I AM LEGEND.... A very special TJ Wrangler

This Jeep has been the 4WD1 accessory and suspension display vehicle for many years, and (IMHO) would have to be one the best of its model around. 

Our pride and joy starred on the front cover of 4WD Action magazine (Issue 133) The article and photos inside covered seven pages. You can read the full article here.

The equipment list is extensive and comprises high-quality components that have been professionally fitted.

WARN products include a Rockcrawler front bumper with winch plate, grille guard, tow hooks and shackles, rear bumper with off-road hitch receiver with shackle kit, and Warn’s top-of-the-line 9.5ti Thermometric winch featuring Warn’s sealed housing for extreme-duty water resistance.

RUGGED RIDGE products include 7inch wide flares, deep-wall floor mats, neoprene seat covers and window sliders. Plus, stainless steel bonnet latches, bonnet hardware, lamp guards, vent cover, mirrors, fuel bezel, side bar/steps, windscreen hinges and windscreen-mounted light bar.

RANCHO products include a Rockcrawler 2.5 inch suspension featuring patented high-articulation control arms, coil springs, Pro-Series nitrogen remote-reservoir ride-adjustable shocks, dash-mounted in-cab shock absorber adjustment system, RS5000 heavy-duty steering damper, and sway-bar disconnects.

Mechanical improvements include a slip-yoke eliminator kit utilizing a heavy-duty transfer case output shaft, double-carden rear propeller shaft, 4.1:1 diff ratios, new LSD in the rear, 8x15 Mickey Thompson Classic II alloy wheels, 33x12.5R15 Goodyear MTR radials, Skyjacker steering rod, K&N air filter, and titanium-compound disc brake pads.

Other items include a Mopar chrome grille, Mopar CD player with roof-mounted sound bar, and stainless steel KC Daylighter lamps (1 x pencil + 1 x flood). The soft-top is an American Bestop product with tinted rear windows.

4WD1 - An armoured vehicle specialist.

4WD1 has a reputation as a specialist to the armoured vehicle sector for up-rated suspension systems.

When you think ‘armoured 4wd’, it’s easy to conjure up images of a Landcruiser/military tank cross-over, complete with side-guns and ceramic shields. In fact, most armored 4WD vehicles (from the outside) look absolutely stock. The protection plating is usually behind the vehicle’s body panels, and can include replacement flooring, plus the use of specialized window glass.

While the vehicles may look like they just rolled off the showroom floor, in the case of say, a 105 series Toyota Landcruiser, a typical B6 conversion adds about 800kg. Add 5 blokes and their gear, and it’s easy to get past the 1200kg mark, hence the need to compensate for the extra weight and change in vehicle dynamics.

Good armoured-vehicle conversion specialists and sales companies work to an internationally recognized standard, and have their work independently tested and certified. The work is graded to a specific level of protection.

The European standard uses an alpha-numeric description (levels B4, B6 etc). You don’t have to be smart to work out that the greater the level of protection, the larger the caliber and velocity of projectile that can be defended, and that the more serious the threat, the more comprehensive the armor protection must be.

It is interesting to note that demand for armoured 4wd vehicles is not limited to use by the military, but includes peace-keeping forces, security firms, and ‘high-profilers’ for their political position, business or celebrity.

In the fist decade of the “noughties”, war and terror around the world, plus the expansion of industry into countries with turbulent political environments, has seen demand for armour-protected passenger vehicles increase significantly.

The increase in demand has brought many opportunists to the market. Not all firms being equal in their performance. There are plenty of small work shops and ex “chop-shops” grabbing the current opportunity. It’s like “pimp-my-ride” for some, rather than the business of saving lives.

As one of our North American customers says, “So many stereo and trim installers look at an armoured car and say “Hey I can do that”, not knowing a thing about armour or vehicle integration…It is truly scary to see some of the vehicles we have to “compete” against with buyers that decide on price alone….not experience and certified testing results…”

Similarly, if you’re an armoured vehicle conversion specialist, service shop, or parts supplier for armoured vehicles, 4WD1 is not the cheapest place to procure new suspension components.

The key to good performance from the suspension is the quality, combined with the bore-size of the shocks or struts, and the appropriateness of the springs' rating (stiffness).

In the case of the typical armoured vehicle conversion, it’s not just the guys in balaclavas that are the enemy – it’s the new curb weight, together with use on unsealed roads.

A head for radio - but a tough Jeep!

I’m pretty excited to be featured in the latest edition of 4WD Custom magazine (including the front cover).

It’s available at the newsstand – issue 25. If we haven’t met before, I’m the bloke with the balding skull. Now you know why most of the profile pics I use for myself are from back when I was a little kid!

When we did the shoot a few months ago, it was great to meet Earle Emanuel and team and have some fun. From our luck with the weather and the location, everything seemed to work out neat. While the red JK Rubicon Jeep is kind of ‘pretty’, it’s also one very tuff truck in which few road-registered vehicles can match its off-road performance.

It’s a funny thing to see yourself in print. I’m now thinking about getting one of those big akubra-style hats to cover up my mug – just like our OJ (Outback John) wears. See the homepage of 4WD1.com

But OJ reckons they don’t make hats that big!