Off Road: News, Information and Reviews
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Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:07:09 MST
Drop-In Traction For Your Axles Lunchbox Lockers Driving with an open differential off road is like piloting a Ferrari around an icy race track. Sure, you can get where you're going with a bit of driving skill, but you're missing out on the true performance potential of the vehicle. An open differential is a differential carrier that is fitted with a set of free-flowing spider gears. When throttle is applied the open differential sends power to the wheel with the least amount of resistance, which usually equates to the tire with the least amount of traction. Photo Gallery: Drop-In Traction For Your Axles - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Drop-In Traction For Your Axles Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:09:00 -0700
August 2010 Nuts & Bolts Quality 4x4, Axle Seals, & More! Burb is the Answer Q I'm 12 and trying to convince my parents to get me a four-wheel-drive truck. I know it would be a good way for me and my dad to spend time together and learn different things about the 4x4 world. We already have a '71 Chevelle and an '87 T/A, and we could use it as a tow rig. What would be a good two- or four-wheel-drive, pre-'89 truck that is good for wheeling, won't break the bank, and would be a good project? Damien G. via 4wheeloffroad.com August 2010 Nuts & Bolts Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:08:00 -0700
Engine Upgrades Made Easy Performance & Reliability With the economy in the Dumpster, many of us are turning to our older 4x4s for daily driving and adventure rather than purchasing a new vehicle. Keeping these old beaters running efficiently and dependably with aftermarket performance parts is easy, and with regular maintenance the vehicle can be depended upon in the toughest situations. Photo Gallery: Engine Upgrades Made Easy - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Engine Upgrades Made Easy Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:08:00 -0700
Lokar Shifters Custom Shifting Made Easy Transmission swaps, modified 4x4s, and custom buggies almost always require shifter modifications or completely new assemblies. Our CJ-8 project was one such vehicle that required a new shifter since we stuffed a Dodge 46RE automatic transmission under the Jeep. Lokar Performance Products has been manufacturing quality shifter assemblies for over 20 years. In the Lokar catalog we found a 16-inch Nostalgia automatic shifter that would work perfectly on our Scrambler project. Compiled here are some highlights and tips from our shifter install. Lokar offers a full line of manual and automatic shifters for just about any transmission and custom application. Photo Gallery: Lokar Shifters - 4-Wheel &...
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:08:00 -0700
Viar X'Treme Duty Onboard Air System Viar Makes Air Power Easy A reliable source of onboard compressed air out on the trail is not only great for airing up tires and actuating lockers, but a good system can also make short work of trail repairs because it can power air tools. We installed a Viar X'Treme Duty Onboard Air System on one of our trail rigs and have to say we were impressed with its ease of installation and performance. Photo Gallery: Viar X'Treme Duty Onboard Air System - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Viar X'Treme Duty Onboard Air System Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:08:00 -0700
What 2 Pack 4 Moab Easter Jeep Safari Preparing For A Week Of Red Rock Wheeling The Moab Easter Jeep Safari, hosted by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers (www.rr4w.com), is one of the biggest gatherings of 4x4 enthusiasts in the nation, but it's not the only one held in Moab. There are roundups for Land Rover owners, Blazer Bashes, Land Cruisers cruisin' Moab, and a plethora of other events where big groups of four-wheelers come and ride all over the red rock trails. No matter what you're driving, there's a great reason to come to Moab: the scenery. With trails for every level of off-roader, this idyllic little town is a destination you should all put on your bucket list. Photo Gallery: What 2 Pack 4 Moab Easter Jeep Safari - 4-Wheel...
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:08:00 -0700
Bumpstop Basics Secondary Suspension Have you ever heard the old saying that it's not the fall that hurts, but that sudden stop will ruin your day? Well, we have, and anyone who has ever hit an obstacle a tad too fast or made their rig defy gravity if only for a brief moment knows why that statement rings true. While a nice suspension system will soak up most off-road turbulence, once the uptravel reaches its end, it's important to have something in place to absorb that last leg of impact. This is where the small but powerful bumpstop comes into play. Photo Gallery: Bumpstop Basics - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Bumpstop Basics Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700
The Trail Duster Transformation Low Lift & Big Tires Cheap, big, and functional is what many of us look for when purchasing our first 4x4. So when our buddy told us about a '77 Plymouth Trail Duster that he could pick up for only 500 bucks, we told him to go buy it and we'll show him how to build it on the cheap. Like many of us, he didn't need some super wizbang buggy, but rather, he simply wanted something he could place a big tire on, fit the entire family in, and that wouldn't break the bank with a never-ending modification list. Photo Gallery: The Trail Duster Transformation - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine The Trail Duster Transformation Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700
Rancho Suspension's Toyota Tacoma Quicklift Easy Lift With Quality Struts There are a million ways to lift or level a rig today; doing it right and economically is always a bonus. Rancho Suspension's Quicklift is a great way to give your 4x4 a boost with more adjustable ride performance than just a spacer. We had an 01' Toyota Tacoma 4x4 that needed new struts and a slight lift to level the truck while making it more capable off-road. The Quicklift systems will lift a vehicle 11/2 to 21/2 inches with complete taller strut assemblies. The strut systems can easily be installed in a couple of hours with basic tools. After an easy install we found that the new system was highway-friendly and handled bumpy off-road washboard trails...
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700
Rubicon Express Long-Arm Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ Suspension Building A Better Grand Cherokee As we build our '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ project, we have been trying to find the right mix of on- and off-road performance. From the start our goal has been to build the Jeep into an overland and capable 4x4 that's comfortable on the highway without the typical clunky, rattling, and excessive body-roll feel of a purpose-built trail rig. Photo Gallery: Rubicon Express Long-Arm Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ Suspension - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Rubicon Express Long-Arm Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ Suspension Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700
Long-Arm Vs. Short-Arm Suspension Control Theory The debate over long-arm versus short-arm suspension is a seemingly never-ending bench race that centers on the pros and cons of suspension control arm lengths. While modern link suspension systems have expanded the off-road potential for many 4x4 vehicles, the control arm itself has been around for quite some time. From the first radius-armed Bronco in the mid '60s to the current five-link under the new Jeep Wrangler JK, control arms continue to breed innovation and performance into the industry. Long-Arm Vs. Short-Arm Suspension Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700
Basic Trail Necessities Onboard Essentials By now you've likely scanned through our massive nationwide wheeling guide and have picked a new 4x destination that's in your neck of the woods. While we encourage you to go hit the trail, before you do make certain that your rig is equipped with those few essential items no wheeler should be without. Though big tires, lockers, and a winch are all great off-road equipment, sometimes it's the little stuff that can make a big difference on the trail. We're talking about the trail gear that you should never leave home without. It's the stuff that will keep a bad day from getting worse. Even though snow, rain, sand, mud, and rocks all have unique terra properties, our list of trail...
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:07:00 -0700
One-Stop Paint Shop - DIY Paint and Body Summit Makes It Easier To Paint Your Rig Giving a rig a decent paint job is a lot of work, but Summit Racing Equipment makes the work a little easier with its one-stop paint shop. Everything you could ever need to paint a vehicle can be ordered online or through the Summit catalog. We had been looking to take care of the finish on our 4x4, so we gave Summit a call. Photo Gallery: One-Stop Paint Shop DIY Paint and Body - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine One-Stop Paint Shop - DIY Paint and Body Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:07:00 -0700
Dynatrac Pro Series Ball Joints Dynatrac Fixes Balljoint Problems Ball joints are pretty boring. They don't make your truck look cool. They don't do anything special other than support weight and rotate. And unlike big knobby tires, locking differentials, and flexy suspensions, they don't seem to really do much off road. But when they fail (or start to fail) all hell can break loose and your truck will become a tire-wobbling death machine. Photo Gallery: Dynatrac Pro Series Ball Joints - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Dynatrac Pro Series Ball Joints Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:07:00 -0700
No More U-Joints - RCV Performance Heavy Duty CV Joints The Ulitmate CV Joints The constant velocity (CV) joint has gotten a bad rap over the years. Most often it's the same tired story about a torn CV boot or shaft failing under the mildest off-road conditions. So why, then, are aftermarket CV joints appearing under more rigs than ever before? What's the big advantage of them over a good old-fashioned U-joint? Photo Gallery: RCV Performance Heavy Duty CV Joints - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine No More U-Joints - RCV Performance Heavy Duty CV Joints Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:07:00 -0700
Backyard 1-Ton Dodge Ram Axle Conversion Light-Duty Dodge Axle Upgrade "Work hard and play hard" is an expression we've heard for decades and something most truck owners live by. While many wheeling enthusiast often push their 1/2-tons to the limit, a few actually manage to break beyond the light-duty drivetrain's capabilities. This is often the result of larger tires, power upgrades, or a general no-nonsense approach to driving and heavy-duty work expectations. So what's a 1/2-ton wheeler to do? Photo Gallery: Backyard 1-Ton Dodge Ram Axle Conversion - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Backyard 1-Ton Dodge Ram Axle Conversion Digg It Add to del.icio.us
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:07:00 -0700