Klune-V Interview with Jason Bunch of Tri County Gear Jason Bunch is a Jeep-builder-extraordinaire. He has been building competition, sand and rock jeeps for over 20 years. Recently taking up the new sport of “Rock Crawling Championships” – More like “Rock Racing”: They definitely don’t go real slow! – Jason turned his skill to building up a competition Rock Jeep. Called “Rock Star”, this Jeep started life as a Wrangler TJ. Jason and his crack crew of Tri-County mechanics and fabricators set to work to make a world class competition car. Drivetrain Surprisingly, the factory stock 4 banger was retained, along with the factory AX15 transmission. A Klune-V “Extreme Underdrive” unit coupled to an Atlas 4.0 was included to give maximum flexibility of gears in the project. Suspension They took the highly capable Warn Black Diamond suspension system, and made a few changes: The skid plate was cut and reworked to bolt flat under the frame rails with zero hang down below, like the stock part. All of the control arms were reworked to improve clearance and optimize geometry. Not something Warn could have done from the start: They had to notch and box areas of the frame and cut and tub areas of the body to make it all work.  So, why the Klune? “I like the advantage of different low ranges available – for super rock crawling, moderate rock crawling, or playing in the sand dunes. And you’re able to drive on the street. Also, you don’t have to change the gear ratio in the rear end.”   Describe to me your vehicle? “It has a mighty 2.5 liter four cylinder engine, stock 5 speed tranny, inertia ring on fly wheel to work like a tractor, Klune-V box, Atlas t-case, Warn suspension, Dana 44 reverse rear end built by Tri County with Detroit lockers, reverse model 30 front end by Tri County, with spring over style steering to keep out of rocks, built for rock crawling. Able to play without rock crawling – truck to drive on street and rocks.”   What kind of wheeling do you want to do with it? “Rock crawling – mostly extreme stuff but I do moderate as well. I get out and play in the sand, too.”   Tell me what you thought it was going to do before you put it in? “I knew what to expect because of my background. But I didn’t realize how much more control it would give me. One thing was I was totally surprised to drive up waterfalls in Panamint - with what it was capable of doing. Owe a lot to Klune on that.”     Have you done any particular runs or obstacles using the crawler? “Panamint Valley Days, High Desert Roundup, Rock Crawling championship in Montrose Colorado, Moab, Farmington, Black Bear Pass, Tierra Del Sol, Calico, sand dunes, Sledge Hammer, did 24 hours of hammers – we did all 7 trails in 5 ½ hours. [in Johnson Valley, California]. I’ve had the Klune in my jeep for over a year, and run the hell out of it. It always works.” What experiences have you had using the crawler you think others might be interested in knowing about? “Having more control. When I did the Warn rock crawling championship [in Johnson Valley] the Klune-V was a major help to get 5th place.” [ed. comment: places 1-3 were purpose built buggies, and all of places 1-4 were V8 powered with 40” or larger tires. Not too bad for a four-banger with 35” tires!]

 

 

 

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