the top of the trail is a managed<br />
body of water, which is drained at the end<br />
of the season leaving a muddy shore that<br />
swallows ATV’s and 4x4’s.<br />
I finally reached the lake at the trailhead<br />
after a snowy detour and drove on to the<br />
shore to find it an expanse of snow covered,<br />
frozen mud. Foiled again. I pulled out the<br />
thermos and sandwiches, stared at the<br />
frozen lakebed, watching my breath exhale<br />
in cold clouds of vapour. Then it was time<br />
to head home. Actually past time to head<br />
home, judging by the lack of light.<br />
Once again the G003’s provided plenty<br />
of traction, never losing grip on the hilly<br />
sections of the trail, across the rocks, and<br />
through slushy muddy holes. I reached the<br />
large downed tree I had to cut branches<br />
from to pass on the way up. Had it moved?<br />
The trail looked narrower than before.<br />
The tree had rolled slightly on its broken<br />
branches and was now blocking the trail<br />
even more.<br />
‘God hates a coward’ the saying goes,<br />
so I crept forward, tires hanging ever<br />
so slightly over the edge as I navigated<br />
the narrowest portion of trail, trying to<br />
squeeze between a small tree at the edge<br />
and the blocking behemoth on the right.<br />
Which is when I discovered the edge was<br />
sand, and my front driver tire was going<br />
over. Forward was no longer an option.<br />
I backed up a few feet, got closer to the<br />
downed tree and eased forward. The tires<br />
clawed at the sand as I started sliding over<br />
the edge, again. Turning further into the<br />
tree to squeeze through, it sounded like my<br />
fender was being torn away, the back end of<br />
the Jeep pushed hard left towards the edge<br />
as the G003’s clawed right to stay on the<br />
trail. An excruciating sound, but better than<br />
rolling down the mountainside.<br />
I drove ten metres further to a safer,<br />
wider portion of the trail to survey the<br />
damage. To my surprise the rear fender was<br />
intact, even though sturdy broken branches<br />
had hit the tires itself — hard enough to<br />
push the whole vehicle. Not the durability<br />
test I had planned (nor wish to repeat) but<br />
there it was, and the tire was intact. No<br />
gouges or tears in the sidewall.<br />
The rest of the trip home was uneventful<br />
as day turned into night. I wish I could tell<br />
you how great these mud terrains faired in<br />
actual mud, but I can’t confirm that, yet.<br />
But for pavement, hard rock, gravel, loose<br />
rocks, slushy mud and wet heavy snow; I<br />
can say they are fantastic.<br />
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FEATURE<br />
Words and Photos by<br />
Brady Melville of Pathmaker Productions<br />
OFF-ROAD VIDEO<br />
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A long lens allows me to stay<br />
a safe distance from the action<br />
at Punisher4x4 Racing but still<br />
get the great shots.<br />
Four GoPros mounted to<br />
the #22 car at KOH 2017<br />
during qualifying.<br />
Getting up close and personal<br />
while shooting Loren Healy at<br />
the Ultra4 Stampede.<br />
The off-roading industry and the video industry have both<br />
changed and grown since I started my career in off-road<br />
nearly twenty years ago behind the lens of a crappy old<br />
Mini-DV tape video camera. We now live in the world of GoPro<br />
sports cameras, YouTube, and Live Streaming directly from your<br />
cell phone, so it has never been easier for the average person to<br />
get out wheeling and take some fantastic video or photos with<br />
very little high-tech equipment. The quality of footage from a cell<br />
phone is not the same as an Action Cam and is a far cry from an<br />
HD Mini-Cam or DSLR, but everything has its place, and you<br />
don't need to worry about breaking the bank to get out there and<br />
shoot video. At the end of the day, content is king, so catching the<br />
coolest off-road clip ever on your potato phone is better than not<br />
filming it at all.<br />
Before we get to gear, I'll go over some basic filming and<br />
shooting tips that are going to make your videos look better,<br />
no matter what camera you use. The most important thing<br />
to remember when shooting off-roading is that the camera's<br />
perspective isn't the same as what you see in person. You have to<br />
shoot from a location that gives the rig and obstacle perspective.<br />
Shooting downhill at someone coming up will result in a video<br />
that looks like someone driving along a flat road. If you can safely<br />
stand off to the side or below the rig while staying low to the<br />
ground, shooting upwards, your video will do a much better job<br />
of showing how steep and large the obstacle is.<br />
When shooting with your phone, remember to hold it<br />
"sideways" to get rid of the black bars in your video. I am<br />
constantly reminding people to turn their phone sideways, just<br />
make sure you turn it before you start filming. The last thing I<br />
want to touch on when filming is your safety. I've seen a lot of<br />
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1.<br />
2.<br />
people standing in crazy places trying<br />
to catch "The Shot" without any thought<br />
of what could happen if something goes<br />
wrong. (Here's a short video of me in close<br />
to get the shot but having an escape route:<br />
"The Shot" - Ultra4 Racing Stampede -<br />
https://youtu.be/QLgaVscIdME). Never<br />
stand downhill from a vehicle without a<br />
tree to duck behind or an escape route<br />
planned out. If you're going to film, look<br />
behind yourself to see if there are any trip<br />
hazards and plan where to go if the rig<br />
starts coming in your direction. If there<br />
are trees, stand behind the large ones and<br />
hold your camera out the side. I often see<br />
people standing in front of trees, and it's<br />
easy to get squished if things go wrong.<br />
As a full-time photographer, I always<br />
have lots of special gear but you don't<br />
necessarily need it. If you're just out for a<br />
short journey or something unexpected<br />
happens the cell phone can't be beat.<br />
Everyone carries one, and you should<br />
get close to the action to fill the screen.<br />
Hold your phone sideways unless you're<br />
shooting and broadcasting a live video,<br />
which you can do via Facebook, Instagram<br />
or YouTube, as long as you have 4G service<br />
and a good data plan since costs can add<br />
up fast with live video.<br />
The next step up would be an action<br />
camera like a GoPro. I currently run<br />
four of them, and they're fantastic for<br />
mounting in a variety locations on<br />
vehicles, including underneath or on the<br />
suspension. Action cams have a wide field<br />
of view, so they're great for those up close<br />
shots to capture all the action. With tons<br />
of great HD and UltraHD filming options,<br />
you can get some very high-quality video<br />
from a small package, and my usual go-to<br />
settings on the GoPro are 2.7k at 60fps.<br />
The larger than 1080p recording allows<br />
me to zoom in on the video without giving<br />
up quality, which is important because<br />
the GoPro's real weakness is long distance<br />
shots. I shoot in 60fps because it is much<br />
smoother for the fast action in off-roading,<br />
but expect your file sizes to be very large if<br />
you use these settings. Being so small the<br />
action cams were never great handheld<br />
until powered gimbals hit the market. I<br />
run two different ones, a made-in-China<br />
version, and GoPro Karma Grip, both<br />
3.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
1. Buttons allow you to stop and start recording, as well as to tilt<br />
the angle on the Karma Grip. 2. Custom built shoulder rig for DSLR<br />
including eyepiece and boom mic. 3. GoPro Hero4 Black and small<br />
adjustable tripod. 4. My gimbal mount location wasn't great for rolling<br />
the Pathmaker, Gimbal and GoPro down! 5. Karma Grip Gimbal for<br />
fantastic smooth shots.<br />
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New!<br />
TERAFLEX RENEGADE 1.5” LIFT KIT<br />
FEATURES:<br />
INCLUDES:<br />
• Accounts for factory strut angles to maintain correct camber &<br />
caster up front & camber around back as well as correct wheel offset<br />
• Spacers are constructed from 6061-T6 billet aluminum to resist<br />
corrosion from the elements<br />
1.5” offset front IFS strut spacers, front sway bar quick disconnects,<br />
1.5” rear strut spacers, 1” rear lower control arm spacers, rear subframe<br />
spacers, driveline spacers, exhaust spacers, brake line spacers, and all<br />
necessary hardware.<br />
• Only kit to include front sway bar quick disconnects<br />
• Fits all Renegade models<br />
• Fits up to 28.5” tires (225/65R17) Renegade 1.5” Spacer Lift Kit # 1351200<br />
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DSLR photo taken at Trail Hero 2016.<br />
of which smooth out the shakiness and<br />
create gorgeous, steady cinematic shots.<br />
With the ability to add extension handles<br />
to get your camera closer to the action<br />
as well as external microphones, this is<br />
now my go-to way of filming most rock<br />
crawling and trail wheeling videos. They're<br />
small enough to toss in my bag and easy<br />
to carry while climbing in and out of rigs<br />
or scrambling up the rocks. GoPro's are a<br />
more user-friendly option than using a full<br />
DSLR shoulder rig that requires breaking<br />
down between each shot.<br />
Next step up is a small Mini-Cam or<br />
dedicated video camera. With overall<br />
decent video formats, built-in sound, and<br />
some optical and digital zoom, they are a<br />
great option for filming off-roading but<br />
not something I carry in my bag as I either<br />
shoot with action cams or my full DSLR rig.<br />
For go-fast racing or an event where<br />
I have to film further away from the rigs<br />
(like at King of the Hammers) I typically<br />
use my DSLR camera on a custom-built<br />
shoulder rig. I fabbed up the rig from $8<br />
worth of Home Depot parts and various<br />
things laying around my shop including<br />
an old Nissan Harmonic Balancer as a<br />
counterweight and a small heim joint as a<br />
GoPro mounted<br />
with Gimbal on<br />
the Pathmaker.<br />
cheap gimbal. My DSLR does double duty<br />
as my photography rig and for shooting<br />
video. I run a Canon 6D Full Frame body<br />
with various lenses I select depending on<br />
location, which allows me to zoom right<br />
in and take fantastic video of the action.<br />
I built the shoulder rig to reduce video<br />
shakiness, (which gets worse the further<br />
you zoom in) and because it's difficult<br />
to move around with a tripod. It does<br />
help stabilize the shot but it is heavy and<br />
awkward on the rocks, so I've been using<br />
the action cameras more and saving my<br />
DSLR for strictly shooting photos.<br />
Editing software and learning how to<br />
use it could fill another article, and while<br />
I use Adobe Premiere Pro for all my video<br />
you can get fantastic results out of the free<br />
software from GoPro or iMovie and as<br />
they all use the same "liner style editing"<br />
they are all very similar to use. The most<br />
important thing with all of this is just get<br />
out there to shoot, post and repeat.<br />
Brady Melville of Pathmaker Productions<br />
made a fantasy a reality by leaving<br />
corporate construction to pursue a career<br />
as offroad photographer and videographer.<br />
Share in his adventures offroad at<br />
www.pathmakerproductions.com and<br />
www.youtube.com/pathmakerproductions<br />
for a front row seat on his next journey.<br />
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These Teraflex sunshades take away<br />
the glare but allow you to still see<br />
the trail ahead.<br />
BLINDED<br />
by the Light<br />
WORDS BY TOM SEVERIN,<br />
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BUDD STANLEY<br />
It was a beautiful day with a blue sky,<br />
light breeze, and warm temperatures.<br />
Perfect for four-wheeling and we were<br />
nearing the end of a long day. We had<br />
encountered a lot of obstacles on this trail,<br />
and we were tired.<br />
At about 4 p.m., we were climbing the<br />
final hill. Beyond that was an easy route<br />
to the highway, and a relaxing evening at<br />
home. This was no run-of-the-mill hill<br />
though.<br />
We were met with deep ruts and torn-up<br />
soil. Struggling to hold traction on the soft<br />
soil, we slowly crawled the long, very steep<br />
hill one at a time. At the bottom of the hill<br />
– bam! The setting sun blasted through our<br />
windshields like a blow torch. It took all the<br />
driving skills we had to remain on the line<br />
that ensured success. Unfortunately, one<br />
driver lost it half way up. Sliding sideways<br />
in soft soil on the trail edge, his Jeep<br />
JKUR ended up at right angles to the hill.<br />
Thankfully, the driver managed to stop his<br />
vehicle as it balanced sideways.<br />
Encountering a blinding sunset off-road<br />
is just as jarring as it is in the city. But offroad<br />
there are additional hazards: steep<br />
cliffs, large boulders, ditches, ruts, slopes,<br />
and blind curves, among others.<br />
There are some simple steps. If you<br />
can’t see, stop. If other vehicles are behind<br />
you, warn them you are stopping. Get<br />
on the radio and let people know what’s<br />
happening. At this point their vision is<br />
impaired as well. This is one reason why<br />
it’s handy to have two-way radios in all<br />
vehicles.<br />
Pull down the visor. Put on your<br />
sunglasses. Put your hat on (the right way<br />
with the brim in front). Turn on your<br />
windshield washer. But be careful. This<br />
action actually cuts visibility for a short<br />
period, especially with exceptionally dirty<br />
windows.<br />
If these simple actions do not improve your<br />
visibility get out and;<br />
• Scrub the windshield even more if it<br />
needs it.<br />
• Walk the trail to determine the difficulty<br />
and risk factor as well as familiarizing<br />
yourself with it.<br />
• If you have another person with you,<br />
have him get out and spot. Ideally, have<br />
your spotter stand so he blocks the sun<br />
from your eyes.<br />
• Using hand signals from your spotter,<br />
inch your way along until you can see for<br />
yourself again. Eventually you will have<br />
moved such that the sun is no longer<br />
directly in your eyes.<br />
As an alternative, if you can’t see<br />
your spotter well, give him a radio. The<br />
instructions may not be as precise, but at<br />
least you are getting directions from some<br />
who can see the trail.<br />
Finally, in the worst case, wait for the<br />
sun to set. You still have the period of civil<br />
twilight (20-30 minutes) to get off-the trails.<br />
Or perhaps you get to experience the bonus<br />
night run! Incidentally, if you catch a bright<br />
sunrise one morning, the steps are similar.<br />
Oftentimes just waiting for the sun to rise<br />
higher does the trick.<br />
Do some vehicle maintenance when you<br />
get home. Buy new windshield wipers if<br />
needed. If your windshield is all pitted from<br />
years of trail blasting, buy a new one.<br />
The setting sun, which is beautiful out in<br />
the country, can be hazardous if it catches<br />
you at the wrong time. Learn how to react,<br />
and you’ll be back on your journey.<br />
Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD<br />
owners how to confidently and safely use<br />
their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult<br />
terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit<br />
www.4x4training.com to develop or improve<br />
your driving skill.<br />
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INSTALL<br />
BESTOP<br />
TrailMax II Seats<br />
We knew we had scored a<br />
deal on our latest project rig<br />
— a smokin' deal. But that<br />
doesn't mean that we scooped the perfect<br />
ride, and we planned the changes as we<br />
trailered the old iron home. The 90's offroading<br />
time capsule of a 1976 Toyota FJ-<br />
40 had barely landed in the yard when the<br />
kids dubbed it "Tim Toyota". It looked bad<br />
even from 30 metres, then once behind the<br />
wheel, it got even worse; to the point that<br />
driving the rig was literally a pain in the<br />
ass. Step #1 was to get a new place to park<br />
our kiester.<br />
The 90's were a great time for rebuilding<br />
a wicked off-road rig and<br />
the Land Cruiser platform was a solid<br />
foundation. 'Tim' was a prime example of<br />
how it was done with a junkyard Chevy<br />
V8 swap, a junkyard power steering<br />
conversion, junkyard onboard air and<br />
(wait for it) junkyard seats. The laughable<br />
loungers were mounted to a sturdy oneinch<br />
square tube frame with electric<br />
motors in the power seats that were big<br />
enough to pull an anchor on a tug, and<br />
made the seating position more of a crow's<br />
nest then a pilot's chair. With the steering<br />
wheel grinding on our legs and our heads<br />
thumping against the fibreglass roof, this<br />
wasn't a wheeler; it was a death trap and<br />
should have been named "Christine."<br />
TrailMax II seats from Bestop and a<br />
set of sliders for a (gasp) Jeep were ordered<br />
as we just didn't feel safe rolling around<br />
town in Tim, and were certainly not going<br />
to feel at ease with our family riding along<br />
(with the exception of an in-law or two).<br />
At this point, we didn't care if the seats<br />
were not a direct fit as the framework was<br />
butchered to the point of no return. We<br />
chose the TrailMax II's for a variety of<br />
reasons, the first of which is the success<br />
we have had with Bestop soft tops over<br />
the decades. Durable materials and easy<br />
to clean (read; kid-resistant) designs let<br />
us believe that the seats will last a long<br />
time - just like the tops. A welded steel<br />
tubular frame provides the support for<br />
the springs and different density foam<br />
in the seat, making them durable for the<br />
long haul. We have broken more than a<br />
few factory sheet metal framed seats in<br />
the past. We could have splurged on a<br />
fancy set of suspension seats, and they are<br />
typically our first choice, but annoyingly<br />
deep bolsters on a daily driver and a<br />
smouldering credit card told us to go with<br />
a quality seat at an affordable price.<br />
After the install, we got to take the<br />
rig wheeling a few times, and freelance<br />
writer Budd Stanley took Tim on a West<br />
Coast adventure. He claims that ten<br />
solid hours behind the wheel were not<br />
a problem (this also explains the smell).<br />
The reclining mechanism works very well,<br />
and in conjunction with the back bolsters,<br />
keeps you in place on the trail. The<br />
seatbacks also have storage pockets that<br />
are a nice touch in the cramped quarters<br />
of a Land Cruiser. The seat bottoms are<br />
a comfortable length, and we have yet<br />
to bottom the seats out driving over<br />
rough roads. We especially like the slider<br />
mechanism as they take up little room,<br />
feel solid, and do not add any rattling to<br />
the already noisy cab. Follow along here as<br />
we spend a day cutting out the old-nasty<br />
and install the new-hotness while keeping<br />
Tim's mojo intact.<br />
Bestop products<br />
www.bestop.com<br />
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1<br />
2<br />
We would swear that the<br />
1 seat covers were so old they<br />
were developing bald spots, but<br />
chances are that’s a chemical burn<br />
or some other affliction we would<br />
rather not know about. It’s all just<br />
so wrong and had to go.<br />
The possibly bipolar previous<br />
2 owner had intelligently reused<br />
the original Toyota mounting<br />
brackets, and even used hardware<br />
in places to bolt the seats down,<br />
in others, the seats were welded<br />
to whatever steel was “close<br />
enough”. The vast majority of our<br />
install time was spent digging for<br />
buried treasure and old purchase<br />
receipts. Who remembers when<br />
Sears sold mud tires?<br />
With the death trap seats<br />
3 removed and the interior<br />
sanitized, we moved on to<br />
assembling the seat tracks to<br />
the bottoms. Leave the plastic<br />
on the seats unless you want to<br />
make them a mess before the final<br />
install. We didn’t put the backs<br />
on just yet as we wanted to be<br />
able to get them in and out of<br />
the rig a few times for placement<br />
adjustments.<br />
3<br />
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25
With the bottoms secured<br />
4 to the framework and<br />
just tacked together, we put<br />
the backs on to make sure<br />
everything fit properly before<br />
we set the Miller welder to<br />
“permanent”.<br />
We didn’t paint the brackets<br />
5 as we felt that would take<br />
away from Tim’s theme of abuse<br />
and neglect. You will notice that<br />
the passenger seat sits a little<br />
higher then the driver, this is to<br />
be able clear the fuel tank.<br />
Installed and ready for the<br />
trail.<br />
6<br />
4<br />
6<br />
5<br />
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FEATURE<br />
BY BRYAN IRONS @BRYANIRONS<br />
TOP<br />
5<br />
FULL-SIZE<br />
Trucks at<br />
SEMA<br />
SEMA 2017 had eye candy for all disciplines and tastes in the<br />
automotive arena as builders and designers all aimed at a target<br />
audience. Editor Irons prefers his trucks useful, built like a Sherman<br />
tank, and with enough power to border the ridiculous. Editor Mack<br />
likes cup holders, blow-your-hair-back sound systems, and self-parking<br />
amenities to make up for driver skill. Director of Sales Tansem prefers<br />
a GPS system with all the local "Gentleman's Clubs" preprogrammed<br />
and multiple mirrors to check his hair. Seeing as Irons was the only one<br />
picking winners, let's see what we found this year.<br />
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NITTO CHEVY HIGHLANDER<br />
This 1972 Chevrolet K50 crew cab was placed front and centre of<br />
Nitto Tires' booth. An anvil tough Cummins 12-valve resides under<br />
the massive hood and is propped up by a custom chassis by Randal<br />
Robertson. The Highlander spec interior is a comfy place to row the<br />
5-speed NV4500 as it sends power to a set of 40's to round out this<br />
behemoth.<br />
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SAFECRAFT RAM<br />
Every time we walked by the Safecraft booth and<br />
caught a glimpse of the wicked chase truck, we<br />
contemplated how much trouble we would be in<br />
with the better half if we rolled into the driveway<br />
with it. "But honey, it has four seats?" would likely<br />
be our last words. The stout cage and race-bred<br />
trailing arm suspension showed the beautiful craftsmanship<br />
and engineering involved to create a Bajacapable<br />
rig such as this.<br />
DURAMAX CHEVY RACE TRUCK<br />
Coined the ‘Million Dollar Diesel' and built by<br />
the creators at Battleborn Engineering, we can<br />
certainly imagine the price tag reaching this point.<br />
The mid-ship Duramax Diesel means business, and<br />
with 30" of rear suspension travel and 25" from<br />
the independent front, all that torque will be put to<br />
good use. Exhibiting welds completed with savantlike<br />
perfection, and more custom billet machined<br />
parts than a NASA space shuttle, it's almost a shame<br />
to think this truck will be bashing over jumps and<br />
hoops in the near future — almost.<br />
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FORD SD126<br />
From the creative minds at Ford HQ we were given this eye-catching Super-Duty single cab in a 126" wheelbase<br />
perched on 42's. The factory 6.7L Power Stroke diesel under the hood, and in a custom chassis to<br />
handle the power, we can only hope to see a rig like this available at a dealer near us.<br />
MAXXIS POWERWAGON<br />
We had a hard time just getting this rig into a single<br />
frame while at SEMA. With a great mix of new and<br />
old starting with a classic hydraulic powered winch<br />
sitting just in front of a Whipple supercharged 6.4L<br />
Hemi motor, the truck was a spectacle and always<br />
had a crowd around it. Given the chance, we'd drive<br />
the 40's off this thing!<br />
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BEST<br />
5<br />
JEEPS<br />
SEMA<br />
BY BRYAN IRONS @BRYANIRONS<br />
of<br />
In a changing world, the sea of "belly button" Jeeps at SEMA 2017 is<br />
a reminder that some things never change, even if you want them to.<br />
Our efforts to find unique four-letter Mopars that didn't make us want<br />
to lay down in front of traffic was a tough task, and we humbly thank<br />
Editor Mack for not making us find more, as it was an effort to find<br />
five. These may sound like soapbox blitherings, but in truth, only a few<br />
wondrous pieces of ingenuity and craftsmanship with a seven-slot grill<br />
caught our eye. And now, in no particular order;<br />
SYNERGY JKC-1<br />
JEEPSTER<br />
First glance would only reveal a<br />
well-restored 1971 Jeepster Commando<br />
C-101… the truth of the<br />
matter is that the JK chassis under<br />
the rig is also hiding a potent<br />
LS power plant for propulsion.<br />
The use of a JK chassis is nothing<br />
new; it's the skill involved in keeping<br />
the factory looking interior<br />
and body lines that make this rolling<br />
happy-thought of ours rise to<br />
the top.<br />
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MILESTAR JKU…WAIT A SEC…<br />
Different, functional and obtainable are three words that this rig from<br />
Milestar Tires brought to the tip of our tongues. In a world of extreme<br />
and crazy, the simple formula of taking a 2007 Jeep JK and adding a<br />
Chris Dirham Motorsports Gladiator front-end appeals to us. The factory<br />
3.8l under the hood coupled to the stock slush box barely make enough<br />
power to scare a squirrel, let alone break anything with the 40's strapped<br />
to Walker Evans beadlocks. We wish this one sat in our garage.<br />
SUPERWINCH<br />
FRANKENBRUTE<br />
With rigs being turned into flat<br />
decks all around us, we were<br />
hard-pressed to "like" this beauty<br />
sitting in the Superwinch booth,<br />
but clean fab work and the possibility<br />
of a fruitful and useful life<br />
A.S. (After SEMA) changed our<br />
hearts. What started life as an ‘06<br />
LJ, has been transformed by an<br />
AEV cab conversion, blown 4.0<br />
under the hood, and Dana 60/70<br />
combination for axles driving the<br />
Pitbull Rocker 37's.<br />
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JCR OFFROAD COMANCHE<br />
Every year we attend SEMA, JCR Offroad makes us smile in one way or<br />
another with what they manage to create. Joe's pizza delivery truck was<br />
parked in their booth this year, shod with 37" Nitto's attached to Terraflex<br />
Dana 60's front and rear filled with good stuff from ARB, RCV and a<br />
host of others. The rear has been converted to coils to handle the highspeed<br />
deliveries, courtesy of the blown 4.0 under the hood strapped to a<br />
6-speed manual and rock-trac T-case. How you gonna top this???<br />
WELD RACING'S<br />
"HYBRID" CJ-7<br />
Maybe we are just dreaming about<br />
the possibility of our rig growing<br />
up to be like this big tire monster<br />
parked in front of the Weld Racing<br />
Wheels booth. Some believe<br />
that the rear steer is unnecessary,<br />
but in capable hands and the right<br />
rig, it can make a behemoth like<br />
this squeeze through tight trails.<br />
Clean fab work and properly<br />
placed amenity controls make us<br />
think this LS-powered CK will see<br />
a trail in the not too distant future.<br />
36 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
MOST DECORATED FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS RIDER IN X GAMES HISTORY /<br />
X GAME<br />
GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN RALLY CROSS / 6 LUCAS OIL OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS!<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 37
TRAIL TALK<br />
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY BRADY MELVILLE OF PATHMAKER PRODUCTIONS<br />
WHEELING<br />
PREPAREDNESS<br />
CHECKLIST<br />
A<br />
fter 20 years off-roading in the<br />
backcountry with friends, we<br />
take for granted all of the things<br />
you should bring out on the trail with you<br />
to be well prepared for any circumstance.<br />
With the recent rise in popularity of offroading<br />
and the connected nature of the<br />
world these days via mobile phones and<br />
social media, I have begun seeing a lot of<br />
"come save me" posts online from novice<br />
wheelers. With more reports of people<br />
leaving vehicles and returning to burned or<br />
looted rigs, it's more important than ever<br />
to be self-sufficient in the bush, whether<br />
it's getting unstuck, fixing a broken part,<br />
or having the necessary gear in case of a<br />
medical emergency. Realizing a lot of these<br />
wheelers are mostly new to off-roading I<br />
wanted to go over a basic inventory of gear<br />
that I have packed in my rig to ensure that<br />
it makes it back to the shop every night.<br />
Growing up on the southern part of<br />
Vancouver Island means there are fantastic<br />
places for off-roading, but in the hills and<br />
dense forests there are large areas without<br />
cellphone or radio reception. We quickly<br />
learned that after traveling just 50km<br />
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down a gravel road or trail, in many ways,<br />
you're on your own, and you need to be<br />
well prepared. It's smart to travel with a<br />
second vehicle, so that if you have any<br />
mechanical problems or get badly stuck,<br />
you at least have a way back to civilization,<br />
and hopefully enough people to help if you<br />
get in a sticky situation. Before I get into<br />
the list, I should also note how important it<br />
is to have all this gear fastened down. You<br />
never plan on being on your roof, but when<br />
it happens, you don't want to be hit in the<br />
head by a stray piece of equipment.<br />
In my opinion, the number one essential<br />
for any off-roader is a good tow-strap, if<br />
you get stuck, you need a way to get pulled<br />
out, or if you break down, you need to get<br />
pulled home. A good 20' tow-strap with a<br />
20,000lb rating is also much preferred to<br />
chain because a little bit of stretch can help<br />
get you out of the mud without losing your<br />
fillings, and as a bonus, you can use it as a<br />
tree saver or anchor point while winching.<br />
Included with any tow-strap should be a<br />
few 5/8" or larger shackles so you can safely<br />
attach to a tow point on your rig, without<br />
having to worry about your strap slipping<br />
off sketchy tow hooks or trailer balls.<br />
Next item on my list is a good quality<br />
first-aid kit. It doesn't come up often, but<br />
you only have to drive home with an oily<br />
rag taped around your finger once to make<br />
you want to always have a decently stocked<br />
kit with you.<br />
The largest item on my list but one of<br />
the most useful is the classic Hi-Lift Jack.<br />
Requiring a bunch of space either inside<br />
or outside the vehicle they range in size<br />
from 48"-60" and are essential for any offroader.<br />
From lifting the vehicle to using it<br />
as a come-along, to taking off the handle<br />
and slipping it over a broken tie-rod, it᾿s a<br />
must-have piece of equipment for anyone<br />
heading off the pavement.<br />
A basic socket set is great to have as well<br />
as a tool bag with a few assorted items that<br />
don't come in your socket set, like pliers,<br />
a hammer, duct tape, a small container<br />
of fuses, electrical fittings and tape, as<br />
well as a few hoses, clamps and zip-ties.<br />
Tool bags strap down much easier than<br />
hard toolboxes and also pack away much<br />
smaller, so I have found them the best way<br />
to bring hand tools with you. You can easily<br />
pull them out of the rig and bring them to<br />
where you need them, which is a pain with<br />
bolted down tool boxes. Make sure to put a<br />
flashlight or headlamp in your bag because<br />
sometimes an early morning can turn<br />
into a late night on the trail, and it᾿s never<br />
fun to be caught out after dark without a<br />
flashlight.<br />
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Under my rear seat, I built a storage<br />
box for the things I don't need very often<br />
but are essential to bring including motor<br />
oil, brake fluid, steering fluid and coolant.<br />
Sometimes a small branch can work its way<br />
in and knock off a hose, after which you can<br />
quickly find yourself short a litre of fluid.<br />
I also run a winch on my rig, which I<br />
highly recommend for anyone spending<br />
time in the backcountry, and carry the<br />
accompanying winch gear. Since I run<br />
steel cable on my winch, I make sure to<br />
have a pair of leather gloves, so I don't<br />
have to worry about getting poked by a<br />
loose wire strand on the cable. You'd think<br />
that an 8,000lb winch for a 6000lb rig is<br />
more than enough, but you'd be surprised<br />
how quickly you can overpower even an<br />
8,000lb winch. So another important piece<br />
of equipment is a snatch block. Basically, a<br />
large pulley designed for a winch line that<br />
you connect to a shackle and a tree strap,<br />
and then back to the rig. It effectively<br />
doubles the pulling power of your winch,<br />
helping you get out of the stickiest<br />
situations as well as letting you pull in<br />
different directions if need be.<br />
Having watched a rig burn to the<br />
ground before, it's always important to<br />
have a fire extinguisher in your rig. With<br />
many manufacturers making great quick<br />
release mounts these days there is no<br />
excuse to not have one in reach of the<br />
driver at all times.<br />
The last few things I make sure to pack in<br />
my toolbox include a pair of jumper cables,<br />
rain gear, a tarp, as well as various spare<br />
parts like u-joints, an extra hub and axle and<br />
other small items that you learn are your<br />
'weak link.' Without a huge amount of gear,<br />
you can be entirely self-sufficient on the trail,<br />
which not only allows you to be safer in the<br />
backcountry but also lets you explore further<br />
afield and push your rig a little harder and<br />
still make it home!<br />
Brady Melville of Pathmaker Productions<br />
made a fantasy a reality by leaving<br />
corporate construction to pursue a career<br />
as offroad photographer and videographer.<br />
Share in his adventures offroad at<br />
www.pathmakerproductions.com and<br />
www.youtube.com/pathmakerproductions<br />
for a front row seat on his next journey.<br />
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ONE SIZE FITS ONE.<br />
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FloorLiner is laser measured to perfectly contour your vehicle’s floor, providing a<br />
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Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 41
SEMA<br />
PRODUCT<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
Antigravity Lithium Ion Battery<br />
The ATX30 is a lightweight, high performance starter battery intended<br />
for vehicles up to 600 hp and can be used for any 12V vehicle in a starter<br />
battery application. A built-in circuit board makes sure the lithium-ion<br />
battery inside is fully managed and protected and is designed so that the<br />
battery knows when it is close to being completely drained, for example<br />
you leave the lights or stereo on in the vehicle at a camp or work site.<br />
You get back to find your battery is dead. Normally you need a jump<br />
starter or assistance, but with their RE-START batteries you just press a<br />
button on the battery, and access the remaining reserve capacity of the<br />
battery, which is enough to get you about five start attempts. What’s<br />
the down side? They are not a deep discharge battery for powering<br />
high-amp systems, nor are they good for winching due to their lower<br />
amp hour capacity compared to lead/acid batteries (that are roughly 3<br />
times larger and can weigh up to 25 kg more). Lithium-ion batteries are<br />
extremely lightweight (70% less than lead/acid batteries), providing extremely high<br />
cranking power in a very small package. It weighs 6 lbs, has 880 Cranking Amps and has 15 amp hours. Its<br />
dimensions are 166 mm x 126 mm x 173mm tall (6.5” x 5» x 7» tall).<br />
MSRP: $430 USD www.antigravitybatteries.com<br />
Cartridge to Spin-on Oil Filter Adapter<br />
Cartridge filters on Toyotas can be a pain to work on - tough<br />
to get off, plastic pieces that break, hard to access locations<br />
- especially if you have under body armour to protect<br />
your engine from Canada’s tough roads and trails. Baxter<br />
Performance has designed and built an adapter to convert<br />
your cartridge system to an easy to use and reliable spinon<br />
oil filter. They also offer cartridge filter adapters that will<br />
allow you to go to a remote set-up porting off the very end<br />
or the sides depending on your orientation and clearances.<br />
The one product they offer that will work for virtually any<br />
engine (truck, boat, plane) is the inverted remote filter mount.<br />
A variety of porting options allow you to mount high in the<br />
engine bay for easy access.<br />
MSRP: $180-$230 USD www.bpadapters.com<br />
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Tough Guard FormFit Hood Protector<br />
When I hear a truck product is designed, manufactured and tested in<br />
Alberta, I have to get excited. Albertans get it all - brutal cold, extreme<br />
heat, towering elevation changes, all on roads and highways that<br />
see tonnes of rock launching RV’s, tractor-trailers, and heavy, heavy<br />
machinery. The Tough Guard FormFit is a distinct hood protector<br />
constructed from a UV stable acrylic capped ABS, with a bolt-on look<br />
designed to match the style of bolt-on fender flares (whether they<br />
are truly bolt-on or not). It is a no drill install, with no modification<br />
required, as the parts attach with 3M automotive tape and patented<br />
stainless steel clips on the hood edge. These folks are not a new startup<br />
but are Focus Auto design, with over 30 years experience making<br />
OEM hood protectors. They have styles to match most trucks, so go to<br />
their website for pricing and shipping information for your 4x4.<br />
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G6G6N7drds.<br />
MSRP: $180 www.formfithoodprotectors.com<br />
Factor 55 Flatlink Multimount<br />
Recoveries can be exceptionally difficult in Canada from<br />
the tight, steep, tree-lined trails of British Columbia<br />
to the soggy forests of Ontario to the open bogs of<br />
Newfoundland. We’ve always been fans of the Factor<br />
55 Flatlink, and the addition of multiple attachment<br />
points to ease difficult recoveries makes us love them<br />
even more. The oval hole opening is extremely versatile<br />
and will fit over either the pin or bow end of 3/4” pin<br />
shackles, the pin ends of 7/8” and 1” pin shackles, and<br />
over most OEM tow hooks. The Flatlink Multimount has<br />
a max load limit of 16,000 lbs and a breaking strength of<br />
40,000 lbs. Rubber pads to protect your fairlead and it<br />
is suitable for synthetic or wire line. The sum of all these<br />
features (and more) means everyone should own one.<br />
MSRP: $200 www.factor55.com<br />
Filteröl Advanced Oil<br />
Filtration System<br />
Speaking with the engineers from Pareto Point<br />
Industries (PPI) is almost like having a conversation<br />
with a theoretical physicist who has discovered dark<br />
matter. I understand the result, just not all the big<br />
words they use to explain how they got there. Here’s<br />
the boiled down version - for oil; you’re on your own<br />
with dark matter. More horsepower and torque from<br />
smaller, lighter engines is the design trend around<br />
the world, and especially appreciated in Canada.<br />
The price of this improved power to weight ratio is<br />
an engine that works harder, so clean oil becomes<br />
an increasingly important component to engine<br />
longevity. The system from PPI removes particulate down to 2 microns in size, compared<br />
to the 25-40 microns that a typical spin-on filter removes. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)<br />
studies show the most serious engine damage is from debris smaller than 10 microns. The Filteröl<br />
system works in combination with your spin on oil filter to achieve two-micron oil filtration. It’s a bolton<br />
system that should deliver longer engine life, fewer emissions, more mileage, more oil volume, and<br />
better oil and filter service life.<br />
MSRP: $100 USDhttp://www.paretopoint.com<br />
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Insane Audio<br />
JK 2001<br />
In-Dash<br />
Infotainment<br />
We’ve always felt shackled by<br />
the stock infotainment system<br />
in our 2015 Wrangler Sahara JK<br />
Unlimited. A vehicle that is so<br />
exceptional off-road should have<br />
an equally exceptional set of<br />
electronic features. The JK2001<br />
from Insane Audio is much more<br />
than an improved audio/video<br />
unit. The Bluetooth OBDII adapter<br />
and Torque app will let you view<br />
real time engine data and view<br />
and clear engine diagnostic codes.<br />
It is backup camera ready so<br />
you can see what’s behind you<br />
when you switch into reverse<br />
and you can connect a forward<br />
facing camera to effectively see<br />
through your hood. Their own<br />
NavEngine navigation software<br />
provides 3D maps and topography<br />
with the latest street and trail<br />
maps in both the USA and<br />
Canada. The operating system is<br />
Android 6.1, which means you can<br />
download and use ANY android<br />
app - whether it’s Netflix, traffic<br />
software, or Google Earth. The<br />
unit comes with 32Gb of storage<br />
built-in, and will accept microSD<br />
cards with up to 256 Gb of<br />
storage. Connect to your phone<br />
to draw from your existing data<br />
plan, stream audio and video, take<br />
calls - it’s all there behind a high<br />
resolution touch screen in an IP66<br />
rated housing. A demo unit is on<br />
the way to <strong>4WDrive</strong> so look for<br />
a complete hands-on review in a<br />
future issue.<br />
MSRP: $1250 USD Insaneaudio.com<br />
CB/AM/FM Signal Booster<br />
Wish you could use your CB and<br />
AM/FM radio without having two<br />
antennae on your rig? Rugged Ridge<br />
has created a Multiplexor System kit,<br />
which permits you to simultaneously<br />
use your CB antenna as both a CB<br />
and an AM/FM antenna. This creates<br />
one system that delivers three bands<br />
of radio signal, all while keeping the<br />
wires hidden, in an easy 30-minute<br />
installation. The fender mounting<br />
point allows for a better range of CB signal<br />
than the “industry standard” which mounts<br />
on the tailgate. The use of a CB antenna<br />
also provides better AM/FM reception<br />
than the factory antenna. Depending on<br />
your choice of antenna, your CB/AM/FM<br />
reception will vary. Rugged Ridge says they<br />
have had great results with their Firestik.<br />
<strong>4WDrive</strong> recommends using a spring on<br />
the base of the antenna to prevent any<br />
damage to the fender when/if the antenna<br />
catches a tree limb.Rugged Ridge also<br />
assures us that there is no signal bleed<br />
between the two lines allowing you to sing<br />
along to your favourite radio tunes and<br />
broadcast it to everyone on the trail at the<br />
same time. The kit is specifically designed for 97-06 Wrangler TJ/<br />
07-18 Wrangler JK, and contains all the necessary wiring, connectors,<br />
coaxial cable and hardware (but not an antennae).<br />
MSRP: $154 USD www.ruggedridge.com<br />
Automated<br />
Power Step<br />
You know your truck is too high<br />
without a step, when your fatherin-law<br />
falls out. And he’s the guy<br />
that lets you borrow his tools,<br />
garage, and lets you store your<br />
‘extra’ trucks in his yard. Which is<br />
why we took it as a sign when we saw the Generation 2 Articulating<br />
Powered Step Slider from Rock Slide Engineering. It opens and closes<br />
automatically with your doors, the extruded aluminum tube provides<br />
rock slider protection, and the included lights make the step easy to<br />
see when they open. It’s a maintenance free unit with the waterproof<br />
motor sealed inside the unit. Michael Sampson from Rock Slide says<br />
you can install it in about two hours using factory holes (so no drilling<br />
required), it has load capacity of 300 kg (650 lb) and each side<br />
weighs 13.6 kg (30 lb). It’s fast, quiet and provides a 20 cm (8 in) drop<br />
to keep very important people in your life happy. I don’t mean your<br />
spouse - keep your expectations in line with reality.<br />
MSRP: $1700 USD for Wrangler JK and $1850 USD for trucks<br />
www.rockslideengineering.com<br />
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Waterproof HD<br />
Air Compressor<br />
Mid-size trucks and SUV’s are loved for their<br />
compact size and loathed because there never<br />
seems to be enough room in the cab or under the<br />
hood to mount all our off-road accessories. Kleinn<br />
Air Horns has produced a 150 psi, 100% duty air<br />
compressor that can be fully submersed. Tuck this<br />
unit under the truck, safe from impacts but without<br />
worrying about water, mud, dust and dirt. A filtered<br />
snorkel air-intake insures the compressor receives<br />
clean dry air.<br />
MSRP: $400 https://kleinn.com<br />
Lund Max Rack<br />
Using the Canadian philosophy of ‘better to have<br />
it and not need it’, we like to bring everything we<br />
might need on the road with us. A big country<br />
means big distances so getting home can take<br />
a long while. The Lund Max Rack is constructed<br />
from aluminum so you don’t add too much extra<br />
weight while you load your gear. You can mount it<br />
to the cross bars of your SUV, or the door jams of<br />
your truck (by selecting the appropriate no-drill<br />
hardware kit for your truck). The included front<br />
40” light bar seems especially relevant during<br />
the very short winter days north of the 49th. An<br />
optional rear light bar is also available.<br />
MSRP: $1025 USD www.lundinternational.com/lund<br />
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FEATURE<br />
TOP<br />
5<br />
MID-SIZE<br />
Trucks at<br />
SEMA<br />
With word of Ford's Ranger possible coming back to market and the<br />
Chevy Colorado making waves in the industry, it was no surprise to<br />
find a plethora of mid-sized trucks adorning the SEMA grounds in 2017.<br />
With our own Dodge Dakota build in the works, we can certainly see<br />
the appeal. Here's what we spotted during our stay.<br />
WHEELS 1<br />
CHEVROLET ZR2<br />
Sporting Dirty Life's new (depending on how they are mounted) DOT- compliant beadlocks (keep an eye<br />
out here for more on them in the future), this Fiberworx fender-clad Colorado had all the right parts attached<br />
to it, making for a wicked high-speed forest road cruiser or a comfy daily driver. We really dug the<br />
heavy wall plastic front bumper that can take a beating and keep rust at bay. Plenty of sponsors made this<br />
truck happen, and we would love to get our hands on this one, even if only for a short time.<br />
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COOPER TIRES 5.11<br />
TACTICAL TACOMA<br />
We were drawn to this Toyota<br />
Tacoma in the Cooper Tires' booth<br />
and kept finding subtle touches<br />
on it every pass. From the sunken<br />
spares to the stealthy mounting<br />
of the auxiliary lighting (thank<br />
you for not adding a gargantuan<br />
light bar), it was hard to hate this<br />
tan desert trail killer. The suspension<br />
was exactly what we would<br />
expect from Camburg — dialed in<br />
and ready to rock. All the tactical<br />
gear hanging off the side may be<br />
a little much, but that can easily<br />
be remedied!<br />
BFGOODRICH CHEVY S-10<br />
Complete with multiple shocks per corner and a cab full of mojo, this<br />
90's desert throwback hit a homerun for us. As a current NORRA race<br />
rig, it's good to know that this truck is still being used as it was intended.<br />
Originally a factory backed race truck competitor and winner<br />
in the past, a full restoration has been completed by Todd Richards<br />
Motorsports, and last we heard, the truck is up for sale. We need a<br />
raise.<br />
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HONDA RIDGELINE RACE TRUCK<br />
We don't get to see those words in a title very<br />
often, but this Ridgeline still had the hint of race<br />
fuel smell about it from the 550 hp 3.5l factory<br />
block under the hood. The beautifully put together<br />
showpiece from the Proctor Racing Group and<br />
Honda Racing isn't just an exercise in desert racing,<br />
but a class winner as well. For those that think the<br />
Ridgeline is a full-size truck, please send your hate<br />
mail to editor@Suncruisermedia.com.<br />
CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2<br />
Working in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles, this<br />
overlanding-themed Colorado felt perfect to us. With a 2.8l Duramax<br />
diesel powerplant under the hood, factory lockers both front<br />
and rear, and an aggressive but useful stance, we'd let this truck<br />
follow us home any day. Flush mount control pods for fresh water<br />
and auxiliary power/air outlets grace the sides of the rig and were<br />
just the tip of the iceberg of parts and pieces we hope AEV will<br />
bring to market. Please, please, please, please, can I have one???<br />
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Act now before it is too late! Rugged Ridge’s Trail Access Program is designed to support the 4WD<br />
community by protecting trail access. Grants are now available for <strong>2018</strong>. This easy grant application is<br />
available to US 501 (c) non-profit organization and Canadian non-profit organizations. Grant available<br />
up to U$5,000 and must be used for public full-size 4WD vehicle trails.<br />
Grants now available for US & Canadian trails.<br />
Create | Maintain | Protect<br />
For more information or to apply, visit www.RuggedRidge.com/trailaccess<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 49
Photos by Steve Rock Intro by Perry Mack<br />
15 Minutes<br />
of FAME<br />
2017 Reader Rides<br />
50 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Chris Beveridge's 2012 FJ Cruiser 'Playtime<br />
III' in memory of the great times spent on<br />
his grandfather's boat 'Playtime II'.<br />
Alex Loiselle's 1963 Haflinger.<br />
Brian Saliba's 2007 FJ downhill.<br />
A few times in 2017, our on-location journalist Steve Rock invited<br />
wheelers out for a ‘Fifteen Minutes of Fame Photo Shoot’ in Ontario.<br />
What came back is probably one of the most diverse compilations<br />
of Ontario wheelers and their vehicles ever seen in print. The staff<br />
at <strong>4WDrive</strong> raise the red and white, and salute every wheeler who<br />
came out for these events. Cheers!<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 51
Brad Roylance's 2013 Subaru Imprezza<br />
one inch lift Grabber AT2 tires.<br />
Daryl & Margaret Dennis's FJ and<br />
homemade trailer fresh from 6 week<br />
18000km trip to Alaska.<br />
Dave Landry's FJ<br />
build in progress.<br />
Dennis Dorion<br />
In Focus Photography.<br />
Gianluca D'emilio's<br />
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Craig Quann's 2017 GMC 1500.<br />
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53
Hawk Hodgson's 2002 Dodge Ram<br />
2500.<br />
James, <strong>Jan</strong>et, Cameron and Alex Roberts'<br />
1977 CJ7 Quadratrac, Chevy 400 transmission.<br />
Land Cruiser water crossing.<br />
Jordan Soares'<br />
Suzuki Vitara.<br />
Jen's 2017 JKU Sport<br />
2.5In Lift 33s.<br />
Michelle Lyons' 2015<br />
Jeep Wrangler 3.5<br />
inch Rubicon Express<br />
lift #jkgirlmich.<br />
Max Towronto 2007<br />
FJ Cruiser.<br />
Padre Jay's <strong>198</strong>3 CJ8 Scrambler.<br />
Ray Morrison's 2008<br />
Jeep Wrangler stock.<br />
Rikki Lovejoy's 2004<br />
Subaru Legacy Outback.<br />
54 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
Ron Gaudet.<br />
Ryan Kelly's<br />
2016 Patriot<br />
@babyjeepoverland<br />
Sean Richard Jackyl's<br />
Offroad F150.<br />
Scoob Snacks -Lefty-<br />
Chevy Tracker.<br />
Ted Johnson's GMC.<br />
Steve Brennan's 2002<br />
Subaru WRX Forester suspension.<br />
Vince Pratt's<br />
1999 Jeep.<br />
Ted Mills' Jeep Rubicon.<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 55
AROUND THE INDUSTRY<br />
The Chevy Colorado is making huge<br />
inroads into the consciousness of the North<br />
American public as new trim lines, models, concept<br />
vehicles and builds are introduced, opening our<br />
eyes to the possibilities that this mid-sized truck<br />
generates. We were blown away by the ZR2 model,<br />
which we test drove on-highway, rock crawling,<br />
and on a high-speed off-road track in Colorado<br />
(watch our YouTube video www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=BZEK4DTOVpg). As part of their 100<br />
years of making trucks, Chevy has introduced the<br />
Midnight and Dusk editions. The Midnight Edition<br />
features an all-black exterior finish, 17-inch fivespoke<br />
black accessory wheels, and a black sport bar<br />
with off-road LED lighting. The ZR2 Dusk Edition<br />
offers the same content as the ZR2 Midnight, but<br />
can be purchased in all other ZR2 exterior finishes,<br />
with black accents throughout.<br />
“The Colorado ZR2 Midnight and Dusk Edition<br />
models offer customers even more personalization<br />
choices because the truck market is too diverse for<br />
a ‘one size fits most’ strategy,” said Doug Kenzie,<br />
brand manager, Chevrolet Trucks in Canada.<br />
Performance features include a lift raising it<br />
50mm (2 in.) higher than Colorado Z71, a 90mm<br />
(3.5-in.) wider track, an off-road suspension with<br />
cast-iron control arms and segment-exclusive<br />
Canadian designed Multimatic DSSV dampers. They<br />
are the first off-road shocks to feature positionsensitive<br />
spool valve technology, making the truck<br />
equally adept on and off the road.<br />
Other standard ZR2 features include segmentexclusive<br />
front and rear electronic locking<br />
differentials, hill descent control, an aluminum<br />
skidplate that protects the radiator and oil pan,<br />
off-road rocker protection, Autotrac transfer<br />
case, transfer case shield, four-wheel disc brakes,<br />
modified rear axle with a 3.42 ratio and special offrode<br />
mode setting.<br />
Mercedes Benz X-Class<br />
What? A mid-size pickup from Mercedes-Benz?<br />
New for <strong>2018</strong> this pickup truck ‘unites the typical<br />
traits of a pickup - robustness, functionality,<br />
strength and off-road capabilities - with the<br />
classical characteristics of a real Mercedes - design,<br />
comfort, driving dynamics and safety’ say the<br />
PR people at Mercedes Benz. The truck will be<br />
available in three trim levels; Pure is the basic<br />
version, followed by Progressive for improved<br />
quality and comfort, and Power for ‘high-end urban<br />
lifestyle’. A top-of-the-range V6 diesel with 258<br />
horsepower will be released mid-<strong>2018</strong> however<br />
the market launch will start with the diesel X 220<br />
d (163 hp) and X 250 d (190 hp) as well as a gas<br />
engine (165 hp) in selected markets. Customers<br />
can add a styling bar, side bar, canopy, various<br />
covers as well as numerous cargo and off-road<br />
solutions. Thanks to the wide track, the spring and<br />
damping system tuned for the comfort typical of a<br />
Mercedes, and the coil springs, as well as internally<br />
vented disc brakes on the front and rear, the<br />
X-Class is expected to offer great on-road handling,<br />
while the engageable 4MATIC all-wheel drive with<br />
low-range gearing and optional differential lock<br />
should provide solid off-road performance.<br />
However, we won’t get it in Canada. I put a call<br />
into Mercedes Benz Canada to politely say WTF?<br />
I was told, “Target markets for the Mercedes-Benz<br />
X-Class are Latin America, South Africa, Australia,<br />
and Europe. The fact that North America is for the<br />
time being not among the target markets is due to<br />
the positioning of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class. While<br />
we may be a big pickup market, one usually thinks<br />
of a full-size model when referring to a premium<br />
pickup.” Just sounds like cowardice to me.<br />
56 Subscribe at suncruisermedia.com/<strong>4WDrive</strong>
ZR2 Completes “Vegas to Reno”<br />
Adding to its off-road cred the ZR2 completed<br />
‘the longest off-road race in America – the “Vegas<br />
to Reno”. The essentially stock ZR2 finished 136th,<br />
which doesn’t sound terrific but it did finish. Only<br />
204 of the 336 competitors finished the 867 km<br />
(539 mi) course. Driver Chad Hall said, “This truck<br />
is a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. I<br />
clobbered some things on the course that would’ve<br />
broken many of the vehicles we competed with in<br />
the past.” Mods were limited to racing mandated<br />
items like a roll cage, a 166 L (44 gal) racing fuel<br />
tank, and racing seats with safety harnesses. The<br />
crew also attached KC HiLiTES racing lights, twoway<br />
radios, and a GPS system, as those were also<br />
required.<br />
Mid-Size Pick-up Truck of Texas<br />
Continuing on with the theme of mid-size pickups,<br />
Texans love the Tacoma. To be specific, the<br />
TRD Pro, as 75 journalists with the Texas Auto<br />
Writers Association (TAWA) at the TAWA Truck<br />
Rodeo chose it over all others. "The Tacoma<br />
has built a reputation for quality, durability and<br />
reliability, and we're honoured that TAWA has<br />
named the Tacoma TRD Pro the Mid-Size Pickup<br />
Truck of Texas for the second straight year,"<br />
said John Myers, Toyota vehicle marketing and<br />
communications national manager.<br />
While we love the Taco too, the award would be<br />
more credible if we didn’t know that Toyota Motor<br />
North America headquarters opened in Plano, Texas<br />
in July. Coincidence? Doesn’t matter the Tacoma is<br />
still a solid, reliable performer.<br />
SURUS - Silent Utility<br />
Rover Universal Superstructure<br />
GM introduces SURUS — a hydrogen fuel cell powered, fourwheel<br />
steer concept vehicle on a heavy-duty truck frame<br />
that’s driven by two electric motors. With its capability and<br />
flexible architecture, SURUS could be used as a delivery vehicle,<br />
truck, or even an ambulance — all emissions free. GM<br />
introduced the vehicle at the fall meeting of the Association<br />
of the United States Army (AUSA) in October. The platform<br />
could be adapted for military use. SURUS leverages GM’s<br />
newest Hydrotec fuel cell system, autonomous capability,<br />
and truck chassis components to deliver a high-performance,<br />
zero-emission heavy-duty truck. Benefits include<br />
quiet and odour-free operation, off-road mobility, field<br />
configuration, instantaneous high torque, exportable power<br />
generation, water generation (essentially the ‘exhaust’ produced<br />
by hydrogen fuel cells) and quick refuelling times.<br />
Join us www.instagram.com/4WheelDriveCanada Volume 19/8 57
AROUND THE INDUSTRY<br />
A PROTOTYPE AND HEAVILY<br />
CAMOUFLAGED FORD RANGER was seen cruising<br />
the Colorado highways recently. Aside from aggressive<br />
looking wheels, a front skid plate and front tow hooks, very<br />
little is known about the nameplate that hasn’t been sold in<br />
North America for over a decade. As of the end of August,<br />
the Toyota Tacoma leads US sales in the midsize pack with<br />
the Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Honda Ridgeline and<br />
GMC Canyon following. In fact, the Tacoma with 129,362<br />
units sold, bests the Colorado (71,763 units) & Canyon<br />
(20, 347) combined. Is there any more than market share<br />
table scraps left for the Ranger? We believe so. Although<br />
the Ranger is late to the table by a few years, Ford has<br />
the advantage of being able to learn from its competitor’s<br />
mistakes. They can learn which interiors sell best, which parts of the country they sell best in, which<br />
marketing is effective (something Ford excels in), and which powertrains sell best. And they have the Ford<br />
F150 engines and transmissions to draw from to meet driver demands. Rumours indicate that there will be<br />
a Ranger Raptor to compete with the successful Chevy ZR2. Ford is learning.<br />
ZR2 Utility Truck<br />
Spy shots also reveal a ZR2 utility truck cruising the<br />
streets of Milford, Michigan. Sporting utility toolboxes<br />
in lieu of a pick-up truck bed, a beefier suspension<br />
and a snorkel. At the media event, a similar<br />
truck was used as the support vehicle and included<br />
an extra 2.5 cm (1”) lift and 33” tires to support the<br />
utility bed. It suggests that this GM prototype is<br />
being targeted towards our oil and gas, forestry,<br />
logging and utility companies. While the snorkel<br />
seems redundant, consider the flooding in many<br />
regions every year.<br />
ZH2<br />
Since we are throwing out letters to follow ‘Z’,<br />
let’s look at the ZH2, which is an off-road-capable,<br />
hydrogen fuel-cell electric pickup truck developed<br />
for the armed forces. At almost 2 metres tall and<br />
2.1 metres wide, it is rumoured to be built on a<br />
stretched midsize pickup chassis, the same used<br />
in the second-generation Chevy Colorado. Reinforced<br />
inside and out, the ZH2 rides on 37-inch<br />
tires and a specially-modified suspension that<br />
allows it to traverse inhospitable terrain. Paul Rogers,<br />
director of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive<br />
Research, Development and Engineering Center<br />
(TARDEC) says, “Fuel cells have the potential to<br />
expand the capabilities of Army vehicles significantly<br />
through quiet operation, exportable power<br />
and solid torque performance, all advances that<br />
drove us to investigate this technology further.”<br />
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