Our weekend adventure to the Smiley Rock trail was to take us into the Prescott National Forest, nearly the dead center of Arizona. Here we would find both scenic 'wheeling and intriguing history from the early days of the Wild West.

Twenty-three wounded vets from California, representing a half dozen wars, left the trail smiling, and will never be the same. Wheelers for the Wounded (WFTW) tackled the Rubicon Trail for the third year and gave these patriotic folks the ride of their lives —all just to say thank you. At the same time, fellow patriots showed a group of East Coast vets a huge show of gratitude with a trail run in New Jersey.

Speaking as a Vietnam vet who flew home to be spit on by some cowardly hippie in the San Diego airport, I feel this excursion, Wheelers for the Wounded, is probably one of my most favorite events in the ’wheeling world. We can’t say thank-you enough to our warriors.

WFTW started in Florida with a primary mission of providing a weekend of off-roading, camping, and in some cases, fishing, to our country’s wounded military — wounded physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Harold is Off Again. But this time he went 'wheeling on his own. On June 1, 2011, the four-wheel-drive community lost one of its own when Harold Charles Off lost his battle to pancreatic cancer. Harold was a pioneer in the sport of four-wheeling. A true, soft-spoken gentleman, Harold was always there to lend a wrenching hand, give a spot, encourage a fellow competitor, or share his beloved Farmington trails - and then serve ice cream from the back of one of his well known pink Scramblers at the end of a long day.

The rumble was impressive and the color palette broad enough to lay challenge to a rainbow. Much of what we were hearing were hundreds of pistons cycling within a five-liter volume, and those powerplants were moving a substantial “herd” of colorful 4WDs all around us as their drivers readied themselves for a day on the trails.

The Hi Desert Round-up is an annual fund raising event for the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. (CA4WDC — aka Cal 4 Wheel). It’s been one of our favorite events to attend for a lot of years and this year Cal 4 Wheel provided a new twist by re-locating the event to the Johnson Valley OHV area.

When I think about the Jeepers Jamboree marking its 59th birthday this July, it is hard to believe…almost mind-boggling. After all, how many businesses, let alone four-wheel-drive events, can stand the test of time of almost six decades? What is even more amazing is that some of the old-time Jeepers, who still drive the trail and can be seen each year hanging around main camp, were spry flat-fender-driving, 20something whippersnappers at the inaugural event! Heck, my mother was just a toddler at the time.

There was green everywhere. Stands of trees populated the forest and the trails wound their way amongst them, and over deposits of surface boulders. Challenges included mucky holes of water and settled bottom mud. We found good ’wheeling and good company in the upper right corner of this great country of ours.

Based in the Birmingham area, the Central Alabama Offroad Society is known as CAOS by its members, friends, and community, but there is nothing chaotic about the club’s events. More like a family than a club, CAOS members work like a well-oiled machine to host hundreds of enthusiasts at Gray Rock ORV in Mt. Olive, Alabama, for its annual Fall For All 4x4 event.

For those of us who enjoy four-wheeling on our local trails, there's no better feeling than knowing you're doing your best to keep them open and properly maintained. That's just what the Big Bear Forest Fest (BBFF), put on by the Inland Empire 4W Club in Southern California, is all about. Each year the BBFF event helps the Forest Service maintain and ultimately protect our 4x4 trails. All proceeds from the event go to buying equipment that the Forest Service needs in order to clear dead trees, build and preserve fire roads, control erosion, and in general keep the 4x4 trails accessible for all to enjoy.

As the seasons change and Old Man Winter graces the mountains with liberal doses of fluffy white stuff, our thoughts drift towards winterizing our rigs, snow runs, and making sure our heaters work. Yes, even out here in sunny California we get snow. And the Sierra Nevada gets the lion's share. When we received an invitation to attend the Winter Fun Festival (WFF), a three-day extravaganza of snow-wheeling in the northern Sierra, we didn't need much of a reason, other than the words "snow" and "'wheeling" to load up the rig and head for the high country.

We walk the halls of the 2010 SEMA Show in Vegas to bring you this years' hottest Jeeps and 4x4s. Everything to satisfy your rock-crawling desires. Enjoy!

A long time ago we met an all-around nice guy named Jason Bunch. Over the years, Jason and his shop, Tri County Gear in Pomona, California, have helped us with so many projects that we've lost count. In that time we've also hit the trail with Jason, exploring innumerable 'wheeling spots throughout southern California. 'Wheeling with Mr. Bunch isn't a walk in the park. In fact, he typically picks the toughest trails he can find. It isn't just for fun, either, since you're usually forced in to learning something about yourself and your 4x4.

The 2010 version of the Chile Challenge was only days away, and it became apparent that we needed to adjust our plans. The first big rock-fest of the year was upon us, and our trusted rock crawler was sitting high on the hoist with the rear differential nowhere in sight. What to do? In our shoes, it was time to go back to school; "Old School" to be specific.

I was just a kid the first time I heard of the Rubicon. My dad and I were riding dirt bikes near Auburn, California, and we met a guy who lamented of the most difficult ride in the state, the Rubicon. The year was 1979, armed gunmen had stormed the US embassy in Iran, and things were awry in the world, but not here in Northern California. Mark Smith and his crew had just organized, completed, and returned from their record-breaking Expedition De Las Americas (A trek from Tierra Del Fuego at the southern-most point of South America to Prudhoe Bay Alaska) and a group of four-wheelers from Georgetown were celebrating their 27th Jeepers Jamboree.

The red rocks were pretty much like Moab with plenty of verticals yet good traction. Our '97 TJ was getting a good grip on the sandstone as we eased up a sweet technical obstacle on the Faultline Trail when it dawned on Stacie and me - this place ROCKS and might even rival Moab in some ways!

Why cover King of the Hammers? Many of us like running trails at an accelerated pace, seeing how much ground we can cover in an afternoon. King of the Hammers takes that line of thinking and ramps it into the stratosphere.

Obsidian-black clouds pushed their way up the western escarpment of the Sierra Nevada and a freakish summer storm threatened to wreak havoc on what should have been a heavenly day of wheeling. Drag crew would be my long-time 'wheeling buddy Rich Currie and myself. Our job, as it has been for the past dozen years, is to make sure our paid participants made it to camp for dinner, or at least made it to camp. This was the 43rd Annual Sierra Trek, and our 25th year on the trail together. But as for getting everyone to camp...this day might be the exception.

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.

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

Since 2006, BFGoodrich Tires has bestowed a special designation upon nearly a dozen off-road trails across the United States and Canada. The special designation is part of the company's Outstanding Trails Program, which recognizes particular trails as well as the individuals and 4x4 clubs who maintain them. The trails and groups selected typically personify BFG's dedication to the responsible use and preservation of off-road trails, and in addition to receiving the totally awesome "BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trail" title, they also receive much needed funds to continue their conservation efforts.

Those in attendance at All-Pro Off-Road's 2007 Jamboree are sure to remember one thing above all else: It was cold! January temperatures in the Mojave often dip below freezing, and landscapes normally famous for scorching mercury readings take on a frigid personality. Last year's event in Johnson Valley was highly successful despite the chill. For 2008, All-Pro's Jon Bundrant decided a change of venue would give participants access to more creature comforts after a long day on the trail. Stoddard Valley got the nod. The Stoddard Valley OHV area is a veritable hop, skip, and a jump away from Johnson Valley. Stoddard's trails aren't as famous as the selection of Hammers found at Johnson, but hard core, mettle-testing terrain is still on the menu.

If there's one thing that's certain about four-wheel adventure it's that it's almost always more enjoyable when it's shared with good friends.?We guess??that??it??has something to do with man's inherent need to explore the great unknown and an associated sense of camaraderie while doing something exciting. There is a reason you own the four-wheel-drive vehicle sitting in your driveway, and subconsciously it just may stem from your childhood. As kids we loved to explore the unknown, and whether it was on bikes or skateboards or foot, we just had to see what was up around the corner.

The night before I left for the Calico Cleanup, I reflected upon what the next day's event meant to me. It was an important day for two reasons: First and foremost, it was a chance for me to do my part to protect the sport I love and enjoy - four-wheeling. Cleanups like this one in Calico, California, are a reminder that off-road areas need to be respected and well-maintained. An event such as this is an opportunity for me, or anyone, to do something for the community, set an example, and make a positive impact. My part may be small, but when combined with the efforts of others, it makes a big difference.

A little over a decade after World War II, the Chuckwalla Jeep Club was officially incorporated by the state of California for the whopping fee of $13.25. The year was 1958, and today we find ourselves looking back with envy and nostalgic admiration at a simpler time of Willys Jeeps, classic hot rods, and the birth of rock 'n' roll.

With many new products for the Toyota FJ Cruiser and all-new Jeep Wrangler JK, the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas represented a good year for 4x4s in general. With new tires, new winches, new lockers, and more, the show presented the latest and greatest available from the automotive and 4x4 aftermarkets. Check out the following for a glimpse of some of the standouts.