1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee - Zebra

Chevy 1-ton antisway bars keep the lifted SUV stable on curves at highway speeds. John designed unique antisway bar disconnects from air-hose quick-connect couplers - they are strong and easy to use. When they are disconnected, by pulling a pin, the bottom half can be removed and stored inside. For more information and lots of fabrication photos, check out John's Web site at www.voltage.net/zebra.

The Grand Cherokee had been rolled (it was salvage), so it needed 'glass, a roof, and fenders. Because so much bodywork was needed, it seemed the ideal time to whack off all the excess sheetmetal around the wheels. John fabricated bumpers from 4x6x3/8-inch angle iron, which only weighs 7 pounds per foot.

John wanted boulder bars to protect the rocker panels and sides without costing too much ground clearance. The remedy was novel but simple: He cut holes through the rocker panels, which allowed custom 2x2-inch steel-tube boulder bars to pass trough the stock rocker panels to the frame.

John left the Jeep's interior and 4.0L H.O. engine stock, but he installed a Mile Marker Hydraulic system plumbed to the AGR Rock Ram Steering. He plumbed the high-volume hydraulic system to implement quick connectors on the rear bumper. With the huge tires, low gears, and hydraulic connectors, the big Grand Cherokee can pull the hay rake and power other farm equipment.

We rendezvoused with John at Byrd's Adventure Camp on the Mulberry River near Cass, Arkansas, on a cold December day. Many of the boulders in the 4x4 rockcrawling course were snow-covered, and the trenches in the woods course were filled with ice. It was obvious that the Zebra - with its tall tires, excellent suspension articulation, and superior construction - could compete with the hard-core rockcrawling rigs. Yet it remains a safe, comfortable, family friendly SUV.

Balancing Big Tires
The problem with running huge tires on the street is that they are hard to balance. John tried rim weights, but every time he went 'wheeling, rocks knocked them off. No matter what he tried, he couldn't achieve a perfect balance. Finally, he tried putting the Zebra up on jackstands and running it at about 30 mph. He discovered that the tires were about an 1/8-inch out of round, which isn't bad for 38s. The solution turned out to be the Amermac Tire Truer (www.amermac.comtiretruers.html). This machine allowed John to true up the tires, taking care of any vibration.