by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
MOAB, Utah — They rolled in off US 191 driving machines as big as their aspirations for the day. Large, loud and full of life.
They drove Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators emblazoned with company names, and wearing products not only from their own respective brands, but from numerous others as well. Machines that have been tested against nearly all that this tiny town in southeastern Utah has to offer in the off-roading experience.
And today, as well as Wednesday, those machines will fulfill another duty at the Dixie Off Road Expo event — not one that seeks to conquer rocky obstacles, but to conquer potential customers looking to build up their own vehicles.
We nestled our tent right next to Stinger Off-Road and across the way from Dynatrac, which sported Code 1 — The first JL to roll on 42-inch Maxxis tires, the first JL to undergo a four-door/two-door conversion, the first JL to wear Dynatrac’s ProRock XD60/80 axle set and the first JL to crawl the rocks of Johnson Valley, California.
You may have seen the thing on Fred Williams’ show Dirt Every Day when he and Dynatrac’s Tony Carvallo drove it across the country from the dealer lot to California to be torn apart and rebuilt, cue the Six-Million-Dollar Man music, for rock crawling domination.
While our Wrangler YJL doesn’t have quite that pedigree, it still seems to be a show stopper, and all kinds of show goers stopped by to check out our first build. Besides the obvious front grille conversion, the classic YJ Sahara styling and clean look of the vehicle, designed by nationally-renown fabricator Greg Henderson, also scored points with visitors. So, too, did the unique fold-down rear license plate that hides the vehicle’s filler neck.
One-of-a-kind touches for a one-of-a-kind vehicle.
Dixie Off Road, a Moab-area 4x4 Repair Shop, stepped up to host an event this year during the annual Easter Jeep Safari, as the normal show held at nearby Spanish Trail Arena had to be nixed because of Grand County health regulations.
Dixie, in adjoining San Juan county, was able to secure the necessary permits to hold the event just about five weeks ago, and scrambled ever since to put together something with the industries top companies.
Everyone set up shop behind the Dixie building, with a backdrop that overlooked the La Sal mountain range on one side and a long red rock cliff on the other. Not a bad way to spend the day.
Most companies at the expo weren’t there to sell products, but to interact with show customers while handing out giveaway items.
While we did not bring out any products to sell for this event, we did ferry a few boxes of die-cast truck replicas of our very first Wrangler YJ Sahara that helped start Quadratec. And we offered them to the first 50 people who asked Tuesday. We will also have another 50 available Wednesday at the show, as well as hats, magnets, commemorative vinyl stickers and can koozies.
Besides all the main Jeep aftermarket companies, Jeep was also in attendance Tuesday providing vehicle rides in its powerful Wrangler 392, as well as Gladiator Mojave. The brand even showed off the new hybrid electric 4xe Wrangler, and ecoDiesel Jeep Gladiator.
Both our YouTube personality Rob Jarrell and I took a ride in the 392 out to the area near Behind the Rocks, and experienced the vehicle’s powerful engine as the vehicle blew past dirt roads and through sandy dunes like they knew the thing was coming and just got out of the way.
So whether it’s a new vehicle like the 392 or Mojave Gladiator, or a personal one that just needs to be built up, companies at the Dixie Off Road Expo definitely provides some EJS week motivation for show goers that is a bit different than the normal Moab trail ride.
The Dixie Off Road Expo, at 11858 South Hwy. 191 just outside Moab, continues Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
