Four Wheeler January 2017

I have no clue why, more than three decades ago, I thought it would be a good idea to leave my 4WD International Scout II in the barn and drive my rust-bucket beater Toyota Celica to work in the middle of a wicked Midwest snowstorm. The 53-year-old me is astonished by many of the decisions made by the 20-year-old me. Less than 2 miles from home, while attempting to use speed as a substitute for 4WD, I dramatically put the Celica in the ditch after some impressive fishtails, overcorrections, undercorrections, spins, and slides. After a trudge back to my barn, I lit the Scout’s 345ci V-8, levered the Dana 20 T-case into 4-Hi, and eased the winchless rig into the bumper-deep snow. I drafted my brother-in-law, who was home from…

KEN.BRUBAKER@FOURWHEELER.COM CLEAN & BLACK I received the Sept. ’16 issue and I loved “Clean & Black.” Love the old iron with modern twists. Love to see more of them. CHRIS HATHORNE VIA EMAIL HE’S WHEELIN’ FOR A LIVING Just read your article “Wheelin’ For A Living” (Trail’s End, Sep. ’16), and thought you might have some interest in us Jeep tour drivers. I drive for one of the tour companies in Sedona, Arizona. We drive every day of the year on an assortment of trails ranging from mild to extreme and in all weather extremes in open Jeeps. I have always thought that this subject would make for some great articles because there are so many different things about this job that profiles the drivers in addition to it being a unique testbed for how the…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM THAT’S INTERESTING Great news: The most stolen vehicle in 2015 was the ’96 Honda Accord! Less great news: Also in the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Hot Wheels list of Top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2015 were fullsizes: ’06 Ford pickup, ’04 Chevy pickup, and ’01 Dodge pickup. -> Nissan has a new warranty it’s calling “America’s Best Truck Warranty,” based on it being the winningest warranty available to trucks to date: 5 years/100,000 miles. For the ’17 Titan and Titan XD, it’s bumper-to-bumper basic and powertrain coverage. -> There’s an STX Appearance Package for the ’17 F-series. Depending on which truck, this will include things like 20-inch machined-aluminum wheels, body-colored bumpers and fascia, and billet grille. Pricing will start at $35,615 for the F-150 STX and $34,910 for the F-250 STX, and…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM FULL-FLOW EFI Edelbrock is now shipping the latest generation in Pro-Flo electronic fuel injection, the Pro-Flo 3 EFI. The new sequential-port EFI systems are available for small- and big-block Chevy engines. All base calibrations have been developed on the Edelbrock dyno. Each self-learning system is completely tunable via Edelbrock’s Bluetooth wireless E-Tuner application. The ETuner app gives you complete control of the air-fuel ratios, ignition curve, idle speed, acceleration fuel, cooling fans, rev limiter, and more. The app also includes multiple dash displays to allow you to monitor engine vitals and performance from your Android smartphone or tablet while you’re driving. Each system includes a fully assembled intake manifold with throttle body installed, ECU, distributor, gaskets, and all of the necessary hardware for installation. INFO: Edelbrock, 310/781-2222, edelbrock.com RAM HAMMER Hammerhead Armor now…

editor@fourwheeler.com WINTER ALWAYS HAS A WAY OF BRINGING tires to the forefront of conversation, especially in those parts of the country that see frequent snow and sub-freezing temperatures. When rain turns to snow, tires are everything. For many drivers, white roads are cause for white knuckles—and them questioning whether or not those four tiny patches of rub- ber their rig is riding on are the right choice to keep themselves and their loved ones moving safely down the road. “Are mud tires a good choice for driving in snow, or all-terrains?” “Is it worth the money to buy dedicated snow tires just to run them for a few months during the winter?” “How do all-season tires compare to more aggressive tires when I need to drive in snow?” Those are the types of questions brick-andmortar tire…

editor@fourwheeler.com IF YOU ARE LIKE US, THEN YOU PROBABLY LOVE your 4x4 because of its versatility. No one can deny that 4x4s are the multitool of the vehicular world. Most 4x4s can hit the trail, or head to the grocery store, push a plow, tow a boat, haul a load, or commute to work in rain, shine, sleet, or snow. There is probably no better time of year to enjoy the versatility of your 4x4 than during the winter months. Facing the elements is no big deal to a properly equipped 4x4, and the fact that these rigs can be used to get us to work or home safely and then used for play on the weekend is akin to grabbing your multitool, unfolding that sawblade or screwdriver to make something…