BC4x4.COM four wheel drive, 4x4, offroad and fourwheeling site.

Nov 20, 2009
Nov 16, 2009	2009 Christmas 4x4 Toy Run Location: S.E. Corner for Guildford Towne Centre, in Surrey Bring: New unwrapped toys & non-perishable foods. Don't assume that your presence isn't required. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! So please show up and make this a better Christmas for those of us who are less fortunate. A lot of people have lost their jobs this year and you can make a big difference in their lives.
Nov 3, 2009	When Holding It Is Not An Option For non-competitive four-wheelers, the Black Cat External Catheter is either for those of us who are obsessed about not wasting a minute of their time, or those of us who are just really, really lazy. What is it? Why, it's exactly what you're afraid it is: it's a pee-in-a-bottle system. Hah, and you thought it was some kind of colloquialism for an exhaust sytem, didn't you? Click on the link for all the details.
Oct 28, 2009	Make Some Christmas Money With Your Half-Ton Pickup This Winter Western Products have just announced a full-size, full-featured snow plow specifically designed for half-ton trucks. Now owners of these smaller, more fuel-efficient trucks can put them to work plowing snow and earning money.
Oct 19, 2009	Custom Or Stock Mopar E-Body Aluminum Radiators From Mark 7 Radiators Dodge owners who are beefing up their motors will want to take a moment to visit Mark 7 Radiators' website. They build custom or stock replacement rads for all Mopar makes, models, and years. Their custom rads are built specifically for your engine/transmission combination. The rad pictured here can cool up to 750hp in 100F weather with the a/c running.
Oct 14, 2009	VOTE: Should off-road vehicles be banned from Blue Mountain? The Maple Ridge Times is running a survey, asking if off-road vehicles should be banned from Blue Mountain. Click on this link and go vote!! If you can't find the survey, click here for more information.
Oct 5, 2009	The JackMate - Lift Jack Accessory is BACK! The latest iteration of the Jackmate lift jack accessory features some notable improvements, such as a Super-Grip diamond plate top, wire fence pulling slots, and an improved quick-release pin. We reviewed this product back when it first came out and are glad to see it's still around and being improved upon.
Sep 27, 2009	ORTT's Recovery Strap Holder It's a common problem: where do I store my tow strap so it's easily accessible and what do I do with it when it's covered in slimey mud? Off Road Trail Tools has an elegant solution to both of those problems. Their new Recovery Strap Holder is a compact unit that can be mounted pretty much anywhere you'd like. I'd mount it somewhere on the outside of the vehicle where a spotter can easily grab it.
Sep 23, 2009	Vision X Lighting's XIL-M1 In the arms race of off-roading lighting systems, Vision X has just brought us to the brink of nuclear destruction. If you want the most high-tech, bleeding edge lights for your 4x4, drag your credit card, kicking and screaming, out of your wallet and order the XIL-M1, also known as the "Patriot Smart Light." You can click the link for full tech details but here's the summary: this thing rocks.
Sep 21, 2009	Pit Bull Tire Company Releases Its 2009 Radial Light Truck Tire Lineup New for 2009 are Rocker XOR LT radials, a slightly tamed version of the LT off-road tire, modified to provide better street manners. Radial sizes announced for 2009 are: 41.5X1350R16.5, 17, 18 & 20 - Coming Fall 2009 35X1250R15, 16, 17, 18 & 20 - Coming Fall 2009 37X1250R15, 16, 16.5, 17, 18, 20 & 22 - Coming Winter 2009 Read the full article for the other Pit Bull Tire announcements.
Sep 14, 2009	Pillowtrack Recovery Device We get it, we really do. The concept makes sense but we also know our buddies would roll on the ground in hysterical fits of laughter as soon as we started inflating these bags. The Pillowtrack Recover Device is basically an inflatable sand ladder with one significant benefit: they can conform to a variety of terrain, making it possible to use them on rocks, as well. They also pack up smaller.
Sep 8, 2009	Rancho Tube Doors for Jeep JK Rancho adds another product to their growing RockGear lineup with the introduction of Jeep JK Tube Doors.
Sep 3, 2009	Wildfire Activity Continues Into September The heat wave may be over but the forest fire danger is still very much with us. Today, Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell warned that we still need to be vigilant when in the woods. "Just because children are heading back to school and summer is coming to an end doesn't mean the public should stop being extremely careful with open flame of any type", said Bell. "The fire danger rating still remains high to extreme for over 37 per cent of the province." Click on the link for information on where campfire bans are still in effect.
Aug 24, 2009	Off Road Trail Tools Wheel Chocks Yeah, I know. Wheel chocks aren't exactly a sexy item to add to your off-road tool kit, but they can literally save your life. Off Road Trail Tools' new ORTT Wheel Chocks fold flat, don't spark, are light-weight, and very strong. I could have really used a set of these a few weeks ago when my Jeep was pointing downhill and I had to winch a vehicle uphill. They'd also be extremely useful when changing a tire or swapping out an axle shaft on unstable terrain.
Aug 20, 2009	Ultimate Diesel Performance Introduces Their New Performance Differential Covers for Dodge and GM Trucks Ultimate Diesel Performance has released their new diff covers. Major features include extra fluid capacity, easy fluid service without removing cover, and a built-in heat sink for cooler oil.
Aug 9, 2009	Daystar Scorpion Performance Shock Absorbers Daystar leveling kits have been on the market for years and are almost standard issue as a first modification for many truck and SUV owners. Up till now you could only buy a leveling kit from Daystar but you had to choose shocks from a different manufacturer if the amount of lift made your stock length shock absorbers inadequate. Not anymore! Daystar has now released their new Scorpion shocks.
Aug 8, 2009	Nitto Trail Grappler MT Nitto will have a new tire available starting in September called the Trail Grappler MT. Looks like a smart move for them to come out with a new design that will be more than an all terrain and less aggressive than their current off road tire. The stated goal was to offer a tire that was more aggressive than their Terra Grappler and obviously more all around friendly than their Mud Grappler yet be able to deliver the kind of well-rounded performance many of us are looking for when choosing a tire for our full size rigs.
Aug 6, 2009	AFE Mach Force XP 3-Inch Exhaust for 2009 Chevy Trucks AFE has now released their new Mach Force XP 3" cat back exhaust for 2009 Chev Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with V8 4.8/5.3/6.0 gas motors. This cat back will work on Flex-fuel trucks but not on the Hybrids.
Jul 31, 2009	Wildfire Risk Critical Across The Province The wildfire risk across the province has reached a critical level due to continued hot and dry weather, and British Columbians are being asked to voluntarily restrict back country activities, said Premier Gordon Campbell. Fourwheelers, if you're going out this weekend, please be VERY CAREFUL!
Jul 29, 2009	Forest Road Rules Guide Safe Off-Road Vehicle Use Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell reminds British Columbians of some basic safety rules when using Forest Service roads. "All motor vehicle operators on Forest Service roads (FSRs) must have a valid driver's licence for the class of vehicle they are driving, including Class 5 licences for all-terrain vehicles and Class 6 licences for motorcycles. All operators must also carry a minimum of $200,000 third-party liability insurance, available through any insurance agent. Some off-road vehicle and outdoor recreation clubs also provide group insurance policies as part of their membership package." While it sounds more like a harangue than advice, it probably is a good idea to be insured, particularly if you've ever witnessed some of the gong show antics when travelling on FSRs on long weekends.
Jul 21, 2009	Hi-Lift Jack Mount For Tubes Hi-Lift jacks are handy tools and most every four-wheeler carries one as part of his tool kit. The age old question in Hi-Lift ownership has always been where to safely mount this big hunk of life-threatening steel. Well, Hi-Lift has finally come out with a tube mount.
Jul 16, 2009	Fabtech 6" Lift System For 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma With VSC Fabtech has finally been able to overcome the issues surrounding properly lifting a Toyota Tacoma equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). Available either in a Basic system that uses a spacer with the factory coilover or a Performance system that features a replacement Fabtech Dirt Logic 2.50 coilover shock.
Jul 8, 2009	Bushwacker Pocket Style Flares for 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Probably due to the economic slowdown we haven't seen quite as many of the very cool 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4's around. We really like the styling of these trucks and when you add a 6" lift kit the cool factor goes through the roof. Now Bushwacker has released their new Pocket Style Flares for those owners needing to cover up wide tires and rims after a lift kit install.
Jul 3, 2009	Shell Rotella Gets Even Better Way back in the day (well not that far back, 1999) when I purchased my first diesel-powered vehicle (1982 Jetta Diesel - no snickering please) it came to my attention that there was something known as diesel motor oil. Previously I had never owned a diesel-powered anything so a bit of research was necessary to figure out what exactly a diesel oil was. One brand name that always popped up in my Internet research was Shell Rotella. Ten years later, some recent Googling shows that this oil is still very popular with diesel owners. Building on the brand, Shell Oil has now introduced a 5W40 synthetic version of Rotella: Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40.
Jun 26, 2009	Poly Performance DIY Sport Cage for Jeep Wrangler JK Poly Performance has got the bases covered for do-it-yourselfers who want to build a cage for their Jeep JKs but can't afford to invest big bucks in a tube bender and notcher, to say nothing of the costly tube wasted while learning how to make the bends. Their DIY Sport Cage kits come in front, rear, or front-and-rear configurations for both 2-door and 4-door JKs.
Jun 25, 2009	Help Needed To Apprehend Arsonist The Coast Fire Centre needs four-wheelers' help to identify and arrest the person or persons responsible for setting wildfires in the Mount Benson area, near Nanaimo. So far this year they've had 38 person-caused wildfires in the area. Besides being an obvious danger to nearby residents and backcountry recreationists, the damage is extremely costly in terms of the environment and manpower used to fight the fires. All four-wheelers are encouraged to record and report any suspicious behaviour.
Jun 23, 2009	Turtle Jam 2009 - Register Now! The Herd of Turtles' TURTLE JAM 2009 is fast approaching (Aug 1-3) but there are still spots available if you want to join in the fun. The event takes place on Apex Mtn, in the sunny Okanagan. Last year's event provided great scenery and challenging obstacles. We also tried a trail that wasn't on their list of trail runs and ended up making a butt-puckering traverse across a very scary sidehill, thousands of feet above the valley floor. This year promises to be just as enjoyable but with the added bonus of optional gourmet meals prepared by a chef. Go to this link (http://forums.hot4x4.ca/showthread.php?t=393) for more information and SIGN UP as soon as you can! I'm going to be there, for sure. I'll bring some BC4x4 stickers with me so look for me if you want some.
Jun 15, 2009	BD Diesel Dodge Ram Adjustable Track Bar Kits Death wobble. Two words that can raise the blood pressure of any 4x4 owner. If you have ever experienced the death wobble you know it is a truly frightening event and something that no one wishes to experience more than once. Unfortunately for Dodge Ram owners, because of the multi-link front suspension systems it seems like these trucks quite often encounter death wobble. BD Diesel Performance has come to market with a new adjustable front track bar kit to help solve one of the problems that can contribute to the dreaded death wobble.
Jun 11, 2009	Ansani Designs' Toyota Tundra Fiberglass Light Pod Bumper Insert Street-oriented Toyota Tundra owners will love this: Ansani Designs has a new light pod insert that lets you stuff three 8-inch KC Rally 800 lights into your front bumper. This fiberglass insert replaces the factory urethane piece and looks 100% stock...except way cooler.
May 21, 2009	Poly Performance Adjuster Tubes For Suspension and Steering Links These are going to make a lot of backyard fabricators happy. These adjusters permit adjusting the length of a steering or suspension link without having to disconnect and twist the rod end. Besides making precise length adjustments possible, they also retain their position better than jam nuts and add a touch of professional quality to the work.
Apr 29, 2009	Truck 'N Buddy Pickup Step/Seat Is that sedentary job and those after-work beers causing you to pack on pounds and become out of shape? If so, this folding step will make climbing into the bed of your truck much easier. It will also be useful for owners of trucks with really tall lifts, too, and those of us with older pets who need an easier way to get in and out of the truck.
Apr 27, 2009	Tuffy JK Stereo Cover Jeep owners have always relied on Tuffy Products to secure their stereos and valuables in soft top vehicles. Now JK owners have an option for protecting their stereos as well. Tuffy has released their new JK Stereo Cover. It's not a thing of beauty but it's definitely functional. The name of the game here is thwarting potential thieves and esthetics might be a lesser concern for the JK owner faced with a missing stereo and the damage caused by theft.
Apr 23, 2009	Ultra Jack, From All-Trade Tools: A Kinder, Friendlier Trail Jack Let's play a word association game. If I say "Hi-Lift," what is the first thing that comes to mind? Well for me it's "scary!" We've all needed a Hi-lift jack at one time or another but it's definitely a love-hate relationship. Sure, they're extremely useful but we've all seen been in situations where we've had a wobbly truck balanced 3' in the air on one, praying that we might still have a full set of teeth and functional legs after the precarious trail-side fix is done.
Apr 21, 2009	Powerjection III - The First "Adaptive Learning" Electronic Fuel Injection Kit It's hard to reconcile the word, "simple," with "fuel injection system." But the two go together just perfectly with Professional Products' new 'Adaptive Learning' fuel injection kit. To tune the fuel injection, all you have to do is drive the vehicle and let the built-in engine management system do the analysis. To keep control freaks happy, the system also supports programming and mapping via a laptop connection.
Apr 16, 2009	Banks Stainless Steel Torque Tubes for Jeep JKs It's not likely that your new 3.8L equipped JK needs headers but if you want them, Banks has got 'em. Their new Torque Tubes, built from 400-series stainless, are meant to be extremely durable and Banks claims the tube assemblies welded to the flanges will never crack or separate! That's right, NEVER.
Apr 6, 2009	Ansani Designs' Fiberglass Truck Bumpers With Built-in Light Pods These are direct replacements for factory bumpers. The combination of figerblass and polyester resin results in a strong but light-weight bumper. In some cases they are 40% to 50% lighter than the steel bumpers they replace. Mounting pods for three auxilliary lights are molded right into the bumpers.
Apr 1, 2009	Superlift 6" Lift Systems for 2007-2009 Toyota Tundra 4x4s The Toyota Tundra continues to get more suspension treats from Superlift. Their latest offering allows Tundra owners to fit 35"-tall tires, thanks to their 6-inch suspension lift system that features one-piece, high-clearance crossmembers and custom cast ductile-iron knuckles that preserve factory steering geometry.
Mar 30, 2009	BDS 6" Lift System for 2009 Ford F150 New truck = new lift kits. 2009 Ford F150 owners now have another option for lifting their trucks: the NEW BDS Suspension 6" lift system. This high quality system allows F150 owners to fit 37" tires.
Mar 25, 2009	Fastening Panels is Easy with Poly Performance Aluminum J-Hooks When doing any kind of fabricating project, you would be shocked at how much time is consumed by the little jobs, like making tabs and welding them onto your buggy so you can attach panels. Poly Performance knows this and that's why they've just announced their J-Hooks that let you quickly mount sheet metal to 1.5" OD and 1.75" OD tubing. No need to weld tabs or pre-fabricate mounting locations, simply drill a hole and fasten the hardware!
Mar 23, 2009	BDS 7" High Clearance Lift System for 07-09 Toyota Tundra We will go on record as saying that lifted Tundras are very cool. BDS Suspension has just kicked it up a notch for Tundra owners by introducing a new 7" High Clearance suspension kit allowing the fitment of 37x12.5 tires.
Mar 18, 2009	Trail-Gear's Rock Defense Rear Bumper For Toyota Mini-Trucks Tube bumpers that provide wrap-around bed corner protection are expensive, right? Not so with Trail-Gear's new Rock Defense bumper. Thanks to economies of scale and off-shore production, they can offer this bumper at a shockingly low price.
Mar 16, 2009	Trail Gear Dana 60 Drive Flanges For those of you with Dana 60 front diffs that have been upgraded to 35-spline outers, you have the option of using Warn hubs or drive flanges. For a rig that is still seeing dual purpose usage (street and trail) the Warn hubs are probably the way to go but if it's a dedicated trail vehicle, drive flanges are a better choice due to their simplicity and strength. Trail Gear's entry in the drive flange market will make breaking your manual hubs and claiming warranty at your local 4x4 shop a distant memory.
Mar 13, 2009	Superlift Releases Upgraded Jeep JK Wrangler Rear Track Bar Brackets These brackets add strength to a potential weak spot in JK Wranglers where the rear track bar attaches to the axle housing. These brackets come in weld-on or bolt-on versions, and can be used on stock-height and 2-4" lifted JK's.
Mar 11, 2009	New UTV Accessories from Beard Seats and Speed Industries For those looking to add extra rollover protection to their Kawasaki Teryx and Polaris RZR, Speed Industries offers the newly designed Baja Cage Extension. In addition, on the Teryx an optional articulating spare tire carrier is offered and on the RZR a fixed mount, so those that venture far out into the boonies will be able to have the security of a spare tire. For those looking for more comfort and safety in their seating Beard Seats is offering the new Super TSX suspension seat.
Mar 10, 2009	Off Road Trail Tools' Clean Cabin Air Intake For Jeep Wrangler TJ and LJ owners, ORTT's Clean Cabin Air Intake scoop is a must-have upgrade when you're exploring those dusty trails. Cleaner air and less dust build up in your interior and sensitive electronics (stereo, laptop, digital camera, etc.) are the result. Check it out before the summer comes and the trails turn from mud to dust.
Mar 5, 2009	Hi-Lift Jack Protector Hi-Lift jacks are one of the must-have tools for off-roaders but a frequent problem with them is that the lubricant on their moving parts often gets gummed up or dried out. This is a particular problem for those of us who mount the jack on the exterior of our 4x4's. Hi-Lift's Jack Protector is the perfect solution.
Mar 3, 2009	Reese Solo Hitch Alignment System Reese's Solo Hitch Alignment System is a classic example of an ingeniously simple idea. Take a couple of telescoping antennas, put tennis balls on top, and you've got a one-person hitch alignment system.
Mar 1, 2009	Craftsman Cooling System Pressure Tester Cooling system problems are one of the more insidious problems for off-roaders because they're most likely to appear when you're out in the bush, moving at slow speeds in low-range. Craftsman's cooling system tester lets home mechanics quickly locate their cooling system's problem areas. Remember, it's always better to fix your 4x4 in your driveway than on the trail.
Feb 20, 2009	Hi-Lift Slide-N-Lock: Tie Down System One of the most useful upgrades you can make to your 4x4's cargo area is to set it up with Hi-Lift's Slide-N-Lock Tie-Down System. Its moveable tie-down points make it a simple process to secure any kind of cargo, no matter what its size or shape.
Feb 18, 2009	Poly Performance DIY Ring and Pinion Gear Kits for Jeep JKs The phrase, "do it yourself," isn't something you typically associate with a differential gear swap but the folks at Poly Performance don't see things that way. Their new, high-strength ring and pinion kits are unique in that they include full-color installation instructions with industry-leading detail. Each manual is designed for the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiast with actual photos and line drawings to make a proper installation with ease.
Feb 18, 2009	Power Tank Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit When you need to repair a flat on a trail, it's usually because you REALLY need to repair a flat on the trail. Calling a tow truck is not an option, nor is thumbing for a ride home. So if you're going to carry a tire repair kit, do yourself a favour and buy one that will get the job done. Power Tank is the only company to offer a high quality, complete tire repair kit that has been tested by automotive industry professionals at an affordable price with a lifetime warranty.
Feb 10, 2009	U.S. "Cash for Clunkers" Withdrawn from Stimulus Plan, Early Bronco Owners Breathe Collective Sigh Of Relief Ok, ok, the Bronco reference was a joke, kind of. On February 9, SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) announced that the "Cash for Clunkers" program has been withdrawn from inclusion in the Senate Economic stimulus bill. While such a bill would have been unlikely to usher mint, classic 4x4's into the scrap heap, it most certainly would've taken a lot of inexpensive parts vehicles off of the market.
Feb 9, 2009	Upping the Garage Arms Race: MaxJax Portable Two Post Lifting System Wondering how to escalate the garage arms race with your next door neighbour? Talk to MaxJax. Their portable (YES, I said portable) two-post vehicle lifting system will be available for sale in March, 2009. Maximum lift load of 7,000 lbs, maximum lift height of 45 inches, uses regular 115v household power, and will be priced around USD$2,200.
Feb 9, 2009	LED Headlamps Meet DOT Requirements And Now On A Highway Near You LED technology has been around for a while but it is only recently that they have reached the point where the output, beam pattern, and price are competitive with, or superior to traditional filament bulb lighting systems.
Feb 6, 2009	Power Stroke Registry Makes the Transition to PowerStrokeOnline.com Power Stroke Registry, the leading magazine for Ford diesel-truck enthusiasts since 1998, has switched to a digital, on-line format with this domain name: PowerStrokeOnline.com. This means free online content and a place for you Ford Power Stroke fans to waste your hours when you're supposed to be working.
Feb 4, 2009	BDS Leveling Kit For 2009 Ford F150's 2009 Ford F150 owners (is anyone still buying new pickups?) now have a new leveling kit option from BDS Suspension. Unlike most systems on the market, this two piece system does not max out the upper ball joints during suspension travel. A 1" rear block kit is available to maintain a slight rake if desired.
Feb 2, 2009	MBRP Jeep Accessories Bending an exhaust = bending a bumper? Well not exactly but not that far off either. From our personal experience MBRP builds a top notch exhaust system and now they have turned their attention to various tube products and other accessories for Jeep JK's.
Jan 29, 2009	U.S. Congress May Introduce Program to Scrap Inefficient Vehicles The plan, introduced by some members of Congress, would provide cash vouchers to anyone who has their "gas guzzler" (18 mpg US / 21 mpg Imp / 13L/100Km) scrapped. Vouchers would range from USD$2500 to 4500, based on the scrapped vehicle's model year and whether or not it was replaced with a fuel efficient vehicle. This would obviously remove a lot of cheap SUVs from the used vehicle market. Why sell it for its true value of $1000 when they can sell it to the government for $2500?
Jan 28, 2009	ARB Combination Winch Bumper For Nissan Titans And Armadas, Coming Soon In their ongoing quest to make sure almost everyone has the option of owning a heavy duty winch bumper, ARB has now designed and is taking pre-orders on bull bars for Nissan Titans and Armadas. What's an Armada, you ask? That is better left for future discussion. This new bumper offering is manufactured with typical ARB styling in high quality, powder coated steel and is meant to be able to take off road punishment.
Jan 26, 2009	Off Road Trail Tools' Transfer Case Bracket For Jeep NP231/241 Cases Sometimes the simplest improvements can yield a large payback in reliability. Case in point is Off Road Trail Tools' replacement bracket support for Jeep transfer cases. This simple but beefy bracket replaces the scrawny transfer case shift linkage bracket. It's far less likely to fail or allow the linkage pivot pin to pop-out.
Jan 23, 2009	Viair Heavy Metal 497C Air Compressor System The Heavy Metal 497C is the latest addition to the Viair compressor line. This new unit has a 100% duty cycle compressor that puts out 2.37CFM at 0PSI. Current draw is a maximum of 35 amps. The 497C will fill a 5 gallon tank from 0 to 150PSI in a bit over four minutes.
Jan 22, 2009	Dynatrac ProROCK44 Jeep Axle If you have a hard-core Jeep TJ project and you're on the hunt for an axle upgrade, Dynatrac has a new bolt-in option for you. The new Dynatrac ProROCK44 axle for Jeeps. Sure, it's expensive but consider all the time you'll save by not having to scour through wrecking yards and haggling with the yard apes over prices. And if you're married with kids, you can tell your spouse that by spending the money, you've actually bought yourself "quality time" to spend with the family!
Jan 16, 2009	Tuff Country Dodge Sway Bar End Links Bent sway bar end links are a very common problem on lifted Dodge Ram Trucks. Most owners do put at least a leveling kit on their rigs but rarely is any provision made for the extra length required for even smaller amounts of lift. Tuff Country has designed and manufactured new adjustable links with Heim joint ends for less binding.
Jan 13, 2009	Poly Performance Universal Baja Basket Home-made cargo racks always look, well, home-made. They're usually far heavier than they need to be, too. If you're a do-it-yourselfer but you want a spiffy-looking rack that's both strong and lightweight, then the Universal Baja Basket is exactly what you need.
Jan 13, 2009	King Of The Hammers 2009 BC4x4.COM is pleased to announce its sponsorship of driver Jason Conover and co-driver Trevor Johnston in the 2009 King of the Hammers Ultimate Desert Race on February 27, 2009. Stay tuned for our upcoming write-up on their re-designed Bravo chassis that was specifically developed for the rigors of this multi-disciplinary race that blends high-speed desert racing and technical rock crawling.
Jan 12, 2009	BDS 6" Suspension System For 2009 Dodge 1500 1/2 Ton Pickups With a new truck on the market comes a flood of newly designed suspension lift kits and this is no different for the new 2009 Dodge 1500 pickups. BDS is the latest suspension company out with a lift system for the rear coil spring-equipped 2009 Dodge 1500 4x4. This kit is based around two one-piece, 1/4" laser cut high clearance crossmembers and replacement steering knuckles.
Jan 8, 2009	Milemarker's Solid-State Controlled V-10 and V-12 Winches Mile Marker's new series of light truck winches features their MiFi technology which is their fancy way of saying NO SOLENOIDS! Instead of solenoids, they use a solid state control system.
Jan 7, 2009	Sign of the Times: ORBA Announces Cancellation of 2009 San Diego Off-Road SuperShow In yet another sign that the economic downturn has affected the fourwheeling world, the Off-Road Business Assocation (ORBA) has announced that its 2009 San Diego Off-Road Super Show planned for February 7 and 8 has been cancelled.
Jan 7, 2009	Suzuki Equator Mid-sized Pickup If you love Suzuki's dealer network and customer service, then I suppose I can see the point in buying a Suzuki Equator. But other than that, what are the unique features that Suzuki is putting into their version of a Nissan Frontier?
Jan 5, 2009	Edelbrock 4.0 Inline 6 Header It's no secret to owners of 4.0L Jeeps that the factory exhaust manifold is prone to cracking. Edelbrock's 4.0L in-line 6 header is built extra beefy to avoid the cracking problem. Good thing, too, because changing the exhaust header is a fussy job that you don't want to do twice.
Dec 31, 2008	ARB 2007+ Tundra Sahara Bar It took a while but ARB has finally come to market with an all new Sahara Bar for the 07+ Tundras. This unit is the answer for Tundra owners searching for a heavy duty bumper that will allow fitment of a winch and extra lighting while providing extra protection. Unlike previous Sahara bars, buyers will have the option of purchasing the chrome center hoop or not. Some people like it and some don't and this will give the option of purchasing the unit at a lower price.
Dec 29, 2008	BC4x4 Message Board Problem We are experiencing some difficulties with the new IP address of our message board. If you are having problems connecting to it, try typing in the IP directly: http://208.84.117.73/ Or simply click on THIS LINK.
Dec 29, 2008	BDS 7" High-Clearance Suspension System - 2001-2008 Chevrolet /GMC 2500 HD BDS Suspension has announced their newly designed 7" high-clearance IFS suspension system for the 2001-2008 Chevrolet 2500 HD's available now. BDS's new high clearance system offers a true blend of performance, appearance, and function. The most important feature of this new system is that the suspension geometry creates an factory style ride while lifting your truck a full 7" and with the new high-arched crossmembers, ground clearance is dramatically increased at the front crossmember.
Dec 22, 2008	Jeep Electric Vehicle With an eye to the future, Chrysler has jumped onboard the green vehicle market with three different electric vehicles, one of them is based on the Jeep JK platform (the other two are a minivan and a sports car). Considering the dire straits the Big Three find themselves in, we hope this isn't a case of too little, too late. On paper, the vehicle looks quite enticing. Approximately 300 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60mph time of 9 seconds. Charging can be done through a standard 110/120 volt household outlet, or a 220/240 volt outlet of the type commonly used for appliances such as clothes dryers.
Dec 12, 2008	Plates Program Goes Online To Increase Road Safety Have you ever been run off the road by a logging crew truck piloted by someone who thinks they're in the Paris-Dakar Rally? Now there's a glimmer of hope that you can get some payback next time that happens. As part of the Vehicle Identification Number Plates Program, there are now about 5,000 forestry vehicles and logging trucks sporting special plates designed to help road users identify and report dangerous incidents. They're more effective than regular license plates because they're easier to read and remember. Now, if only we could make it mandatory for all the yahoos we see on the backroads to use the same kind plates!
Dec 11, 2008	Dynomax Ultra Flo System For 2009 Dodge Ram 1500's There is a lot of buzz surrounding the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 and the aftermarket is looking to cash in on it. With the new truck barely on the showroom floors Dynomax has already released an all new high flow exhaust system. The dual DynoMax exhaust system for 2009 Dodge Ram 1500's with 4.7 and 5.7 motors features a single inlet/dual outlet Ultra Flo SS muffler, 2.5-in. type 409 stainless steel, mandrel-bent pipes and a set of 4-in. DynoMax logo-embossed, buffed and polished T304 stainless tips. The system fits regular, quad and crew cab models.
Dec 9, 2008	Superlift Introduces Lift Kit for Dodge Rams Equipped With Rear Coils The end of 2008 sees the introduction of the all new Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 with rear coil springs. When was the last time you saw a full size pickup with rear coils? It will be very interesting to see how this new truck performs. The end of 2008 also sees all of the suspension manufacturers furiously engineering lift kits to work on this new Dodge. Superlift is first to market with a 6" lift system scheduled to start shipping December 1, 2008. This new 6" kit will clear tires up to 37" X 12.50" tires.
Dec 2, 2008	4x4 Toy Run 2008
Dec 1, 2008	New ProComp 6" Suspension Systems for 2009 Ford F-150 With the recent roll out of the all new 2009 Ford F150 comes the need for lift kits. Fabtech was the first manufacturer with leveling kits but it appears that Explorer ProComp is going to be first to market with a 6" lift system. ProComp engineers slaved away at their CAD workstations to get these kits right. The new F150 utilizes Advance Trac and Roll Stability Control and as we have seen in previous vehicles, if the suspension engineers don't take every issue into account when designing these lift kits the onboard computers will have a hissy fit. ProComp is very confident that through careful design, manufacturing, and extensive testing that there will be no problems.
Nov 28, 2008	Bushwacker TJ 4" Flat Panel Flares For years serious rockcrawlers have been using wider axles or wider tires on their Jeeps and to cover the tires, they've used home-made tube fenders...or even lawn edging. If you don't your fenders attract the attention of lonely motor vehicle safety inspectors, Bushwacker has the solution. They've just released their new flat panel style flares for Jeep TJ's. These good-looking flares provide an additional 4" of tire coverage so that your 12.5 wide tires on 3.75 backspace rims will be nice and legal. And when you go offroading, you won't get mud flung through your open windows.
Nov 27, 2008	Superlift 2", 4" & 6" Lift Systems For 2008-09 Dodge Rams HDs Superlift has announced an update of its existing Dodge kits so they now fit the 2008-2009 3/4- and 1-ton Heavy Duty Rams. Updates include new track-bar hardware, brake-hose relocation brackets, and for the 6-inch kit, a new dropped pitman arm. The 4- and 6-inch systems use different coils for the Hemi and Cummins applications, thereby ensuring the correct spring rate and ride height.
Nov 24, 2008	Kore Performance 3.5" Suspension System for JK's Kore Performance, most well known for developing race inspired suspensions for full size Dodge Cummins trucks, has now turned their attention to the Jeep JK's. They claim that this is the highest performance, best riding kit on the market. To this end they are supplying this kit with Fox 2.0 Reservoir shocks with their own Kore proprietary valving and variable rate coils. Coils are matched specifically to 2- and 4-door models as well as Jeeps with winches/bumpers/heavy loads. It's that kind of fine-tuned matching that allows them to back-up their lofty claim. This kit allows fitment of 35" tires.
Nov 21, 2008	Daystar Polyurethane Fairlead Rollers For Synthetic Winch Lines Here is an interesting idea from the kings of polyurethane, Daystar. When converting your winch to use synthetic line, you have to replace your old roller fairlead with an aluminum or plastic hawse fairlead. That's no longer a requiremnt. Daystar has come up with urethane replacement rollers to fit directly in your old roller fairlead. This is a great idea except for one thing: switching to a hawse fairlead has the distinct benefit of improving your approach angle and is far more resistant to damage from being rammed into rocks and trees. Anyone who has popped off a circlip and lost a fairlead roller somewhere on the trail knows what I'm talking about.
Nov 20, 2008	Cornay's New CVX-30 Constant Velocity Joint Offers Highest Performance In Its Class Cornay's new CVX-30 constant velocity joint promises 30-degree constant velocity capability. Their patented design will allow 4x4 builders to run even steeper driveline angles, thereby making it possible to squeeze long transmission/transfer case combos into tighter areas; tucking the drivetrain higher into the chassis; or going with even more lift. Besides offering a higher operating angle, the CVX-30 is also extremely durable and easy to maintain. There are no grease boots to worry about, either.
Nov 18, 2008	Flex-A-Lite's New Toyota Tacoma Puller Fan Flex-A-Lite has turned their cooling attention to the 2001-2008 Toyota Tacomas with this new direct bolt-in electric puller fan. Rated at 3,300 CFM this electric fan with integrated shroud should have no problem keeping your Tacoma running cool while reducing the drag of the clutch fan on your motor. Flex-A-Lite is claiming a 6-10 percent fuel savings. Like all fuel savings claims by manufacturers we recommend taking them with a large grain of salt.
Nov 14, 2008	Advance Adapters Rubicrawler Prototypes Are Finished Not quite yet, but soon: Advance Adapters has finished prototypes of their new Rubicrawler reduction unit (transfer case doubler) for Jeep TJ and JK owners with the 42RLE, 4-speed overdrive auto tranny and will soon go into production with these units. Look for availability in early 2009.
Nov 13, 2008	Parking Lot Defense by Mohr Mfg. The two most frequent vehicle accidents are getting hit while parked and the rear end collision. Mohr Manufacturing's Bumper Shield is a crash-tested, energy-absorbing hitch cover that not only covers your ugly receiver hitch, it works as a bumper shield for rear mounted 2" receiver hitches and doubles as a skid plate and bumper shield for front mounted receiver hitches.
Nov 13, 2008	Off Road Trail Tools Broken Axle Tool Ok, I know this looks like booty-fab 101, but this is a real product. If you have a C-clip rear differential (eg: Jeep with Dana 35, Toyota FJ40, etc.) at some point you are probably going to snap an axle shaft on the trail. The question is what do you do at that point? Are you carrying spare axle shafts in your 4x4? Maybe but probably not. In any case, when you break a c-clip axle you will be completely immobilized. Despite its looks, the Off Road Trail Tools Broken Axle Tool is a viable solution to that problem.
Nov 12, 2008	Fabtech 2009 Ford F150 2" Leveling Spacer Kit Ford had to delay the launch of the all new '09 Ford F150 due to the downturn in the economy in the USA but they are now coming to market at a dealer near you. Fabtech is right on top of the release of the new truck with a 2" leveling kit available right now. This kit bolts onto the factory coilover retaining the stock ride and making install relatively easy.
Nov 6, 2008	Hobart Hood Auto-Darkening Welding Hoods We started using Hobart Hood Auto-Darkening shields back in 2002 and fell in love immediately with them. No more flipping the welding shield down when striking an arc and really cool graphics made these helmets something we didn't want to live without. Fast forward six years and the line of Hobart Hoods continues to evolve. Larger viewing areas, improved lenses and new graphics continued to be developed, case in point is the new Prowler Series, including a shield with "Off Road Graphics" to cater to the 4-wheel drive crowd and an obvious tip of the marketing hat recognizing how many 4x4 enthusiasts are hobbyist welders as well.
Nov 3, 2008	Introducing Zone Offroad and a Jeep JK Lift System Zone Off Road is a new name on the suspension scene looking to make an impact with high quality lift kits for those looking for a great deal. Unlike most price-conscious manufacturers, Zone is actually design, testing and BUILDING their kits in the USA and backing them with a substantial warranty. Designed with the weekend warrior in mind (off-road on Sunday, work on Monday) one of the first kits available is for the Jeep JK Wranglers. This 4" kit includes new coils (specific to 2- and 4-door JK's), a new 1.25" solid adjustable front track bar, alignment cam washers, and 2" bump stop extensions for the front. In the rear, the Zone lift comes with new coil springs, a reinforced track bar bracket, bump stop extensions, brake line relocation brackets, and longer sway bar links. More details in the full article... (Canadian buyers check out www.zoneoffroad.ca.)
Oct 31, 2008	Black Diamond by Superlift's Coil Correction Kit For Jeep TJ Wrangler and Unlimited (LJ) On TJs, the factory rear springs are mounted in a "leaning forward" position, which causes the coils to bow rearward once the Jeep is lifted, and especially during suspension compression. This incorrect coil loading results in lost ride height and a diminished "too soft" spring rate. Off-road performance particularly suffers: When hillclimbing, too much weight transfers to the rear, lightening the front. The more the rear coils compress, the more they lay down -- and the farther back the rear axle moves. The result is a falling-over-backward feeling. Basically, the rear coils' capacities fade when they're needed most.
Oct 29, 2008	Rancho Long Travel Suspension Systems for Yamaha and Polaris UTV's We haven't been paying a lot of attention to the UTV market, but have you seen the price of fuel lately? It seems like the UTV market has exploded and we attribute a lot of that to the huge fun you can have with these vehicles at a relatively decent price point both in terms of initial purchase as well as operating cost. Like everything off-road related, the desire to be the big dog creates a bustling after-market industry. And just like in the 4x4 market, Rancho is one of the big players. Rancho has announced the release of two race-inspired suspension systems engineered to conquer any type of terrain - sand, rocks or off-road trails - tackled by drivers of 2007-08 Polaris Ranger RZR and 2004-08 Yamaha Rhino vehicles.
Oct 23, 2008	Bushwacker Pocket Style Flares For Nissan Titans Owners of Nissan Titans with wide tires no longer have to worry about dodging the long arm of the law. Bushwacker's new Pocket Style Flares will safely cover those aggressive tires and are a great solution for Titans with 6" lifts and 35x12.5 tires.
Oct 20, 2008	Warn 60th Anniversary 8274-60 Winch It sure doesn't seem like 10 years has passed since Warn celebrated their 50th anniversary with the release of the 8274-50 winch but apparently it has. Warn is now in it's 60th year of operation and to mark the occasion they are producing thte limited edition 8274-60 winches.
Oct 16, 2008	Extreme Extractor Bio-Diesel Maker With the high price of fuel at the top of everyones mind and particularily for those with full-size diesel trucks, bio-diesel has become something that is quite commonly heard. But the inevitable question is how the heck do you get started down the road of converting fryer oil waste from your favorite fish and chip shack into something you can power your diesel-powered rig with? Well Extreme-Biodiesel is here to help reduce the mad scientist aspect of home fuel production with a number of different setups to produce fuel at home. Cost of these units varies considerably based on how much and how fast you would like to produce your biodiesel.
Sep 25, 2008	Superlift 2", 4" & 6" Lifts For 2008-09 Dodge Ram HDs Superlift's popular Dodge 3/4- and 1-ton suspension systems are now available for 2008-09 models. The 4" kit fits 35" tires, and the 6" system (shown) clears 37s. Numerous options and upgrades are available.
Sep 10, 2008	Warn Endurance 12.0: The First Ever Forced-Air-Cooled Winch The new Warn Endurance 12.0 is the latest flag bearer for Warn winches. This unique winch features a small, remote-mountable 2600 cfm fan that forces air through an hose and into the motor housing to keep it cool. Considering that heat build-up is a big killer of electric winches, this innovation should give this new Warn tremendous, well, endurance, hence the name. We're still waiting to see the duty cycle rating for this new winch but we expect it to be significantly better than any other electric winch. The longer duty cycle could make it more appealing to people who currently choose hydraulic winches, and fans of electric winches will be happy to have the extra durability.
Sep 8, 2008	Poly Performance Line Clamp Kits If you're gonna spend all that money and time building your tube buggy, it seems a shame to cut corners on the details, such as how you route your lines and wiring. Improve the looks and reliability of buggy by using Line Clamp Kits from Poly Performance.
Aug 13, 2008	Self-Tuning Engine Management System From Professional Products Sounds like Professional Products has created an R2D2 for your car's engine. Their Stage 2 Engine Management System (EMS) tunes a variety of engine configurations for a wide range of driving styles and conditions. But the most impressive aspect of this product is that it does all this automatically. All you have to do is drive it for 30 min. and the EMS figures out the correct adjustments as you drive.
Jul 31, 2008	Radio Protocols Lead To Safer Forest Travel A pilot project on radio communication protocols aims to improve safety and reduce collisions on resource roads, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today. The goal of the project is to improve road user safety through standardized radio call procedures for forest service roads. A block of dedicated resource road radio channels along with standardized call procedures and road signage is being piloted on Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and one road system in the Tumbler Ridge area. Previously truckers needed to reprogram their radios to gain access to local radio channels as they moved around to different work locations. In the pilot areas, only a single set of radio channels is being used on forest service roads. New communications signs posted on the pilot roads indicate which radio channel to call, call frequency, direction being travelled and vehicle type. The new radio procedures were implemented earlier this year and the findings from the pilot projects will be evaluated this fall prior to considering provincewide implementation.
Jul 16, 2008	Superlift Level-It Front Strut Leveling Kits Got a saggy front end on your 4x4? If it's got coilover front struts, then chances are that Superlift's Level-It kits are the solution. These easy-to-install kits are made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum and 7mm plate steel. They're also easy to remove if you have to return your truck back to stock trim.
Jul 10, 2008	Superlift's 2008 Ford Super Duty Suspension Systems Available in 2"-10" Heights Superlift's 2008 Super Duty 4x4 Lift Kits provide a wide lift range, starting from 2" and going all the way to 10". But more importantly, they do it while retaining complete factory steering geometry so your truck's handling, comfort, and reliability don't suffer. And no matter which lift height you choose, their kit will ensure that your front suspension's caster is adjusted back to within factory specifications.
Jul 8, 2008	Justice Brothers Super Radiator Cooler Yeah yeah, I know this sounds like "racing air" for your tires but trust me, this is the real deal. With today's 200-plus degrees engine operating temperatures, and high performance engines, many times your radiator will need a little help keeping the temperatures under control. This is particularly true on hot, humid days or when you're stuck in traffic. Justice Brothers SUPER RADIATOR COOLER improves the wetting ability of water, resulting in superior heat transfer in the radiator and cooler cylinder head temperatures within the engine.
Jul 2, 2008	MBRP Performance Exhaust 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0L Turbo Diesel Filter Back Exhaust We first drove the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 Turbo Diesel at a press junket put on by Chrysler/Jeep over a year ago. At that time we came away very impressed with this vehicle. Excellent power, very good fuel mileage rating and all wrapped up in a very comfortable and capable vehicle. But we've been quite surprised by the lack of buzz about this vehicle. Perhaps that will change with MBRP Performance Exhaust's "filter-back" exhaust system.
Jun 27, 2008	BDS Suspension Jeep XJ Cherokee 8.5" Lift System BDS Suspension has another entry in the "big" lift kit market. Owners of 87-01 Jeep Cherokee XJ's now have another option with the release of this all new 8.5" long arm system. BDS has been designing their kits with the dual usage owner in mind, meaning this kit will work well off road but still be useable by those that use their trucks for the daily commute as well. A quick look at this kit will show that it doesn't use heim joints which in practice will make this kit last longer and require less maintenance.
Jun 23, 2008	ARB Winch Bumper for Hummer H3 It looks like ARB has come up with another great bull bar to add to their line up of winch bumpers. With the recent introduction of H3's in Australia and the continued popularity of these rigs ARB saw the need for an aftermarket bumper and winch mount and stuck their engineers in a windowless room until they designed this bull bar. Well it might not have been that severe but we do like the results.
Jun 16, 2008	Superlift Level-It Coil Spacer Leveling Kits Let's face it, not everyone has the cash or the need to step up to a full-fledged (and full-priced) lift system. Sometimes, all that is needed is a little bit of budget boost to clear those bigger-than-stock tires. Superlift understands this and to fill this need, they've released their Level-It coil spacer leveling kits. They provide an affordable, cost-effective way to lift or level the IFS on Ford F-150s, Super Dutys, 1/2-ton 2WD Chevys and 4x4 Dodge Rams.
Jun 16, 2008	Pakk Ratt Recovery Gear Organizer The bane of any offroader is disorganization. When your high-centered 4x4 is about to roll down an embankment, the last thing you need to be doing is rummaging through your truck, looking for your winch control or your tree saver. It's crucial to know where you recovery gear is located so you can get it in a snap. Organizing your gear has just gotten easier with Pakk Ratt Off Road's spare tire cover that features a large recovery gear storage pocket. Besides aiding in organization, there are two other reasons why their spare tire storage is such a great idea: 1) It's a safe and secure way of storing items like clevis hooks and snatch blocks which could be deadly if not safely stored within your vehicle, and 2) the gear is instantly accessible to people outside the vehicle so the driver, who has his leg pushed for dear life against his brake pedal, doesn't have to dig out the recovery gear himself.
Jun 9, 2008	Sackwear.com Providing Relief for Naked Cruiser Heads Sackwear.com has announced instant relief for Cruiser Heads with nothing to wear. Their new T-shirt designs feature classic Toyota Land Cruiser models with seriously cool '60's style graphics. They're one of the few pieces of off-road apparel that doesn't look like it was designed for rednecks. Hell, even Jeep drivers would be happy to own one of these shirts.
Jun 5, 2008	Poly Performance Jeep® JK Skid Plate System If the 4-door JKs have a weak spot, it's their breakover angle. The long wheelbase that is so advantageous for climbing or descending difficult inclines is a liability when it comes to drivetrain impacts. Adding lift kit provides some relief but protecting the belly with armour is a vital step to making a JK a durable off-road performer. The new Poly Performance JK skid plate system is a great way to do this. It features a smooth profile to minimize hang ups while keeping weight to a minimum to retain performance.
May 28, 2008	Andersen Manufacturing's Rapid Hitch Andersen Mfg's Rapid Hitch isn't a new product but we have been seeing a lot more of this great product on trucks around town lately. This hitch is easy to notice because of its unusual design and the fact that it is made from aluminum. If you've got trailers with different tongue heights, different ball sizes, or tow vehicles with different bumper heights, the Rapid Hitch is the ideal one-hitch solution.
May 26, 2008	ARB Traction Pack For all you ARB Fanboys out there here is the final accessory to complete your collection, the ARB Traction Pack. Features include a vibrant colour scheme, numerous pockets such as a padded interior pocket for an MP3 player and a front pocket with an organizer for keys, cell phone, etc. But let's be honest, the main feature of this bag is that is says "ARB" on it. If you're living a double life as a sophisticated urban dweller during the week, and a knuckle-dragging fourwheeler on weekends, this is a keen way to reveal your secret identity to others who are in the know.
May 21, 2008	BDS 8" Lift System for 2004-2008 Ford F-150 4x4 It use to be that if you had 35's on your truck you probably were somewhat of a big dog. Times have changed, 37's are the new 35's. With that in mind BDS saw the need for a high quality lift system for the F-150's that would allow fitment of 37" tires with 17x9" wheels with 4-5/8" backspace. Their new 8" lift system for IFS 2004-2008 Ford F-150 4x4's fills that bill.
May 14, 2008	Pit Bull Tires Introduces New Sizes Pit Bull is continuing to build a strong presence the offroad tire market. Their latest offerings include a lot of choices for big tire enthusiasts, ranging from 42x15-15 all the way up to a massive 47x21-20. If you've got a strong enough drivetrain, Pit Bull's definitely got the tires for you. For you smaller guys, they've also released new additions to their 31" to 39" range.
May 8, 2008	PROFORM Parts Introduces "Stubby" Adjustable AN Wrenches Let's face it: it sucks having to turn wrenches in cramped quarters. These short-handled, adjustable AN wrenches from PROFORM provide instant headache relief. They're available individually in the 3 to 8 AN size (wrench #67723) or the 3 to 20 AN size (wrench #67224). Want both? Order part number #67722. Heck, even if I don't have AN fittings in my engine compartment, I'd be inclined to buy one just 'cuz they're so darned pretty.
Apr 21, 2008	Vision X HID 4500 Series 35-Watt HID Light Vision X just released their new HID 4500 Series 35 watt HID light. This is a compact unit that features faster start-up time, reduced power draw, and is available in a variety of beam spreads and housing colours.
Mar 10, 2008	Virtual on-line Rally to be Held by 4x4 Enthusiasts In a landmark event, thousands of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) users across the world will participate in a online, Virtual Rally to voice their concerns over a popular OHV area in Southern California. On Wednesday March 12th, 2008 Pirate4x4.com, a leading website for the OHV community, will hold this rally from 2 to 6 PM PST.
Feb 29, 2008	Black Diamond Releases X2 Jeep Wrangler 7" Suspension System Black Diamond has released the follow-up to its revolutionary XCL Jeep coil-over suspension system that first debuted in 1996. The X2 system features tremendous versatility, allowing it to work on 1987 to 2006 model year Jeep Wranglers (YJ or TJ). All versions of this kit provide a 7" lift system with coils in front, leaf springs (over axle) in the back, and enough clearance to fit 37" tires.
Feb 22, 2008	Warn Wireless Winch Control System Now available at Warn retailers is the new Warn Wireless Control System. This new remote will retrofit to all Warn winches with a 5 wire electrical system and has a range of 100'. We can't imagine the situation where you would be winching from 100' away but if if you need to, it is now do-able.
Feb 15, 2008	Snowmobilers (and Fourwheelers) Should Use Caution Near Forest Roads VICTORIA - With the busy winter log-hauling season underway, all snowmobilers are advised to be extremely cautious whenever they ride near an active forestry road, for their own safety and for the safety of forestry workers.
Feb 12, 2008	JK Synergy Suspension System® by Poly Performance for '07+ Jeep® JK Wrangler Poly Performance's new JK Synergy Suspension System is the hot ticket for JK owners who are nursing a sick desire to slip 40" rubbers under their Jeeps. The three stages allow you to choose the components necessary to lift your JK to perfectly fit whatever tire size you crave, all the way up to 40". Everything is 100% bolt-on so backyard mechanics can save some bucks by doing the installation themselves. This is a good thing...have you priced big tires lately?
Feb 4, 2008	Interfor Closes Some Forestry Roads in the Lillooet Area Interfor held a public meeting on Jan. 23 to inform the community of their plans to close some of the active forestry roads in the Lillooet area. The January 30th edition of the Lillooet News contains information from the meeting.
Feb 1, 2008	GE e1050 Digital Camera Features Built-in GPS Why are we talking about a camera when this is a 4x4 site? Because this camera has a built-in GPS. That means it can tag each image with the exact location where it was taken. Think of the possibilities! Better yet, we'll list some for you.
Jan 23, 2008	New Pit Bull Tire Sizes Pit Bull Tires will be introducing 21 new sizes in the next 2 months. Three of those new sizes are now available: 31x1150-15LT/C GROWLER Polyester, 32x1150-16LT/C GROWLER, and 39x1450-15LT/C Maddog.
Jan 22, 2008	Beware of Those Logging Trucks The B.C. Forest Safety Council says that January is the most dangerous month for log truck crashes, due to poor weather, darkness, and increased traffic. Anyone venturing onto active logging roads should be extremely vigilant and if you have a VHF radio or scanner, please be sure to monitor the local frequencies.
Jan 8, 2008	Superlift Level-It Torsion Key Leveling Kits Superlift's new Level-It systems provide an inexpensive way to deal with factory nose-down problems on late-model trucks and SUVs. They're also a budget-friendly method for accomodating larger tires or leveling your 4x4 after a lift, or compensating for the weight of a winch or snow plow.
Dec 21, 2007	America Receives a National Solution for Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions What is particularly noteworthy about this news is that California's attempt to have this legislation waived has failed. That's probably a relief to automakers because California was seeking much stricter regulations. Passenger vehicles would have had to achieve 47 mpg (US) and full size trucks and SUVs would have to get 27 mpg (US). So while this new legislation will undoubtedly be waved about as proof that the Bush Administration is taking a tough stance on global warming, the fact is that it is probably making the automakers happy because one of their biggest (and stridently green) markets, California, can no longer set their own fuel economy requirements.
Dec 19, 2007	Let Justice Brothers Clean Your Carb And Engine While You Drive Your carburetor and internal engine parts are calibrated to perform in concert, providing the best gas mileage and performance. Any changes, caused by dirty or clogged parts, affects the air/fuel mixture negatively, causing loss of mileage and a poor running engine. Varnish, gum and combustion byproducts like carbon, are created naturally inside your engine and can build up over time. Justice Brothers in-tank CARBURETOR CLEANER assists in eliminating these chemical buildups.
Dec 5, 2007	Atlas Cable Shifters for Jeep TJs A twin-stick Atlas transfer case allows for some cool advantages like low-range two-wheel drive and the option to use front-wheel drive only. But in a Jeep TJ, it also means hacking up your transmission tunnel and not being able to use the center console. But with Advance Adapters' new Atlas cable shifter, TJ owners can now keep their clean factory look while enjoying the benefits of twin-sticks.
Nov 27, 2007	EPA Announces 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard The EPA has bumped up the minimum requirement of renewable fuels that must be blended into transportation gasoline for 2008. This won't have any noticeable effect for individual drivers as far as engine performance goes, but it's a welcome move toward reducing dependence on foreign oil. If anything, this move seems a bit too conservative.
Nov 22, 2007	Advance Adapters SM465 to Jeep D18/20 Adapter Classic Jeep owners now have another transmission option. Advance Adapters' new GM SM465 to Jeep Dana 18/20 transfer case adapter lets them take advantage of the popular GM 4-speed transmission with its very low 6.55:1 1st gear. The adapter plate is very short, making it suitable for CJ7 and CJ5 owners who are trying to retain a reasonably long rear driveshaft length.
Nov 19, 2007	Poly Performance Introduces Jeep JK Rocker Guards Poly Performance has introduced a new line of JK rocker guards for both the 2-door and 4-door Jeep Wrangler JK Models. These guards provide complete flare-to-flare coverage and will work fine even if you've got a body-lift installed on your Jeep. Laser cut accuracy and semi-gloss powder coating result in a very high quality fit and finish.
Nov 15, 2007	Vision-X Introduces The LED Xmitter Light Bar The long life and rugged construction of LED systems have made them a perfect fit for off-road vehicles, but making them bright enough was always the stumbling block. But now Vision-X has released their Xmitter LED Light Bar which reportedly produces more light than a 35 watt HID. We're very interested to see how this will compare to traditional automotive lighting systems under real-world test conditions.
Nov 15, 2007	Get Shorty...Advance Adapters Atlas 4-Speed To GM 4L60E Adapter Owners of the GM 4L60E transmission now have a lot more options when it comes to what transfer case they want to hang off the end of their tranny. With Advance Adapters super short 4L60E to Atlas 4-speed transfer case adapter kit, you now have the option of running the Atlas 4-speed, Jeep NP 231, 242, 247, 249, and the Rock-Trac 2410 transfer cases. Talk about being spoiled for choice!
Nov 8, 2007	MISSING: JOHN KAHLER John was last seen about 4:00am Sunday (Nov 4) in the Stave Lake area, at the "King of the Pitt" event. He was driving a white, four-door Ford truck Saturday evening. His truck was found stuck the next morning but John was nowhere to be found. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161. Please click on the MORE link to get more details on the search and how you can help out.
Oct 30, 2007	Dodge RAM BFT - Sema Show Truck With SEMA 2007 almost upon us we thought a few teaser shots of a Dodge show truck would whet your appetite for our show coverage this week. Dodge calls it the "BFT" because it's Built For Towing. But we can think of another meaning for BFT that is more fitting for this 6.7L diesel powered monster.
Oct 17, 2007	MAD 4WD Dana 44 High Steer Arms in Five Flavours MAD 4WD now offers Dana 44 High Steer Arms in 5 different versions. The arms are available in both long and short versions and also with the standard 3 hole configuration mounting or 4 hole to work with Dedenbear steering knuckles. The arms are machined from billet cold rolled steel and are 1" thick.
Sep 10, 2007	Superlift Releases Innovative 4-Link Upgrade For 2005-07 Ford Super Duty 4x4's Superlift has released a very slick 4-link suspension kit for 2005-07 for Ford Superduty 4x4's. The constant caster provided by this system should result in much more consistent handling over a variety of terrain and cargo loads. The supple 4-link setup should also provide better flex due to less binding when compared to the factory radius arm setup.
Aug 20, 2007	Explorer ProComp 6" Lift for 2008 Nissan Titan 4x4's Explorer ProComp has now released a 6" lift system for the 2008 Nissan Titan 4wd. It is available only for trucks that don't have the Nissan Vehicle Dynamic Control or side air bags, which is something potential Titan owners should consider if they are planning to lift their trucks. Fitment of 35" x 12.50 tires is possible on 18"+ rims up to 9" wide with a maximum of 5" backspace. If you are looking to set your Titan apart from the masses the ProComp 6" kit will definitely be a step in the right direction.
Aug 20, 2007	ARB Simpson II Rooftop Tent ARB introduces a top-of-the-line roof-top tent system for the hardcore backcountry adventurer. This roof-top tent will require a large commitment on the part of your pocket book but will provide you with the ultimate in comfort and security from the elements and potentially unfriendly critters.
Aug 13, 2007	High Output On-Board Air Compressors From ARB Belt-driven air compressors are great to have, but they can also be quite expensive and problematic to install, particularly for late-model vehicles. ARB's new CKMA12 high-output compressor is exactly the opposite. It's affordably priced and is very easy to install virtually anywhere you want. It features a 50% duty cycle supporting a flow of 2.65CFM, this compressor will have no problem airing up four 35" tires in a single duty cycle.
Aug 1, 2007	Daystar Winch Isolator Here is a practical solution to the small problem of where to hook your winch cable. Usually the hook is attached to a bumper tow point but winch remotes aren't exactly precision surgical instruments and invariably too much tension is put on the cable and then too little and then too much, well you get the picture. Daystar offers the winch isolator which is a polyurethane block that is installed over the cable and gives you a convenient way to securely store your hook and tension your cable in the center of the roller fairlead. Installation requires removal of the winch hook and sliding this product on. Barely half a banana on the Shade Tree Howler Monkey Banana Scale.
Jul 27, 2007	2008 EarthRoamer XV-JP Jeep JK Expedition Vehicle Looking at the latest creation from Earthroamer is a sure-fire way to end up daydreaming about that big expedition to South America you're planning on doing "some day." The Earthroamer XV-JP is a fantasy vehicle in the flesh, er, metal and rubber.
Jul 27, 2007	Jeep JT Concept Vehicle - The Scrambler Re-Born Somehow, the Jeep JT concept vehicle completely bypassed the crack investigation team here at the BC4x4 News Department. In April of this year the Chrysler Skunkwerks debuted their all new Jeep JT at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. It proved to be a big hit with those that saw it being put through its paces on the Utah slickrock. We have to admit that the JT is a big hit with us as well. A large part of this might be due to our cult-like love of the 80's Jeep Scrambler. Definitely not as practical as a regular JK but we can't help fantasizing ten years down the road and visualizing a JT riding on one-ton running gear and 40" tires. Read the full article to see more photos.
Jul 25, 2007	Superlift Jeep TJ Wrangler 4" & 6" Long-Arm Suspension Systems Superlift has just introduced a new long arm suspension system for Jeep TJ Wranglers. Long arms provide good suspension geometry that minimizes load transfer effects. Rubber bushings reduce vibration and noise, while allowing large amounts of bind-free articulation. The beefy sub-frame consists of a two-piece skid pan assembly that supports the transmission and locates the control arms. These kits can be optioned in a variety of configurations to meet your individual requirements, including three types of shocks and a high clearance skid pan for high pinion applications.
Jul 9, 2007	Dana 60 35 Spline Drive Flange Kit The Dana 60 35 Spline Drive Flange Kit by Poly Performance is competition proven and virtually unbreakable. The drive gears are CNC machined from 4140 chromoly and heat treated for heavy duty strength and durability. The Drive Flange Kit replaces existing 35 spline locking hub or drive gear assemblies, and can be used on Dana 60 front or rear steer assemblies. The drive gears can be removed, while the cap can be retained to disengage the axle from the hub. The kit comes with all stainless steel hardware and Poly Performance custom gear cover plates.
Jun 29, 2007	Dr. Performance Nitro Series Modules for Diesels: Up To 125 More HP Dr. Performance developed the world's fastest diesel drag truck, an 8-second Cummins-powered Dakota that's driven by Charlie Stewart. For street-legal diesels, Dr. Performance releases its Nitro Series Modules. The result of 12 years of R&D, these underhood modules are engineered to prioritize pulling performance without adversely affecting EGTs.
Jun 27, 2007	Advance Adapters 4L60E to Atlas 4:1 Adapter The 4L60E transmission plus Atlas 4:1 transfer case is a great, if somewhat long combination. Advance Adapters' new adapter solves that problem with their very, very short adapter to hook up this popular transmission to the very desirable Atlas 4:1.
Jun 20, 2007	Poly Performance Introduces New Adjustable Steering Columns Building a rock buggy but looking for a rugged, adjustable steering column? Poly Performance just introduced a heavy duty adjustable column that can be easily adapted to pretty much any custom application.
May 22, 2007	Hummer H2 Stopping Power From Classic Tube Big vehicles need superior stopping ability, especially when you add bigger, heavier tires, and beefy bumpers, a winch, and all your camping gear. When you do need to brake, you'll want the superb stopping power and control provided by StopFlex® Stainless Steel Braided Brake Hoses from Classic Tube. StopFlex® reduces normal brake hose volumetric expansion, resulting in a firm, more positive pedal pressure and a quicker, safer stop!
May 22, 2007	Whipsaw Trail Recognized As One of Six "Outstanding Trails in North America" BFGoodrich Tires has added the Whipsaw Trail to its Oustanding Trails program. The trail's uniqueness, terrain type and user enthusiasm were cited as reasons for its addition. A group from BFG will visit the trail later this year, and will liase with the Rover-Landers of BC 4x4 club. Under the umbrella of the 4WDABC, the Rover-Landers have entered into an agreement with the province to maintain the Lodestone Lake recreation site. The club also makes regular runs on the trail to erect and maintain signage, clean up garbage, and promote Tread Lightly practices.
May 18, 2007	Chilliwack Valley Campers Be Warned! Chilliwack residents are fed up with the obnoxious behaviour and garbage left by weekend partiers in the Chilliwack Valley. The problem is especially bad along the river where people have been camping in non-designated camping areas. In an effort to combat the problem, the provincial government has issued an order under Section 58 of the Forest and Range Practices act that bans camping in non-designated areas. "No overnight parking or camping" signs have been posted between Vedder and Tamihi bridges, and this new rule will be heavily enforced. Police and local volunteers, including members of the Ch-ihl-kway-uhk Tribe, will be cruising the area and reporting violators. Vehicles parked in this area between 11:00pm and 4:00am will be immediately towed.
May 17, 2007	Prevent Forest Fires This Year VICTORIA - British Columbians are encouraged to be careful with cigarettes, campfires and other open burning, Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman said today. "Every year, human-caused fires threaten public safety, destroy wildlife habitat and often contribute to poor air quality," said Coleman. "We encourage people to go out and enjoy themselves, but please be careful when you are around fires."
May 15, 2007	Booster Seats Required For Children Up To Eight Years Of Age Today, the Vancouver Sun reported that in one year from today (May 15, 2008), booster seats will be required for all children up to eight years of age. The formal announcement from the British Columbia government is expected to come some time today. For the next twelve months, the government will run a public education campaign to give everyone enough notice and explain the reasons for this new requirement.
May 14, 2007	Poly Performance Introduces Weld-On 3 Link & 4 Link Suspension Kits These days, pretty much any monkey can weld. But designing a robust, good performing multi-link suspension still requires serious thought and good fabrication skills. For those of us who aren't excited about building 3 generations of suspensions before arriving at a good setup for our 4x4s, Poly Performance's new weld-on kit may be what we need. These components are designed to provide huge amounts of wheel travel while maintaining safe steering characteristics, and can be used with coil-over or traditional coil and shock setups. Poly Performance recommends this kit for Jeep YJ, TJ, and CJ vehicles, as well as 1966-77 Ford Broncos. These kits should also be compatible with most vehicles with 4" tall frame rails.
Apr 26, 2007	Kingpin Dana 60 High Steer Arms Mad 4wd has just come out with high steer arms for king pin Dana 60's that are machined from billet cold rolled steel and are 1" thick. The spring cover and lock is also machined out of solid billet replacing the stamped steel cover. The arm features a 10 degree angled plane to offset steering joint misalignment. Instead of a one version fits all Mad 4wd prefers to offer these arms blank, giving the customer the option of drilling or reaming steering link mounting holes themselves or having them come machined for the customers specific application. This way the arm is not weakened with multiple holes. The steering arms also feature a 5th hole for use with Reid Racing (formerly Dedenbear) steering knuckles.
Apr 20, 2007	Poly Performance Introduces the Hot Box High Performance FS Ignition When we were at Off-road Impact in Las Vegas, we were shocked at just how big the aftermarket was for Yamaha's Rhino ATV. The latest entry to this burgeoning market is Poly Performance's ignition box that removes speed limiters and boosts horsepower and torque. What's not to like about that?!
Apr 18, 2007	Advance Adapters Orion H.D. 4:1 Transfer Case for Toyota Land Cruisers Land Cruiser owners, Advance Adapters has answered your demands for a heavy-duty, bolt-in, 4:1 transfer case. The Orion H.D. is beefed with 32-spline front and rear output shafts, and features twin-stick shifters. This is a great low-gear solution for short wheelbase Land Cruisers where drivetrain length is an issue.
Apr 13, 2007	Two Jeep Wrangler Jk Suspension Systems Introduced By Rancho® Rancho's new Long-Arm Rockcrawler and Sport lift systems allow JK owners to easily fit 35-inch tires. Budget-minded fourwheelers are the ideal candidates for the Sport system. Fourwheelers who spend time on the harder trails will appreciate the higher grade components and added features of the Long-Arm Rockcrawler system. Both are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Apr 11, 2007	Warn Front and Rear Off-Road Bumpers for the Toyota FJ Cruiser Warn Industries now has the Toyota FJ Cruiser covered front and rear with the release of this heavy-duty rear bumper. This durable bumper is welded one piece construction and has eyelets for shackles as well as a recessed center area which makes space for fitting up to a 33" tire on the factory FJ tire carrier. The bumper's design accomodates the factory receiver hitch and back-up sensors. Available in any color you want as long as it's black wrinkle finish powder-coat.
Apr 10, 2007	Dynomax® Launches Performance Exhaust Packages For Popular Nissan And Toyota Trucks Owners of popular 2005-06 Nissan Xterra, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma vehicles can now enjoy improved performance and acceleration through the latest high-flow performance exhaust systems from DynoMax® Performance Exhaust. These dyno-tested systems feature their Ultra Flo welded mufflers which minimize backpressure and produce an aggressive, strong tone.
Apr 5, 2007	Jeep Reveals The 2008 Jeep Liberty Jeep's re-tooled Liberty is going back to its roots with a more angular appearance that has a lot in common with its Commander sibling and its Cherokee ancestry. Notable features/options include: redesigned front/rear suspension (still IFS), re-designed steering, Selec-Trac II, Sky Slider canvas roof, rain-sensing wipers, remote start, and memory seats. Jeep didn't provide us with any details on the differences between Selec-Trac II vs. Selec-Trac. We assume that the drive modes are still the same: 2wd, full-time 4wd (awd), part-time 4wd, and part-time 4wd low range. For anyone interested in a four-door Wrangler JK but with more luxury, this might be your solution. Outfitted with the Sky Slider sun roof, the new Liberty will provide a very convertible-like experience. The 2008 Liberty should be in dealer showrooms by the third-quarter of 2007.
Apr 4, 2007	Rockland Standard Gear Introduces CHATTER FREE Transfer Case Lubricant If you're experiencing chatter problems with your New Venture or Borg Warner clutch-driven transfer case, give RSG's Chatter-Free lubricant a try. It might fix the problem and would be a lot cheaper and convenient than an un-needed tear-down.
Apr 4, 2007	Rockland Standard Gear Offers Heavy Duty NP231 Transfer Cases With Slip-Yoke Eliminator Kits "Building smarter" is a good way to describe RSG's heavy duty NP231 transfer case. They utilize the existing NP231 case but fill it with beefy parts so you end up with a heavy duty 'case that requires no costly modifications to fit in your vehicle. It's a 100% stock fit. Features include 6-pinion planetary gear sets, beefy chains and sprockets, and a big 32-spline output shaft that is CV-ready.
Apr 4, 2007	Rancho Introduces Extra-Large RS9000XL Shocks Recognizing a clear need for a premium shock with an oversized body, Rancho has introduced massive shock absorbers to the RS9000XL model line. These bigger shocks are ideal for larger wheel and tire combinations where you need to control a lot of up-sprung weight.
Mar 30, 2007	EPA Spurs Clean Diesel Technology This week, the EPA has issued guidance on emission certification procedures for on-road diesels that use selective catalyst reduction (SCR) technology. What that means, in plain English, is that they will make it easier for manufacturers to understand and follow the guidelines. This is a particularly important event for Daimler-Chrysler and other manufacturers that have adopted the Bluetec urea-injection system for clean diesel. Previously, there were concerns that the EPA would frown upon any kind of emissions equipment that required replenishment (such as the urea cannisters). With this announcement, the EPA is making it clear that urea-injection or the use of other reducing agents is an acceptable strategy for clean diesel systems.
Mar 16, 2007	Rancho's QuickLIFT Shocks Provide Affordable Lift Options for Late Model 4x4s If you've got a late model 4x4 with coil over shocks, Rancho has an inexpensive, easy-to-install lift option in the form of its QuickLIFT product line. These are coil-over replacement shocks with raised spring-seats that can provide from 1 to 2.5 inches of additional lift. The shocks feature nitrogen gas-charged tri-tubes, mono-flow design, and the nine-position myRIDE™ tuning system which allows remote or manual adjustability.
Mar 2, 2007	Superlift 6" Knuckle Lift For 1999-2006 Chevy/GMC 3/4-Ton 4x4 Pickups Superlift has just come out with a replacement knuckle kit that simplifies and speeds up installation time while providing clearance for most 35" tires. The knuckles also widen the track which accomodates wider than stock tires. By using these knuckles, the factory front driveshaft does not have to be replaced.
Feb 26, 2007	Rimrock Mountain Supply Has Purchased Klune-V's RAD (Rapid Air Deflators) Product Rimrock Mountain Supply, maker of the JackStrap, has announced that they have purchased all patents and rights to produce the Klune–V RADS (Rapid Air Deflators). The product will now be known as RIMROCK RADS. Klune will no longer produce the RAD.
Feb 20, 2007	Staun Releases Their Upgraded Internal Bead Lock Staun has released an upgraded version of their internal beadlocks. The latest version features acrylic-coated polymer-weave sidewalls and a laminate cap to improve strength and reduce the risk of punctures. Click on More to see a video of the installation.
Feb 15, 2007	Want A Free Shock? Don't Miss Rancho's Spring Promotion Spring is almost here! Is your 4x4 ready for the trails, yet? Are you still just getting by with those worn out, too-short shocks? Now's the time to upgrade them to some quality Rancho units. From March 1 to April 30, 2007, Rancho is giving away a fourth shock when you buy any three Rancho shocks. Read the full article for details about how to take advantage of this great, money-saving deal.
Feb 13, 2007	WhiteKnight.ca Releases Their New "Over and Out" DVD WhiteKnight.ca has released their latest video, "Over and Out." It ranges from their home base, Edmonton, Alberta, south to Moab, Utah. There's some very cool footage and rockin' tunes. Best of all, you get to enjoy the carnage without breaking your own junk. Check it out.
Feb 12, 2007	Trailmaster Announces a 3" Suspension System for the 2-Door JK Ok, ok. I'll admit that the 4-door JK has gotten all of the attention, even from me. But there IS a 2-door version of the JK and Trailmaster just announced a new, budget-priced, 3-inch lift system for it. It will let JK owners fit 33" tires easily.
Feb 9, 2007	Superlift eXtreme Ring™ Differential Cover Armor Superlift has come out with their eXtreme Ring™ line of differential cover armor. These slick-looking cover guards are constructed from laser-cut, 1/4" steel and feature Superlift's stylized "S" logo. These rings are available for a variety of differentials. Of particular interest is the fact that they make one for the Ford 8.8. These are great axles but they have terribly weak differential covers. An eXtreme Ring™ should be mandatory equipment if you've got an 8.8 sitting under your 4x4.
Feb 7, 2007	Bulldog Winches There's a new dog in town for anyone looking for a winch. Bulldog Winch has arrived in the outdoor winch market with a full line-up, ranging from a 2,000 lb ATV winch to a 12,000 lb unit suitable for the heaviest of trucks. To give you an idea of their specs, we'll have a look at their 9,500 lb winch.
Feb 6, 2007	ReadyLift Suburban / Tahoe Suspension Leveling Kits: 2007 2wd & 4wd - 6 Lug Lifting the rear of a full-size truck has always been easy because virtually all of them use leaf springs. It's the front that has been the tricky part because of the diversity of suspension designs and the need to retain correct alignment and steering geometry. ReadyLift makes a wide range of products designed to lift the front of your truck with minimal fuss and expense. Their latest kit is for the 2007 2wd and 4wd 6-lug GM trucks.
Feb 5, 2007	Alloy USA Front Axle Tube Seals Alloy USA's axle tube seals are an elegant solution to an annoying problem. That problem is the poorly sealed front Dana 30 and 44 axle tubes found on various Chrysler Jeeps. Yes, the differential itself is properly sealed, but the axle tube ends are not. All manner of crud can enter those tubes and work away at your differential seals. Alloy USA's tube seals fix that problem with their beautiful, CNC-machined, anodized aluminum seals. They're available in red, black, and bare aluminum, too! These tube seals are compatible with late model Dana 30's and Rubicon model Dana 44's. If you play in a mud a lot, these seals are highly, highly recommended.
Feb 1, 2007	Pure Power! Lifetime CLEANABLE & REUSABLE Stainless Steel Filters® I know it sounds like snake oil, but these re-usable filters by Pure Power appear to be the real deal. They've won numerous industry awards for their products and have independent lab results showing that their filter is superior to disposables. Besides doing a better job of keeping your oil clean, they're also much easier on the environment. Not a bad deal at all.
Jan 31, 2007	TJM Pro Locker Provides More Choice For Toyota Owners Toyota owners now have another option for selectable lockers. TJM's Pro Locker is an air-actuated locker that has been proven in the field for the past 20 years. Besides providing the versatility of a selectable locker, the Pro Locker also upgrades the strength of the differential with its larger pinion gears and heavy duty carrier. Its optional air compressor has a 2000 hour service life and is backed by a 5 year warranty.
Jan 30, 2007	Superior's Super 88 Kit Makes Your 8.8 Axle Bomb-Proof About the only real complaint you can make about the Ford 8.8 axle is that it uses c-clips. If you ever break a c-clip or snap an axle, you have to deal with the problem right where the vehicle stands because there's nothing to hold the wheel to the axle housing. Superior Axle's Super 88 kit addresses this problem, as well as a couple of others that especially affect people who swap these axles into Jeeps. And of course, their Super 88 kit also includes 4340 chrome moly shafts which greatly improve the strength and reliability over the stock shafts.
Jan 29, 2007	Advance Adapters Introduces Kit To Mate Dana 300 or Atlas Transfer Case to Toyota Transfer Case Advance Adapters showed off their new kit to mate the Toyota transfer case to a Dana 300 or Atlas transfer case. With this kit (50-5915), you can run an Atlas or Dana 300 that gives you much lower crawl ratios, bullet-proof toughness, clocking options, and the ability to have a twin-stick case, giving you front wheel drive (high and low range) and rear wheel drive low range. The adapter features a couple of threaded holes at the bottom to allow you to fabricate a mount that supports your drive train between the two transfer cases, reducing strain on your motor mounts.
Jan 26, 2007	Dynatrac Free-Spin Heavy-Duty Front Hub Conversion Kit Dynatrac's heavy-duty front hub conversion kits address the weaknesses inherent in unit bearing spindle designs. Unit bearings are both non-servicable and when they fail, they can leave the vehicle immobile (resulting in towing costs and down time). This isn't a great selling point for heavy duty trucks that often serve as working vehicles. Dynatrac's conversion kit converts Dodge and Ford trucks to a fixed spindle design which is both servicable and extremely strong. Parts include cromoly spindles, Warn premium locking hubs, and 1.5" dia., 35-spline outer axle shafts.
Jan 25, 2007	Pit Bull Tires Releases New Tires for 20" Wheels Pit Bull Tires has recently released some new tires for 20" rims: Maddog (35x14.50-20LT Load Range E), Growler (35x14.50-20LT Load Range E), and Rocker (35x14.50-20LT, 37x13.50-20LT, 39.5x16.50-20LT, all Load Range E). They'll also be releasing a 31x11.50-15LT and 31x11.50-16LT Growler in April. And that's not all. They're planning on releasing 26 more sizes around July, but for now, those sizes are a secret.
Jan 23, 2007	Chrysler Group Announces US Market Pricing for the New 2007 Jeep® Grand Cherokee CRD The 2007 diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be available in March, with a starting price of around USD$39,000 for a 2wd model. Even better, the motors are 3.0L V6 units produced by Mercedes-Benz who have a long history of producing dependable diesel power plants. 215 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque at 1,600-2,800 rpm suggest that this will be an excellent motor for fourwheeling and towing duties.
Jan 23, 2007	Dodge Ram Achieves 2010 NOx Emissions Standards THREE Years Early Chrysler's first BLUETEC-equipped vehicles, the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks, have already met the strict 2010 emissions standards. This is a signicant achievement for Chrysler, whose trucks now the bear the distinction of being the cleanest operating diesel-powered trucks on the North American market. It is also a major boost for diesel proponents who have long been criticized by environmentalists as promoting a dirty technology. Today's announcement clearly demonstrates that diesel technology is up to the challenges of clean air for the future.
Jan 22, 2007	Lowrance iWay 600C I was hypnotized by the incredible map display of this Lowrance iWay 600C. What struck me was the fact that it was displaying satellite photos of city blocks! That's the first time I've seen that done in an automotive GPS system. The Lowrance rep. said that the map set includes satellite imagery for about 250 North American (US and Canada) cities, as well as full vector-based, turn-by-turn street and highway detail for the rest of the continent. Other tricks include the ability to play MP3 music files and the inclusion of inland water and coastal water marine maps on its 30GB hard drive.
Jan 22, 2007	Interco Introduces a Non-Directional IROK Among the new items at the Off Road Impact show in Las Vegas was a new IROK. It was labelled as an IROK ND. It looked like a regular IROK but when I asked the Interco people about it, they told me that ND stood for non-directional.
Jan 17, 2007	2007 Off-Road Impact Trade Show The Off-Road Impact Trade Show begins January 18, 2007. This show brings together all the major manufacturers, distributors, fabricators and retailers in the 4x4 world. BC4x4.COM will be there to scope out the new products and trends.
Jan 12, 2007	New BDS 2" and 3" Lift Systems For 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK BDS is famous in the 4x4 aftermarket world for their "no fine print" warranty. Now Jeep Wrangler JK owners can take advantage of that warranty with two new lift systems. The 2" kit that lets you fit 33x12.50 tires, and the 3" kit that lets you fit 35x12.50 tires. Read the rest of this article for tire fitment details.
Jan 11, 2007	Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Wins 4x4 of the Year Award Jeep's win against three Chevys, a Hummer, a Toyota, and a Kia backs up what fourwheelers have known all along. For maximum off-road ability, you simply can't beat the basics: live axles, a flexible suspension, lockers, and low gears. Everything else is simply an attempt to make the vehicle and its 4wd system more street friendly and adds nothing to the off-road capabilities.
Jan 8, 2007	Garmin Lets You GPS-Enable Your Dog Sportsmen with canine hunting partners will love this new GPS system from Garmin. It lets you track your dogs using GPS-enabled beacon collars and display their locations on a hand-help electronic mapping display which, itself, is a fully functional GPS unit. It has a tracking range of up to 8km (depends on terrain) and you can track up to 10 beacons at a time. But I can imagine a better (unapproved) use for it: you could use it to keep an electronic eye on the kids while you're at camp, especially if they're travelling over a wide area on mountain bikes or ATVs. Or how about a nighttime paintball game? It'd make for a pretty cool Aliens scenario: one person with the GPS against 10 "Aliens" displayed on his screen.
Jan 4, 2007	Poly Performance Introduces Alloy Performance Axles for the Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser FJ80 owners now have an option for upgrading their axle shafts. Poly Performance is the first and only manufacturer of aftermarket FJ80 axle shafts. Their 4340 forged Chromoly full floating flanged shafts fit all model years of Toyota FJ80 Land Cruisers.
Jan 4, 2007	Mercedes-Benz Sets New Milestones in BLUETEC Initiative Mercedes-Benz will debut another BLUETECH concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show this month. Their Vision GL 420 BLUETEC demonstrates that even large, high-performance SUVs can achieve low emissions and economical fuel consumption thanks to BLUETECH technology. Getting 9.8L/Km (24 miles per us gal) is a pretty significant achievement for an SUV pumping out 290 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque. Imagine what this could mean for the Jeep SUVs that adopt BLUETEC!
Jan 2, 2007	GlobalSat DG-100 GPS Data Logger Looking for an easy way to record your off-road adventures? GlobalSat is about to release a GPS data logger that can record up to 50,000 points and output that data in various formats, including Google Earth's KML format. It's not a replacement for a traditional GPS receiver (it has no information or map screen) but it would be a great tool for anyone who is serious about tracking their 4x4 trips.
Dec 29, 2006	Superlift Offers 2.5" And 6" Lift Systems For 2007 Chevy/GMC 4WD And 2WD Pickups & SUVs 2007 GM truck owners have even more lift options, thanks to Superlift's new 2.5" and 6" lift systems. A 2.5" kit levels the vehicle and clears larger tires. Superlift uses either front preload rings under the factory shocks’ coils or replacement high-pressure-gas Superlift monotube shocks with the factory coils. Factory "rake" can be retained by using 1.5" or 2" rear lift blocks (pickups) or .75" coil spacer (SUVs). Optional Superlift Superide replacement rear shocks are available. Superlift's 6" system was modeled using advanced computer-design software. Driveability and durability are prioritized with proper coil spring rates and shock dampening, suspension travel control, steering geometry and CV-axle operating angles.
Dec 28, 2006	Sensible Changes to AirCare Program At long last, common sense has prevailed and AirCare is going to relax its testing requirements for new vehicles. Beginning on January 1, 2007, cars 7 years old or less do not have to be tested. That means a 2007 car won't have to be AirCare'd until 2015. Cars from 1992 to 2000 only have to be tested every 2 years. Cars prior to that still need to be tested annually. Because of reduced testing, AirCare is also going to close two of its stations (South Surrey and Burnaby) and reduce some lanes in its remaining stations. The testing fees are expected to remain the same and AirCare says it will look for ways to reduce them in the future (yeah, right).
Dec 27, 2006	2007 Jeep Wrangler 2" & 3" Lift Systems By Black Diamond Advanced Off Road Equipment Black Diamond now makes a budget 2" lift kit and a comprehensive 3" lift kit for JKs, allowing them to to 33x12.50 and 35x12.50 tires, respectively. The 2" kit is your basic budget boost design that relies on spring spacers for lift. The 3" kit is very complete, including springs, longer sway bar links, extended bump stops, adjustable track bar, rear track bar relocation bracket, brake line relocators, longer sway bar links, alignment cams, and shocks.
Dec 22, 2006	Caution Advised On South Island Forest Roads We hope you all have a safe holiday season. With that in mind, please read this safety notice from the Ministry of Forests regarding hazards on Southern Vancouver Island forest roads. The recent storms have created many hazards due to blown down or snagged trees, washouts, land slides, and damaged bridges and culverts.
Dec 22, 2006	ARB Introduces New Accessories For Toyota FJ Cruisers ARB has just announced their new roof rack and rock sliders for the Toyota FJ Cruiser. The rack utilizes ARB's unique, full-length support channel that evenly distributes weight over a wide area. Wind noise is kept to a minimum by an aerodynamic wind deflector located at the front of the rack. The chassis-mounted rock sliders are truly built for the vehicle's protection and can be used as jacking points.
Dec 20, 2006	Superlift Offers 4" & 6" Lift Systems For The 2006 Dodge MegaCab The Dodge Megacab is probably the hottest-looking truck on the market and now you can crank that up a notch with these new Superlift suspension systems. These kits provide for longer suspension travel while retaining the truck's excellent street manners and steering.
Dec 19, 2006	Superlift Releases Innovative 4-Link Upgrade For 2005-07 Ford F-250 & F-350 Super Duty If you thought after market 4-link suspension systems were just for the rock crawlers, Superlift has proven you wrong. They've released a 4-link kit that replaces the factor radius arm set-up for Ford Super Duty 4x4s. From a handling perspective, the kit is superior to the factory arrangement because it maintains the caster angle no matter how heavily or lightly the vehicle is loaded. The kit can be optioned to support dual shocks and provides virtually unlimited caster adjustment. If you have to have the trickest suspension for your Super Duty, this is the kit for you.
Dec 16, 2006	Black Diamond Extreme X2 Long-Arm Suspension Lifts Jeep Wranglers 7" Black Diamond is back with a sequel to their ground-breaking coil-over suspension for Jeep YJs. Their new Extreme X2 Suspension Lift features 7" of lift for both TJs and YJs. The most significant feature is that it uses leaf springs in the rear and coilover springs in the front. Presumably, the rear leafs eliminate the front wheel lift tendencies common to tall TJs, and the front coilovers provide great front end suspension common to the TJs. Optional pieces and weld-on brackets are available to adapt the kit to non-standard axles such as the Ford 8.8. We're also happy to see them using rubber bushings which should reduce vibrations and provide excellent durability.
Dec 12, 2006	Bushwacker Extend-A-Fender flares for the 2007 Silverado 1500 4x4 As with the recently released Jeep JK, any new to the market vehicle will have aftermarket manufacturers racing to build parts. The Chevy Silverado 1500 is no exception. Bushwacker is first to market with their Extend-A-Fender fender flares for the all new Silverado. These flares provide 1.75" of additional tire coverage and are the perfect addition for a truck equipped with a lift kit and 35" tires.
Dec 8, 2006	Twin Motor Conversions for the Warn 8274 Winch The British Land Rover specialty company, Gigglepin, has developed a conversion to install twin 6 hp Warn XP motors onto a single 8274 Warn winch. The result is twice the power and twice the speed of a conventional 8274. This winch was developed for competition but it has a lot of draw for recreational 'wheelers as well. Very, very cool.
Dec 6, 2006	Christmas Tree Cutting Permits Available For any four wheelers considering cutting their own Christmas tree this year, you need to be aware that the province of British Columbia has some regulations regarding this activity. Although free permits for cutting trees on Crown land are available in some forest districts, no permits will be issued in the Lower Main and Victoria due to population density. Read the full text of this article for the details. And MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Nov 30, 2006	Land Rover LR2 Debuts At 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show After seeing the release of the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Jeep JK 4x4s, the latest Land Rover is a stark contrast in priorities. Not that this is a surprise, of course. The new LR2 is basically more car than SUV and R&D has focused on improving its street attributes.
Nov 29, 2006	New for 2007: Pro-Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains We were quite impressed when Pro-Comp introduced their first mud terrain tire, finding it be a great combination of off-road performance, quiet road noise, and durability. For 2007, Pro-Comp is introducing an improved version of that tire, the Xtreme Mud Terrain. This new tire adds more aggressive shoulder lugs and a triple-ply carcass to provide even better off-road traction and protection against sidewall damage. It will be available in sizes from 31" to 38".
Nov 26, 2006	Jeep Trailhawk Concept Vehicle The Jeep Trailhawk concept is supposed to combine the sophistication of the Grand Cherokee line with the off-road abilities of the new JK platform. Could this mean 4:1 transfer case gearing, remote-activated swaybars and user-selectable differential lockers? The teaser also suggests a new approach to "open-air freedom." If they could make some kind of auto-retracting or manually-removable targa-style top, I could see a lot of demand for this vehicle.
Nov 24, 2006	Rancho 6" Lift System for 2006 Dodge 1500 Ram Trucks 2006 Dodge 1500 4x4 owners now have another option for lifting their trucks. In a departure from their traditionally offered 4” and lower lift kits Rancho has now released a 6” suspension lift system capable of fitting 35” tires on the 1500 Dodge Ram 4x4 (not MegaCab models). This all new kit uses extended-length heavy duty cast steering knuckles which allow for easier alignment and improved steering geometry. As with other Rancho kits a one piece sub-frame constructed from laser cut ¼” steel is completely welded to provide strength and precise fit.
Nov 22, 2006	TeraFlex Dual Rate S/T Swaybar System Although the JK's remotely-controlled swaybar disconnect is definitely a cool feature, I think JK owners will still want to consider upgrading to TeraFlex's new Dual Rate S/T Swaybar System. Jeep owners all know that factory swaybars are too stiff to allow enough suspension articulation for off-road use. But having no swaybar when off-road has its drawbacks, too. The S/T Swaybar System provides an easy system for switching between a stiff torsion bar for safe highway driving, and a softer torsion bar for better off-road performance without sacrificing the stability offered by a swaybar. Best off all, this product is also available in versions for Jeep TJs and YJs.
Nov 17, 2006	Incomappleux Road Closed Due To Rockfall CASTLEGAR – The public is advised that portions of the Incomappleux River Forest Service Road are closed to vehicular traffic effective immediately. A recent rockfall caused extensive damage to Canyon Bridge, located at kilometre 0.1 on the Incomappleux River Forest Service Road. Bridge closure notices have been posted at the site, with barricades to be erected.
Nov 17, 2006	Ramsey Winch announces NEW Patriot 9500 UT Winch Ramsey's new Patriot 9500 UT winch features a semi-automatic clutch that simplifies winch use by removing the need to manually engage/dis-engage the clutch. Besides being more convenient, in some tricky situations, it could also prove to be safer by not requiring the winch operator to be near the vehicle. The optional wireless remote allows the winch operator to be as far as 50 ft away.
Nov 16, 2006	Vanco Introduces the Raptor Jeep® OverSized Disc Brake Kit One thing that always makes me cringe is seeing Jeeps running 35" tires with the factory brakes. Those brakes are barely adequate for the stock tires. To expect them to perform safely with big, heavy tires, and a few hundred extra pounds of winch, bumpers and armour, is unrealistic. Vanco's Raptor Oversized Disc Brake Kit is a bolt-on solution for safely stopping oversized Jeeps.
Nov 16, 2006	Poly Performance Introduces Innovative 4-Link Brackets, Shock Mounts & Gussets If you've ever done any kind of fabrication, you know that welding is the easy part, and designing, cutting and shaping is the hard, time-consuming part. If you want to build a custom suspension or axle, but want a professional appearance for your bracketry, then take a look at Poly Performance's new suspension brackets. With these beautifully crafted brackets, you won't have to fear that photos of your your suspension are going to show up on some ghetto-tech gallery page.
Nov 16, 2006	New CERA Analysis Finds That Remaining Oil Reserves Is Three Times Larger Than Thought In a recent news release, CERA (Cambridge Energey Research Associates, Inc) claims that its latest analysis of world oil reserves shows that we actually have three times more oil than was thought. They go on to say that this analysis debunks the "peak oil" argument that states that world oil production is about to peak and then go into a sharp decline.
Nov 14, 2006	Delphi Launches Its NAV200 Personal Navigation System Delphi has launched its NAV200 GPS personal navigation system. Considering the growth of this market, it's no surprise to see the entry of a new player, especially Delphi, which is the leading manufacturer of satellite radios. The big question is how good the navigation software and map data accuracy will be. An easy-to-use interface and affordable and regular updates of the map data will be crucial if Delphie is going to take a bite out of Garmin's market share.
Nov 7, 2006	Pimp My (Military) Ride 4wd (plus two pairs of belly wheels), central tire pressurization system, bullet-proof, amphibious with water jet propulsion...oh, and it's totally pimped out with DVD, GPS, TV and IR vision systems. This Russian BRDM Combat Patrol Vehicle wasn't exactly what Gorbachev had in mind when he came up with glasnost, but it's a pretty cool outcome, nonetheless.
Nov 4, 2006	The Latest and Greatest From SEMA 2006 - Day 4 Toyota was very aggressive at this year’s show. In addition to the multitude of FJ Cruisers found throughout the show, Toyota had a handful of unique vehicles on display in their booth. With aching feet from the previous days’ jaunts, we spent much of the day on Friday in Toyota’s booth learning more about these special vehicles. The coolest Toyota, and yet, disturbing at the same time, was this Rat Rod FJ45. You either love it or hate it...or both.
Nov 3, 2006	The Latest and Greatest From SEMA 2006 - Day 3 Whether you're into 4x4's or hotrods, a strong drivetrain is always a desirable thing. Walking through the exhibits at SEMA is a sure fire way to develop some cross pollination of ideas between dirt and pavement gear heads. Case in point were Moser's fabricated Ford 9" housings. Although built for the hotrod crowd, they definitely have appeal to four wheelers as well.
Nov 3, 2006	BDS Provides Lift Options for Your Jeep Grand Cherokee / Commander On a budget? BDS has a very affordable 2" spacer-style lift system to give your Jeep a bit more ground clearance and allow you to fit larger tires. Want to go even bigger? Their 4" system is a complete package that retains factory steering geometry and adjustable rear control arms.
Nov 2, 2006	The Latest and Greatest From SEMA 2006 - Day 2 Ever wonder what a convertible FJ Cruiser would look like? Well now you know. And while we're not fans of the H3, we can be persuaded otherwise if you stuff one with Tera CRD solid axles and a modified Duramax diesel. Check out the eye candy and eye torture from day 2 of SEMA 2006.
Nov 1, 2006	The Latest and Greatest From SEMA 2006 - Day 1 Our roving reporter in Las Vegas reports on the latest and greatest from the SEMA 2006 show. Watch as he braves throngs of barely dressed car hotties and dazzling mounds of bling to bring back the latest news from the world of 4x4's. ARB starts making heavy duty diff covers, Pro Comp has a mystery tire.
Oct 31, 2006	Titanium Lug Nuts for Bling Nuts Looking for that perfect Christmas stocking stuffer? If you have a flagrant desire to show just how unimportant money is to you, may we suggest titanium lug nuts? A bulk pack of 20 can be picked up for a mere CAD$599.00.
Oct 30, 2006	Quads.ca's Trail Clean-Up Makes It Into The Newspaper The local ATV website, Quads.ca, earned some much need PR publicity points for the off-road community when their upcoming trail clean-up made it into the Mission Record newspaper. The clean-up is scheduled for November 5, 2006, and will focus on the Lost Creek Forest Service Road, which is north of Sylvester Road. Four wheelers are both encouraged and welcome to attend.
Oct 30, 2006	Chrysler "Skunkwerks" Builds the Rubicon King With the annual SEMA show just a few days away, pictures of various show vehicles are starting to pop up. One of the more eye-catching vehicles we've seen so far is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon King from the "Chrysler Skunkwerks." The Skunkwerks is a special projects division and the lucky people who work there get to build the rigs that us four wheelers can only dream of.
Oct 30, 2006	Diesel-Powered Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon SEMA 2006: Chrysler turned fantasy into reality for thousands of Jeep enthusiasts when they set their engineers loose to build this one-off, diesel-powered Wrangler. The 3.0L CRD diesel generates a very healthy 230 horsepower and 390 lbs-ft of torque at 2800 rpm. If this ever reaches the dealerships, and I'm sure it will, Chrysler will have a long list of eager buyers.
Oct 26, 2006	Interco Unveils Their 54" Bogger Time to ditch the Dana 60’s and find some Rockwell axles. NTWOnline is showing pictures of the recently built Interco 19.5 x 54 x 20 Bogger. Monstrous is the only way to describe these tires! If you look at the comparison photo the smallest tire pictured is a 44" Bogger. These tires will be DOT approved for highway usage. The only problem is that the amount of lift required to run these will leave most trucks unable to meet most areas' street legal requirements.
Oct 25, 2006	Add Your Video Links to BC4x4! BC4x4 now supports linking to video clips! Did you find a cool 4x4 video on Youtube or Google Video that you want to share with us? Post its link code on BC4x4 to share with other four wheelers.
Oct 24, 2006	BC Man Sues UPS Over Outrageous Brokerage Fees This little news item is going to get a standing ovation from a lot of Canadian four wheelers who have had the dubious distinction of having dealt with UPS for cross-border shipments. A British Columbia man is trying to register a class action suit against UPS, citing that their fees are "so harsh and adverse as to constitute an unconscionable practice."
Oct 24, 2006	Warn Releases New Accessories for the 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK Warn is supporting the new Jeep JK with front and rear bumpers, a tire carrier, and winch mounting plates. Their bumpers are slightly wider than you would expect so they will meet vehicle regulations, even in the strictest provinces or states. These bumpers are formed via CNC tooling and robotically welded for maximum quality and durability. The optional tire carrier is rattle-free and can carry up to a 36" tire.
Oct 20, 2006	BDS Hummer H2 IFS 6" Lift Kit BDS has just announced their 6" lift system for Hummer H2's. This is a premium kit, as evidenced by the fact that it includes custom steering knuckles to provide proper steering geometry. This is the hot ticket for H2 owners that want to fit 38" tires.
Oct 19, 2006	Canadian Government Introduces New Clean Air Act, Will Diesels Become Extinct? October 19, 2006 - The Canadian federal government introduced today their proposed clean air act. This act would begin regulating smog levels by 2010 with a goal of halving greenhouse gasses by 2050. Of particular interest to four wheelers is the stated aim of matching the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's strict regulations. The EPA's Tier 2, Bin 5 level, based on California's LEV II requirements, is particularly harsh on diesel engines, due to its requirement for low NOx emissions. In fact, it is Tier 2, Bin 5 that is responsible for the rush to produce cleaner burning diesels. Would this mean the end for diesel trucks in North America?
Oct 19, 2006	Pro Comp's New 2007 Toyota FJ 5.5" Lift System Aftermarket manufacturers are continuing to show love for the iconic FJ Cruiser. Pro Comp is about to release a 5.5" lift kit featuring front coil-over shocks for FJ Cruiser owners who want to fit 35" tires or simply want more ground clearance.
Oct 19, 2006	Mile Marker's New Vmx² Is First Electric Winch To Feature Variable Speed Technology Although known primarily for its ground-breaking hydraulic winches for non-commercial vehicles, Mile Marker is set to be recognized as an innovator in the electric winch market, too. Their new Vmx² is the first ever electric winch to provide variable speed control. We don't have any specs regarding the min. and max. line speeds, but if the range is wide enough, this could be a very useful feature. Slow speed provides better control and therefore greater safety. We'll be keeping an eye on Mile Marker to see what the actual performance specs turn out to be.
Oct 19, 2006	Warn Winch Bumper for Toyota FJ Cruiser Are the FJ Cruiser's burly good looks not quite enough for you? Warn's got the answer for how to slap more beef onto your FJ. This beefy unit is designed to accept Warn winches up to 12,000 lbs capacity, and features an integrated brush bar and built-in light brackets.
Oct 19, 2006	Ministry of Natural Resources Will Continue to Produce Topographic Maps On Paper Four wheelers dodged a bullet recently when the Ministry of Natural Resources back away from its plan to cease production of printed topographic maps. This move came in response to strong protests from a wide range of stakeholders including libraries, map vendors, and recreational users. Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn announced on October 12th that Canadian topographic maps will continue to be available in paper format.
Oct 18, 2006	Staun's Stealthy Bead Locks Staun's internal bead locks aren't new, but many fourwheelers aren't aware of them. We think this is a shame because unlike conventional bead lock rims, Staun's internal bead locks are street legal pretty much everywhere. Other advantages include: modification requires only one extra valve stem hole drilled into your existing wheel, seats both beads at the same time, can function as run flat, allowing you to run on 0 psi, can be transferred from one wheel to another so a bent rim doesn't mean you lose the investment in your bead lock.
Oct 13, 2006	Fabtech Announces Two New 6" Lift Systems For The 2006-2007 Toyota FJ Aggressive as its styling may be, the Toyota FJ's fender well openings are too small to fit tires that are big enough to match its in-your-face looks. Fabtech's new 6" lift systems can fix the FJ's out-of-proportion looks by providing enough clearance to fit a beefy set of 35" meats. At the same time, these kits also provide an integrated 1/4" thick skid plate to protect that vulnerable front differential. And all of this without affecting the factory steering. Hoo-ah!
Oct 12, 2006	Cummins Produces Light Duty Diesel For Daimler Chrysler From Reuters: Cummins Inc. , the U.S. diesel engine maker, said on Wednesday that it will begin producing a new family of light-duty diesel engines for DaimlerChrysler AG at its plant in Columbus, Indiana. This is major speculation but I wonder if, by "light-duty," they mean diesel motors for passenger cars and Jeeps, or if they're referring to engines for full-size pickup trucks? The VM Motori diesel used in the Jeep Liberty is no longer an option, probably because of increasing emissions regulations. Considering that the US is finally moving to ultra low sulfur diesel, perhaps the new Cummins motor will be optimized to work with low sulfur diesel to drastically reduce emissions? Of course, Mercedes itself has a long history of passenger car diesel engines and their new Bluetec system will be fully compliant with the toughest emissions laws in the US. The full Bluetec system is expected to reach North America in 2008.
Oct 11, 2006	Warn Creates The PowerPlant Dual Force, A Combination Winch and Air Compressor Classify this under ingenious: Warn has grafted an air compressor onto a winch to come up with the PowerPlant Dual Force. It makes so much sense that it's surprising that no one's done it before. Think about it, you've got a 4.6 hp electric motor sitting on your bumper. Why not using for something other than winching? It's not like you'll ever need to pump air and winch at the same time, right?
Oct 11, 2006	Bushwacker's Pocket Style Flares for Jeep JK's The stream of accessories for the new Jeep JK continues to flow. Bushwacker has announced Pocket Style Flares for 2-door and 4-door Jeep JK's. These great-looking flares will provide 2" of additional tire coverage and are available in a matte black finish. Mounting requires no body side cutting or drilling and are attached with stainless Torx bolts.
Oct 10, 2006	Dodge Ram Leads the Way in Promoting Use of Clean, Renewable Biodiesel The widespread acceptance of biodiesel got a much needed shot in the arm when DaimlerChrysler announced that they are now approving the use of a 20% biodiesel (B20) for commercial, military and government fleet users of Ram trucks. This is a significant step up from the 5% (B5) that most manufacturers are allowing. To further promote the benefits of clean burning, renewable diesel fuels, Chrysler will also being filling trucks coming off the assembly with B5 diesel.
Oct 6, 2006	The Diesel Wave Is Coming Fourwheelers have been ahead of the curve when it comes to diesels because the big three have had been selling a lot of diesel-powered full-size trucks for many years now. But in the car segment, diesels have only appeared in relatively small numbers of Mercedes-Benz's and VWs. Well, that's all about to change. Honda, one of the biggest names in the car market is set to introduce a super clean diesel for 2009.
Oct 5, 2006	TeraFlex Goodies for the Jeep JK Usually, a new model 4x4 gets released and only after months of waiting do the aftermarket suppliers catch up to it. Not so with Jeep's JK Wrangler. It hit the ground running with a wide assortment of aftermarket upgrades and TeraFlex is responsible for many of those products. We recently flipped through TeraFlex's JK accessory catalogue and found some goodies that we'd put on the must-have list for new JK owners.
Oct 2, 2006	First-ever Four-door Wrangler: The All-new 2007 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited At a time when more and more automakers are moving towards emasculating their legendary 4x4's in exchange for more street-oriented duty (think of Hummer's H2, H3 and Toyota's current FJ Cruiser), it is hard not to stand up and cheer for Jeep's 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Its option list covers all the bases for 4x4 fans: Convertible, solid axles, locking differentials, 4:1 transfer case gears, a flexible suspension and an electronically controlled anti-sway bar. Amazingly, this new four-door Wrangler also has more interior cargo space (86.75 cu. ft.) than the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2006 Hummer H3, and 2006 Nissan Xterra (according to Jeep).
Sep 30, 2006	Dodge Introduces Cleaner, Quieter and More Powerful 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo-Diesel Engine This new Cummins is available in January on new 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 models. Notable features include: 1) Increased output with 350 horsepower and 650 lb.ft. of torque, 2) New, fuel-savings six-speed automatic transmission features best-in-class gear-ratio spread; standard Electronic Range Select (ERS), 3) First-ever integrated exhaust brake available direct from factory, 4) 50-percent quieter engine; 3Dba reduction in cabin sound levels, and 5) Life-to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.
Sep 29, 2006	Russian Highway Hell If you've ever thought our trails were getting too crowded, you'll feel better when you see what a REAL crowded trail looks like. Well, not a trail, but a Russian federal "highway." This photo was taken on a highway near Yakutsk City. This shot was taken a few days BEFORE the really big traffic jam in which 600 (yes, that's six-hundred) cars got stuck.
Sep 29, 2006	HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion HP's new Travel Companion auto routing GPS system packs a powerful set of features that does a lot more than just navigation. It's basically a pocket office that lets you stay connected (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Microsoft Office) or entertained (MP3's, videos, photos). Of course, if you want to navigate, it has the super sensitive SiRFstarIII GPS receiver chip set, all the maps are pre-loaded, and it provides both visual and voice-guided directional prompts.
Sep 28, 2006	GM to Introduce New Light-Duty Diesel for North America General Motors Corp. will introduce a new V-8 turbo-diesel that improves engine fuel efficiency by 25 percent for North American light duty trucks after 2009. The premium V-8 diesel is expected to deliver class-leading torque, power and refinement while maintaining a significant fuel efficiency advantage over comparable output gasoline engines.
Sep 28, 2006	Rancho Releases Lift Kit for 2007 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra 1/2-ton Pickups Rancho engineers know the expectations: Enthusiasts want an exciting light-truck performance suspension that helps maximize ground clearance and off-road excitement. And that’s exactly what Rancho has delivered with an advanced suspension system for a truck model that hasn’t even hit showroom floors yet: 2007 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra ½-ton pickups.
Sep 28, 2006	2008 Ford Super Duty Ford's 2008 Super Duty has an impressive list of new features. Here are some that caught our eye: new 6.4L Power Stroke with 350 hp and 650 lb-ft torque starting at 2000 rpm, featuring common rail injection, Diesel particulate filter, and variable geometry sequential turbo chargers; DVD-based navigation system; Tailgate Step and bed extender that can be folded into the vehicle when not needed; PowerScope powered folding/telescoping mirrors (their settings are also saved into the same personal settings used for seat and pedal position memory); TowCommand™ System that provides a factory-installed and warranted electronic trailer brake controller whose operation is integrated into the truck's anti-lock braking system.
Sep 27, 2006	Klune-V 4-to-1 Under-Drives Now Available With Ford 31-spline Input Klune-V has announced that it's 4-to-1 "David" under-drive gear box can now be had with built-in Ford 31-spline input capability. That means it can now be bolted up directly to a variety of Ford transmissions without the use of an adapter. This is a good thing because the shorter the transmission/transfer case combo, the longer the driveshaft you can have.
Sep 27, 2006	Dump Your Old Car and Buy a New One for the Environment "Replacing old vehicles with new vehicles should be the single most important agenda item for any policy maker hoping to positively impact the environment," that was the statement made by Dennis DesRosiers, head of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. "Older vehicles are, by a large margin, the least fuel-efficient and highest-polluting road users," DesRosiers said in a commentary, noting that 53 per cent of Canada's passenger cars and 64 per cent of its light trucks currently survive 15 years of active ownership. "The sooner they disappear, the sooner some of our environmental targets will be met."
Sep 26, 2006	Upgrade Your Rubicon Express 5-Link Suspension to Their New Tri-Link System Well this is unusual. Rubicon Express is selling an upgrade kit so you can go from a five-link to their new Tri-Link suspension design. It's nice to see that a company is providing an upgrade path to existing customers.
Sep 25, 2006	Rubicon Express Jeep LJ Tri-Link Suspension System The Jeep TJ/LJ/KJ vehicles are suffering from an embarassment of riches when it comes to aftermarket lift kits. Rubicon Express recently released a new kit for the LJ, featuring tri-link arms for the rear that eliminate the need for a rear track bar. This kit also replaces the factory skid plate in order to allow for the use of long control arms so you'll definitely be paying a premium for its premium design and performance.
Sep 22, 2006	Teraflex Introduces New JK Suspensions and Components Remember when the Jeep TJ was first introduced and the first and hottest kit for the longest time was the TeraFlex lift kit? It provided fantastic suspension flex and control while retaining the vehicle's excellent street manners and predictable handling. They've now introduced one of the first lift systems for the new 2007 Jeep JK and I expect it to provide the same benefits as their first Jeep coil spring kit did all those years ago.
Sep 21, 2006	Old Man Emu Lift Kit for Toyota FJ Old Man Emu has come to market with a lift system for the new Toyota FJ Cruiser. Unlike the majority of the current lift offerings which are basic coil spacer kits, OME is offering replacement coils for all 4 corners as well as new front struts. In typical OME fashion they have various coils spring rates available that will allow between 2”-3” of lift and add considerable carrying capacity to your FJ if you have a winch or haul heavy loads when traveling into the Outback. FJ owners should be excited about these additions to the market.
Sep 20, 2006	Skyjacker Suspension's New RockLock Selectable Anti-Sway Bar Skyjacker has released a new anti-sway bar that combines two very useful features to make it a very desirable product. First, it provides three levels of stiffness. You can select the stiffness that is best for YOUR kind of fourwheeling. Secondly, it is very, very easy to connect and disconnect. In fact, it is as easy as turning a dial. A locking hub dial, to be exact. This gives it a bit of a home-made look but it is certainly effective and can obviously be re-built using off-the-shelf hub parts. Quite ingenious, really.
Sep 19, 2006	Charges Laid for Damage to Wetlands in Kamloops Area We don't often see charges laid against people for doing environmental damage with their 4x4's so this case really caught our attention: "The investigation, conducted by Compliance and Enforcement officers of the B.C. Forest Service, found evidence that environmental damage may have occurred while a CFJC-TV7 camera crew was filming a tire commercial for Kamloops Tire Ltd. It is alleged that four four-wheel drive trucks repeatedly drove through the wetland on the north end of Duffy Lake, creating an enormous mud hole and leaving tire ruts on the lakeshore adjacent to the camping area."
Sep 18, 2006	New Magellan Roadmate™ 2000 Series Introduces Industry's First Crossovergps™ For Auto And Outdoor Navigation In One Magellan has long held the second-place position in the consumer GPS marketplace, with Garmin being the leader. But this just means that they try harder. Their new RoadMate units prove this by combining SiRFstarIII receivers, touch-sensitive screens, voice guidance, IPX-4 waterproof ratings and compact size into very aggressively priced packages. So if you're looking for an alternative to Garmin, have a look at Magellan's latest offerings. You'll find more to like than just the price.
Sep 17, 2006	New BDS 6.5" Long Arm Suspension System for Jeep Cherokees (XJs) BDS Suspension has released a 6.5" 4-link long arm suspension system for the Jeep Cherokee XJ. This kit provides the ultimate in strength and protection with a heavy-duty, high-clearance belly pan. No welding to the uni-body is required or recommended. Extended length, adjustable upper and lower control arms create a true long arm 4-link system. The system includes BDS Ultimate Sway Bar Disconnects, a new steering stabilizer, front extended bump stops and all new stainless steel brake lines. Rear 5" leaf springs with extended length shackles provide serious flex. An extreme drop pitman arm and adjustable front track bar are matched perfectly to provide smooth controlled steering for excellent on and offroad handling without any bump steer. This kit allows up to a 33x12.50 tire on a 15x8 wheel. Backed by BDS' famous " warranty, this looks like a very promising kit.
Sep 12, 2006	ARB Rear Bumpers Come to North America ARB has finally introduced rear bumpers for the North American market, and in doing so, they have built a unit that addresses every weakness I've seen in third-party and home-made bumpers. Sure, this rear bumper is pricey, but if you want the BEST with absolutely no compromises, then this is the bumper for you. Read more to check out the huge feature list of this "Mother of all rear bumpers."
Sep 7, 2006	Teraflex FiberFlex Suspension Features Fiberglass Monoleaf Springs This is something we've been waiting for for a long time! Someone has finally started producing fiberglass leaf springs for off-road applications. Before Teraflex released their FiberFlex springs, the only way you could get fiberglass springs for your Jeep was to have them custom built. But thanks to Teraflex, you can now buy them at a much reduced price and ready to install. What's so great about fiberglass springs? Well, for starters, they weigh 60% less than the equivalent steel springs. But best of all, they return to their shape faster than steel, and they don't sag like steel springs.
Sep 6, 2006	Rimrock Mountain Supply Introduces the Jackstrap Long travel suspensions are great until you try to change a tire using your Hi-lift. With today's tall, flexible suspensions, you could easily reach the end of your jack before the tire comes off the ground. I've seen this happen countless times and while we've always come up with a work-around, I would've liked a simpler and quicker solution. Rimrock Mountain Supply has come to the rescue with an easy to use and store Jackstrap suspension restraint strap for all of you owners of 4x4's with large amounts of suspension flex.
Aug 27, 2006	Introducing Shocker Glove Co. & the "Love Glove" Looking for an alternative to bruised knuckles and swollen fingers? Then check out the gloves from Shocker Glove. The "Love Glove" has many comfort and design features making it versatile for many sports and tasks. From the ever-popular "Love Hand" printed on the Stretch Nylon top and on the Synthetic Leather palm, to the Red and Brown Finger Design which helps to keep your fingers safe in the most "aggressive tasks."
Aug 27, 2006	ARB E-Z Tyre Deflator ARB has released a new tire deflator tool with a unique twist. It allows you to remove the valve core when airing down, resulting in much faster deflation times while still giving you consistent, accurate control of the pressure. No more losing a bead at the trailhead while you're yakking with your buddies.
Aug 18, 2006	NV3550 5-speed Conversions by High Impact Transmission and Gear High Impact offers custom engineered conversion packages. Complete NV3550 installation packages are available for MANY vehicles. These include needed Bellhousing or adapter, any needed clutch components, transfer case adapters. Transmissions are custom configured with correct input/output shaft as is optimum for the application.
Jun 20, 2006	Poly Performance Introduces the Jeep® TJ Coilover Kit If you love jumping your TJ or simply want to give it more wheel travel and smoother suspension performance, Poly Performance has the perfect product for you. They've just released their Jeep TJ Coilover Kit. It's based on competition coilover shock technology that allows for up to 16" of travel using 2.5" Air Shocks. The kit allows for easy ride height, spring rate and compression/rebound adjustments. Optional hydraulic bumpstops are available to augment the suspension if you're planning on severe usage.
Jun 15, 2006	Quick-Fasten Buggy Bag from Poly Performance Poly Performance has just released the all new Buggy Bag designed to hold "in-cab" essentials while simply mounting to a roll cage. The easy wrap-around hook & loops allow for quick fastening, and the zippered main compartment is large enough to hold many trail or race items like, tools, flashlights, towels, wallets, etc. The padded inner compartment is designed to hold a pair of sunglasses or other fragile items that need additional protection and safety.
May 11, 2006	FREE Topographic Maps for All of Canada It's nice to see our tax dollars providing some direct benefit to fourwheelers and other back country explorers. Canada's Centre for Topographic Information has overhauled its online mapping system to provide faster, user-friendlier topographics maps for the entire country. These maps don't fully replace paper maps but they're a great resource for arm chair explorers or for planning your next adventure. You can also print them out for those times when you only need printed maps for a small area.
May 7, 2006	OziExplorer Now Supports GPX Data Format OziExplorer is probably the most popular GPS mapping program among fourwheelers but it has always had one glaring feature omission: it couldn't read or export GPX files. But as of version 3.95.4k, waypoints and tracks can be imported and exported from within OziExplorer.
May 1, 2006	Edge Products' Hot New 2006 Dodge Cummins Juice Power System Adds 160 HP / 350 Ft-Lb, Includes Turbo Timer Is it just me, or are Diesels being hot-rodded more than ever these days? It's pretty cool to see how Edge Products is leveraging digital technology to squeeze out every last bit of power from a durable, old-school technology like Diesel engines. When coupled with the optional Attitude or A2 monitor/controller, the Juice offers five standard power modes plus an available HOT Level 6, which increases performance by 160 HP/350 Ft-Lb! By itself, the Juice underhood module has three levels, ranging from 25 to 60 extra HP. The Attitude or A2 controller adds 80 HP/200 Ft-Lb (Level 4) and 100 HP/250 Ft-Lb (Level 5). For customers who want to race or enjoy short blasts of extreme Level 6 power, Edge offers a HOT Unlock Code option. The display screen also shows a full range of gauge data such as transmission temp., EGT, boost, rpm, mph, intake air temp., etc. Best of all, you get all this information without having to buy a dedicated gauge for each type of data. And finally, the Turbo Timer option lets you automatically run the engine for a pre-set time or temp to allow the turbo's temperature to cool down before shut-off.
Apr 27, 2006	This Clear Bra Is Damage Control For Auto Paint ClearBra is the street name for automobile paint protection film, a clear, nearly undetectable, protective poly urethane film that is designed to resist impacts from everyday damaging road hazards such has gravel, debris, stones, road salt, acidic bugs, parking lot scrapes and dings, while allowing a vehicles unique colour and luster to shine through. The natural trampoline effect provided by the ClearBra's composition protects any car, truck, RV, SUV, trailer, motorcycle or boat, for many years to come, life expectancy is 7+ years. Although, a ClearBra is not easily noticed, it is constantly at work protecting the vehicle from unsightly and costly chips, nicks and scratches. When it is time to trade up or sell the vehicle, the film can be removed to reveal paint that looks like new.
Apr 4, 2006	Bullet Proof Land Cruiser Axles from Poly Performance Poly Performance has just released their bullet proof, heavy duty replacement axle shafts for Toyota Land Cruisers. These 4340 forged axles are designed to last a lifetime and incorporate Poly Performance's tapered design to provide extreme torsional and bending strength.
Mar 23, 2006	Superlift Releases 4" & 6" Lift Systems For The 2006 Dodge MegaCab Good news for you MegaCab fans. Superlift just came out with two new suspension kits for your truck. The basic kits retain factory the steering geometry, ride and handling. But for maximum bling and off-road performance, you can add Rockrunner upper and lower trailing links to get more suspension travel; front and rear multi-shock mounts; and SS monotube shocks or SSR remote-reservoir monotube shocks; Torque max traction bars; Bulletproof braided-steel/Kevlar lined brake hoses, and Ring diff-cover protectors. To handle any driveline vibes, check out the transfer-case indexing ring.
Mar 21, 2006	Bestop Introduces RoadRider Seats for SUVs and Pickups Bestop has just announced the launch of its RoadRider and RoadRider Pro seats. They've been manufacturing high quality replacement seats for a few years now, and I've been extremely pleased with the set that I have installed in Project YJ. This new RoadRider line appears to be designed for SUVs and pickup trucks. If you're looking for a durable and firm seat that provides good lateral support (very important when you're on a bumpy trail), I highly recommend having a look at Bestop's offerings.
Feb 23, 2006	RCD 6" Lift System for 2003-2006 Toyota Tundra Toyota Tundra owners now have another option when it comes to installing a suspension lift system on their trucks. RCD Suspension is now offering a 6" lift system for the late 2003 – 2006 Tundra. It’s been our experience that RCD has consistently offered some of the better IFS lift kits on the market. Typically they seem to install easier and have higher quality components as compared to other manufacturers.
Feb 23, 2006	New Superlift 2"-3.5" Lift Systems For Late-Model Chevy/GMC 4x4 Pickups & SUVs Owners of late-model Chevy/GMC trucks have another option for lifting their trucks. Based on Superlift's press release, these kits should provide very good street handling since they will be able to retain the factory suspension and steering geometry. Of particular note is the fact that they offer relocation brackets so you can use the factory electronically controlled Autoride shocks.
Feb 18, 2006	Toyota Releases Another FJ Cruiser Video <script language="JavaScript1.1" src="http://www.hypemakers.net/cruiser/view/v/j/c/53/s/509/u/508"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://www.hypemakers.net/cruiser/go/v/i/c/53/s/509/u/508"> </a> </noscript> Another video of the FJ Cruiser driving on rough terrain. It's nice to see Toyota promoting a vehicle's off-road abilities but how do you think it stacks up to current SUVs? Will it be worthy of the "FJ Cruiser" name? Click on HIGH or LOW to see the video.
Feb 8, 2006	Bestop Launches Supertop for Pickup Trucks Bestop has introduced a new line of soft-top bed covers that will provide much more versatility than the common hard-shell covers. They're targeting mid-size truck owners first, leading with a Supertop for Toyota Tacomas. Supertops for full-size truck beds will take place later this spring.
Jan 16, 2006	Superlift and AEV Develop 4" Lift Kit for 2WD and 4WD Jeep Commander XK and Grand Cherokee WK This new system retains the latest generation Jeeps' refined on-road handling while boosting their off-road capabilities, giving you the best of both worlds. Superlift's Frame Integrated Technology (F.I.T.) combines ductile-iron steering knuckles with a heavy duty bellypan/crossmember assembly. The systems' knuckles and front brackets re-locate the differential and lower control arms to maintain factory geometry which is crucial for the vehicle's CV axles.
Jan 9, 2006	Jeep Introduces the 2007 Wrangler Holy crap, I am absolutely blown away by the new Wrangler. In a world where GM is selling the urban-centric H2 and H3 "Hummers,", Chrysler Jeep has taken a bold step in the opposite direction and actually improved the off-road abilities of one of its most popular models. Their press kit actually talks about things like Ramp Travel Index (RTI), better hill climbing due to its longer wheelbase, and an electronically controlled swaybar disconnect system. This is absolutely incredible.
Jan 5, 2006	Revolutionary Edge Evolution Is The Updatable, Configurable F-150 Tuner / Monitor Edge Products has introduced a multi-function Diesel tuning kit that boosts performances, acts as a scan tool AND functions as a multi-display instrument gauge. And in a nod to the information age in which we live, it can be updated over the Internet. How cool is that?!
Jan 5, 2006	Fabtech Announces 6" to 8" Long Arm Lift Kit for Jeep TJ Fabtech has released a 6" to 8" long arm lift kit for Jeep TJs that allow them to fit 35" and 37" tires. This photo shows a BFG TJ using the Fabtech kit to squeeze 39" DOT Krawlers under it but for off-road use, serious fender trimming will be required.
Jan 3, 2006	Garmin® Launches "X"-treme Handheld Makeover The rumour was true: Garmin has just announced the introduction of removable memory cards to their new "X" series GPS receivers. With this long-awaited feature finally in place, we expect Garmin to completely dominate the marketplace for recreational GPS receivers. Of particular note to fourwheelers, the new series are equipped with SiRF GPS receiver chips which speed up signal acquisition and provide better performance in heavily wooded or mountainous areas.
Dec 22, 2005	Jeep Developing a Five-Door Wrangler For those of you offended by the ongoing gentrification (ie: sissification) of the SUV category, Daimer-Chrysler has something you may like: a five-door Wrangler! A recent spy photo from Autocar.co.uk) shows that Daimler-Chrysler has a five-door Wrangler-style vehicle that is rumoured to arrive next year. The vehicle appears to sport front and rear solid axles that we fourwheelers prefer, and the front windshield looks hinged, so it is a good bet that the top and doors will be removable in the typical Jeep tradition.
Dec 22, 2005	Rancho Introduces Lift Kit for 2005-06 Dodge Power Wagons Rancho has introduced the first lift kit system designed specifically for the current Dodge Power Wagons. This kit allows Power Wagon owners to fit 37" inch tires which will improve ground clearance and most of all, traction. No welding or cutting is required, and the kit retains the optimum caster angle and improves upon the factory suspension's handling and ride quality. Rancho released this system on December 9th so your local 4x4 shop should be able to order it right now.
Dec 11, 2005	Off Road Unlimited Releases Defender Series Bumper Guards For Ford Super Dutys & Excursions ORU has released some nice looking tube bumpers for Ford Super Duty/Excursion trucks. They're laser-cut and fully welded so the detailing should look pretty sharp. They also include welded-on aux. light tabs (four on the front, two on the rear) so no modifications will be needed for most fourwheelers. Best of all, their installation kit uses existing chassis holes so no drilling is required.
Dec 7, 2005	BFGoodrich Reaches Milestone with 20th Consecutive SCORE Baja 1000 Win BFG celebrated a major victory in the latest Baja 1000, marking the 20th consecutive time that their tires have been on the overall four-wheeled winner. That speaks volumes, not only of the quality of their Baja T/AKR tires, but also of their long-standing support for off-road motorsports and recreational four-wheelers. Congratulations, BFGoodrich!
Dec 2, 2005	Superlift Releases 1.75" And 4" Lift Kits For Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Superlift has recently released a pair of lift kits specifically designed for the unique requirements of Jeeps Wrangler/TJ Unlimited. Although the Unlimited is similar is most ways to the standard TJ, it requires rear springs with more spring rate to handle the additional weight due to the extra length of the tub and hard top.
Nov 25, 2005	New Garmin GPS Units Feature Expandable Memory? Maybe this should be an In the Rumours article rather than In the News, but an online fishing store, Basspro.com, has a listing for a Garmin 60cx which features "Expandable memory, 64 MB TransFlash memory card included for optional downloaded maps". There is no word of this product on Garmin's website but this may be a case of an in-the-know retailer jumping the gun in listing an upcoming product, based on knowledge given to them by their suppliers. If that's true, then the prayers of legions of Garmin owners will soon be answered. You can read the listing yourself here. Read the full article for the latest update on this rumour (November 28).
Nov 25, 2005	Rampage Seat Covers for Jeeps Rampage seat covers available in Polycanvas or Neoprene are specifically designed to fit factory and replacement seats currently available for Wranglers with a headrest. Quality constructed for comfort, durability and ease of installation and removal. Adjustable new generation side lace-up draw cords keep covers snug to existing seat. Front and side mount zippered pockets add convenient storage features and quick access to smaller personal items. Large rear pockets add additional rear access storage space. No cutting or sewing.
Nov 9, 2005	WARN 9.0Rc Rock Crawling Winch Warn has released the 9.0Rc rock crawling winch. This winch combines light weight (54 pounds) and compact size with a fast 4.8 hp series wound motor. It's not as fast as the legendary 8274-50, particularly when winding in an unloaded rope, but it's still quite fast. Interestingly, it comes with a short 50-foot length of synthetic rope. For rock crawling competitions, it makes perfect sense because long pulls aren't necessary. My prediction is that this winch will find its way onto a lot of non-competition rigs and we'll see a lot of barely used lengths of 50-foot synthetic rope for sale.
Nov 9, 2005	Rancho Introduces the First Lift Kit for Hummer H3 Rancho is the first company to offer a suspension system for the Hummer H3. The system allows H3 owners to fit 37 inch tires, just like the H1. The kit includes what Rancho calls their Realift^TM technology that eliminates the need to relocate the factory torsion bar cross member. This does away with the need to cut and weld. The kit also includes a unique two-piece cross member design that allows the installer to precisely relocate the differential, resulting in zero bump steer and optimum suspension geometry.
Nov 3, 2005	Edge Products' A2 Diesel Power Controller/Monitor/GPS/Back-Up Camera OGDEN, UT - Edge Products' state-of-the-art A2 Attitude is now available. This system -- which won the 2004 SEMA award for Best New Van/Pickup/SUV Product -- combines the awesome features of a Diesel power controller system with GPS street-level mapping and a wireless back-up camera, all in one compact unit. We love this kind of function convergence that lets you add all these features without cluttering up your dash.
Oct 25, 2005	Off Road Unlimited Releases 2" Leveling Kit for GM IFS 4x4s As a follow-up to its successful GM 2500 HD Leveling Kit, Off Road Unlimited (ORU) now offers an application for 1999-2005 GM 1/2-ton 4WD pickups and SUVs. The GM 1500 2" Leveling Kit (Part #60006) combines torsion bar cogs with extended-length Bilstein 5100 series high-pressure monotube shocks. This is the proper way to level these trucks -- cranking up the factory torsion bars and cogs limits suspension travel, creating a harsher ride and accelerating front-end wear.
Oct 19, 2005	Magellan Roadmate 800 Features Car Navigation, Tunes and Photos The Roadmate 800 packs a lot of travel-related functions in a single, compact device. First and foremost, it is a fully-featured turn-by-turn navigation system with voice and text directions. Secondly, it can store and play MP3 and WMA music files to keep you entertained while on the road. And finally, it can store and display digital photos so you have a way to safely backup your camera's storage cards while travelling.
Oct 17, 2005	Toyota Focuses on Safety For Tacoma Pickup Toyota introduced an all-new Tacoma pickup truck line for 2005 and for 2006 adds safety features to this popular model. All Tacoma models for 2006 gain a Tire Pressure Monitor System, which is designed to detect a significant loss of pressure in any tire and alert the driver by a warning light in the instrument panel. Seriously low tire air pressure can potentially lead to a hazardous handling condition.
Oct 11, 2005	Garmin’s® StreetPilot® i5™: Good Things Come in Small Packages Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today expanded its innovative StreetPilot i-series™ product line with the introduction of the StreetPilot i5™. The i5 offers customers the lowest priced GPS navigator that is pre-loaded with detailed maps of North America which includes the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Oct 5, 2005	2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Revealed at Texas State Fair The 2007 Explorer Sport Trac, which made its world debut at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, has a brand new look as well as being a showcase for Ford Motor Company's most innovative powertrain and safety technologies. The new Sport Trac, which will begin production in February of next year, is a combination of the 2006 Explorer and the F-150 truck. Customer feedback on the current Sport Trac was a key factor used to determine which features would be available on the new model.
Sep 28, 2005	Garmin's Jeep GPS: Trail Guide The Trail Guide is a highly versatile Garmin-built GPS navigation system designed for the Jeep Wrangler. The Trail Guide is mounted on the Wrangler’s dashboard in a sleek custom cradle that provides power and audible voice prompts through powerful dedicated speakers that are easy to hear even at highway speeds with the top down. For on-foot adventures, simply snap the unit out of the cradle for handheld GPS navigation.
Sep 28, 2005	The Edge Trail Jammer for Jeep 4.0L Engines The Edge Trail Jammer performance kit delivers the ideal air/fuel enhancements for your 4.0 liter Wrangler, Rubicon or Cherokee. The Trail Jammer kit dramatically improves the power and throttle response of your Jeep both on and off the road. The kit includes an electronic module to performance tune your engine, a machined throttle body to improve driveability and a cold air intake system to maximize air flow.
Sep 17, 2005	Vision X Off-Road's H.I.D. Off-Road Series Lighting Kent, WA – (9/1/05) Vision X Off-Road, a division of Vision Motorsports, has developed the ultimate H.I.D. Off-road Lighting System for competition & trail. With two available models, the HID 6500 (6.7") & HID 8500 (8.7"), the series is designed to completely meet the demands of the off-road market through optimum durability, performance and affordability.
May 6, 2005	Bestop Supertop Replacement Skins Bestop now offers a Supertop Replacement Skin with either tinted or clear windows to fit over your existing Supertop hardware for CJ-7 and Wrangler vehicles, '76-'02.
May 3, 2005	Bridge on West Harrison Lake Rd to be replaced One of our observant readers has mentioned that the Ministry of Forests has budgeted to replace the bridge at Doctor's Creek on the West Harrison Rd. This bridge was condemned and closed last fall.
Apr 11, 2005	Ghost/Waiparous Must Read!!! A must read from the Alberta United Recreationists Society (AURS) regarding information released by Alberta Sustainable Resources about the Ghost/Waiparous Access Management Plan.
Feb 23, 2005	Bestop® Duster™ Deck Cover - Now Available for Wrangler Unlimited The Bestop Duster™ Deck Cover is now available for Wrangler Unlimited '04-'05 vehicles. The Duster protects your back seat from sun, rain and dust to prevent fading and deterioration. It can also help improve your gas mileage and keeps valuables out of sight.
Feb 1, 2005	Bestop Safari Bikini - Available for Wrangler Unlimited The Bestop Safari Header Bikini is now available for the '04-'05 Wrangler Unlimited. The Safari Header Bikini extends over your sport bar cover for front-to-back coverage and attaches to your windshield with a special channel (sold separately) that requires no drilling. It also features reinforced edges to eliminate flapping and comes complete with industrial-grade buckles and webbing, and color-matched fabric.
Jan 9, 2005	Jeep® Gladiator Concept Vehicle The Gladiator is a lifestyle pickup with all of the rugged functionality of the famed Jeep Wrangler. It is a super utility truck that features an open-air canvas roof, removable doors and fold-down windshield so driver and passengers can get in touch with the outdoors, and an expandable pickup-truck bed and clever storage compartments to offer truly useful cargo capacity.
Oct 19, 2004	Kentucky OHV Park Recognizes Economic Potential of 4x4 Market Rather than looking down on motorized recreationists, at least one county in the state of Kentucky is welcoming off-roaders with open arms. Are British Columbian municipalities capable of the same kind of unbiased and entrepreneurial thinking?
Oct 7, 2004	Black Diamond XCL Jeep Coil-Conversion Suspension System: Still Extremely H When Warn Industries decided to get out of the suspension business, its Black Diamond line went dormant. Superlift Suspension Systems, a leading aftermarket manufacturer dating back to 1975, recently stepped in to resurrect Black Diamond in general -- and the XCL system in particular.
Aug 18, 2003	Bestop Launches One-of-a-Kind Hardtop Bestop introduces its first hard-top for Jeeps. This targa-style top lets you uncover just the cockpit area for easy access to open air driving.
Aug 10, 2003	Bestop Announces 50th Anniversary Celebration Broomfield, Colorado, August 1, 2003 - Bestop will take its anniversary celebration on the road to consumer and trade events such as the SEMA Spring Expo, Easter Jeep Safari, and Off Road Expo. The "Bestopalooza Tour" will kick off at SEMA 2003 in Las Vegas in November and continue through 2004.
Aug 1, 2003	Introducing the Extendatrunk from Bestop The Bestop Extendatrunk offers maximum secure storage in the rear of your Jeep! With the rear seat removed, the base unit attaches using original seat hardware and offers 12.5 cubic feet of lockable storage and best of all it doesn’t require extra keys.
Jul 11, 2003	Bestop Unveils New Site for Special Clearance Deals Bestop, Incorporated is pleased to announce the launch of www.bestopbuys.com, the site for seconds and discontinued tops and accessories. For the first time, Bestop is offering consumers the chance to buy clearance items at amazingly low prices.
Jun 30, 2003	TrailMax Aqua Fold & Tumble Rear Bench Seat Looking for more than just a seat cover? A neoprene fabric gives the TrailMax^TM Aqua Fold & Tumble Rear Bench wet-swimsuit, drenched-dog water protection!
Jun 10, 2003	Bestop: Now Available - 2003 Wrangler Accessories Remove your hardtop or soft top and enjoy the open air driving experience with Bestop accessories. Now available for the 2003 Jeep® Wrangler, the Bestop Bikini®, Windjammer™ and Duster™ feature genuine Haartz® fabric, perfectly color-matched to original equipment colors.
Apr 14, 2003	Introducing the YJ Halftop from Bestop The Bestop Halftop is now available for 1992-1995 Wranglers (YJs). Combining the best features of the popular Bikini®, Windjammer® and Duster®, the Bestop Halftop completely seals off the cockpit from exposure to the elements. You get instant open air driving with a fold back sunroof, and maximum ventilation through a zip-out rear window and built-in mesh screen.
Apr 8, 2003	Introducing the Modular Rack System from Bestop Introducing the Modular Rack System from Bestop. The Modular Rack Systems' unique design allows a universal tray to be installed in multiple locations around your vehicle via a number of different brackets (each sold separately). The first 2 components of the Modular Rack System are now available: the Universal Rack Tray and Receiver Hitch Bracket.
Feb 27, 2003	Bestop Recognized At 2003 SEMA Spring Expo Broomfield, Colorado, February 21, 2003 - Bestop, Incorporated announced today that its Underseat Storage unit was honored by the Truck Cap & Accessory Alliance (TCAA) at the recently held 2003 SEMA Spring Expo. The Bestop Underseat Storage was a finalist in the Best New Product Under $500 category. The Truck Cap & Accessory Alliance Industry Awards are presented to recognize outstanding product design achievements.
Feb 4, 2003	Bestop Introduces the Instatrunk Secure and safeguard your belongings with the Bestop Instatrunk. The Instatrunk conveniently fastens into the cargo area behind the rear seat, and provides out of sight security for valuables. The 16-gauge, heavy-duty steel construction forms a weather-resistant seal when you close and lock the tailgate and no additional keys are needed.
Jan 27, 2003	UROC Returns to St. George, February 13-15, 2003 Last year the United Rockcrawling and Off-road Challenge introduced the town of St. George to the world of competitive rockcrawling. UROC enjoyed its best year ever in 2002 and is hoping to improve on that success by kicking off its 2003 season with another exciting event in St. George, Utah. The site at St. George has amazing potential as last year the course designers only used a small portion of the available obstacles. Everyone should expect another set of obstacles designed to challenge the toughest rockcrawlers in the world. Everyone will be watching to see who emerges as the top competitors in 2003.
Jan 27, 2003	Maasdam Pow'R-Pull, Inc. teams up with Canadian Master Distributor Maasdam Pow'R-Pull, Inc. enters into exclusive agreement with Canadian Master Distributor
Jan 2, 2003	Introducing the Scout II Traditional Bikini Savor open-air freedom with protection from the elements! Introducing the Bestop Traditional Bikini for Scouts, the perfect shield from a spring rain or the hot summer sun. Extending over the sport bar, the Traditional Bikini® includes footman loops for rear strap tie-down, while reinforced edges eliminate flapping.
Aug 14, 2002	World Championship 2002 Rock Crawl International Competitors from Iceland, Italy, Finland, Canada and Israel are coming to Farmington New Mexico October 9-12 for the 2002 World Championship of rock crawling (Super Crawl).
Jul 30, 2002	WARN 9.5ti Thermometric Warn Industries introduced today a new generation of winches for off-roaders that take their vehicles to the limit. Responding to customer need, WARN engineers have designed the new and powerful WARN 9.5ti Thermometric winch for extreme duty. It combines a massive sealed protective structure with a sophisticated thermal motor feedback sensor.
Jul 20, 2002	Bestop is happy to announce that the Bronco Supertop is now available! Loaded with state-of-the-art features, the Bronco Supertop is equipped with the Bestop patented Belt-Rail attachment system for fast, easy installation without snaps.
May 13, 2002	Bestop Introduces the Land Cruiser Supertop Bestop is pleased to introduce the latest addition to their line of soft tops - the Land Cruiser Supertop.
Apr 10, 2002	Bestop Introduces the Halftop The first of 4 Halftop applications is now available: the 1997-2002 Wrangler soft top model. The Halftop combines the Bikini, Windjmammer and Duster in one to completely seal the cockpit from exposure to the elements. In addition it features a fold-back sunroof for instant open-air driving and a zip out rear window that exposes a built-in mesh screen for ventilation.
Feb 11, 2002	Bestop Oversize Tire Carrier Winner of the 2000 DaimlerChrysler Jeep Application Excellence Award, this one-of-a-kind tire carrier swings away with the tailgate for easy access in and out of the Jeep and holds up to 200 lbs. of weight.
Jan 7, 2002	JeepRubicon Edition Wrangler The Rubicon name isn't just for a Class 10 off-road trail anymore -- it's also what the Jeep(R) brand is calling their ultimate off-road rig. Jeep owners travel from around the world to test their four-wheeling skills on the Rubicon Trail in Northern California, considered one of the most demanding 22 miles of off-highway driving in America. Jeep engineers have designed the most capable Wrangler model ever -- and true Jeep owners will realize exactly what that means.
Nov 14, 2001	Bestop's New Super Soundbar Bestop is happy to announce that the Super Soundbar, a finalist in the Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel-Drive Product Awards at the SEMA 2001 show, is now available. This one-of-a-kind soundbar mounts to any rollbar up to 2.5", features 2 Sony X-plod triaxial speakers and adjusts to 3 positions for maximum versatility.
Aug 27, 2001	Maasdam Signs Licensing Agreement For Worldwide Rights to JackMate BURBANK, August 27, 2001 – Maasdam Pow’R-Pull, Inc. today announced that it has signed an agreement for the exclusive, worldwide manufacturing, marketing and distribution rights to the JackMate™ product.
Aug 6, 2001	Bestop Announces Entry Steps Bestop Entry Steps provide easy access in and out of the Jeep, as well as protection from sand and gravel "kick up" for rocker panels. The step surface is heavily textured polyurethane for traction, and the substructure is heavy-gauge tubular steel for strength.
Jul 4, 2001	Bestop Mesh Windows Bestop announces the launch of Mesh Windows, the newest addition to the Bestop line of aftermarket accessory products.
May 24, 2001	Bestop Announces Their New Entry Guards Product Bestop is pleased to introduce the latest addition to their line of aftermarket accessory products, Entry Guards. Made of extruded rigid PVC, Bestop Entry Guards are sold in pairs and are now available for shipping.
Apr 18, 2001	Bestop Introduces Door Jackets Bestop just introduced Door Jackets to Bestop's line of aftermarket accessory products. Designed to provide scratch and dent protection for Jeep doors, these heavy-duty Door Jackets feature multiple handles for carrying or hanging.
Apr 3, 2001	Mickey Thompson Releases the Dick Cepek® 44" Fun Country The 44" Fun Country tire is back!
Mar 16, 2001	TrailMax and TrailMax Pro Consoles Bestop introduces their new line of TrailMax consoles.
Mar 9, 2001	Utah Rockcrawling & Off-Road Challenge (UROC) UROC is a rockcrawling competition series set up to challenge novice and experienced fourwheelers while donating money to charity and land access groups. UROC profits will go to keep trails and public lands open.
Feb 14, 2001	Bestop Announces Its New Sailcloth Replace-a-tops Get ready to read this twice: at highway speeds, the Sailcloth Replace-a-top is quieter than a factory hardtop. That's right, quieter than a factory hardtop! That's not just an improvement, it is a miracle!
Feb 14, 2001	Coleman Speaks Out Recently, some mailing lists, including BC4x4, have been talking about Coleman's so-called "anti-4x4" brochure. Coleman's Director of Public Relations, Jim Reid, sent us a reply. After reading it, we at BC4x4.COM agree that it was a misunderstanding. Coleman has always been a supporter of Tread Lightly and has never been anti-4x4.
Jan 11, 2001	New Jeep Liberty Replaces the Venerable Cherokee Recently, Daimler-Chrysler announced that they would be discontinuing the Cherokee in 2001 and would introduce the new Jeep Liberty. This was met with jeers by legions of Jeep fans who use their vehicles off-highway. Why? Because the Liberty will be the first Jeep in decades to sport an independent front suspension.

In The News