Back in the good ‘ol days (remember them?), people left their homes and vehicles unlocked all the time. Those days are gone, and that’s too bad. Even so, some four-wheelers are still a bit cavalier when it comes to vehicle security. Those vehicles are quite attractive to the wrong crowd…. Continue reading
There I was, just cruising along and munching on a handful of Hot Tamales. At one point I hit a bump, and the box slide off the passenger seat and landed on the floor, mostly on the passenger side. Later that day, I stopped to clean up my mess. Those… Continue reading
We were headed into Saline Valley for the New Year’s excursion. The trip went smoothly until one person discovered a problem with his trailer. Two bolts had slipped off the suspension on the passenger side. That wheel was close to falling off and chewing up the tire. The fix was… Continue reading
AI (artificial intelligence) is involved in many facets of life. Common folks use it to help with everyday tasks. Businesses, even manufacturers, are incorporating AI in their operations. To those who suggest bringing AI into four-wheeling, I say, “Whoa, Nelly!” AI, if developed to the extent some envision, could actually… Continue reading
We were starting up Powell Canyon, in west-central Nevada. It was the start of what was to be about a three-day excursion. The roads were really smooth. (Tourists come through this area all the time – in passenger vehicles, of course.) We were looking forward to a relaxing trip to… Continue reading
We were on a trail called Jackpot, on the outskirts of Death Valley. A friend of mine was behind me in a used Grand Cherokee he had purchased recently. About halfway up the trail his entire steering mechanism suddenly fell apart. The steering box came right off the side of… Continue reading
A driver wants to make a 90 degree left turn down a steep hill and cannot see the trail. The Trial Leader offers to spot, and stands to the left of the vehicle. He focuses on the front wheels. The vehicle begins to roll into the turn. Soon a loud… Continue reading
How often has this happened to you? As you turn out of a drive way, you hear thump-thump as a rear wheel jumps the curb. Intuitively, you know what happened. But do you fully understand the chain of events? Now you’re in a parking lot. You spot an open stall… Continue reading
We four-wheelers customize our vehicles a lot! From tires and lift kits to bumpers, winches and auxiliary lighting. And that’s just the exterior of the vehicle. Inside, we load up on assorted electrical and electronic gear (two-way radios, laptops, fridge/freezers, and such). Extra wiring is required to supply all that… Continue reading
The new year is a good time to revisit some fundamentals of four-wheeling. Key among those is how to drive on gravel and dirt roads. After all, four-wheeling necessarily involves driving on unpaved surfaces. First, we’ll look at the hazards. Then we’ll review steps you can take for safer driving… Continue reading
Bruce was in a bind. While far into the Rubicon Trail, both axles on his Wrangler broke. Inquiring into how that happened, he had no idea. Maybe they were just worn out! Hopping in a buddy’s car, they drove out to get cell coverage. Bruce dialed up a junkyard in… Continue reading
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