Ultimate Adventure 2013: 1500 Miles Through the Dirty South
If ever an eclectic group of 4wheelers was assembled, the Ultimate Adventure (UA) would be it. Racers, rock bouncers, shop owners, and a pair of Canadians were among those chosen to take on this year’s 1500-mile, 8-day, 4-state 4wheeling fest in the Dirty South. The annual trip gathers roughly 25 rigs for a weeklong 4wheeling road trip around some corner of the country. No trailers allowed on the UA, everyone must carry their own food, spare parts, camping gear, etc Orchestrated by Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off-Road Magazine’s editor-in-chief Rick Pewe, a diverse group of rigs and personalities is assembled ultimately bringing together 6 readers, 12 sponsors, magazine staffers and a film crew for a weeklong off road adventure. Some might say its like herding cats, but the ultimate adventure is just that, each day riddled with wheeling, wrenching, and driving and camping.  This year was particularly challenging as we took on…
Final Prep Before the 2013 Ultimate Adventure
The final 72 hours were a mad rush to get the KJ prepped and ready for the 2013 Ultimate Adventure. Paint, suspension, wiring, body panels and graphics went on in a hurry as the guys began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While the long days, paint fumes and and diesel smoke may of had some bearing on them, the crew persevered to get the Jeep up and running in time for the 1200mile scramble to the startpoint of UA. Here’s a few of the videos shot during the final 72 hours. For more coverage from the 2013 Ultimate Adventure, make sure to follow us on: BDS Facebook Page:Â https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151502016226430.1073741855.238551361429&type=3 BDS YouTube:Â http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPBL9xYwsGo4kDGmgpE6pgLfcieFKrNCR BDS Blog:Â https://blog.bds-suspension.com/?cat=393
Project KJ: Down to the Wire…
Project KJ: Down to the Wire…
It was a mad rush to the finish. 15-17 hour days in the shop as this vehicle came out of paint to be fully assembled in just 3 short days. In addition to the bolt-on items, the body panels, windshield, interior, and winch getting reinstalled, big items like front and rear bumpers still needed to be fabricated, wiring needed to be sorted out, brake lines and fuel lines routed, skid pates needed to be designed and built, and all the fluids checked before we could fire it up for the first time since its transformation from a grocery getter into a trail rig. To say there was some pressure on the crew building the KJ would be an understatement.
BDS Project KJ: The last 72 hours
BDS Project KJ: The last 72 hours
We’re in the home stretch for Project KJ with plenty more that needs to go on for final fitment. After a frustrating 48 hours resolving a no start issue that held up progress the team is scrambling to get this KJ Ultimate Adventure ready. Since our last update, axles have been assembled the rest of the way, bumpers have been fabbed up, the no-start issues have been resolved, body has ben prepped for paint and skid plates have been started. After another long day yesterday the Jeep went into the makeshift paint booth to be shot a color called Anvil. It’s a slate gray color that Jeep used for 2013 on the 10th Anniversary Rubicons along with red/black accents. With paint drying on the top side, the Jeep has been wheeled out into the shop to start being reassembled. It’s a mad rush to the finish (or start) of Ultimate Adventure 2013 and it’s all hands on deck. We’ll be posting photos periodically on our Facebook Page so stay tuned to watch it come together.
BDS Project KJ update… it’s crunch time in the shop
BDS Project KJ update…Â it’s crunch time in the shop
With less than a week till the start of this year’s Ultimate Adventure the shop a bit chaotic right now, not to mention the fact that the vehicle still sits in 1000 pieces strewn across the R&D shop floor. A make-shift paint booth has been set up in the back corner as the the new BDS body/paint guy preps lays down the Anvil Gray paint on the doors and hood right now, followed by the fenders and body tonight/tomorrow. Wiring is getting buttoned up and drivetrain is being prepped to be reinstalled. The axles are pulled aside and the new Nitro shafts are assembled and installed, the PSC ram is being mounted, and heavy duty steering linkage is being fabbed up, and the axles trusses are being finish welded. Â Radiator/intercoolers have been plumbed into the CRD and a custom intake was fabbed up to run from the factory turbo up into the front cowl. Check out the photos for more on the build and stay tuned as we hit the home stretch to have this KJ prepped to hit the road Friday for the 2013 Ultimate Adventure.
BDS Project KJ: Body mods and Coilovers prepped
Project KJ Update: Lots of progress for the day, the rear window chop is getting capped off as well as the tailgate. Â Pac Racing coils are installed on the Fox 2.5 remote coilovers and will be going back into the Liberty soon. Our fabbed motor mounts are being modified to allow the 4-link to fully compress. The roof has been cut to accept the sliding rag top. While up there, the remaining “ribbed” roof panels were cut off and a patch panel was installed. Body/Fender modifications continue as we mock up the fenders to accept our 40” Maxxis tires on 17” B.A.D. beadlocks at full stuff. Stay tuned fore more as we prep for the 2013 Ultimate Adventure that begins 6/29/13.