If you can't use it, why own it? We think most show vehicle owners ask themselves this question more often than they'd like to admit. Bill Moore, a fitness trainer from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, knows all about this dilemma.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Front Angle30926961/features/bronco/1001_4wd_1977_ford_bronco1001_4wd_01+1977_ford_bronco+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

Because of the time he spent in the Sundance Jail in Wyoming, Harry Longabough was forever known as the Sundance Kid. He served 18 months for stealing a saddle with a horse under it. When he was released on February 4, 1889, he was still a greenhorn in the outlaw game.inline_mediumwraptextrightFour Wheeler Trails25400981/adventures/rockies/1001_4wd_hash_knife_ranch1001_4wd_01+hash_knife_ranch+four_wheeler_trails.jpgTrue

Ed Fisher of Hyde Park, Utah, is at it again. You've seen some of his other Jeeps in these pages, as his projects are always interesting. Ed recently called and told us he was buying a salvaged JK to build that had a small ding on the passenger side. Our curiosity about why a JK with a "small ding" in the side would be salvage was satisfied when the Jeep arrived. The passenger side was caved in from the rear of the front door back. Not to worry, Wolford Collision Repair in Logan, Utah, quickly had the Wrangler back to perfect condition.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Front Angle26635654/features/jeep/1001_4wd_2007_jeep_wrangler_jk_unlimited1001_4wd_01+2007_jeep_wrangler_jk_unlimited+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

Mike showed us around a few of the Cerro Gordo buildings including the general store, the American Hotel, and the chapel. After our formal guided tour, Mike turned us loose to check out the rest of Cerro Gordo ourselves, but not without warning us to stay out of the mines. "I have to kick people out of the mines all the time," Mike related. "Some of them get belligerent with me about it, but they have to stay out anyway."

Every month, we have a short answer to that question with a page or two of New Products. The creative minds in the off-road industry continue to outdo themselves, so this month we've dedicated a bigger chunk of space to showcase what's new.

Does your company craft cool tools, essential off-road equipment, or rugged outdoor apparel? Want it reviewed here in our Gear column?
If so, write to: patrick.vuong@sorc.com

In case you missed our October 2009 issue, we introduced our fully-loaded 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland WK long-term loaner, which is equipped with a 5.7L Hemi V-8, GPS navigation, and even Sirius Satellite TV. It also came with a 115V inverter, 12V power points throughout, tie-downs, fold-down rear seating, and other equipment that makes it a vehicle to consider when looking for a backcountry explorer

As off-road racing legend Walker Evans enters his second decade of rockcrawling, trail riding, and exploring, he wanted the ultimate vehicle - one that could crawl, haul, and do everything he asked of it, as well as be comfortable in inclement backcountry weather. Walker owned a 1974 CJ-5 he wanted to use as the starting point for his ultimate Jeep.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Front Angle30696333/features/jeep/0912_4wd_1974_jeep_cj50912_4wd_01+1974_jeep_CJ5+left_front_angle.jpgTrue

Missouri 4Wheelers Supply, better known as 4WS.COM, is a major distributor of 4x4 parts and is known for its Jeep conversions. After a trip to the SEMA convention in Las Vegas in 2006 and being inspired by how the aftermarket had already embraced the new Jeep Wrangler JK, 4WS.com owner Kevin Wyas decided to get a JK of his own to show off a few of the parts his company offered. The plan was to keep it mild-at least that was the plan.inline_mediumwraptextrightA quick flick of the throttle cleans out the Pit Bull Rocker tires during a climb up a waterfall.Left Side Angle26492194/tech/0912_4wd_2007_jeep_wrangler_jk_unlimited0912_4wd_01+2007_jeep_wrangler_jk_unlimited+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

If a map of the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii, was laid flat on a table, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, would be the "closest city to middle." The exact middle is north of Belle Fourche at what country folks like to call 20th and Plum. That means it's 20 miles from nothing and plum out in the sticks.inline_mediumwraptextrightBelle Fourche Visitor's Center for Center of the Nation.Chamber Of Commerce26490442/adventures/midwest/0912_4wd_belle_fourche0912_4wd_02+belle_fourche+chamber_of_commerce.jpgTrue

Jeff Ward wears two hats. He's both a car dealer and fabricator for Burnsville Off-Road. Because of this, he's in the perfect position to find good deals on Jeeps and build them up. His 2006 TJ Unlimited started as a mild-mannered used LJ. Once Jeff got his hands on it, he went to work.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle26489149/features/jeep/0912_4wd_2006_jeep_wrangler_unlimited0912_4wd_01+2006_jeep_wrangler_unlimited+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

Since the all-new Jeep Wrangler JK was introduced as a 2007 model, more and more Jeep Wrangler TJs have come up for sale in most areas of the USA. These Jeeps are great, easy-to-moderate trail runners in stock form and can be easily built using bolt-on parts to conquer more extreme trails. After a short search through the local classifieds, a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ was discovered for a very acceptable price.inline_mediumwraptextrightTruly transformed, this 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ is now well-equipped for trail use. Along with Skyjacker's Rock Ready I bent-arm long-arm system, the rig is outfitted with body armor from M.O.R.E., 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM2 tires, and Skyjacker's RockLock sway bar.Left Side Angle30695196/tech/0912_4wd_1997_jeep_wrangler_tj_buildup0912_4wd_01+1997_jeep_wrangler_tj_buildup+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

Traffic seemed sparse for Memorial Day weekend. At the self-serve Shell station, a pair of BMW motorcycles readied for an overnight stay on the playa. Bruno's Restaurant, a Gerlach landmark, had its breakfast crowd, mostly locals and a handful of conspicuous outsiders. The locals mused about the mild spring weather and eavesdropped on the California trio lamenting the Golden State's deficit and the permit process for launching amateur rockets across the Black Rock Desert...inline_mediumwraptextrightFour Wheeler26489950/adventures/west/0912_4wd_black_rock_desert0912_4wd_01+black_rock_desert+four_wheeler.jpgTrue

February in New Mexico means two things to us: the spring winds are about to howl and our very favorite annual 4WD event is upon us. Truly our rite of spring, the Chile Challenge is held each February near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The event got its start in the early '90s and has grown to such extent that it is now capped at 350 vehicles. With a vendor's display, two delicious catered meals, an ice cream social, and a huge raffle, the Chile Challenge has all the trappings of most big 4WD events. But what continues to bring the people back in droves from near and far is the four wheeling. The Challenge has always been a trail-oriented event and its offerings in the rocky canyons and mountains along the Rio Grande run the gamut from mild to sublimely difficult. Admittedly, most of the event's fame is derived from the extremely challenging trails buried in the nearby ravines and arroyos but the mellower trails also attract devotees that return year after year.

If April showers bring May flowers, then the State of Oregon should have a bumper crop this year! Once again 4WD&SU was invited along on the fifth annual Trail Tour, which took place the last week of April 2009 in the (very) wet areas of central, northern, and western Oregon.

Does your company craft cool tools, essential off-road equipment, or rugged outdoor apparel? Want it reviewed here in our Gear column?
If so, write to: patrick.vuong@sorc.com.

Safari Straps Keep It All Inside
Open-top Jeeps let you connect directly with the outdoors, but a measure of security should still be considered a necessity. Safari Straps nets let the air through, but keep you and your cargo secure.

* JK extended nets are the latest product from Safari Straps.
* Safari Straps are also available for the TJ and TJ Unlimited/LJ.
* Three different versions are offered: window, cage, and long cage.
* Extended versions are also available; extended versions go all the way down to the tailgate.
* Tops can be installed without removing Safari Straps.
* No drilling required.
* Rings and buckles are powder-coated black metal.
* Hooks are nylon-coated metal to prevent scratching your Jeep.
* Side window nets help keep passengers, pets, and gear inside, and are a theft deterrent.

In 1976, Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson starred in a movie about cattle thieves and a gunman hired to put them out of business. Much of it was filmed on location in Montana's Missouri Breaks. The location was well suited to host a story about outlaws. The infamous Kid Curry, a high-ranking member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, owned a ranch on the north side of the Missouri River. It was located near the town of Landusky. After the train holdup at Exeter Creek, Curry hid out in Hideaway Coulee and Grand Island waiting for things to cool off.

Check out the web-exclusive photos of all the custom 4x4s we found at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas! Enjoy!

There's value in knowing what's the latest and greatest on the market. There's also value in knowing what happens after you make that purchase. If there's a single equipment category that's routinely called on to go the distance and then some, it's garage and shop tools. A single wrench can potentially outlast several project vehicles, and sometimes can outlast a generation. In the family garage, we're still using grandad's bench vise, and we'd bet you may have a tool or two with a similar history.

At some point when we apparently weren't paying attention, the Jeep Cherokee got old. It was first introduced in 1984 and enjoyed a lengthy production run that lasted until 2001, which means that there are scads of 20-plus-year-old Cherokees on the roads and trails these days.

A lot of folks we know build their 4x4s one part at a time. Part breaks, fix it; done deal. Others work in segments, addressing suspension then moving to axles and onward. Another group of others simply do it all at once so they can start hitting the trails. George Kane of Long Beach, California, falls into this category. With his "Straight to Ridiculous" JK project, George hit the ground running, determined to achieve his dream of a do-it-all, rockcrawling, desert-racing, 4x4 machine.

The Wolford family of Cache Valley, Utah, has been backcountry exploring for generations. Two of the off-roading Wolfords are father Al and son Tim. Al has a 2008 JK Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited and Tim owns a 2006 TJ Unlimited. Both vehicles have been to Mount Logan Off-Road, where the staff worked their magic and turned both vehicles into competent backcountry explorers.