Veteran XJ: Deep Gears

(ANNOUNCER)>> BEFORE ERIK GODFREY DEPLOYED OVER SEAS, HE DROPPED OFF HIS CHEROKEE TO HAVE ONE TON AXLES INSTALLED. WHEN HE RETURNED HOME, ERIK DISCOVERED THE QUALITY OF THE WORK ON HIS XJ WAS NOT WHAT HE EXPECTED AT ALL. XTREME OFF ROAD HAS JOINED TOGETHER WITH MEMBERS OF THE FOUR BY FOUR COMMUNITY, STARTING OVER WITH A FRESH JEEP TO BUILD ERIK THE HILL KILLING RIG HE ALWAYS WANTED. WE'VE ALREADY BEEFED UP THE CHASSIS WITH A HEAVY DUTY SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY AND MADE ROOM FOR AN AGGRESSIVE FOUR LINK SETUP ON COMPETITION GRADE AXLES. TODAY THE BUILD GOES INTO OVERDRIVE WITH RESERVOIR SHOCKS AND ATLAS TRANSFER CASE, GEARS, AND MORE. PLUS ERIK FINALLY GETS SOME SEAT TIME IN HIS NEW RIDE.

(IAN)>> THERE YOU GO!

(IAN)>> THIS WEEK THE GANG FROM CENTRAL NORTH

CAROLINA FOUR BY FOUR CLUB IS IN THE SHOP GETTING ERIK'S XJ READY FOR ANOTHER PILE OF UPGRADES. CNC FOUR BY FOUR HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, AND WE LAST MET UP WITH THEM AT AN ECOURSE RACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS, KEN CARTER, WAS RACING IN THE SERIES. BASED IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, CNC FOUR BY FOUR HOSTS TRAIL RIDES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DESIGNED FOR WHEELERS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS.

(KEN)>> OUR CLUB HAS A SPRING BASH AND A FALL BASH, AND WE ARE VERY FAMILY ORIENTED. SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BRING YOUR FAMILY. GREAT PLACE FOR, TO KIND OF LEARN THE ROPES OF OFF ROAD WHEELING.

(IAN)>> IN ADDITION TO GROUP RIDES, CNC FOUR BY FOUR ALSO PARTICIPATES IN TRAIL STEWARDSHIP, AND EVEN HOLDS WRENCH DAYS, WHERE THEY POOL THEIR

MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND TOOLS TOGETHER TO HELP FELLOW MEMBERS BUILD UP THEIR RIGS.

(JOHN)>> FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE GOT THE WELDERS, AND THE TUBE BENDERS, AND ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S A WAY FOR US TO SAY YOU KNOW, I'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU. WE'RE NOT GONNA CHARGE YOU FOR NOTHING, BUT YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PROJECT YOU CAN DREAM UP, WE'LL DO IT.

(IAN)>> TODAY THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR SKILLS TO

GOOD USE BY GUTTING THE CHEROKEE'S INTERIOR AND PREPPING THE XJ FOR A SET OF 12 INCH TRAVEL, TWO AND A HALF INCH BODY COIL OVER SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. OUT BACK A PIECE OF INCH AND THREE QUARTER DOM TUBING IS RUN BETWEEN THE TWO JEEP UNIBODY FRAME RAILS TO PROVIDE A MOUNTING POINT FOR

THE REAR SHOCK HOOPS. THREESIXTEENTHS INCH PLATES ARE ADDED FOR EXTRA STRENGTH. ADDITIONAL PLATES ARE WELDED INSIDE THE CAB AS WELL, AND THE REAR SHOCK HOOPS ARE INSTALLED. NEXT, KEN CUTS THE BODY SO THE FUEL CELL SUMP WILL

EXIT BELOW THE FLOOR. AND A 16 GALLON SUMMIT RACING ALUMINUM FUEL CELL IS DROPPED INTO PLACE. A CROSS BAR WILL LOCATE THE REAR OF THE CELL AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO OUR COIL OVER SHOCK TOWERS. FINALLY DOUBLE CHECK THE MEASUREMENTS FOR THE

SHOCKS AND TACK THEM INTO PLACE. TO MOUNT THE FRONT SHOCK HOOP KEN PREPS THE SURFACE OF THE JEEP AND CREATES A CARDBOARD TEMPLATE THAT WILL BECOME A STIFFENING PLATE. JOHN CUTS THE PLATE FROM THREESIXTEENTHS INCH STEEL WITH THE PLASMA CUTTER. ONCE THE WHEEL WELL IS CLEARANCED, AND THE HOOP IS BENT...

THE STIFFENING PLATE IS CLAMPED INTO POSITION. [ welder crackling ]

(IAN)>> WITH THE SHOCK HOOP TRIMMED TO FIT, MOUNTS ARE WELDED IN, FOLLOWED BY THE SHOCK HOOP. [ welder crackling ]

(IAN)>> AND FINALLY THE FRONT SHOCK IS TACKED INTO PLACE. AND THE JEEP IS RAISED ON THE LIFT TO CHECK OUR AXLE ARTICULATION. WELL THAT'S THE END OF THAT SHOCK. I'M MAXED OUT BACK HERE. LET'S GO A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.

(KEN)>> A LITTLE MORE TRIMMING TO DO ON THE FRONT.

HORNS AND WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE, AND WHAT

ABOUT THE FRONT BUMPER?

(JOHN)>> I THINK IT'S GONNA CLEAR THE BUMPER. I MEAN THE FRONT TIRE IS COMPLETELY BELOW THE BODY LINE, SO YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, A SERIOUS TRANSFER CASE THAT'S READY FOR ANYTHING THE TRAIL CAN DISH OUT.

(IAN)>> TODAY IN THE XTREME SHOP WE ARE IN HIGH GEAR ON ERIK'S XJ.

AND WITH THE FINAL MOCK UP OF THE SUSPENSION COMPLETE, WE WILL NOW FOCUS ON A VERY SPECIAL PART OF THE DRIVETRAIN. ALTHOUGH THE FACTORY 231 CASE IS A GOOD CHOICE FOR

A MILD TRAIL RIG, WE WANT TO PROVIDE ERIK WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE SETUP IN THIS XJ. AND THAT MEANS THE STOCK CASE IS GONNA GO TO BE REPLACED WITH AN ATLAS TWO TRANSFER CASE FROM ADVANCED ADAPTERS. THE ATLAS TWO FROM ADVANCED ADAPTERS HAS A

HELICAL, MULTIPLE RATIO GEAR SET THAT IS FULLY SYNCHRONIZED, ALL HOUSED IN A ONE PIECE ALUMINUM ALLOY 356 TSIX HOUSING. ALTHOUGH IT WORKS LIKE A TYPICAL TRANSFER CASE, SPLITTING THE POWER COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT AXLES, WITH A HIGH RANGE OF ONE TO ONE AND DIFFERENT LOW RANGES,

FROM THREE TO ONE ALL THE WAY TO FIVE ONE.

THE ATLAS TWO IS MORE THAN JUST A POWER SPLITTER.

THE MASSIVE GEARS ARE SUPPORTED BY NEEDLE BEARINGS RIDING ON BEEFY 8620 STEEL SHAFTS, WITH SYNCHROS TO ALLOW FOR SHIFT ON THE FLY CAPABILITIES. THE OUTPUT SHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE DESIGNED WITH LARGE TAPER BEARINGS AND 32 SPLINED SHAFTS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR OUTPUT. ASIDE FROM THE ATLAS' BRUTE STRENGTH, WHAT MAKES IT THE ULTIMATE OFF ROAD CASE ARE THE SEPARATE SHIFT RAILS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR AXLE. BY PLACING THE REAR OUTPUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE FRONT

IN LOW, POWER FROM THE ENGINE IS DIVERTED FROM THE REAR, SENDING 100 PERCENT TO THE FRONT AXLE.

THIS ALLOWS MANEUVERS KNOWN AS FRONT OR

REAR DIGS TO OCCUR. ONCE FACING THE DIRECTION YOU WANT, YOU CAN SIMPLY

SHIFT THE REAR OUTPUT LEVER INTO LOW RANGE AND YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR WAY. ADVANCED ADAPTERS MAKES ADDING AN ATLAS TO ANY JEEP AN EASY JOB. AND ONCE THE NEW CASE IS INSTALLED BEHIND THE JEEP'S AUTOMATIC TRANS, THE DUAL SHIFTER KIT MOUNTS INSIDE THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT IN THE STOCK

LOCATION, BUT WITH THE BENEFIT OF THOSE TWIN STICKS. NEWS ABOUT THIS BUILD IS STARTING TO GET AROUND THE OFF ROAD COMMUNITY, AND BILLY MOUNTJOY OFFERED TO DELIVER AND INSTALL ONE OF HIS LED OFF ROAD SOLUTION LIGHT BARS ON THE FRONT OF ERIK'S RIG.

(BILLY)>> THEY'RE A GREAT WAY TO GO. THEY PUT OUT TONS OF LIGHT. THEY'RE ECONOMICAL. YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACE YOU CAN GET THEM NOW, AND THEY DO THE JOB, AND THEY'RE DURABLE.

(IAN)>> TUBE WORK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHEROKEE KEYS OFF THE ESSENTIALLY OFF ROAD SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY AND CONSISTS OF A SET OF INCH AND THREE QUARTER, .188 WALL DOM ROCK SLIDERS, ALONG WITH CUSTOM TUBE FENDERS THAT PROVIDE TIRE COVERAGE, BODY PROTECTION, AND JUST LOOK COOL.

THE LAST JOB FOR THE CNC FOUR BY FOUR GUYS TODAY IS TO INSTALL THE PRP DAILY DRIVER SUSPENSION SEATS INTO THE JEEP. WITH ALL THE UPGRADES WE'VE THROWN AT THIS RIG, I FULLY EXPECT ERIK TO SPEND SOME SERIOUS TIME IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AND I KNOW HE'S GONNA LOVE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A TRUE SUSPENSION SEAT IN HIS RIG. AND TO HELP KEEP ERIK SAFE, BILLY THROWS ONE OF HIS ORS QUICK RELEASE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MOUNTS ON THE CROSS BAR OF THE CAGE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT WE GET SOME TIPS AND TRICKS FROM A MAN WHO KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND A GEAR SET.

(IAN)>> RANDY, WELCOME TO THE XTREME SHOP.

(RANDY)>> HELLO IAN, GOOD TO BE HERE.

(IAN)>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT. I TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS TRUCK, JEEP XJ,

FOR A SOLDIER. IT WAS DONE WRONG AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO BUILD HIM THE ULTIMATE ROCK CRAWLING CHEROKEE.

AND I THINK THE CHERRY ON THE TOP OF THIS SUNDAY IS GONNA BE A COUPLE OF THIRD MEMBERS BUILT BY YOU, YUKON GEAR AND AXLE PARTS BUILT BY RANDY FROM RANDY'S RING AND PINION. SO ARE YOU READY TO TEAR INTO SOME AXLES?

(RANDY)>> YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE FUN.

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, PARTS ARE OVER HERE, LET'S GO TO WORK.

(RANDY)>> EXCELLENT!

(IAN)>> RANDY, RANDY! ALRIGHT RANDY, I'VE GOT A PILE OF YUKON GEAR AND AXLE PARTS HERE ON THE BENCH. WE USE THEM ALL TIME HERE AT XTREME. WE LOVE THEM BECAUSE WE CAN ABUSE

THEM AND THEY LAST. AND I THOUGHT SINCE WE HAD THIS NINE INCH ALL SPREAD OUT HERE, BEFORE WE START ASSEMBLING IT, MAYBE YOU COULD GIVE ME A COUPLE OF LITTLE PIECES OF

INFORMATION ABOUT EACH PIECE BEFORE WE START BUILDING.

(RANDY)>> CERTAINLY, THE DROP OUT COMES WITH FIVEEIGHTHS OVERSIZED BOLTS ON THE CAPS, BILLET ADJUSTORS. THIS ONE COMES WITH SNAP RING RETENTION

ON THE PILOT BEARING. THE RING AND PINIONS, FOR THE MOST PART WE DESIGN THEM ALL IN HOUSE CLEAR DOWN TO THE GLEASON MACHINE SETTINGS. AND THEN ON THE YUKON GRIZZLY LOCKER, ALL THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS, 8620, THE CASE ALSO 8620 CHROMOLY STEEL.

(IAN)>> NOW THIS LOCKER, IT'S NOT JUST THE LOCKER THAT'S INTERESTING. IT'S ALSO THE WARRANTY THAT COMES WITH IT AS WELL, RIGHT?

(RANDY)>> YES, THERE'S A $2,000 DOLLAR COLLATERAL DAMAGE WARRANTY ON THAT LOCKER. SO IF THE LOCKER BREAKS AND DAMAGES ANYTHING ELSE, THAT'S COVERED AS WELL.

(IAN)>> SO THIS IS PERFECT FOR ERIK'S XJ BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HAVE THE RELIABILITY OF THE MECHANICAL LOCKER, JUST GET IN AND GO, AND A GOOD WARRANTY, AND BEST OF ALL IT'LL BE ASSEMBLED HERE, SO WE KNOW IT'S GONNA BE DONE RIGHT. NOW I OFTEN, YOU'RE IN THE SHOP, AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT YOU NEVER LEARN EVERYTHING AT ONCE. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME TIPS TO HELP ANYBODY ASSEMBLING A NINE INCH, AND I WANT TO SEE THEM. SO WHERE DO WE START?

(RANDY)>> WELL WE'LL START BY GETTING ALL THE PARTS CLEANED UP AND READY TO ASSEMBLE, AND WE'LL GO OVER A FEW DETAILS FROM THERE.

(IAN)>> PERFECT! RANDY'S FIRST TIP IS TO PREP EACH MATING SURFACE WITH A FLAT FILE AND CHECK FOR HIGH SPOTS ON EACH PART. THIS IS MORE OF A VISUAL CHECK JUST TO INSURE THAT EVERYTHING STAYS ALIGNED PROPERLY.

AFTER CLEANING THE GEAR SET IN THE PARTS WASHER AND MAKING SURE ALL THE BLIND BOLT HOLES ARE FREE FROM RESIDUAL FLUID, ASSEMBLY BEGINS BY DRIVING THE BEARING RACES INTO THE PINION SUPPORT, AND INSTALLING THE RING GEAR ONTO THE LOCKER. NEXT THE BEARINGS ARE PRESSED ONTO THE PINION

AND THE GRIZZLY LOCKER. SETTING UP THE PINION BEARING PRELOAD IS NEXT. AND AFTER TRYING MANY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF SHIMS IN THE SOLID SPACER KIT, THE ROTATIONAL LOAD IS CLOSE, BUT RANDY'S NEXT TRICK IS TO SEAT THE BEARING INTO THE SUPPORT TO LOOSEN THE PRELOAD SLIGHTLY. NOW THIS IS JUST GONNA SEAT THIS BEARING, IS THAT?

(RANDY)>> EXACTLY, ONCE MORE!

ONCE MORE, IT'LL HOLD A LITTLE BETTER. THERE YOU GO!

(IAN)>> I WAS TOO STRONG FOR THEM. AND WITH THAT IT'S PERFECT. WITH THE NODULAR IRON THIRD MEMBER MOUNTED INTO THE ASSEMBLY FIXTURE, THE PINION SUPPORT IS INSTALLED WITH A BASE NUMBER OF SHIMS UNDER IT OF 25 THOUSANDTHS. THEN THE LOCKER, SIDE ADJUSTORS, AND BEARING CAPS ARE INSTALLED.

TO HELP THE GEAR TOOTH MARKING COMPOUND SMEAR A LITTLE EASIER, RANDY MIXES IT WITH SOME GEAR OIL AND PAINTS A SERIES OF TEETH ON THE RING GEAR TO CHECK THE PATTERN. THE FIRST PATTERN IS CLOSE, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR RANDY. SO AFTER CHANGING THE SHIMS UNDER THE PINION SUPPORT, IT'S CHECKED AGAIN.

RANDY LIKE'S TO SEE THE GEAR TOOTH PATTERN LAND EVEN ON THE TOOTH, NOT FROM FRONT TO BACK, BUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, PROVIDING SUFFICIENT GEAR TOOTH CONTACT. FINALLY, WITH A GOOD PATTERN IN PLACE, THE SIDE ADJUSTORS ARE TIGHTENED DOWN TO PROVIDE PRELOAD ON THE SIDE BEARINGS OF THE LOCKER. THIS STEP IS MOST OFTEN MISSED BY BUILDERS ACCORDING TO RANDY. AND BEFORE HE LEAVES, I HAD HIM SIGN THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING OF ERIK'S AXLES JUST TO PROVE THAT HE WAS THERE. WITH THE THIRD MEMBERS BUILT, IT'S TIME FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY OF ERIK'S XJ.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, ERIK AND HIS XJ HIT THE TRAIL!

(ERIK)>> OH MY GOD, IT'S EFFORTLESS!

(IAN)>> FINAL ASSEMBLY ON ERIK'S XJ STARTS WITH THE COMPLETED AXLE PLACED UNDERNEATH OUR JEEP, AND THE MOCK UP LINKS ARE SWAPPED FOR 7075 SOLID ALUMINUM LINKS FROM BRANIK MOTORSPORTS.

MADE FROM SOLID ALUMINUM STOCK, THE 7075 MATERIAL RESISTS BENDING WHEN PLACED UNDER LOAD.

AND WITH WRENCH FLATS MACHINED INTO EACH LINK, MAKING SURE OUR INCH AND A QUARTER ROD END SUPPLIED

HEIM JOINTS STAY TIGHT IS EASILY DONE. LIKE ALL OF OUR PROJECTS IN XOR, WE'RE USING

GRADE EIGHT HARDWARE FROM INDUSTRIAL DEPOT, WHO

SUPPORT A SOLDIER'S CHILD, AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING HELP TO CHILDREN OF FALLEN SOLDIERS. COIL SPRINGS FROM PACK RACING ARE SLID OVER THE BODY OF EACH OF OUR COIL OVERS. PACK USES HEAT TREATING AND SHOT PEENING TO INSURE A LONG LIFE FOR THEIR SPRINGS. ON ERIK'S CHEROKEE WE'LL BE RUNNING 100 POUND UPPER SPRINGS WITH A 200 POUND MAIN. OUT BACK, 100'S OVER 150'S. LASTLY THE CROWN PERFORMANCE BRAIDED BRAKE LINES ARE RAN. THESE FULL BRAIDED LINES ARE TEFLON LINED TO PREVENT SWELLING UNDER LOAD, AND PROVIDE

GOOD PEDAL FEEL. AND FINALLY THIS CHEROKEE IS READY FOR THE TRAIL. ALRIGHT ERIK, I'VE HAD YOUR JEEP IN THE SHOP FOR RIGHT ABOUT A MONTH. YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN SLAVING AWAY. YOU BROUGHT US A BONE STOCK CHEROKEE AND NOW WE'VE MODIFIED IT. SO ARE YOU READY TO SEE YOUR RIG?

(ERIK)>> ABSOLUTELY, I CAN'T WAIT!

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, WELL WE'RE HERE AT THE OFF ROAD PARK. I'VE GOT JP FROM FOUR WHEEL TO HEAL. HE'S GONNA DRIVE IT OUT, IT'S RIGHT BEHIND THAT DOOR, AND THEN WE'LL GO HIT SOME TRAILS. ARE YOU EXCITED?

(ERIK)>> LET'S DO IT!

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, ROLL IT OUT! [ engine fires up ]

(ERIK)>> WOW, THAT'S CRAZY, THAT BLOWS MY MIND MAN!

(IAN)>> IT'S LOW, I WANTED IT LOW.

(ERIK)>> YEAH, STABLE, STABLE ABSOLUTELY!

(IAN)>> HI JP!

(ERIK)>> WOW, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THAT THIS IS JUST AWESOME!

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, SO I'LL GIVE YOU THE QUICK SPECS.

THE MOTOR, STOCK, JUST PUT A HEADER ON IT, COLD AIR KIT, CAUSE THE FOUR LITER WILL LAST YOU FOREVER. TRANSMISSION, LEFT IT ALONE. ATLAS TWO WITH A THREEEIGHT LOW RATIO, SPYDER TRAX PRO SERIES AXLES FRONT AND REAR, 12 INCH COIL OVERS ALL THE WAY AROUND. RIGHT AT THIS RIDE HEIGHT YOU HAVE ABOUT FIVE

INCHES OF UP TRAVEL. SO YOU'VE GOT FIVE INCH OF UP AND ABOUT 10 INCHES OF DROOP ON IT.

ARE YOU READY TO GO FOUR WHEELING?

(ERIK)>> YEAH, LET'S DO IT!

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, YOU RIDING IN THE BACK BUDDY?

(JP)>> YES!

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, I GET THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, YOU GET THE DRIVER'S SEAT, LET'S GO!

(ERIK)>> LET'S DO IT!

(IAN)>> FROM THE SECOND HE GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL, WE KNEW ERIK WAS OUR KIND OF WHEELER, READY TO GET INTO THE MUD AND HIT THE ROCKS! RIGHT AWAY ERIK NOTICED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FOUR LINK SETUP ON HIS CHEROKEE, CLIMBING RIGHT UP THE TRAIL WITH EASE.

(ERIK)>> WOW, OH MY GOD, IT'S EFFORTLESS. I DIDN'T EVEN TRY!

(IAN)>> EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THIS RIG IS 100 PERCENT OVERBUILT, FROM THE ROCK CRAWLER JE REEL DRIVESHAFTS WITH 1350 UJOINTS, TO THE INCH AND A QUARTER HEIMS WITH ONE INCH BOLTS.

THIS RIG IS A TUBE BUGGY WITH A CHEROKEE BODY. AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE XJ HANDLED THE ROCKS AND MUD WITH EASY, BUT OCCASIONALLY ERIK WAS A LITTLE TOO CAUTIOUS ABOUT HITTING HIS

NEW RIG TOO HARD. YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH NOW, SO IF I SAY GO, YOU CAN'T GO, VROOM!

YOU'VE GOT TO GO, WHOOOOPP!

THERE YOU GO, SEE! ERIK WANTED JP TO GET SOME SEAT TIME AS WELL. HE ALSO WANTED TO WATCH HIS JEEP IN ACTION.

(IAN)>> SEE THE GROUND CLEARANCE? JUST WITH 37'S ON THOSE NINE INCHES, THERE'S

NOTHING THAT'S GONNA GET UP IN THAT TRUCK RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

(ERIK)>> NAH!

(IAN)>> JP HANDLED THE XJ LIKE A PRO, THAT IS UNTIL HE GOT A ROCK STUCK IN THE WHEEL. WHOA, WHOA, WHEN IT JUMPS LIKE THAT, IT'S CATCHING ON THE ACTUAL WHEEL. JP FELT A LITTLE BAD ABOUT SCRATCHING UP ERIK'S NEW RIMS, BUT ERIK'S GOT THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ABOUT TRAIL DAMAGE.

(ERIK)>> THAT'S WHAT IT'S MEANT FOR, GET USED. IT'S GONNA SEE SOME ABUSE, THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

(IAN)>> FORTUNATELY A GOOD SAMARITAN CAME ALONG TO WINCH US OUT OF TROUBLE.

SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ERIK AT ALL.

(ERIK)>> I HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND A PERSON YET IN FOUR WHEELING THAT ISN'T WILLING TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, WHENEVER YOU HIT THE TRAILS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE FUN WITH THE PEOPLE WITH YOU.

(IAN)>> NOW ERIK HAS A CHEROKEE THAT CAN HANDLE

TRUE OFF ROAD ABUSE. EVERYONE WHO VOLUNTEERED PUT A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS INTO THIS RIG. WE ALL KNOW THAT ERIK IS GONNA USE IT.