CIMTEX RODS SUPER CAMEO: PART 3
February 16, 2024
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Spotlighter
Jeepin’…
Is it a lifestyle or a Style of Life?
Author
Carstan Lee
Words & Photography
From its necessary beginnings in World War II to today, Jeep has developed into an American Icon. Jeep has become a symbol of independence and liberty for the whole world to see. It’s been abused, pampered and even celebrated, but to those who love them it’s still just a Jeep… for better or for worst.
You’ve probably seen the old footage of the torturous testing the army put the first Jeep prototypes through. You know the Black & White clips that show the Jeep with military personnel going over a course of whoop-de-whoops, then cutting-across harsh terrain as fast as the Willys’ 105 pound-feet of torque would take them. The military actually conducted about 3,400 miles of testing on the first prototypes with only about 250 miles of paved road conditions. Well according to my grandfather, this was nothing compared to the hell they put it through in Germany, Italy and all parts in-between.
I can remember war stories from my grandfather (affectionately called PaPaw), who served in the Air Force during WW II in the Motor Pool, of life & death situations that praised the performance of this vehicle. He said the key was never backing-up from the challenge. PaPaw drove the big transportation vehicles and the Willys MB over the hills, through the woods, behind enemy lines and even made roads where there weren’t any.
But what is it about the creative human fiber of a person that will not let anything remain “stock”. With “stock” meaning, “how the Original Equipment Manufactures (OEM) first designed it”. PaPaw said that the gear-heads from the Motor Pool began tweaking on the Jeep for more performance as soon as they got the chance. With a few mods here, changing this, swapping that and even pirating parts from other machinery and equipment to get the horsepower plus ground clearance they wanted.
I guess there have been ‘customizers’ since the first caveman designed the wheel and Jeep owners are no different. In fact, they are probably the extreme in this area of individualism. Individualism demands that it be bigger, stronger, faster and more personalized than the next person’s.
Jeep owners, or Jeepers, consist of a vast array of people from various economical, educational and geographical backgrounds. People who own Jeeps are a lot like Harley owners. They are bias; they often travel in packs; they like the wind in their hair; and they like the freedom of the outdoors.
As wide as the variety of people who own them, are the uses they find for them. Like getting to their favorite fishing or hunting spot, working on the farm or ranch, commuting to work, cruising the boulevards, chauffeuring the kids or just four wheelin’, the Jeep is a fun vehicle to drive & customize.
One of the items high on the list to obtain is a suspension lift. The reasons people want lift kits are as diversified as their lifestyles. Some want it for the function and some want it for the fun. Well, with Skyjacker® Suspensions, you can have both because ‘Skyjacker puts the FUN in FUNction”. Skyjacker has the correct combination of lift height and ride quality that you’re searching for to outfit your Jeep.
Skyjacker’s philosophy has always been to “Provide the best designed, most advanced engineered, and innovative suspension that the 4×4 industry has ever seen and used. We engineered the definition of what a quality suspension should be: a suspension system that works in form and function to the highest level of achievement possible with the highest quality of materials and resources available”. This quote can be found in Skyjacker’s product catalog and the proof can be seen in their products.
Skyjacker’s product line for the Jeep enthusiast goes way back. They offer complete lift systems, components and accessories for Jeep all the way back to the 1955 model CJ5s. Their product advantage continues into the CJ7, CJ8, J10/20 Pickup, Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Comanche, Jeep Wrangler YJ and TJ models.
Since their pioneering days in the early 1970s, Skyjacker’s field-proven expertise has paid-off big time. The ‘field-proven’ term is more than some marketing ploy; it really is their life style. This writer has seen their Jeeps in action. The owner and founder Lonnie McCurry Sr. got his feet wet in the industry, literally, by mud racing and running through the swamps and bayous (pronounced bai’ u) of northern Louisiana. Thanks to that gooey, nasty gumbo mud and an innovative insight, Skyjacker Suspensions was born out of necessity.
Lonnie wanted to go play, but in that era you had to build it because you couldn’t buy it yet. From modifying his own vehicles to fixing his buddies, he had a brainstorm. Why not make this stuff for the other four wheelers out there? So Lonnie decided to do so.
But Skyjacker doesn’t stop there, oh no. The next generation, son & Vice President Lonnie McCurry Jr. (J.R. for short) is a Jeeper also. He has taken his 2001 Jeep Wrangler TJ through the obstacles of the latest trend in off-road… Rock Crawling. Odds are, you’ve seen this on television or hopefully you’ve gotten the true experience of doing it yourself.
Rock crawling is ‘driver & machine’ conquering the rocky crevices, gullies, mountains and other boulder bound geographic regions. This expanding phenomenon could very well be the next ‘NASCAR’ of extreme automotive sports.
In the beginning stages of this growing sport, Skyjacker saw its potential expansion. In fact, they developed a specific product line of suspension lifts; components and accessories for the Jeeps… deemed Flex Series. The Flex Series does just what the name implies… FLEX! Rock crawlers & off-roaders want to keep the tires on the ground for maximum traction. The suspension has to ‘flex’ or articulate to achieve the optimum performance level.
On the 1997-04 Jeep Wrangler TJ (2.5 & 4″), 1984-01 Cherokee (3″), 1993-98 Grand Cherokee (3″), you can have a Standard, Single or Double Flex of suspension performance. The Flex comes from Softride® coil springs and the new upper & lower control arm links. The Standard links have greasable polyurethane bushings at both ends. The Single Flex pivots at the frame end of the link via a spherical rod end (heim-style joint). The Double Flex pivots at both ends of the link via a heim-style joint at both ends. All these Flex suspension Systems include the Softride designed coils, the adjustable front track bar, heavy duty steering stabilizer, Double Quick disconnect sway bar links complete with all the necessary hardware.
JR McCurry puts Project Full Throttle to the test during a Skyjacker Rock Crawling competition in Reno, NV.
Today, Lonnie McCurry is still driving a Jeep. This Rock Ready® creation has Skyjacker’s Platinum Series Coil-Over conversion. Lonnie even added a 4.7 engine from a Grand Cherokee for a little more punch on the throttle.
After a few more fun wheeling excursions, the need for individualism and more Flex kicked-in. With an ever-growing passion, Skyjacker decided to go another step beyond the norm. They developed the taller, more extreme “Rock Ready®” line. Skyjacker’s Rock Ready® line of suspension systems is designed to allow you hard-core off-roaders to tackle the harshest obstacles this planet can dish-out.
What else does Skyjacker have in store for you Jeepers?! How about a “Coil-Over Conversion” system for the Jeep Wrangler TJ 1997-02 models? Well Skyjacker has already done it! This System is specifically designed with the “Serious Rock Crawling Enthusiast” in mind. Skyjacker has taken its proven 10″ Rock Ready Double Flex System and combined it with the new Platinum Series Coil Over Conversion Kit to produce the most stable TJ suspension system in the industry to date.
It has everything you need to have your own “Ultra-Ultimate Vehicle”. After the installation, you can not only drive to, but also conquer those trails that you’ve read about. It’s your dream come true! That’s just what this system will do to you, an absolute confidence builder. Go anywhere, do anything simply because you can.
Skyjacker Suspensions offers Jeep Wrangler 1997-02 TJ owners the ultimate in suspension technology: a 6, 8 or 10 inch Rock Ready System. Skyjacker re-engineered the TJ’s suspension geometry via an integrated sub-frame assembly. An 80% increase in the length of the lower control arm produces an unprecedented amount of articulation with a minimal degree of caster change. Plus you can clear 38s right out of the garage.
Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” was another American hero who drove a Jeep. This Rubicon was fully outfitted with a Skyjacker 4” Rock Ready® Long Arm system to save the plane.
Curt LeDuc, professional off-road racer from CORR & desert racing fame, conquered the red rock terrain of Moab, Utah in Skyjacker’s famous Rock Ready® Rescue Cherokee.
The latest introduction into the Jeep family is the Wrangler Rubicon. Straight out of the box you get Dana 44 axles front and rear, factory equipped rear fixed yoke kit and lockers. The same great lifts for the 97-02 models are available for the Rubicon as well. This is apparent in the Paramount Pictures release of the Tomb Raider II movie. The Custom Rubicon driven by the Lara Croft character was outfitted with a Skyjacker Rock Ready 4” lift.
Don’t worry; Skyjacker didn’t leave out the Cherokee owners. Their engineers utilized the same concept of a new sub-frame assembly to strengthen the Cherokee’s under-carriage to handle the abuse of the terrain. This was a critical factor considering the fact that the Cherokee is a ‘uni-body’ design (it doesn’t have a rigid frame for support).
The Cherokee Rock Ready System is also available in a 6 or 8-inch lift. Besides the sub-frame, the system includes numerous other suspension components including Softride coils, shocks, extended stainless steel brake hoses and corrective steering components.
You pick the height that fits your ‘Style of Life’, but either lift will give your 1989-2000 Cherokee an instant performance response. With the 6″ you can run up to a 33″ tall tire and, with some fender trimming, you can run up to a 36″ with the 8″ system. You can get the really cool parking spots too.
Even though there will always be ‘new’ models of Jeeps to come along, you can’t forget about the ‘tried & true’ models. The most popular model of Jeep built was the leaf spring model. All of the 1955-1986 CJ models and 1987-1996 YJ models were equipped with leaf springs from the factory. When considering suspension lifts for these models, you must look at the leaf spring. The leaf spring is the most important factor when it comes to articulation, ride quality and wheel travel.
Along with the shocks, the leaf spring is the heart of the Suspension package. Realizing this, Skyjacker developed the Softride® Series. The Skyjacker leaf spring is so unique that it actually holds a registered trademark for its design. The Softride spring design is shot-peened to increase tensile strength, which allows for maximum wheel travel. They also feature such characteristics as tapered leaves, teflon wear pads and bolt clips.
The latest development for the Wrangler YJ is the Rock Ready Double Military Wrap Springs. The Second leaf wraps around the spring eye without contact. This allows for the spring to move freely without friction under normal riding conditions. In extreme off-road situations, the spring eye will contact the second leaf adding additional strength and support. They are available in 2.5” or 4” lift heights. The 2.5” is approved for spring over and spring under applications.
Now I want to leave you with a point to ponder. Is your Jeep out fitted to the utmost? Is YOUR Jeep a lifestyle or a STYLE OF LIFE? It’s all about your Style Of Life that makes life worth living. Life’s too short not to spend it with family and friends. Go Wheelin’. I’ll see you around the campfire.
If you’ve got a passion for 4 wheelin’ and want to enjoy the full FUN in FUNction of off-roading, why not do it. Skyjacker sponsors, hosts and participates in numerous Jamborees, Trail Rides, Competitive Events & other types of outdoor activities all across this great country. Here’s a start. Go to www.skyjacker.com. Click on the “Calendar of Events” and plan your fun now.
For more details on any products mentioned here or for your other suspension needs call 1.318.388.0816. To find a Skyjacker dealer near you, Call 1.866. 4 A DEALER, Ext. 2416 or go to www.skyjacker.com. You can also write to: Skyjacker Suspensions, P.O. Box 1678, West Monroe, LA. 71294
ARTICLE SOURCES
Skyjacker Suspensions
P.O. Box 1678
West Monroe, LA. 71294
318-388-0816