PROFILE qqqqq THE DIRECT LINK TO CUSTOMERS OF 4 WHEEL PARTS & 4WHEEL DRIVE HARDWARE * OFFROADADVENTURES.COM OCTOBER OCTOBER 2012 2012 $3.50 $3.50 FINESSE FINESSE TOWING TOWING BUILDUPS BUILDUPS INSTALL INSTALL SMITTYBILT SMITTYBILT SURE-STEP SURE-STEP HELLWIG PRODUCTS PAGE 30 FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AT WWW.OFFROADADVENTURES.COM/DIGITAL PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TRANSAMERICAN AUTO PARTS INTERCO INTERCO SSR SSR RADIAL RADIAL WRAP-UP WRAP-UP A LONG-TERM TIRE TEST COMES TO CONCLUSION POSTMASTER PLEASE DELIVER BY 9/27/12 TRANSAMERICAN AUTO PARTS * 400 W ARTESIA BLVD * COMPTON, CA 90220

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OCTOBER 2012 ON THE COVER: Chris Collard puts the Interco Super Swamper Radial SSRs through their paces in his tire test wrap-up. contents FEATURES 8 WYOTECH CAR SHOW A Wounded Warrior Gets New Wheels 10 STEP IT UP Smittybilt Sure-Steps Offers Affordable, Easy-to-Install Convenience 14 LONG-TERM TIRE TEST The Interco Super Swamper Radial SSR 22 MORE 2012 EASTER JEEP MOAB MEMORIES Area BFE Brings it for Rancho, DynoMax, Bestop and BFG 24 CLUB PROFILE Gotham City Land Cruisers 40 TOWING ACCESSORIES BUYER'S GUIDE Products to Help Your Rig Handle the Tough Duty of Towing 76 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION 4WP's Second Annual Customer Run in Hollister Hills 80 NICK'S AT NIGHT 4 Wheel Parts Ultra4 Grand Prix REGULARS 30 MANUFACTURERS PROFILE: HELLWIG How Hellwig Products Harnessed Suspension Motion 34 FINESSE Towing Buildups 48 OLD IRON - THE OTHER FIRST DODGE DIESEL 1978-79 Dodge Diesel 75 OFF-ROADERS' GOOD DEEDS Check Out Who is Making a Difference! 90 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS Trucklite Benchmade DEPARTMENTS 4 NO NAME 6 LETTERS & STUFF 28 PARK PROFILE 46 CUSTOMER SERVICE 74 PARK PROFILE 78 IN TOUCH 86 NEWS BITS 100 GEARHEAD 14 8 10 34 80 f Follow us on Facebook! Keep up with the latest goings on and post your pics, videos & events. Enter prize drawings available only to our Facebook friends facebook.com/ORAmagazine OCTOBER 2012 ORA / 3

NONAMECOLUMN OCTOBER 2012 Denis Snow Greg Adler President & C.E.O. 4 / ORA OCTOBER 2012 ORA HITS PUBERTY! According to About.com - Parenting Teens. Thirteenyear-olds are dealing with the physical and emotional changes in their body. This will cause young teens to feel uncertain, moody and be hyper-sensitive to what others think of them, especially their peers. Well, with this October issue, Off-Road Adventures magazine turns 13 years old and we couldn't be happier, more self-assured and could care less about what our "peer" magazines think of us. Over the years we've had the pleasure of providing our customer-readers the best in adventure travel, interesting feature vehicles, informative tech stories, instructive installation stories, and meaningful project vehicle builds, like the Jeep Commander for the Placer County (CA) Search & Rescue Team, and the Toyota Tacoma Maya Hunter built for Vanderbilt University's Archeology Department (Google these for more info). We're also very proud of our involvement with helping our soldiers with our own, Operation Light Sabre program as well as supporting other programs such as the: Wounded Warrior Project, Operation Gratitude, Stand Down House, and Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors. And we couldn't have done any of these things without your continued support over the years...THANK YOU! PRESIDENT'SCORNER Fall is settling in. The days are shorter as it gets dark earlier. That means it's a good time to outfit your rig with the right set of lights. Our expanded Buyer's Guide is set up with tons of lights from the biggest and brightest names in the industry. You'll also see some great deals packed into the magazine. We kick off this month with our Monster Sale at all 55 stores and online on Saturday Oct 13. Don't miss out on some very scary deals, plus stop by and enter our Hawaii Vacation Package (see more details on page 54). Many of our customers drive newer trucks that still have a factory warranty. They hold off putting a suspension lift and a nice set of tires and wheels on until that warranty has expired. Well now you don't have to wait to upgrade that stock ride. Pro Comp Suspension just introduced their new Lift Shield Warranty which offers a drivetrain warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles. Check out more info on this industry leading program at ProCompUSA.com. Some of you may have seen our call for help regarding Save the Hammers. This effort is documented on our website and social media. The Hammer trails in Johnson Valley are under threat to be taken away from the off-road community. It's estimated that over 1 million enthusiasts visit this place annually. Johnson Valley represents half of the offroad area remaining in California. Help us Save the Hammers for current and future off-roaders. Check out 4Wheelparts.com for more information. Thank you for your business with 4 Wheel Parts and enjoy this month's free Off-Road Adventures magazine. - Greg Adler p Exclusive magazine for customers of 4 WHEEL PARTS WHOLESALERS, 4WHEEL DRIVE HARDWARE and off-roading enthusiasts everywhere 400 W. Artesia Blvd. Compton, CA 90220 310-900-2686 4wheelparts.com offroadadventures.com EDITORIAL Denis Snow Editor/Publisher Tina Favre Smith Managing Editor Lance Pownall Creative Director Jim Allen Technical Advisor Andrea Friedenthal Magazine Administration Ana Herrera Ad Coordinator ADVERTISING Chris Connors Western States Representative 818-223-9880 chriscomedia@sbcglobal.net Tom Johnson Eastern States Representative Johnson Media Group T-w-johnson@msn.com 248-312-0164 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Allen, Steve Anderson, Chris Collard, Debbie Economos, Trent McGee, Sue Mead, Allen Merritt, Tom Morr, Trent Riddle, Rick Russell, Sven & Magdalena Schlogl, Steve Temple, Harry Wagner, Larry Walton, Tom Wilson, William Masterson, Bear Updyke, Dr. Jon Solberg, Ricky Berry TAP WORLDWIDE, LLC Greg Adler President & C.E.O. Tim Mongi Chief Operations Officer Mark Lane Chief Financial Officer Rich Botello President, Pro Comp Brent Goegebuer Director of Marketing Every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. Off-Road Adventures, Four Wheel Parts Wholesalers and TAP Worldwide, LLC are not responsible for opinions expressed or information contained in this publication. When installing any part or accessory, be sure you completely read and understand the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Articles contained in this publication are meant to be informative adjuncts to the manufacturer's installation instructions. COPYRIGHT 2012 BY TAP WORLDWIDE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE USA To get your free subscription or change your address, go to offroadadventures.com/subscriptions or mail to ORA Magazine, 400 W. Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA 90220.

720 SW 34th St, Renton, WA 98057 Tel: 800-761-8158 www.ARBusa.com Unleash the adventurer within. ARB 4X4 ACCESSORIES HAS A FULL LINE OF PRODUCTS FOR THE TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR PROTECTION BUMPERS, SKID PLATES, ROCK SLIDERS, ROOF RACKS, AIR LOCKERS, OLD MAN EMU SUSPENSION, SAFARI SNORKELS AND OUTBACK SOLUTIONS DRAWERS. WHERE YOU TAKE THEM IS UP TO YOU.

6 / ORA OCTOBER 2012 LETTERS &STUFF MY JEEP Hi, I am proud of my "Patriotic Project!" I worked on it all winter and have had a great summer Jeeping at the beach with the family. I have attached some pics for you to check out. I read Off-Road Adventures magazine, and I have seen some projects like mine featured, and I thought perhaps people would get a kick out of my 1989 YJ Wrangler with the Stars and Stripes representation. I bought the Jeep in 2010 in grave condition and with much TLC and budget busting repairs I am thrilled with the result. I intended to paint the Jeep to suit my style (solid color-deep blue), but as I was in the process of restoring it...the custom paint scheme grew on me. The determining factor took place on May 2, 2011, when the U.S. Navy SEALs stormed the compound and engaged Bin Laden and his men in a firefight and killed Bin Laden and all those with him. The hood on my Jeep was now cemented in history. It displays a Bald Eagle carrying in its talons Bin Laden on one side and Saddam Hussein on the other. No way I was going to paint this Jeep now. In fact, I worked hard to bring the paint back to life, and will continue to preserve it as long as I can. It draws a lot of attention, and most people that see it seem to be as proud of our country as am I. Thanks in advance for reading. Ronnie Schwab Columbia, MD RONNIE'S & KERRI'S RAM We are Ronnie and Kerri Davis of Centennial, WY. This is our '02 Ram 1500. It has a custom 3-1/2" lift using Pro Comp and Tuff Country parts with Skyjacker shocks. We 8 Email your questions, comments and images (in jpeg format at 2-5 mb). with your name, address & phone number to info@oramagazine.com wanted to keep a close to stock look so we mounted our 10,000 lb. Smittybilt winch behind the bumper. We mounted KC lights into the bumper. We have Hella lights behind the grille. 295/75R17 Cooper STTs mounted on stock wheels. Our thanks to the Denver 4WP store for their help and quick delivery of parts. JOE'S SLOPPY HAULER The truck is a '92 Chevy K2500 with a 6.5l turbo diesel. I started working on it in my free time three years ago. It has a 4" Tuff Country lift, on 36" TSL radial Swampers, and Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels. I haven't taken it into any serious holes or pits yet, since I'm still ironing out a few bugs. The truck pulls sloppy grain wagons, hauls hay loads, and moves tractors for our family farm. Joe G. ANDI'S FREE SPIRIT SPORT My name is Andi, born and raised in Hungary, now living in Las Vegas. I bought this '06 Wrangler Sport three years ago, with the lift-kit and Mud Terrain tires already on, installed by 4 Wheel Parts here, in Las Vegas. I had previously owned an '02 Wrangler Sport, I always had the love for this great American car! First time I saw Linda Hamilton driving one in Terminator, I fell in love! I call it the "doggy wagon," I have two large dogs and we often go off-roading together! It runs great, never lets me down. I enjoy this car to the fullest. I love the sound of the engine. I only have a soft top, so I feel free wherever I go, with the wind breezing through the entire car. My friends think I'm crazy not having the back or the back-side windows on, regardless of the summer heat or the winter cold. Great car, hope to keep it until I die (or it dies). p

Chrome AX188 |LEDGE Coated w/ Teflon® Chrome AX805 |FORCE Coated w/ Teflon®

pSgt Matt Amos and his Modern Warfare 3 Special Edition with a new aggressive stance and added performance thanks to the Pro Comp wheels and tires, Pro Comp 2.5" lift and Magnaflow exhaust system. A Wounded Warrior By Camee Edelbrock Gets New Wheels Editor's Note: 4 Wheel Parts President/CEO Greg Adler was contacted to see if he would be interested in supplying parts for this Wounded Warrior project vehicle build. He immediately jumped in offering products from sister companies Pro Comp and Smittybilt for this very worthy cause. 8 / ORA OCTOBER 2012 In August, the WyoTech campus in Long Beach, CA ÖÖhosted the 5th Annual Wounded Warrior car show. It was a huge success, raising over $17,000 for the Semper Fi Fund and attracting 198 vehicles. The show also served as the backdrop for a special event - the presentation of a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Modern Warfare 3 Special Edition to Sgt James "Matt" Amos, a decorated Marine who lost both legs in Afghanistan. The Semper Fi Fund provided Matt with the funds he needed to purchase the Jeep, while the automotive stu- dents at WyoTech, along with aftermarket companies Pro Comp, Smittybilt, Magnaflow and Royal Purple, provided the extra performance, bigger wheels/tires and other offroad worthy add-ons. Matt said, "I chose the Jeep because it allows me to go almost anywhere. I love to hunt, fish and wheel. This was the vehicle that allowed me to accomplish all of those things." Matt continues, "While this is a limited edition Jeep and a beautiful vehicle, she is not a Pavement Princess, that would be an insult to a Jeep." Originally from Goddard, Kansas, he plans on returning there to "turn her (the Jeep) from the all-black to a pretty mud brown color." When asked why he selected the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 edition, Matt responded, "It represented the Call of Duty that has been answered by my Brothers and Sisters in arms. It represents my brothers who have made the ultimate sacrifice; it represents the sacrifices that our families make for us. It was billed as the toughest vehicle in the world - any world - and that fits the Marine way of life. We're the baddest and toughest on the planet - any planet - and what better vehicle to pSgt Matt Amos with his wife Audrie and daughters, Clara and Lily. encompass all of those reasons?" You can imagine why there wasn't a dry eye in the house when the Jeep was presented to Sgt Amos during the car show. WyoTech has a strong tie with the military, as many of the students are veterans gaining skills they need to become automotive technicians. The Semper Fi Fund provides much needed assistance to injured Marines and their families. It was a natural for WyoTech and Semper Fi to work together on a project for Sgt Amos. The students who installed the donated products are veterans: Erik Hansen, a retired Marine, served three deployments; retired Marine, Shawn Walker, served two deployments in Afghanistan; Jeremy Kalcisics, a retired Marine Corporal E-4, acted as

an Automotive Organization Mechanic in Afghanistan. Other students included Michael Drew, Patrick Lee of the Marine Corp Infantry and Roman Castruita, who retired from the Navy after serving in three separate missions. Matt's journey with the Marine Corp began after 9/11, a turning point for him, and an incentive to take action. Lance Corporal Amos was deployed to Iraq in February 2006, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-07 and was wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on a dismounted patrol. He suffered lacerations to the face and extremities as well as numerous shrapnel wounds to the arms and legs. He re-enlisted in July of 2007, when he accepted orders to Inspector- Instructor Staff 24th Marine Regiment in Kansas City, Missouri. There, he pWyoTech students prepare to install the Off- Road Pro Series Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system - perfect for Sgt Amos' off- and onroad excursions. enrolled in the Fish and Wildlife program at Oregon State University and participated in numerous community outreach programs. He received orders for duty with the 1st Marine Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton and was deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2011. While on a dismounted patrol in June, he was severely wounded after stepping on the pressure plate of an IED, which resulted in the loss of both of his 5th Annual Wounded Warrior Car Show at WyoTech Long Beach pSgt Amos talks to WyoTech students after the presentation. These students, fellow Marines, helped to install the aftermarket components on the Jeep. tPro Comp supplied these 17x9 Series 7036 alloy wheels. pShawn Walker and Jeremy Kalcsics from WyoTech prepare to install the 2.5" Pro Comp suspension system with ES9000 shocks to handle the beefy Pro Comp wheels and tires. pThe Pro Comp LED light bar is big improvement over stock with a 15.6 G-Force vibration rating and a 3-watt CREE LED for light that delivers a 60-degree light pattern up close and a 10-degree pattern down the road for long-range requirements. legs, a fractured pelvis, and numerous internal injuries. Amos underwent several surgeries, was transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego and then assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West. Matt's military awards include: Purple Heart with one gold star for 2nd award, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device and two gold stars for 3rd award, Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star for 2nd award, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one bronze star for 2nd award. Matt says, "Being a Marine is the most rewarding job I can think of. It doesn't matter where you came from, what you were, what you've done. It's a family, a brotherhood that continues even after you leave; all Marines past and present have a bond that is unlike anything you'll find in any other job. I'm filled with pride just thinking about it." Today, Matt is undergoing physical therapy. He is married to Audrie and they have two daughters; Lily age 6, and Clara age 3. p OCTOBER 2012 ORA / 9

[ install ] STEP IT UP Smittybilt Sure-Steps Offers Affordable, Easy-To-Install Convenience Story Tom Morr Photos Tom Morr Smittybilt is generally credited with creating the nerf bar. ÖÖThese tubular sidebars were introduced approximately 40 years ago to protect rocker panels from off-road dents. As 4x4s got taller, nerf bars for trail vehicles evolved into dual-purpose sidebars. They still provide rocker protection - often against runaway parking lot shopping carts and door dings - and now also serve as steps. Some enthusiasts even weld their bars' end caps solid, plumb in fittings, and use the bars for compressed-air storage. Smittybilt's bars have morphed from their original roundsteel design. They now include slip-resistance polyester step pads. Available finishes are polished 304L stainless steel and mild steel in a choice of gloss black or texture black (Jeep only) powder coating. For corrosion-resis- BEFORE: This TJ is just tall enough that its owner's wife has a hard time getting in it. pAfter the bare Sure Step is dipped in acid to remove impurities, it goes into an e-coat vat to help inhibit rust. Dual-stage power coating provides the final layer of protection. 10 / ORA OCTOBER 2012 SOURCES 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center Thousand Oaks, CA 805-495-3344 tho@4wheelparts.com Smittybilt smittybilt.com tance, all bars are acid-dipped prior to receiving their finish. Stainless Sure Steps undergo two stages of polishing to achieve a mirror finish. Black bars are dipped in an ecoat to electrostatically inhibit rust inside and out prior to powder coating. Smittybilt claims that this makes the black bars pass 500-hour salt-spray tests. Smittybilt Sure Steps are also designed for DIY installation. Hand tools and a drill are all that's required. Lifted 4x4s with tall enough tires might not even need to be raised off the ground to do the job. 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center technician Mike Loehner (from the Thousand Oaks, California store) demonstrated how a set of Sure Steps can be installed on a TJ in slightly more than an hour. AFTER: The Smittybilt Sure Step eases ingress and provides rocker protection. pTextured Black, a Jeep-only finish, got the call here. The bars are shipped with stickers that identify driver's and passenger's side bars. The kit also includes mounting brackets, hardware and instructions.