Off-RoadWeb Homepage Off-Road
Facebook Newsletter

Our Picks: The Top Four Trucks of 2012

The Top Four Trucks of 2012

By The Off-Road Staff, Photography by Agustin Jimenez, , Kevin Blumer, Stephen Van Court
1301Or 02 Our Picks The Top Four Trucks Of 2012 1997 Chevrolet 2500 Off Roading

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

October 2012

Old military vehicles are cool. If not for the military, the need for a multipurpose, rugged, go-anywhere vehicle might not have been recognized and subsequently developed. Jeff Pichler’s ’57 M37 isn’t just cool because of nostalgia. It’s cool because he’s supplemented nostalgia with modern-day off-road function. The anemic original engine has been shelved (or maybe donated to a museum) in favor of a 340-horse Chevy stroker motor, and the original axles, suspension, and steering system have all gone by the wayside in favor of updated parts capable of holding up to the 40-inch Interco tires. With the gargantuan stock wheelwells, the 40s have room to flex and look just right. The kitchen sink part comes from the way Jeff has outfitted the service bed with enough tools and equipment to get himself and everyone else successfully back to base camp. Who knows? Jeff’s M37 just might be equipped with a kitchen sink by the time you read this.


Not Your Grandpa’s Old Ford

November 2012

Tom Webber’s F-250 is one of the best sleeper vehicles we’ve ever seen, and it took a feature story to bring this truck’s true character to light. A retired Air Force pilot, Tom built his truck to fly low and look stealthy. The stealth includes leaving the front and rear suspensions at stock width and painting the Autofab drop-center hood and fenders to match the original mint-green-and-white paint scheme. Flying low? This truck’s got 18 inches of wheel travel at each corner to do just that. When the bed started self-destructing after lots of Baja pounding, Tom consulted with Darin Brandvig and John Ehmke of Autofab. The three joined forces to build a ’cage that holds the truck together, provides occupant safety, and gives a home to shock mounts, spare tires, and other essentials. Topping it off, there’s a camper shell above and most of the stock bed space below is still clear for hauling race-chasing cargo. If your grandpa’s got an old Ford, Tom Webber’s F-250 shows just what you can do with it.

By The Off-Road Staff
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!

*Please enter your username

*Please enter your password

*Please enter your comments
Comments:
Not Registered?Signup Here
(1024 character limit)
Off-Road