Four Wheeler

This issue of Four Wheeler includes a story on the assembly and test of the new Tauler Jack, and that got me thinking about all the flat tires I’ve had off-road. Some were triggered by romping in the sand at low tire pressure without beadlocks, but most were rock slices and punctures. One of the most memorable was in Colorado on private land in a stock Wrangler TJ. After visiting an old, abandoned mine, the landowner and I were descending the steep, rocky, narrow trail that hadn’t seen a vehicle in months when a rock sliced the sidewall of the rear passenger-side tire. The trail’s angle of descent was very steep, and the trail was super narrow with a drop of several hundred feet on the driver side and a wall…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM FORMER FARM TRUCK I have a ’94 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L V-6 with a five-speed. I picked the thing up for $500. It started off as a plain jane farm truck that I got from my boss because it was buried in his hay barn, and it needed to go. I’ve owned it for a little over a year and a half. I’ve added a 6-inch lift in the front, a 4-inch lift in the rear, 4.56 gears, 33-inch tires, and an ARB Air Locker in the rear. The truck does not have a bed anymore and there is not one straight body panel, not even the roof or hood. I go to my stomping grounds up here in the Pacific Northwest and full send it everywhere. I’ve gotten stuck a…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM In the News: News Edition All-new ’23 Ford Super Duty: Includes new looks, new standard 6.8L V-8, new H.O. 6.7L Power Stroke V-8, new XL off-road package with 33s, and more trailer driver-assist tech. 2024 Chevy Silverado HD: Includes standard Allison 10-speed auto trans, power and torque increases for the 6.6L Duramax, new front end appearance, and standard towhooks. 2023 Ram 1500 Limited Elite Edition: Includes leather buckets, bright pedal kit, real wood, and … jeweled shifter. 2023 Tahoe RST Performance Edition: Includes 6.2L V-8 with more horses and torque, and retuned suspension and chassis. Sure, it’s motorsports-inspired, but who are we to judge you. 2023 Land Rover Defender 75th Limited Edition: Includes Grasmere Green skin, P400 mild hybrid status in North America, and folding fabric roof. It’s a nod…

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM BASH-READY BUMPER Ironman 4x4’s Raid Series front bumper for the ’14-up Toyota 4Runner has been through extensive testing to ensure compatibility with the vehicle’s safety sensors. The Raid Series bumpers are said to bolster vehicle protection, provide an increased approach angle, maximize ground clearance, and offers a provision for a 9,500-pound-capacity winch. Don’t want a winch? The bumper includes a blackout plate to maintain a seamless look even without a winch. The bumper uses a two-stage attachment design, connecting the winch cradle directly to the chassis to create a secure platform. In addition, the frame-mounted recovery points are on duty should another 4x4 need a tug from the goo. The bumper can be had with an integrated LED lightbar for improved low-light visibility and the new hooded reflectors direct the light…

editor@fourwheeler.com On a cool summer morning in the Northern Sierra, a few dozen flatfenders lined up in front of the Georgetown Hotel. Excitement was in the air as the sun crested high granite peaks to the east, illuminating the rough-and-tumble foothill settlement. Drivers grabbed a cuppa joe and gathered around for a trail briefing. Their destination was Lake Tahoe, but not via the paved road. Rather, they would traverse an Indian trail through a place known as the Devil’s Playground. Jeepmaster Mark Smith fired up his engine, and like Julius Caesar, led his troops across the Rubicon and into the annals of automotive history. The year was 1953, and the town’s mining and timber industries had hit the skids. Hotels had closed, mills were quiet, and the last surviving bar was the…

editor@fourwheeler.com Mike Shaw built this ’67 Jeepster Commando with the help of his grandson Clay. Mike and his son Chris are avid off-roaders and have spent many days and nights working on project vehicles over the years, but this project was different. It was a third-generation off-road build. Clay was just 10 when Mike taught him to weld, and only 13 years old when he helped Mike build the frame for the Commando four years ago. They worked together on much of the Jeepster build, Clay getting tips from his grandfather on everything from bodywork to electrical and welding to painting. Not long after the custom Commando was finished, it was time for its first official outing. With barely 20 miles on the engine, the Shaws took the newly finished Commando from…