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DANCES WITH ROCKS
the quest for the
Top Truck Challenge
by Glenn Wakefield

Editor's note: A battle hardened Suzuki longs to compete in the Four Wheeler Magazine Top Truck Challenge. Glenn Wakefield is an avid four wheeler and nethead active on the Offroad Digest mail list and other Internet 4-Wheeling discussions. Look for Glenn and his Suzuki in the May issue of Four Wheeler Magazine (#59). Your vote can put him in the Challenge!

I drive the perfect 4x4. That's what we all think, isn't it? But what actually makes the perfect offroad vehicle? Is it really the vehicle, or is it the guy behind the wheel?

This Jeep owner may have been wishing for a little bit wider wheelbase - Sluice Box, Pritchett Canyon, Moab

Is a 4x4 chosen simply because of geography? Perhaps if I lived in the Midwest and mud reined king, I might own a pickup with a massive V8, lots of lift, and huge MEATS (tires for the newbies). Coming from the Northwest might make me chose a small Jeep or other vehicle which could maneuver through tight twisting trees. The Eastern seaboard might also bring the same result. Could be, that if I was a sheik and lived in the Sahara, a monstrous dune buggy would be mine. Or, is it a result of family influences? If I had a big family to drag along on safari, I might own a full sized SUV. Perhaps if my father had been into 4x4s, I would have grown up a dedicated Jeep, Ford, or Chevy guy. Is this the key to determining the best 4x4? Maybe....

Sometimes you can be too short. Glenn coming down Rocker Knocker in Pritchett Canyon, Moab

I don't think so though. I think it starts with what is parked in the driveway for most people. Take myself for example. In 1988 I was a college student and found myself needing a new vehicle. It had to be a 4WD to take me into the mountains for camping and picnics, and I wanted something new and warrantied. The only thing I could afford at the time was a Suzuki. Besides, the commercials were funny and maybe girls would like it.

The first few years of Fourby-dom were slow as I only added slightly larger tires and a winch to 'unstuck' myself. Life was simple and inexpensive. Then, I hit a milestone. Something that would change my life forever. A mtn bike trip to Moab led to a diversion with some friends and our 4x4's onto Hell's Revenge. I made it through, barely. I left the trail really pumped. This.... was awesome! By the end of that day, I had already been to the grocery store for the magazines, and picked out half a dozen mods to be done when I got home. Two months later I had the basic 4x4 package... lift, larger tires, new gearing, and lockers. Finally, I had a 4x4 I could 'wheel' with. Now I could rest. Ya RIGHT....

Glenn at '95 Easter Jeep Safari, Moab

I started hitting the trails... like Rubicon and Moab. I came to realize my Suzuki was underpowered. Some performance enhancing mods had to be made if I was to continue on with four wheeling. I made some minor mods like cam, carb, K & N. This was fine, but eventually a larger engine was swapped in when the stock engine swallowed a big drink of water at Rubicon Springs and threw a rod.

Bigger can be better - But... Sometimes full-sized rigs just don't fit. Like in Surprise Canyon, Panamint City, California

Armed with more power, lift, tires, lockers, spare parts, and other goodies, I was now ready to tackle anything. "Bring em' on" my testosterone screamed! I upgraded my selection of runs to trails like Surprise Canyon, Sledgehammer, and Jackhammer. All of a sudden, I felt like I was way out of my league. That trip was a lot of fun, and I did make it thru... but it was during that trip that I discovered 30" tires were just WAY too small, even for a Samurai. One month after returning from Sledgehammer and Surprise, I was sporting a new set of 33's, some extra lift to clear them, and some extra gearing to turn them. Now I was set. I was DA' MAN! A Samurai with 33's could go anywhere... right?

Glenn on Wolf Run

Well, Da' man discovered something new about his ride. Big tires bring new problems which I found out in Las Cruces... like exposing the weaknesses of wimpy drivetrains (meant for 205/75r15s), and seriously underpowered braking. Playing around on an obstacle on Wolf Run ended my fun on that trip when an axle broke. Back to the money wagon... Hello, Mr. VISA. I never realized when I first started this "hobby", just how expensive it would get. I'm glad no one told me though....

Glenn at the Dakota Challenge

By the time South Dakota rolled around in the Fall of 96'. I felt I had THE RIG. Disc brakes all around, beefed up drivetrain, a new roll cage, all the stuff. This was it baby. This thing was built and it could go anywhere. There was to be no breakage on this trip to the Dakota Territory Challenge. 5 minutes into the first trail. BOOM! There goes one of my new 'Bulletproof' ( HA! ) front axles. I was able to get into town and pick up a ridiculously overpriced stock unit and stuck it back in. The next day I did Hal John's but felt like I had to tippy-toe on thin ice so nothing else broke.

That takes us to today! I entered the Four Wheeler magazine Top Truck Challenge for 1997 and knew what I had to do. A total rebuild. Currently, the ole' college Samurai is under construction with an even beefier engine, a Dana 44 Currie rear, a Dana 30 front, 34" Swampers, a new suspension, new body... you guessed it, pretty much new everything. I discovered I was sick of fixing stuff. "Beef, its what's for four-by" was my new motto. I had gained the experience and knowledge to know what had to be done and how to do it. The new "Project Too Small" is slated for completion at the end of May. You will be able to see its build-up in 4x4 Performance magazine
(formerly known as 4x4 Mechanix).

Look for this photo of Glenn cruising through the True Big Sluice on the Rubicon in the May Four Wheeler, and mail in a vote for him.

In answer to my question... What makes the perfect 4x4? I must say it is a matter of the driver, his ability to play and learn, and then the rig that spawns from that experience. Enjoy whatever it is you drive. Learn from mistakes and breakages. Then build it better next time. When the May issue of Four Wheeler comes out, look for my Sammy (#59) and throw a vote my way for a fellow 'net-head' and fourwheeling enthusiast. When the competition rolls around I'll have a ride ready to compete... and possibly win.

Glenn Wakefield

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