Indice dei contenuti per May 2020 in Four Wheeler

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM SLEEK BACK Ranch Fiberglass introduces the Icon truck cap. This new model features an all-glass rear door and frameless side windows, giving the Icon an SUV appearance. Standard features of the Icon include a fiberglass skirt at the base of the door, the user’s choice of a front picture or sliding window, an LED interior dome and third brake light, a carpeted interior lining, and a limited lifetime warranty on paint and structure. Each cap is painted to match the pickup truck with an automotive finish using Axalta coating systems. The Ranch Icon cab-high cap’s optional features include keyless entry/security using the truck’s original key fob, a Cap-Pack roof-mounted storage system, a LoadMaster sliding bed tray, a Yakima JetStream roof rack, a Yakima RoundBar roof rack, and an LED…

editor@fourwheeler.com Building a rig for overlanding isn’t just about the bits and pieces you add. You have to start first with the basics: which vehicle to build. In the case of Ben Gardner, it came down to Toyota. He had a ’90 4Runner that was used for traveling and four-wheeling, but found it underpowered and it had a manual transmission. Since his off-roading adventures were becoming increasingly more technical, he wanted a solid axle, an automatic transmission, and something bigger. That answer came in the form of the 100 Series Land Cruiser, and he bought this ’99 model from a friend. Not only did it tick many boxes, but it also had an electric locker and a “lack of electronics.” It also already had a lift and aftermarket wheels and…

jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com You wanted it and now it’s finally here—a diesel engine in the ’20 Jeep Wrangler, and we were some of the first to put it to work. Here are the facts: The 3.0L EcoDiesel delivers 442 lb-ft of torque, which is the highest-ever rating for a Wrangler. The 260hp engine is also said to be the most fuel efficient yet, and will give the Jeep its best-ever range on one tank of fuel. Behind the new powerplant is the TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission with beefed-up internals to handle the extra torque and optimized shift points. As expected, the Command-Trac and Rock-Trac (for Rubicon models) T-cases are available with 2.72 and 4.0:1 low-range ratios, respectively. Front and rear axles are third-generation Dana 44s with 3.73:1 gears. The catch is…

editor@fourwheeler.com As the cover came off the ’20 Nissan Titan, our first thought was that this should have been the truck that debuted in 2017. With refreshed and emboldened styling, no one can call the Titan a derivative anymore. Clearly staking out its corner with a look that is unique to Nissan, the Titan finally stands out in a crowded ½-ton field. With that, we were anxious to dig deeper into Nissan’s updates that focused on feedback from its loyal customers and the right mix of investments to retain the Titan’s exceptional value, while improving its competitiveness. The ’20 Titan’s fresh new look includes a more distinctive front clip with signature LEDs on premium models and distinctive grilles that are unique to their respective trim levels, which include the S,…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM AN ENGINE RESUME I’m old enough to know how to spell “carburetor” and in my youth I pumped gasoline at 9.9 cents per gallon! I had a Chevy with a 292ci inline. Also had an Austin-Healey 3000 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, both with inline six-cylinder engines. Had a Porsche 911 with an “opposed” six-cylinder (does that count?). Also had a Mazda RX3 (rotary) that would leave a Corvette in its dust! Nasty little two-rotor engine! Now I have two Dodge trucks with inline six-cylinder Cummins diesel engines: ’00 with a six-speed manual and ’05 “flatbed” with an Allison six-speed auto conversion. The only truck I have with an eight-cylinder engine is an ’84 Dodge W350 1-ton crew cab. The engine is a tried-and-true 360 V-8 with a non-synchro…

After journeying a collective 13,000 miles and arriving at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park, the handpicked group of 20 overlanders spent the day on a guided trail ride sampling the many terrain types offered by the Appalachian foothills. When they were done with the water crossings, muddy ruts, and rocks, the group returned air pressure to their tires and convoyed to Carlisle Fairgrounds where they retired to their respective tents, trunks, and trailers for the first night of rest. If you’re just joining us, the story continues, beginning with Morning Two of the 2019 TireRack.com Overland Adventure East. Adventure in the East From the stacks of applications submitted through fourwheeler.com, we selected 20 overland-equipped trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs, each equipped with true four-wheel drive, bearing unique sleeping accommodations, and hailing from…

editor@fourwheeler.com Four Wheeler’s SUV of the Year is the hard-core, weeklong shootout where we determine the best SUV by significant driving in sand and snow, up hills and across dunes, over jagged rocks, through water, and more. To test the 2020 models, we drove each SUV roughly 1,000 miles, mixing highway and track data in with our off-road testing. By the end of one week, our handpicked panel of judges—a crop of seasoned experts in everything 4x4 and off-road, had selected a winner. Here’s how it all went down. Invitations were sent out to all brand-new or substantially revised four-wheel-drive SUVs with a two-speed transfer case (or equivalent) that produces low-range-type gearing. Vehicles were also required to have a production run of at least 1,500 vehicles in the United States…

editor@fourwheeler.com Special thanks to Greg Malcolm, Brian Temple, “The Team,” and Tim Wright Not many auto or truck manufacturers can trace their brand back to one vehicle. Many fewer have a history that goes back more than a century. Only a handful can say they still own their first vehicle in running, driving condition. Oshkosh Corporation, the renowned truck manufacturer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is one of a tiny fraction of manufacturers that can put checkmarks beside all three of those benchmarks. As a company, Oshkosh began in May of 1917 under the Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company name. That’s not super early in the timeline of four-wheel-drive development, but there’s more to the story that takes them back to the very beginning. The founding technology for Oshkosh began in the fertile…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM Our love-affair with the Ram Rebel continues with this second report. So far, the truck has exceeded our expectations for what a well-rounded ½-ton can be like to live with in daily life, from its composure over any terrain, the exceptional technology (which only gets in the way sometimes), and spacious cab. Over the course of this quarter, we have gotten to know our Rebel better. We did some more towing, we hit some mild trails, and we took a couple of interstate road trips. We love how everything you touch inside the cabin exudes quality. From the plastics and leather to the feel of the buttons, nothing about the Ram comes across as cheap. We also appreciate just how well laid out the controls are, and the way…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM That’s Interesting ■ We’ve got the best and worst cities for driving, according to European automotive parts retailer Mister Auto. The best cities include Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Dubai, UAE; El Paso, Texas; and Gothenburg, Sweden. The worst include Bogota, Columbia; Lagos, Nigeria; Moscow, Russia; and, at the bottom of the batch, Mumbai, India. Where you’re unlikely to find much road rage? Osaka, Japan. Where you can expect it? Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. ■ PPG has studied the 2019 automotive color trend and blue is the one to watch, as it’s on the rise. In case you wondered: “Blue reflects consumers’ desire for adventure, relaxation, and reliability.” But the champ is white in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions. ■ But hold up before you rush out to buy…

editor@fourwheeler.com “Have I mentioned that there are no parts available for S-10s?” Taylor Wise asked that a couple of times while telling us about building his ’89 Chevy S-10. Then why did he pick that vehicle, you may ask? It found him. Kind of. The story of this pickup begins at the side of the road … when Taylor was 14 and in the seventh grade. “My grandpa traded a Mercury Grand Marquis for a trailer, and the guy he traded to said he could also have a truck that his son had left abandoned on the side of the road.” It had a blown engine and transmission. Cut to later that day: Taylor came home from school and spotted what his grandfather had collected. “I saw it and sat…

EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM DANA ID Q My friend has a ’60’s Ford pickup and we can’t identify the rear axle. It’s either a Dana 44 or a Dana 60. How can we tell the difference? TED OLMSTEAD VIA EMAIL A Identifying an axle is the first thing you should always do prior to ordering axle or brake parts. There are a couple of different rear axles that could have found their way under a ’60’s Ford truck. Which axle you have would depend on the truck model. It’s also possible that someone could have performed an axle swap. Since you have already identified the axle as a Dana 44 or Dana 60, that’s where we’ll go ahead and start. There are several relatively easy ways to identify a Dana axle. The cast…