The foundation for Vokoun's rig is a quality Campbell Enterprises Custom Fabrication chassis. There are many cool features integrated into the fat-free chassis, including removable nerf bars. The Jeep Liberty-based bodywork is fiberglass with tinted Lexan doors, and it has paint and graphics by The Paint Shop in Phoenix. With night wheeling in mind, the rig sports a number of exterior lights. Here you can see the two forward-facing 6 1/2-inch-diameter Lightforce lights, and the rig also has chassis rock lights and interior LED lights. Further, Vokoun can bolt on a removable lightbar with four forward-facing 9 1/2-inch Lightforce lights. This rig rolls on BFG Krawler T/A tires that are 40 inches in diameter and they're mounted to Walker Evans Racing polished aluminum beadlock wheels.
Have you ever seen a ratted-out trail buggy? Well, this rig, owned by Mike Vokoun of Mesa, Arizona, is not one of those. Vokoun's rig looks great and has the performance to match.
Back in the August issue, we put the spotlight on the 2009 King of the Hammers (KOH) mega-event that was held in the Johnson Valley area of Southern California. Well, now we're going to revisit KOH and show you some of the cool, non-competition rigs we found at the event. Yep, prowling the trails and nestled in the sea of recreational vehicles and competition rigs were a variety of incredible trail rigs. Naturally, we photographed a bunch of 'em. Each one of these notable rigs is locked for traction and loaded with trail-tough mods.
Specifications
General
Owner/hometown: Mike Vokoun/Mesa, Arizona
Vehicle/Model: Jeep Liberty buggy
Estimated Value: $80,000
Engine
Type: Chevy 5.7L V-8
Aspiration: Fuel injection, custom headers
Output, hp/torque (estimated): 450/na
Drivetrain
Transmission: 700R4
Transfer case: Atlas 3:1
Suspension
Front: Sway-A-Way 2.0 RaceRunner remote-reservoir 12-in. shocks, Eibach coil springs, solid aluminum four-link bars, Currie Antirock Sway Bar Kit, Beard limiting straps
Rear: Sway-A-Way 2.0 RaceRunner remote-reservoir 16-in. shocks, Eibach coil springs, solid aluminum four-link bars, Currie Antirock Sway Bar Kit, Beard limiting straps
Axles/Differentials
Front: Currie 9-in., 30-spline axles, Howe hydraulic ram-assist /Detroit Locker
Rear: Currie high-pinion Dana 60/Detroit Locker
Ring and pinion: 4.88:1
Wheels/Tires
Wheels: Walker Evans cast aluminum beadlocks
Tires: 40-in. BFG Krawler T/A