Four Wheeler September 2016

Four Wheeler Editor Christian Hazel has left the building. Well, not exactly, he has simply moved to our sister publication, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, where he is strapping into the editor seat. He took over the Big Desk at Four Wheeler beginning with the June 2014 issue, and his incredible technical knowledge, years of experience, and sense of humor was a great addition. Christian lives the four-wheel-drive lifestyle and it shows. His perfect day seems to be in his driveway fabbing parts or exploring a trail in a vintage 4x4. His impact on Four Wheeler during his tenure has been very positive and is proven by the numerous reader compliments on the content of the magazine. Oh, and he’s a nice guy who is always ready to lend a hand even…

KEN.BRUBAKER@FOURWHEELER.COM PTOTY STICKER SHOCK Fifty thousand dollarplus fullsizes? C’mon, these vehicles are way outside the price range of the common man that uses pickups for actual work (“2016 Pickup Truck of the Year,” May ’16) . This test is unrealistic. JAY DEETS VIA FACEBOOK When did ½-ton trucks start costing so much? DAVID ASHLEY VIA FACEBOOK Four-wheel-drive pickup trucks have never been inexpensive when compared to cars. I recall my brother-in-law purchasing a brand-new 6.2L diesel-powered ’82 Chevy regular cab longbox 4x4 and the high price shocked us all. Materials, labor, regulations, R&D, inflation, and other factors have driven the price even higher through the years. Unfortunately, signs point to ever-increasing prices. MORE PTOTY The new Titan Cummins front end is hideous. Tacoma looks solid but only offers a V-6. Colorado looks solid, but after how many miles? Rebel Ram…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM THAT’S INTERESTING Thanks for the trivia, U.S. Census Bureau: The first state to require license plates was New York in April 1901. Ford is coughing up $1.6 billion to upgrade its Livonia (Michigan) Transmission Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant. The F-150 Raptor’s new 10-speed tranny will be built at Livonia. Nissan won Energy Star Partner of the Year, Sustained Excellence Award, given to organizations protecting the environment through more energyefficient operations. It’s the fifth time in a row for a Nissan win. The 2016 Ford F-150 is getting a Special Service Vehicle package meant for government customers such as law enforcement. A high-output alternator, 40/blank/40 seats, and vinyl flooring are among the unique features. Porsche has a new vehicle delivery program. It’s part of the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta and allows you to place…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM REMOTE OILING Hamburger’s Performance Products announces the addition of two new billet spin-on oil filter bypass adapters for Ford Power Stroke and Dodge Ram Cummins diesel engines. These spin-on bypass adapters give you the ability to plumb a remote-mounted oil filter for easy messfree oil changes or improved filter performance. Each bypass adapter is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum. They are also clear anodized for wear resistance and engraved with flow direction labels for port identification. The integrated -12AN ports are said to allow for easy plumbing and provide maximum lubricant flow for any heavy-duty service vehicle. A neoprene O-ring is included to seal the adapter to the block. Hamburger’s billet bypass adapters are made in the USA and are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. INFO: Hamburger’s Performance, 562/921-0404, hamburgersperformance.com POWER…

editor@fourwheeler.com WHEN JIM ANDERSON SET OUT TO PICK HIS NEXT TRUCK, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO CHOOSE something off the dealer lot to pull his toy hauler. However, he wanted something a little different for his weekend jaunts to the dunes. Growing up in Illinois, he saw many a fine truck succumb to the ravages of the wet winters there, and older trucks were a rarity on the roads. When he moved to Arizona, he had a new chance to own a vintage pickup that he could drive year round. Shortly after purchasing a nicely built ’67 2WD Chevy pickup, he delivered the project candidate to Lamb Fab in Gilbert, Arizona. There they undertook the task of converting this truck to one that could make use of the transfer case they…

ken.brubaker@fourwheeler.com THE 2014 TRUCKS GONE WILD SUPERBOG IN Perry, Florida, was so much fun we felt the overpowering need to boomerang back to the Iron Horse Mud Ranch for Superbog 2015. As expected, the muddy nirvana was packed with mud faithful for several days of all things goo and the collection of 4x4s was mind boggling. There are three main components that make the Superbog so amazing (and insane). First, there’s the location. The Iron Horse Mud Ranch is a massive 520-acre facility that has several killer mudholes, lots of camping space, several truck washes, and a close proximity to town for those who may need to acquire repair parts or who don’t like to camp. Another component is the Trucks Gone Wild (TGW) team. Matt Steele, Chuck Davis, and Chris Ledford,…