MEET TONTO
4.0 HO • AW4 • 4X4 • 4.56 Gears • LOCKED F/R • 35s
After 20 years in our family, it's time to sell TONTO.
"1996 Jeep Cherokee" normally conjures up faded plastic, sagging headliners, and somebody's nephew delivering pizza.
THIS IS NOT THAT XJ.
TONTO is what happens when you feed an innocent family SUV 20 years of money, steel, chromoly, and questionable ideas until mountain goats start reconsidering their career choices.
He's wheeled Moab, Disney Oklahoma, and the Ozarks. Rocks? Fine. Mud? Whatever. Water? Snorkel. Boulders? POINT AT ONE.
TONTO doesn't ask "Is there a trail?" He asks "Which direction?"
And he’s no trailer queen. TONTO cruises at 70+ MPH, crawls over things God never intended automobiles to cross, then drives you home WITH THE A/C RUNNING.
While Rodney sweats through his tactical cargo shorts in a tube buggy, you'll enjoy lumbar support, Bluetooth, and a JBL subwoofer massaging your kidneys.
You can make a hands-free call while climbing a rock face:
"Hey honey, I'll be home around six."
THUNK!
"No, everything's fine. That was just a ledge."
UNDER THE HOOD
- 4.0L HO inline-six
- AW4 automatic
- NP231 transfer case, 2-Low conversion
- Slip Yoke Eliminator, custom driveshafts
- 3-core radiator, sealed snorkel
- YellowTop AGM battery
- Mean Green 400-amp alternator
Yes, 400 amps. TONTO could jump-start your neighborhood.
SUSPENSION
- Rugged Ridge 7.5" lift
- TeraFlex 4-link long arms
- FOX shocks, remote-reservoir fronts
- AntiRock sway bar
- Rubicon Express components
Actual engineering occurred here. Occasionally even measurements.
FRONT AXLE: DANA 30
Before you type "BUT IT'S A DANA 30..." Calm yourself, Hercules.
- Yukon 4.56 gears
- ARB air locker, dedicated compressor
- 30-spline chromoly axles
- Alloy USA chromoly stub shafts
- Sleeved housing, C-gussets
- Armored diff cover, vent to snorkel
Sleeved, gusseted, chromolied, locked, armored. Calling it a Dana 30 is mostly a genealogical distinction.
REAR AXLE: CHRYSLER 8.25
- 4.56 gears, Detroit locker
- 30-spline chromoly shafts
- Iron Rock truss, armored diff cover
- Vent to snorkel
Locked front and rear. Traction is MANDATORY PARTICIPATION.
STEERING & BRAKES
- PSC hydro-ram steering assist
- Barnes 4WD 1-ton tie-rod
- NEW Mevotech HD ball joints
- 4-wheel disc brakes, tilt steering
The steering system is essentially TONTO grabbing the front tires by the ears and yelling, "WE'RE GOING THIS WAY!"
WHEELS & TIRES
- Five 35"x12" Super Swampers
- Four TR Custom Wheels beadlocks
- Rock rings
The beadlocks keep the tires attached when aired down. The rock rings keep the rocks from winning arguments.
ARMOR & RECOVERY
- WARN PowerPlant Dual Force HP winch/compressor
- Synthetic winch line, remote
- Internal roll cage
- Custom roof rack/platform tied into internal cage
- Gutter guard bars
- TOMKEN armored fuel tank
- XRC swing-away rear bumper
- Custom front bumper, transmission armor
- Rock rails, armored rear quarters/lowers
- Welded/reinforced unibody rails to front
- Ceramic-bead undercoating
TONTO has enough steel armor to make a medieval knight feel underdressed. If you get him stuck, deploy the WARN and reconsider your life choices.
INTERIOR: ACTUAL COMFORT
- Beard seats with lumbar support
- Rear bench, Simpson harnesses for all seats
- Power windows and locks
- Custom overhead console, bed-lined floor
- Sony MEX-N5300BT Bluetooth/CD stereo
- Hands-free calling, Polk Audio speakers
- 8" JBL subwoofer, 1100W BOSS amp
- Cobra CB radio
- ICE-COLD AIR CONDITIONING!
Most rock crawlers offer a plastic bucket seat and a Monster Energy can rolling around the floor. TONTO offers lumbar support and a sound system. Civilization has its advantages.
EXTERIOR & LIGHTING
- Rare moon visor, hood pins/vents
- Dual breakaway mirrors
- Custom front/rear fenders
- LED headlights
- DV8 light bars on all four sides
- Front/rear strobes
- Rock lights, LED interior lights
If TONTO can't illuminate it, it's probably underground. NASA may ask you to turn them down.
NOW FOR THE SERIOUS PART.
TONTO has been family for 20 years, continuously built, maintained, repaired, and refined. He's not a recently assembled pile of aftermarket parts.
He's carried my family through adventures we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
He has scratches, scars, and stories. He's been places most side-by-sides would rather not discuss. But we never forgot that eventually you have to drive home.
That's why he still has heat, cold A/C, comfortable seats, power accessories, and highway manners.
TONTO isn't a rock buggy pretending to be a Jeep. He's still a Jeep, just one that's been eating his Wheaties for 20 years.
If you want quiet, economical, and sensible, Toyota makes a Camry.
If you want to drive to the trail, climb ridiculous obstacles, blast music, and drive home with the A/C blowing cold...
MEET TONTO.
Bring money. Maybe a little testosterone.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES WELCOME.