Four Wheeler July 2018

I’m 54 years old as I’m tapping this into a computer, and there are so many places I’ve yet to explore in a 4x4. Places I want to explore. My first 4x4 magazine gig was in 1989, so as of 2018 I’ve had the privilege of “wheeling for a living” for almost three decades. By default, I’ve had the opportunity to damage 4x4s in just about every discipline of off-roading, and along the way I’ve explored trails in just about every state in the U.S. I’ve been off-road on sand in Michigan, North Carolina, and Oregon; in the woods of Maine, Iowa, and Wisconsin; in the hills of Arkansas and Missouri; on the rocks of California and New Mexico; in the mud of Florida and Michigan; on the rocky trails of…

KEN.BRUBAKER@FOURWHEELER.COM PERFECT WHEELING WEEKEND My perfect wheeling weekend? Miles and miles and miles of dirt that requires four-wheel drive, completely loaded down with camping gear, kayaks, and fishing poles, my family of four loaded up in the truck and no cell phone service for miles. That’s my perfect wheeling. CODY BENNETT VIA EMAIL You asked for my perfect wheeling weekend and here it is: the Rubicon Trail. I’ve wheeled it many times over the last 20 years and it never gets old. I love everything about it, even when I pretzel parts. To me there’s nowhere else like it. A few cold ones around the campfire in the evening always rounds out a perfect day. THAD AHRENS VIA EMAIL My perfect wheeling weekend is in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The first time I wheeled the area…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM THAT’S INTERESTING The ’19 Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Pro Series will be available in the fall, so starting pining now for your TRD-tuned 4Runner, Tacoma, or Tundra with possible add-ons like a lifted suspension, Fox shocks, Desert Air Intake, 18-inch black forged-aluminum wheels, and more off-road-y-ness. Did you know TRD’s been at it since 1979? That’s Ivan Stewart era. Jeep achieved Cult Brand Honoree status from The Gathering (Society of Cult Brands). It’s the first automaker to be honored by the org. The 2018 Annual Top Picks list from Consumer Reports? Hey there, Ford F-150 in the fullsize pickup category. Peugeot’s got a new concept 4x4: Rifter. That’s a five- or seven-seater with various gas and diesel engine possibilities. Don’t giggle at what the four-by system is called: Dangel. We said don’t. Audi is putting…

Catch these shows on motortrend.com May 07 Hot Rod Garage, Ep. 7.2 (62) May 09 Head 2 Head, Ep. 7.5 (102) May 16 Junkyard Gold, Ep. 7.5 (8) May 21 Roadkill Garage, Ep. 7.5 (30) May 23 Engine Masters, Ep. 7.2 (32) May 28 Dirt Every Day, Ep. 7.4 (76) May 30 Ignition, Ep. 7.6 (192) June 04 Hot Rod Garage, Ep. 7.4 (64) June 06 Head 2 Head, Ep. 7.6 (103) June 13 Junkyard Gold, Ep. 7.6 (9) June 17 Roadkill, Ep. 7.7 (78) June 18 Roadkill Garage, Ep. 7.7 (32) June 20 Engine Masters, Ep. 7.5 (35) June 25 Dirt Every Day, Ep. 7.6 (78) June 27 Ignition, Ep. 7.7 (193) July 02 Hot Rod Garage, Ep. 7.5 (65) July 04 Head 2 Head, Ep. 7.7 (104) July 09 Roadkill, Ep. 7.8 (79) July 11 Put Up or Shut Up, Ep. 7.1 (7) July 16 Roadkill Garage, Ep.…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM MUD ROAD Nexen Tire now offers the all-new Roadian MTX (Mud Terrain Xtreme) tire. The Roadian MTX features a reversible design with two different sidewalls. One side is more aggressive with sidewall traction, while the other provides a more traditional look. Other features include three-ply sidewalls; large, open tread lugs; and rim protector bars around the bead on 20-inch wheel sizes. The Roadian MTX is available for 16- to 20-inch wheels in flotation sizes from 33 to 37 inches. INFO: Nexen Tire, 800/576-3936, nexentireusa.com EASY DIAGNOSIS Harbor Freight Tools introduces Zurich, its new line of four automotive diagnostic tools. The Zurich OBD2 code readers are said to make complex vehicle diagnostic systems easy to understand and repair. All Zurich readers diagnose and clear trouble codes and lights on foreign and domestic cars, light…

editor@fourwheeler.com SEVERAL YEARS AGO 4X4 ENTHUSIAST INTERest in portal axles had been piqued, and rightly so. No other modification offers the same increase in ground clearance, lift, and the low gearing needed for bigger tires all wrapped up into one convenient component. Early adopters made use of aged existing parts, and some even developed complete portal assemblies and knuckles, but the limitations ultimately dampened portal axle enthusiasm. Overall strength, packaging, available wheel lug patterns, steering scrub radius, and parts availability were some of the portal problems that needed to be overcome. Portal axles are not new to 74Weld. The company was one of the early adopters that made use of stock Unimog 404 portal gears and loaded them into custom-machined billet aluminum boxes and steering knuckles. Today, 74Weld has pushed the envelope…