Posted on

Preping for GONE! – May 2011

It seems as if the days between now and the first day of GONE in Moab, Utah tick by faster and faster as we get closer and closer to hitting the first trail. I’ve got 3 days left here in Tahoe, then I hit the road and head for so. cal to prep the truck only to continue the trip on to Utah to meet you!

Between May 16th – 31st, the office phone will be shut off, however online orders will still be processed. This is only due to GONE prep and the actual event. Everything should be back to normal operation, starting on June 1st.

While we’re away at GONE, you’re not going to be able to just pick up the phone and give me a ring for parts however, you can still reach me directly by e-mailing steven@ruggedrocks.com or using the contact us page found at http://ruggedrocks.com/contact_us.php

If you’re not joining us at GONE this year then stay tuned on the Rugged Rocks Facebook, Twitter and the Rugged Rocks blog (http://ruggedrocks.com/blog) for details on whats changing on the Pathfinder just in time for GONE as well as daily trail reports with pictures during the actual GONE event. We’ll also be gathering some video footage, so keep an eye out for that when we get back.

As for the rest of you that are going to GONE, be sure to be at the raffle to win some Rugged Rocks swag and parts! I’m also really looking forward to meeting you, wheeling with you, hearing your wheeling stories and even sharing a few of mine.

See you on the trail.

Steven Lutz
President
Rugged Rocks, LLC

p.s. who’s up for wheeling The Rubicon this summer?

Posted on

Get your Rig! Spring is here! – 2011 Project Update

I’ve had quite the winter here in Lake Tahoe this season. Unfortunately we had way way…. way.. too much snow to even think about wheeling. This is of course if you don’t count the 4×4 endeavors on ice and over tall snow banks required just to get the grocery store! Although we had some insanely memorable snowboarding this season with record breaking snowfall, it’s time to clean up the rig, shift into 4-lo and start looking at hitting the trails!

Besides having some fun in the snow this season we still managed to forge ahead with numerous projects that were  mentioned back in January’s newsletter. Here is a list of things that we’ve made progress on:

Pathfinder/Hardbody 3.0L HD motor mounts On the shelf ready to ship
Xterra / Frontier 3.3L HD Motor mounts The parts have been cut, they are in welding and then need to be powder coated! These are right around the corner!
WD21 Pathfinder Long Arm 4-Link Prototype kits are being installed on 3 trucks, Pictures can be found around the nissan message boards all over the web and are available upon request via e-mail.
H233B/D60 Front Diamond Axle first axle is near completion, Configuring the brakes to use factory nissan calipers to maintain pedal pressure for proper braking.
Inner axle shafts need to be cut and splined.

Unfortunately this axle isn’t making it under a truck before GONE 2011.
Pathfinder / Hardbody SAS Kit Will be using a H233B/D60 Diamond front axle. The time frame for completion is dependent on when the front axle is complete.
H233B 31 & 33 spline H233B Chromoly Shafts Still on the list for being made. We don’t have a firm ETA.
H233B 3-link brackets On the shelf ready to ship
H233B Carrier Adjuster Tools On the shelf ready to ship
Rugged Rocks Winch Fairleads On the shelf ready to ship
TX-10 transfercase doubler Due to the order minimum with the manufacture, and extended wait times, this project is currently stalled.
Xterra / Frontier 3.3L V6 Doug Thorley Headers (SC and non-SC) January’s order came through but we’re out of stock….Again..

No ETA on next batch but it will be at least July till we see more.
H233B 5.42, 5.57, 5.85 Ring and Pinion gears 5.42 gears canceled. can’t justify engineering and cutting a min of 100 sets. Rugged Rocks is aiming to use the H233B front and rear for SAS’d vehicles, so compatibility with other axles isn’t a concern. 5.571 and 5.857 ratios are available.
pre-’05 Xterra / Frontier / Pathfinder – H233B 33-Spl Lockright Locker Design is done and prototypes are next in line to be made. Richmonds Engineer that was working on this project has left the company. They are trying to find a new engineer asap. No ETA
Xterra / Frontier ’05+ C200K Lockright Locker Currently in the prototype stage, production unit’s should come soon.
Advanced Adapters – 4 Cyl Pathfinder / Hardbody Atlas Adapter working with AA to get this done, no ETA.
TJM H233B (31 & 33 spline) Air Lockers There lockers exist! TJM is setting up shop right now is southern California, We should see these lockers on the market very soon.
ARB (M205) Titan Front Air Locker on the list for production in Australia but currently there is no ETA
Superior M205 4.10 & 4.56 Gears Due in Any Day.. yes they are still happening.

Thank you for your continued support of Rugged Rocks and sticking with us while we complete these projects one by one. If you have any questions regarding any of these projects, please feel free to contact us. We’ll gladly help you out and answer your questions to the best of our ability.

See you on the Trails! I’m looking forward to meeting as many of our customers as possible at GONE Moab, 2011!

-Steven Lutz
President
Rugged Rocks, LLC

Posted on

Atlas 4SP & 2SP Transfer cases & Nissan Adapters

With the new Atlas 4SP Transfer cases slated to start shipping in late April, There is no doubt that there will be a gearing option to fit your needs in your Pre-’05 V6 Nissan 4×4 to replace the factory tx-10 transfer case with the appropriate adapter. This redesigned Atlas 4SP has an additional 2 gearing options over the previous version offering 5.44:1, 8.16:1, 10.34:1, 11.7:1 Ratios.
The original Atlas 2SP Is also still available and can be fitted to most V6 & V8 4×4 Nissan trucks and SUV’s from 1986 – Present. The atlas 2SP has the following gearing options: 2:1, 3:1, 4.3:1, 5:1. Both the Atlas 4SP Transfer case and the 2SP are twin stick transfer cases enabling independent engagement of the front and rear outputs and enabling the user you perform a ‘front dig’. For more information on fitting an atlas transfer case to your Nissan 4×4, click: Nissan 4×4 Atlas Transfer Case or call us at 909-547-4651.
Currently there aren’t any Atlas adapters available to fit 4cyl. Nissan 4×4’s but it is something that we’re looking at doing in the very near future. If this is something that you’re interested in, please contact us.