 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
As four wheel drive enthusiasts, we are always thinking about the next performance up-grade for our rigs. Most of the time we are looking at areas that enhance off-road performance. Sometimes off-road enhancement comes at the expense of on-road performance. Such is the case when installing aftermarket suspension systems and larger tires. The increase in weight and height generally has a negative effect on overall handling and increased body roll. Often times rear sway bars are deleted in favor of increased articulation, which further compounds the negative effects on handling and put more of a burden on the front sway bar to control body lean.
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
So you bought a Jeep Cherokee, what do you do now? If you are like most of us your Cherokee's primary roll is that of a commuter and now you are wondering about the Cherokee as a recreational vehicle (fancy word for expensive adult toy). So, if you recently purchased a Cherokee, are new to four-wheeling or just don't have a lot of off-road experience, then follow along in this three part series. In part one we will discuss just exactly what a four-wheel drive is, how it works and what you need to know about it. In part two we will hit the trail and discuss trail technique. In part three we will discuss self-recovery techniques for when tires no longer provide momentum.
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
Last month we introduced you to the first of the four wheeling basics series called "Four Wheeling 101". In part one we discussed the Cherokee's four wheel drive system, how it works and what you need to know about it. We also talked about the need for visualizing your undercarriage components, for ground clearance reasons. If you didn't catch part I, now would be a good time to review last month's article.
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
Vehicle maintenance is important to all four wheelers, or should be. Vehicle maintenance can fall into several categories such as easy, difficult and overlooked. Gear box maintenance seams to fall into that overlooked category more often than it should. It is easy, inexpensive, can be done with normal hand tools and is very important for maintaining drivetrain life, however many people seem to pass over the gearboxes when doing routine maintenance. Automotive repair costs are at an all-time high. It's not unusual for a transmission rebuild to exceed $2000, transfer cases can reach $2000 also. Front and rear differential work is about $750, throw in a locker and itās $1500 to 2000 very easily. Ouch! With the cost of fluids at about $2.00 a quart for conventional oil, fluid maintenance is cheap!
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
Some vehicles are more vulnerable to off-road rocker panel damage than others. Vehicle style and driving skill, or habits, play a large roll in a vehicle vulnerability to damage. Typically a vehicle that is wider can have more trouble in things like narrow chutes. Longer wheel base vehicle are prone as break-over angle suffer greatly while cresting hills or climbing boulders. Low body to ground clearance is more at risk than a vehicle with lots of lift and large tires. Bouncing off the rocks with aggressive driving is a sure way to bend sheet metal. Even the mild four wheeler that plays it safe will have his/her day when something doesnt go as planned&. and crunch, it happens.
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
I first saw Durango Truck & 4 x 4 Outfitters Company Cherokee while at Moabs 1999 Easter Jeep Safari. The bright yellow XJ is certainly an eye catcher, and it caught mine instantly. I was especially drawn to the front winch bumper. I had a stout 2" x 6" rectangle tube bumper on my XJ with a portable winch mount that utilized the intregal front receiver. I, however, was contemplating a new front bumper with a permanent winch mount. Durangos design is very appealing so I snapped this photograph.
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 | Nov 1, 2005
By:Mark Taylor
CB radios were a novelty in the 1970's. I can remember spend hours talking and listening to the chit chat each evening while the vehicle never left the driveway. While CB use has declined with the general public, the professional over-the road drivers, that started the craze, are one of the few groups to still use it regularly. Another group that uses CBs is the four-wheeling crowd to whom it is considered an essential and basic trail communication tool.
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