Top Truck Challange, 2012

WA-Wheeler · Nov 22, 2011

Cool Cool. I get an outdoor channel that is always playing them so hopefully I will get to see you beat your rig for a few days! :awesomework:

TreeClimber · Nov 22, 2011

I want to send a big thankyou to the guys at Trailready. Not only did they build a great wheel, but they mounted my tires for me too. Saved a ton of time. Here's the pics with the tires mounted, and a couple closeups of the wheelwells, for clearance pictures. Overall width comes in at juuussst a Gnat's Ass over 80"

TreeClimber · Nov 22, 2011

Got a few more decals to add to the collection, but I'm holding off putting them on, because I may paint the rockers & rear corners, so I'll put the new stickers on then. Closeups of wheels. I did NOT end up using those wheel spacers from an earlier pic. Didn't need 'em. However I did use some 1/2 spacers in the rear, that Jeepmauler had machined for me a few years ago. It gave me the perfect backspacing. As odd as it is, ideal backspacing for me, is 3.5 front, and 3.0 rear. So I got all the wheels at 3.5 and added the thin rear spacers. Works perfect. Added benefit, my trailer is also 80" wide, so I *should* just fit.

You can clearly see in this picture, that the front tires will have a clearance problem. I've addressed that by getting 'DeFender" front fenders from Poison Spyder Customs. That opens up the fenderwell by another 3 inches behind that front tire, and loses the front overhang (where the blinker light goes). Should have these installed in a couple days.

NotSoPC · Nov 22, 2011

Are you able to have decals on your rig that are not from the event sponsors? I thought I had read that in the rules but could be wrong.

jeepmauler · Nov 22, 2011

Hey Tony...I saw over on Pirate that you were 40 spline...really?! Damn dude...thats awesome....I'm super jealous:awesomework:

TreeClimber · Nov 22, 2011

jeepmauler said:
Hey Tony...I saw over on Pirate that you were 40 spline...really?! Damn dude...thats awesome....I'm super jealous:awesomework:

40 semi float rear, 35 front. At the time I built the axles, I didn't source the front spindles for 40s, so I kept everything at 35. When I found TTC was re-inviting me, I took out the Spicer joints, and Bobby donated the 300M joints to replace them. At this time, it's really not worth going to 40 spline fronts, even though Pirate has (now) vendors selling all that stuff, because I don't think when it's all over, and I go back to 37 tires, that the 35 splined axles are weak.

TreeClimber · Nov 23, 2011

KarlVP said:
I'm really looking forward to this.

May I reccomend that you grow out the mustache for the competition?

Just stumbled across this old picture:

I look like a young Groucho Marx, minus all the comedy.

Digger 5 · Nov 24, 2011

Man, that was a long time ago. He could carry you like that now!

TreeClimber · Nov 28, 2011

New fenders are on, as is the new hood. Fenders are Poison Spyder Customs 'DeFenders' series fenders. 3" flairs. 3/16ths bent steel. The hood was a spare hood I had, and with my original intentions were to cut the snorkel hole in this hood, in order to keep my OEM hood nice. This hood was louvered by a guy in Tacoma who does hotrods. Anyhow, since I painted the fenders, I also painted this hood. Those of you who know my YJ, will recognize it by the louvers. When I barrel rolled the YJ at Rimrock, it destroyed the hood. So I took all my spare hoods (including this one) and got them all re-louvered. So it's just been sitting around for a couple years.

Jacob · Nov 28, 2011

I have been eyeing those new Poison Spider fenders, they look pretty bad ass. Looks like you had to do some trimming on your rocker guards and tubes to get them to fit.

TreeClimber · Nov 28, 2011

Jacob said:
I have been eyeing those new Poison Spider fenders, they look pretty bad ass. Looks like you had to do some trimming on your rocker guards and tubes to get them to fit.

Good eye. Yes, my rockers were a different vendor's rockers & I had originally added the tube myself. The new fenders open up the wheelwells by 3 additional inches. That created a problem with my prior tube work. Not sure what I'll do. I'm thinking of just capping the end and tying the cap into the rocker. If that looks too fubar, I'll cut all the tube off and put a shorter piece on.

Jacob · Nov 28, 2011

I also see you were the northwest winner for a free set...lucky ass...

The five we finally chose represent a good mix of what we were looking for. So here they are:

John Grounds, Florida
Justin Zmieske, New York
Jerry Bransford, California
Shawn Ceeko, Texas
Anthony Fox, Washington

TreeClimber · Dec 1, 2011

Here's final pics of the DeFenders vs. OEM fenders

TreeClimber · Dec 1, 2011

And some poser pics on 40s.
Next stop is the suspension and roll cage mods.

Digger 5 · Dec 2, 2011

Tony-
It really looks good! It would be nice to see a rig with small tires win the event (did you ever think that 40's would be considered small???).

Memory whiplash.....

In 2002 at SEMA, we had Currie's 'Strangler' Jeep in our booth. It had 4 of the first 8 40" MTRs ever made. The booth was constantly filled with people looking at the HUGE new tire that was on the Jeep. "No way will people ever use a tire this big!"

Times have changed.