The word is out. Mopar is selling JK Wrangler Rubicon Dana 44 complete axle assemblies, and they're a very good deal. For a total of approximately $3,000, both front and rear Rubicon Dana 44s that come complete with disc brakes, electric lockers, and 4.10 gears will be delivered to your home or dealer ready for installation. These Dana 44s are direct bolt-ins in JK Wranglers, so owners of X or Sahara trim levels can easily upgrade their front and rearends to the Rubicon level and will even be able to use their locking differentials at any speed, in two-wheel drive, four-wheel high, or four-wheel low range. This is something Rubicon owners can't do as they're limited to using their lockers in low range. Mopar/Jeep JK Rubicon Dana 44s are available from any Mopar/Jeep Performance dealer.

These axle assemblies will also work in any other vehicle you choose to install them in with some modification. We followed our friend Eric Maughan as he ordered Mopar JK Rubicon Dana 44 axle assemblies and proceeded to put them under his '91 YJ Wrangler. 4 Wheel Drive Hardware has everything needed for a successful axle swap, such as a Mopar wiring harness that has the correct electrical plugs needed for the electric lockers. While doing the swap, Eric decided to install an Atlas transfer case from Advance Adapters too. Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts built new front and rear CV driveshafts that work with the Rubicon axle assemblies. Follow along, and we'll show you how easy this swap is to perform.

The 2-foot-tall rock shelf cambered toward the pool of water, leaning Brian's Wrangler Rubicon toward the edge. The front suspension unloaded, and 80 percent of the vehicle's weight shifted to the passenger rear tire, perched on a small pile of crumbling rock. To this point, the Pyeatt Draw trail had been a moderate route, challenging the group of 10 high-clearance trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs with a series of 3.0-rated sandstone and rock obstacles.

Pyeatt Draw was formed by heavy spring watershed from the Mogollon Rim, the alluvial confluence of Lewis Creek and Ellison Creek collecting at the Draw's high point just west of Tonto Village. Just east of the confluence, the water cascades off of the trail's final (and optional) obstacle. This 4.0-rated exit is a cambered and narrow waterfall with a series of ledges just inside the wheelbase of most vehicles, adding to the challenge.

The trail gets more approachable after Thompson Road climbs above Diamond Rim and turns east, crossing Pyeatt Draw. Our group, led by John Shotts in his "Trail Limo" Land Cruiser began the process of airing down, disconnecting sway bars, and shifting into low range. We were fortunate to have a diverse group of vehicles in attendance, including an FJ40, three Tacomas, the big 100-series, two FZJ80 Land Cruisers, a Land Rover Discovery II, a solid-axle Toyota Truck, and a pair of Jeep TJs. I always prefer having several makes and models on the trail, as it is much more interesting than watching the same trucks drive the obstacles in nearly the same way. With wheelbases measuring between 93 and 127 inches, there was certainly variety in approach and degree of success.

We were also fortunate to have two entertaining drivers willing to push their rigs on the more challenging lines. Ben was driving an FZJ80 Land Cruiser with 35-inch Maxxis Creepy Crawlers, and Brian was piloting an '03 Jeep Rubicon with 33-inch MT/Rs and a hybrid long-travel suspension. Both drivers used finesse to clear the big ledges and rocks of the optional lines and were impressive to watch.

Pyeatt Draw slowly builds in difficulty as the wash narrows, creating larger steps and a greater concentration of loose boulders. The pace began to slow, and more spotting was required to help the less-modified machines. One particular obstacle brought the group to a standstill, and all occupants worked their way to the front with various digital and video cameras. The trail chokes down into a narrow "S" turn in the sandstone, forcing the drivers to weave their way through Jeep-size turns, rubbing their rock sliders and pivoting around the corners. Then the trail exits to a taller slab up a cambered shelf with a large rock on the right followed by a deep hole and ledge on the left. This made the obstacle a real challenge for the vehicles with open differentials or traction control, with several trucks getting some new dings and scrapes. The most impressive success on that challenge was by Jared Albert in his open-diff and near-stock four-cylinder TJ. With only a 2-inch TeraFlex suspension and sway-bar disconnects, Jared flexed his Jeep through the notch without any wheelspin, resulting in a "Hooray!" from the group.

With all 10 vehicles through the notch, it was time for lunch and to enjoy the great view down the Draw and the cool breeze coming from the Rim's edge. At nearly 6,000 feet, the Tonto National Forest is a retreat from the intense heat of Phoenix and other valley cities. This makes Pyeatt Draw a popular trail for Arizona 4WD clubs, and despite its remote location, it is not uncommon to find several groups running the route over a summer weekend. However, I was pleased to find very little trail damage and no trash on the trail during our visit, showing that the commitment of time and expense to drive to the trailhead is keeping "wildcat" or less-responsible 'wheelers away.

After lunch, we drove a short distance to the first "exit" option from the trail, where an improved two-track crosses the wash and then begins to parallel the Draw from the south. This is the end of the 3.0-rated section and the beginning of the 4.0-rated trail end. The last section is only a few hundred yards long but begins climbing in elevation quickly, and the sandstone surface is fractured into a series of 2- to 3-foot ledges clogged with large boulders.

The final obstacle is a true 4.5-rated challenge, and only one vehicle in our group attempted it. With some gentle prodding, Brian climbed into his Rubicon and engaged first gear. Running 10 psi in the MT/Rs, the sidewalls deformed against the first ledge and pulled the Jeep up and to the right, lining the vehicle up for the final waterfall. Just the obstacle alone was impressive, but combined with a 15-foot cliff into a pool of cold water on the passenger side increased the intimidation factor considerably. We knew it would be difficult for the Jeep to climb the obstacle unassisted, so we had prepared the winch recovery kit at the top of the waterfall and plugged in the winch controller. The passenger-side tire began to climb the ledge, and slowly, the Jeep crested its lip, and the driver-side tire began to grip on the 3-foot-tall sandstone face. In a moment, the rear passenger tire kicked out a large rock, tilting the Jeep toward the edge and putting the front driver's tire a foot in the air. I asked Brian if it was time to hook up the winch, to which he responded, "Yeah, I think that would be a good idea." The Jeep finished the climb with the assistance of the 9,000-pound T-Max and a big pine tree.

The Pyeatt Draw trail is maintained in partnership with the Forest Service and the Rim Country 4 Wheelers. When visiting the trail, please remove all trash and stay on the route, only exiting at the Jeep trail that crosses at the end of the 3.0 section or the trail exit at the top of the final waterfall. Spectacular trails like Pyeatt Draw only remain open because of the efforts of clubs like Rim Country 4 Wheelers and responsible OHV enthusiasts. Pyeatt Draw really is an "Outstanding Trail" set in a spectacular region of Arizona. When it is 110 degrees F in Phoenix, there is some great adventure up by the Rim just a few hours away.

BFGOODRICH OUTSTANDING TRAILS

Pyeatt Draw was chosen as one of five Outstanding Trails in the country in 2006 by BFGoodrich, Tread Lightly, and the United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA). Through a careful selection process, including terrain type, enthusiast following, and uniqueness, these trails were showcased as the top "Outstanding Trails" for 2006:

Pyeatt Draw - Payson, Arizona
Black Bear Pass - Telluride, Colorado
Hell's Revenge - Moab, Utah
Historic Naches Pass - Naches, Washington
Upper Tellico OHV Area - Nantahala National Forest

Each year, BFGoodrich chooses a new group of outstanding trails. For more information, visit www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstandingtrails.

Last year, Mopar SkunkWerks brought us a number of vehicles, including the very cool JT pickup based on the JK Wrangler Unlimited. This year, while SkunkWerks changed its name to Mopar Underground, the concept vehicles were outstanding and prove that Chrysler is still at the cutting edge of OE off-highway technology.

The Jeep J8 "Sarge" is one of those vehicles, and we had an opportunity to put it through its paces in Moab. While the Sarge is a Mopar Underground vehicle, it stands apart from the rest because it was modified very little. It's very close to the production Jeep J8, manufactured in a Chrysler joint-venture facility in Cairo, Egypt, and slated for use by the Egyptian military.

The J8 is a beefed-up military version of the Jeep JK Unlimited platform built as a noncombat military support vehicle. With a 116-inch wheelbase, the J8 is available in either two- or four-door configurations. J8-only structural upgrades in the body and chassis combine to increase the GVWR rating to 7,400 pounds. With the increased GVWR, the J8 can be configured as a light troop carrier, ambulance, or cargo truck.

Under the hood (bonnet) is a VM 2.8L four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 158 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The Command-Trac transfer case has both high and 2.72:1 low-range gearing. Although 158 hp doesn't sound like much, the J8 works. It works on the highway, in the dirt, in the rocks, and surprisingly, in the sand. The little 2.8 diesel has plenty of torque and motivates the J8 well through the dunes, an important feature for the Mideastern service the J8 will be seeing.

The frontend is a Dana 44 with open differential and large disc brakes. The Dana 60 rearend is the same one we'll be able to get from Mopar/Jeep Performance and has a Trac-Lok limited-slip differential. You old Jeepers don't groan. This Trac-Lok actually works and helps the J8 to get over some pretty gnarly and technical obstacles. There's a four-link coil suspension up front and heavy-duty leaf packs in the rear. Exclusive J8-only 17x8 steel wheels sport a 5-on-5.5 bolt pattern, not the 5-on-5 U.S.-spec JK pattern.Other features unique to the J8 are heavy-duty steel bumpers, each equipped with two forged mil-spec helicopter hooks rated at 1.5-ton GVWR each; a hood-mounted air-intake snorkel; dual battery boxes in the bed; and heavy-duty spring hood latches.

Mopar Underground massaged the J8 and turned it into the Sarge by painting it flat green (not OD Green, as has been reported elsewhere) and adding 1.25-inch Superlift front coil spacers, a custom cargo top, and 35x12.50R17LT BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires.

The J8 is all good. Now the bad. There are currently no plans to offer the J8 for retail sale in North America. The people at Jeep know there will be a tremendous market for a J8 in mufti. They just need to be convinced to get it certified for sale here and then get it to dealers. The J8 Sarge is a very capable vehicle. We know you want one. So do we.

Regardless of what season it is, there's always somewhere to go camping. Typically, if you plan a vacation around a specific off-road trail, like the slickrock of Moab or the Rubicon Trail, chances are you'll be roughing it midway through your adventure.Knowing this, we thought we'd share some of today's latest and greatest camping items that are not only functional, but compact as well, especially since your camping gear must share the same space as your tools, off-road recovery gear, etc. Enjoy the guide and happy camping!

Jetboil Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set
It's like having everything you need from the kitchen in one compact setup. Jetboil's Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set contains the award-winning Personal Cooking System (PCS), a FluxRing fry pan, pot support, and a foldable fuel-canister stabilizer. Also included are trick Jetset cooking utensils (spoon, fork, and spatula) that contain telescopic handles to make them almost fullsize.Using its patent-pending FluxRing heat-exchanger technology on the fry pan and PCS, optimal fuel efficiency and even cooking are achieved. A piezoelectric igniter and simmer control allow for safe and fully adjustable cooking. The entire system stores compactly for transit, so you can take it anywhere.

For more information, contact: Jetboil Inc., (888) 611-9905, www.jetboil.com.

Grilliput Collapsible Stainless Steel Grill
The Grilliput collapsible stainless steel grill is a must-see. Built from solid stainless steel, the cooking surface of the grill measures an impressive 10 by 8 inches. Assembly is achieved by inserting 12 grill rods - that are easily removed from the stainless steel cylinder - into the predrilled holes along the side of the main carrying tube and another internal tube for a fast and effortless cooking surface. When disassembled, the unit measures less than 12 inches long and less than 1 inch wide.

For more information, contact: Industrial Revolution, (888) 297-6062, www.grilliputusa.com.

Grilliput Compact FireBowl
Used as a companion piece to the Grilliput compact grill, the compact FireBowl may also be used separately. Fabricated from stainless steel, the FireBowl stores both coal and wood until ready for use. When ready to grill, simply open the clamshell design, place under your grill, and cook away.The bowl is made from heavy-duty stainless steel, which guarantees years of use in any condition imaginable. The bowl measures 3 inches tall, 7 inches diameter closed, and 11 inches diameter open.

For more information, contact: Industrial Revolution, (888) 297-6062, www.grilliputusa.com.

Black Diamond Vista Tent
The Black Diamond Vista Tent is a double-walled shelter that is freestanding and allows up to three people to sleep soundly in roughly 50 square feet of comfort. Built as a three-season tent, a mesh canopy provides a 360-degree view of the stars while affording the occupants privacy as well.Setup is fast and easy given the hook, external tension clips, and a pole-hub system. Utilizing the single-hub system provides for increased interior space and more durable exterior tent walls. The Black Diamond Vista Tent features two fullsize side doors and interior organizer pockets as well as a seam-taped PU/silicone rain fly.

For more information, contact: Black Diamond Equipment, (801) 278-5533, www.bdel.com.

Hi-Lift Handle-All Multifunctional Tool
This multifunctional tool consists of four fullsize implements to aid in any situation, especially when camping. The implements are as follows: a shovel, sledgehammer, ax, and pick. Each of the implements is attached to a two-piece telescopic handle that extends to 36 inches in length. The entire tool stores compactly in the included high-visibility storage bag and is ready to dig a campfire pit, pound tent stakes into the ground, or cut firewood.

For more information, contact: Hi-Lift Jack Co., (812) 384-4441, www.hi-lift.com.

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottles
Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottles are available in a variety of sizes from 12 to 40 ounces. As a safe alternative to plastic and lined metal containers, each bottle has been fabricated from high-quality food-grade 304LN stainless steel. Best of all, their slim design allows them to fit perfectly in cupholders and allows for fullsize ice cubes to be inserted into the wide-mouth opening.Being constructed of stainless steel provides for toxic-free storage of your favorite beverage, and best of all, it is dishwasher-safe.

For more information, contact: Klean Kanteen, (530) 345-3275, www.kleankanteen.com.

Swedish FireSteel
Originally created for the Swedish Department of Defense, the Swedish FireSteel contains the ability to create a 3,000-degree C spark that makes fire building easy in any weather and at any altitude. Used by a number of armies and expedition leaders around the world, Swedish FireSteel is more than a convenience to have when camping, but it is also a survival tool if things take a turn for the worst.Aside from the obvious benefits to owning one of these units, it is approved by the International Survival Instructors Association and can be used as an emergency signal due to its bright spark.

For more information, contact: Light My Fire USA, (888) 297-6062, www.lightmyfireusa.com.

Grandpa's FireFork
Grilling marshmallows or hot dogs over the campfire has never been easier or more fun than with Grandpa's FireFork. Designed to fit on virtually any stick found while camping, this twisted piece of stainless steel has been fabricated to hold onto your food until you're ready to take it off. Weighing only 0.6 ounces, the fork fits easily inside any backpack or jacket pocket.For protection, an end cap secures the pointed ends of the fork. They are available in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, blue, green, and orange. Once you use these forks, you'll never cut that old piece of tree branch again. FireForks also make great campfire pokers.

For more information, contact: Light My Fire USA, (425) 297-6062, www.lightmyfireusa.com.

Coleman Pinnacle Lantern
Coleman's newest lantern, the stainless steel Pinnacle, is easily started thanks to InstaStart technology, which uses one AAA battery for fast and dependable lighting. The Pack-Away storage system translates to no additional cases, as the lantern stores inside itself. Setting up the lantern is achieved by pulling one handle upward and setting the fold-down foot pegs in place.The Coleman exclusive tube mantle and burner system have been designed to provide for outstanding area-lighting capability and illumination that lasts up to five hours on one 16.4-ounce Coleman Propane Cylinder (sold separately). The brightness of the lantern is adjustable via an integrated valve.

For more information, contact: Coleman, (800) 835-3278, www.coleman.com.

Inflatable Truck Air Bed
This fully self-contained inflatable air mattress is able to fit inside many of today's more popular compact midsize and fullsize trucks in longbed and shortbed configurations. A fully rechargeable flush-mounted air pump inflates the integrated air-coil system in a matter of minutes. The end result is a 9- to 12-inch-tall mattress that is ready to provide a good night's rest. The mattress may also be used inside of a tent or anywhere else an air mattress is needed.

For more information, contact: Pittman Products International, (800) 981-2339, www.truckairbedz.com.

Coleman Pack-Away Table for Two
The sturdy, rust-resistant table for two is built from lightweight aluminum and is easily foldable to 31.5 by 22.75 by 25.5 inches, which makes it perfect to be stowed behind the seats of your Jeep to help keep the other camping items at bay while driving. Upon opening the table, it automatically locks into position and is easily adjusted to your desired height. The table is capable of holding up to 300 pounds. For additional creature comforts, two chairs are tucked away inside the table.

For more information, contact: Coleman, (800) 835-3278, www.coleman.com.

Nite Ize LED Wand
The Nite Ize LED wand could be considered one of the most versatile camping accessories you could own. When not in use as a flashlight, the wand makes the perfect signal flare with its strobe setting. The unit can also be used as a tent light.The durable shockproof and waterproof unit is lightweight. Best of all, you never need to worry about the light bulb going out since it's an LED. The unit is ideal for fishing and diving as well, especially since it has visibility to 1 mile and is submersible to 1,000 feet. The wand is available in a variety of colors, including green, blue, red, and clear.

For more information, contact: Nite Ize Inc., (800) 678-6483, www.niteize.com.

McNett Tenacious Repair Tape
Think about it: You wouldn't go out into the wilderness without a first-aid kit, so why go without a first-aid kit for your equipment and clothing? Instant field repairs can be made with the Tenacious repair tape. The tape is just what the doctor ordered when it comes time to repairing tents, tarp, rain gear, and more.The super-aggressive adhesive sticks to almost any surface and can be used for a variety of flexible, long-lasting repairs. The tape instantly seals leaking seams, tears, and pinholes, stops rips from spreading, and acts as an abrasion-resistant shield on high-wear areas. Each roll is sized at 3 by 20 inches or 60 square inches.

For more information, contact: McNett Corp., (360) 671-2227, www.mcnett.com.

Big Agnes Mystic Sleeping Bag
Just when you need it most, the Big Agnes Mystic sleeping bag will be there to keep you warm. The no-draft design of the bag ensures that your body heat stays in, and the cold stays out. Constructed of high-grade and durable Toray fabric for the shell and pad sleeve, the high thread count and rip-stop nylon with super-durable water-repellency technology ensures that years of service will be in store.Additional creature comforts include a built-in pillow pocket, integrated sleep-pad sleeve, and a rectangular shape that offers more room in the foot box of the bag. Zippers are located on both sides of the bag to make entering and exiting easy.

For more information, contact: Big Agnes Inc., (877) 554-8975, www.bigagnes.com.

Coleman Folding Cooler Chair
At the end of the day, nothing beats a comfortable chair, and just because you're in the great outdoors doesn't mean you have to sacrifice comfort. Once seated, the chair's built-in cooler is large enough to hold 3-4 cans and one small ice pack. In addition to the cooler, other features of the chair include a padded seat and seat back, adjustable arm heights, and a powdercoated steel frame.

For more information, contact: Coleman, (800) 835-3278, www.coleman.com.

Light My Fire Outdoor MealKit
The Outdoor MealKit was designed especially by Scandinavian designer Joachim Nordwall. It is the perfect kit for preparing and eating meals anytime and anywhere while being able to fit inside a backpack. Each MealKit contains everything needed: two plates, a spill-free cup with lid, a combined colander and cutting board, a Spork (combined spoon and serrated fork), and a small waterproof box for all those things that just have to stay dry.Each kit is available in a variety of colors. In addition to being made from indestructible environment-friendly polycarbonate material, each kit also floats should it accidently get away while being cleaned.

For more information, contact: Light My Fire USA, (888) 297-6062, www.lightmyfireusa.com.

Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets
Sometimes what we can't see can cause more pain and discomfort to us than what we can see. Knowing how heavy and cumbersome it is to take on a trip, many of us opt to do without extra water and hope that we find a fresh stream or lake with drinking water. All it takes is one experience to know that regardless of where the water we find is, it should be treated prior to drinking it.With that said, all it takes is one Aquamira Water Purifier Tablet to be dropped into 1 liter of water to purify your water. Each tablet contains a specialized chlorine-dioxide formula that produces a powerful germicidal agent to purify the water. This formula meets the stringent EPA guidelines for Microbiological Water Purifiers, making it the safest solution on the market.

For more information, contact: Aquamira Technologies, (360) 306-5586, www.aquamira.com.

In addition to offering greater protection from trail obstacles, heavy-duty front and rear bumpers can transform any 4x4 into a well-prepared trail rig. The addition of a front winch bumper, for example, provides stable tow points for vehicle-recovery maneuvers, and the addition of a winch helps promote safer trail excursions in general. A heavy-duty rear bumper is also a great aid. Stable tow points are achieved, and many umpers include extras such as a swing-away spare-tire mount, a Hi-Lift Jack mount, and cargo baskets to stow extra gear.

Lod Genuine Off Road Equipment produces a whole line of its heavy-duty front winch bumpers for '87-'06 Jeep Wrangler YJs and TJs and '07-'08 Wrangler JKs. LoD's Xpedition Series rear bumper/tire carrier is also available for these Jeep models. The bumpers feature tapered ends, are manufactured from 3/16-inch-thick steel, and are powdercoated black. Two D-ring mounts are included at both the front and rear, and the rear also incorporates a 2-inch receiver hitch.

The Lod front heavy-duty bumper is offered in a "shorty" 44-inch width for increased side-to-side obstacle clearance, and a standard 54-inch width is also available. The rear Xpedition Series bumper/tire carrier is 58 inches wide and secures to the frame using 10 mounting points. The Xpedition Series bumper/tire carrier includes a Hi-Lift Jack mount, two jerrycan mounts, and a steel cargo basket to hold a cooler or other trail gear. Frame tie-in brackets are also available to increase strength, and an adjustable tire mount to accommodate various wheel-backspacing needs is included.

We carried out the installation of the LoD front and rear bumpers on an '05 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. The installation is easily completed in the driveway or on the garage floor using common handtools (drilling is required for mounting the rear bumper), however, you'll likely require a helping hand in lifting the bumpers into place during mounting. Once mounted to the vehicle, the bumpers provided a great look and functionality not afforded in the vehicle's stock form. We'll also be much better prepared for future trail rides, as all of the necessary safety and repair items are within an easy reach and ready to use.

It's been an exciting 50-year ride for the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based New Mexico 4-Wheelers (NM4W). Incorporated in 1958, the original club name was Albuquerque Jeep Herders. However, the club was never restricted to Jeeps, and the name, New Mexico 4-Wheelers, was adopted in 1976. Regardless of name, the club has always been committed to fun, safe, responsible, and family-oriented off-highway adventure.

Twenty people attended the first Albuquerque Jeep Herders meeting held on August 6, 1958. The newspaper notice invited "all owners of vehicles with 4WD or rough-road capabilities."

One of the first club runs was to the Mt. Taylor area of the Cibola National Forest, 70 miles west of Albuquerque. It was September 1958, and four vehicles participated: a CJ-3, CJ-5, and two Willys Station Wagons. The off-highway section was a Forest Service road that wound up the mountains through pine forests and open meadows and ended at the La Mosca Peak fire lookout (elevation 11,038 feet). Those carburetors must have been well-tuned!

In 1959, a group of 22 vehicles hauling 64 people caravaned to the Gila Cliff Dwellings near Silver City, New Mexico. According to the trip report, the group "encountered a nearly perpendicular trail on the side of Copperas Peak that had been strewn with boulders by recent rains. They also had to ford the hubcap-deep Gila River 18 times before reaching the remote cliff dwellings. The club picked up three Fort Bliss, Texas, military men who were stranded in a pickup truck on the rocky route." This route is now paved all the way to the ruins.

Looking back, it seems that people did more with less. In a 1960 outing to the Rio Salado Valley near Socorro, New Mexico, the club newsletter reported, "Dr. Homer Musgrave's Jeep fell into a hole of quicksand, and it took a number of Jeeps to get it out. The Jeep Herders also pulled a deer hunter's car out of the sand." If winches were used, it wasn't mentioned.

Fifty years is a long time for any organization to carry on. What are the secrets to longevity? Alan Gilmore, now a Colorado resident, was an active member from 1983 to 1995 and a four-wheeler before and since. He says, "The club has always been conservation-conscious. We stayed on established trails and abided by the same rules on the trail as on the highway."

That meant no drinking, no shortcuts, and no racing.

None of the 1958 charter members still belong. Pat and Sue Brady, 22-year members, are the longest-standing current members. Why has the club remained intact for 50 continuous years? Pat explains, "We're nondenominational. Pickups, Suzukis, Rubicons ... it doesn't matter. We accept everybody. And we're dynamic. We like to do lots of different things, and we change. Members have been into sand drags and hard-core rockcrawling, but trail riding, easy to hard, has been the mainstay of the club."

As with any organization, there have been ebbs and flows. In 1983, the club was running out of steam. Alan remembers, "My wife Marty and I were in our 40s and were the youngest members age-wise. The charter members were getting older and driving on dirt roads, not trails."

After scouting for more challenging trails, Alan and Marty introduced the group to "new" areas including the Caballo Mountains in southern New Mexico. The Caballo Trail, on BLM land, is rated Hard and remains a club favorite. Caballo offers big rocks, shelf roads, and the history of Palomas Gap, a notch between mountains that allowed stage coaches to travel between New Mexico and Texas.

Over the past few years, the club has been stable at 70 members/families. The club strives to retain existing members and attract new members by offering a well-rounded schedule of activities. There are trail rides at varying levels of difficulty, campouts, and participation in outside events and the political arena.

Some runs that started in 1958 became club traditions. Christmas tree-cutting runs, "aspencades" to view fall colors, and summer events in the higher elevations of New Mexico and Colorado are mainstays. More recently started traditions include a "Chic Challenge" with women-only drivers, an annual trek up Mt. Blanca in Colorado, and a large attendance at the Chile Challenge in Las Cruces, New Mexico, every February.

Community service has been an ongoing club endeavor. In the early decades, the club organized toy drives and provided Christmas trees for the New Mexico Children's Hospital. There have been work days at a day-care center, assistance with search-and-rescue efforts, and cleanups of adopted forest trails and highway miles.

Road closures on public lands have been an ongoing concern. The meeting agenda for February 16, 1960, included "speakers discussing the state land-grab situation." The club spoke out against a Cibola National Forest proposal to regulate off-road-vehicle use in January 1976. And since 2007, the group has been heavily involved with the National Forest Travel Management Rule. To show support for keeping forest roads open to motorized vehicles, members attend meetings, write letters, and document routes. Members have even taken United States Forest Service staff members on field trips to show them routes to save.

NM4W was instrumental in the formation of the Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association (SWFWDA), currently comprising clubs from six states (New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri). In 1991, Alan took action on what had been talked about for years. He linked seven clubs to form SWFWDA. Alan says, "We needed a bigger voice to fight trail shutdowns. A regional group would wield more influence with the United Four Wheel Drive Association and the government."

A series of events are planned throughout 2008 to celebrate the 50-year milestone. The club will rerun some early trails, participate in a show 'n' shine, perform community service, and host a reunion picnic. A photo book showcasing club vehicles through the decades is being compiled by member Justin Simenson.

From early rockhounding and photography trips in stock vehicles to today's typical rockcrawling in TJs with 35-inch tires, the focus remains fun and adventure. For 50 years, club members have enjoyed and promoted fun, responsible four-wheeling.

Lauri Rector, current NM4W president, comments, "What an amazing history this club has had. To look at things that were recorded in 1958 makes me realize how long this club has sustained itself and thrived as well. I think it's due to the camaraderie of club members. We share an interest in getting out there with our vehicles and seeing what nature has to offer."

CJ-5s are the ugly duckling of the Jeep world. They don't have the style and nostalgia of a flatfender nor the wheelbase and storage space of a Wrangler. They are still incredibly capable whether in stock form or heavily modified. CJ-5s also can be purchased for next to nothing, and with some hard work and vision, that ugly duckling can turn into a swan. That is exactly what Reno, Nevada's Shawn Kelso has done with his '62 CJ-5.

Shawn started by fabricating his own frame out of 4x2.5-inch, 0.125-wall rectangular box tubing. Then he added crossmembers, body mounts, and motor mounts for the 4.3L V6. The engine is equipped with throttle-body fuel injection, an Affordable Fuel Injection chip and wiring harness, roller rockers, and a roller timing chain. The short engine fits nicely under the early CJ front sheetmetal and makes plenty of low-end torque. Power is transferred through an SM465 mated to the original Dana 20 with a Novak adapter. The transfer case is stuffed with Dana 18 gears, an upgraded intermediate shaft, twin sticks, and an offset rear output.

High Angle Driveline driveshafts link the Dana 20 to Dana 44 axles liberated from a Wagoneer. The drop of the Wagoneer rear axle matches the offset transfer case and widens the stance of the '5 for improved stability. Both axles are loaded with ARB Air Lockers, 4.88 Yukon gears, Great Lake Offroad diff covers, and disc brakes. The front uses Warn chrome-moly axleshafts, while the rear 'shafts are from Moser with Mitchell Differential full-floating hubs. More Wagoneer parts are found in the suspension, with stock Wagoneer leaf springs mounted atop the axles and coupled with Fox 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks. The springs are affixed to custom mounts and stretch the wheelbase to 94 inches.

T&T Customs crafted the rear quarter panels from 1/8-inch steel and recentered the rear wheelwells back to accommodate the stretched wheelbase. The sliders are also from T&T Customs and are made from 3/16-inch steel. The unique front fenders were custom-built and skinned by Shawn, as were the stinger and rollcage. The Rust-Oleum Sunburst Yellow on the tub was sprayed in a makeshift paint booth in Shawn's garage. Inside the CJ-5, the parts robbing from other Jeep models continues. A 3/16-inch aluminum dash holds a Cherokee tilt steering column and a host of gauges from Auto Meter, while swing pedals from a YJ fill the floorboards. A custom 11-gauge transmission tunnel was fabricated to allow the drivetrain to be tucked up between the framerails. Behind the cheapo parts-store bucket seats, a 16-gallon fuel cell from Summit Racing is sunk in the Durabak-coated tub for a lower center of gravity. The cell feeds the V6 through a Holley inline electric fuel pump and -6 braided stainless steel lines with AN fittings.

The rolling stock consists of 36-inch bias-ply Irok Super Swampers that are big enough to offer reasonable ground clearance without scattering drivetrain components. The tires are mounted on modified Hummer rims. The stock Hummer rims use an internal mechanism that locks the inner and outer beads, but they leave the vulnerable hubs exposed because of excessive backspacing. Performance Cryogenics recentered the rims, and Shawn added a reinforcing ring to keep the rims from bending when they encounter rocks. A Saginaw power-steering box from a Wagoneer turns the Swampers. The box connects to a host of Rockstomper components, including the drag link, tie rod, and steering arms.

Although early Broncos and FJ40 Land Cruisers have exploded in price in recent years, you can still buy a clean CJ-5 for a few thousand dollars. The money saved on the initial purchase can be used to make a more capable trail vehicle for the same overall investment. All it takes is some vision, talent, and hard work. Just ask Shawn Kelso.

SPECIFICATIONS
Year/Make/Model:	'62 Jeep CJ-5
owner/Hometown:	Shawn Kelso Reno, NV
Engine:	4.3L OHV V6
Transmission:	SM465
transfer Case:	Dana 20 with Dana 18 gears
Suspension:	Spring-over with Wagoneer springs and Fox shocks
axles/Differentials:	Dana 44 with arB air Locker
Ring-and-Pinion:	5.38
tires/Wheels:	36x13.50-16.5 Irok Super Swampers/16.5x8.5 custom recentered Hummer beadlocks
Estimated Value:	$9,500

Each February, the interstate highways crossing New Mexico see a sudden influx of serious-looking vehicles. Huge tires, tubed frames, and many of them somewhat scarred from encounters of the mineral kind. They are an unusual sight as they fly down the road on trailers. Perceptive fellow travelers probably wonder, Where are they all going? We know exactly where the parade is headed. A large cross section of the nation's rockcrawlers is headed to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for the annual Chile Challenge.

The Chile Challenge isn't the biggest annual rock-centered event. That crown is most certainly reserved for a certain spring ritual in Moab. And the trails around Las Cruces aren't the most difficult in the country. There are certainly more difficult trails in various locales. But nowhere else has such an event grown up so quickly around its extreme trails. Lest reader mail deluges us, we will be clear that the Chile Challenge is more than just extreme rockcrawling. There are great trails for all levels of experience and vehicle modifications, including truly scenic rides for the new stockers. The local hosting club, the Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club (LCFWDC), does an outstanding job of organizing the event and making everyone feel welcome. The event serves as the winter quarterly meeting for the Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association (SWFWDA), so the vehicle count from the big regional association's six states is always high. The Chile Challenge is also home to all the typical accoutrements of a big event including vendor displays, some great evening meals, and one of the biggest raffles of the year.

Even so, it is the trails that draw return visits year after year. So many people come back, in fact, that the registration for 2008 was limited to 350 vehicles to keep from overwhelming the local trail system. And the four extreme trails are the centerpieces of the trails that keep people coming back.

This magazine wasn't the only 4WD-enthusiast publication there to capture a slice of the excitement for its readers. But we were the only ones who spent all four days behind the wheel of a vehicle out in the rocks on the extreme trails. We have only missed this event one year since its inception in 1991 and have run the hardest Las Cruces has to offer dozens of times. But these four trails, run under early spring skies, are so good; that we keep coming back each and every year. We love them, and you will also. So here, in the order we ran them in 2008, are the Big Four of the Chile Challenge.

Rocotillo Rapids
We first walked the trail now known as Rocotillo Rapids many years ago when the LCFWDC was still frantically working to get the first vehicles through the steep, narrow canyon. There is just no way, we remember thinking. The club had started groups from both the top and the bottom of the canyon. After several weekends of work, the two groups had still been unable to meet in the middle. They feared that the rapidly approaching Chile Challenge would leave the new trail still unfinished. Knowing that we would undoubtedly be driving it, we sort of hoped they were correct and wouldn't get it finished. But finish it they did, and we drove it that first year. Well, drove most of it. Back when the "big dogs" of the sport were running 35-inch tires, only one vehicle made it all the way through the canyon without assistance by a winch that first year.

The canyon is considered quite a bit "easier" now with lots of traffic in the intervening years and 40-plus-inch tires becoming commonplace. Still, Rocotillo Rapids offers more than enough challenge to leave scars and fully earn its "Extreme" rating. Narrower and more twisted than the other trails in the system, its walls close in tight enough to take bites of fenders and rear corners. Its three signature obstacles are all still there, although they continue to evolve from the passage of time, water, and tires. The initial challenge is a rough ledge running diagonally under an undercut wall. The left side offers an easier passage that allows one to dance through if the tires hit all the appropriate high points. Most of the hard-core types choose to take the more difficult center route. The undercut ledge and tire-swallowing holes often necessitate multiple attempts, and that is where the undercut wall comes into play. Get too far right, and you will certainly lose paint.

The second signature obstacle is a pair of side-by-side ledges. The original route runs to the right, but the passage of numerous vehicles has taken some of the teeth out of its former bite. The "impassable" left side gets driven fairly regularly, but on the Wednesday run this year, less than half of the vehicles were able to scale it. The third and final significant challenge is a steep climb up a large outcropping of solid rock in the canyon. Hit the right line, and one can idle up. Miss it, and things can still get ugly. Only one vehicle showed its dirty side to the sky on our recent trip, but it served as reminder that Rocotillo Rapids still provides more than enough challenge for rockcrawling extremists.

Tabasco Twister
Tabasco Twister is our personal favorite of the Big Four. Longer than the other routes and somewhat physically separated from the main trail system, Tabasco offers both high challenge and an uncommonly beautiful canyon. Due to its relative remoteness, it is a somewhat longer bounce through several canyons on rough dirt roads to get to the start of the fun. The stiffer challenges start with a nice warmup in an extensive rock garden. Multiple paths provide different levels of challenge to suit the driver's desire and ability.

Immediately following the rock garden is the first serious ledge. A wall of rock sits diagonally across the watercourse with a right angle in the middle of the canyon. The difficulty differs with the level of the gravel base at the bottom of the "falls," and a deep hole means high challenge. Thesharp breakover angle adds additional difficulty, but a solid winch anchor is available for the almost inevitable winch pulls.

Next up is The Abyss. Aptly named, the signature test piece of Tabasco Twister is a huge ledge stretching all the way across the canyon. The verticality experienced by drivers when their front tires reach the top of the ledge is intimidating. The propensity for the rear tires to drop into the holes at the base of the wall often has the drivers staring into the yawning voids at the bottom of the ledge. Again, a handy winch point may see a lot of use if the holes at the base are at full depth.

After The Abyss, the rest of Tabasco Twister is a pleasant drive for rock-loving drivers. There is enough optional challenge to keep things very interesting. One optional climb through a slender slot has been the scene of particularly abundant driveline carnage. The narrowing walls in the slot tend to trap the rear of the vehicles in a tight mineral grasp. The resulting load on the front end has driven many a component past its breaking point.

Tabasco Twister is also about scenery, which, at least in our opinion, is fine enough to want to drive the canyon even if it were paved. Over the many years and numerous traverses that we have made of these trails, Tabasco remains our personal favorite of the Chile Challenge Big Four.

Habanero Falls
Short and sweet. Yes, that sums up our Friday route. Of course, one has to appreciate a high degree of challenge to attach the adjective of "sweet" to Habanero Falls. Tucked into a side canyon and reached via one of several of the easier Chile Canyon routes, Habanero was originally called the Magnificent Seven due to the seven separate and distinct waterfalls in the canyon back when tire first met rock. The original name was dumped in favor of the chile theme, but memorable challenges remain.

First up is a deceptively difficult leap straight up 4 feet of vertical limestone face. The rock has been polished so smooth, and the lip so abrupt, that many vehicles find themselves buffing the face with their rear tires while skewered by the skidplate. The secret is to find a spot on the ledge where the edge offers a bit more breakover relief and then let the rear wheels hit the ledge with a little more mojo. A lucky bounce will have you up and checking out the next phase of the route.

Across a front-end-swallowing hole, around a corner and, whoa! Eyes fixed on the enormous ledge looming ahead and WHAM! You might just be distracted enough to find yourself trying to push solid rock with your bumper or pumpkin as you attempt to mount the tricky little ledge in front of the monster that has riveted your attention. A little repositioning, a bit of momentum, and now one is free to contemplate the final, and by far most challenging, difficulty on Habanero.

No name on this one, just a chance to point your hood at the sky and carefully, oh so gingerly, feel for some traction. We won't lie, there is an established "magic" line that works for most vehicles, but a mere inch or two literally means the difference between crawling and floundering. It always feels good to get to the top, acknowledge that the "line" is still there where you remembered it, and realize that there is a cold one with your name on it back at camp.

Patzcuaro's Revenge
Ah, Patzcuaro's ... or "pet squirrels" as some irreverently call it. Although Tabasco might be our personal favorite, nothing compares to running Patzcuaro's Revenge on the Saturday of the Chile Challenge. Home to the most difficult obstacles around Las Cruces, and center stage for a huge audience of gawking onlookers, Patzcuaro's is almost universally regarded as the toughest task of the Chile Challenge. The start of the trail is near a large dirt lot that is already filled with onlookers by the time the first tire hits the first rock on the trail. Patzcuaro's starts in a dark (and in the early morning of February, cold), narrow canyon where the vehicles quickly confront the first obstacle - Nemesis I. A steep climb to the left or a crack crawl on the right are the choices, and neither of them are easy, even for the drivers of the Chile Challenge. Our group on Saturday is typical for the event, with 42-inch tires plentiful and lots of tubing in evidence. Believe me, very few of them "cruised" Nemesis I.

As soon as the first couple of vehicles are through, the trail leader heads for one of the primo obstacles of the Challenge - Nemesis II. Situated in a large rock bowl at the bottom of the canyon, the site is crowded with onlookers eager to watch man and machine challenge both rock and gravity. Nemesis II is actually two parallel routes: the original route to the right and the "bypass" to the left. To the uninitiated public, both look supremely ridiculous. The bypass is so dug out from years of vehicular assaults, that it is almost as difficult as the original route. The original route is so vertical, that vehicles seriously assaulting it this year hooked a safety cable to the winch point beyond. As the original route necessitated a winch in 2008, we tried the left side and eventually succeeded in mounting the nasty climb intact and with winch unspooled.

Whew! Always a little pucker on that one. With Nemesis II behind us, we motored on to the rest of Patzcuaro's challenges. The most difficult climb has yet to come, about halfway through the 2-mile-long canyon route. This narrow cleft in the rocks, about one vehicle length in height, can be climbed, but it yields to very few. Only two vehicles in our string of 20 made the climb that day: a buggy whose rear-steer capability allowed it that little extra bit of traction, and a Toyota whose wheelbase shortened the ledge considerably. We were stymied in our attempts, in spite of having climbed it numerous times in previous years. One of the joys of the Chile Canyon trail systems is that Ma Nature rearranges the trails each year, and success one year doesn't mean an easier time the next.

And that is the Big Four from a driver's point of view. These four trails have been adding the spicy heat to the Chile Challenge for many years and are the major trail factors that keep the event one of the premiere rockcrawling stops of the year. We hope to see at least 350 of you there when we attend again next year.