Featured Builds
Real rigs. Real stories. Real inspiration.
A growing collection of standout Jeeps, trucks, overland rigs, UTVs, and custom builds from the Trail Talk community.
Featured Build Directory
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Jump directly to a featured vehicle or continue scrolling to explore each complete build story.
Dixie Dingo
1997 Jeep Cherokee XJ • Kyle Daniels • Nashville, TN
Gaucho
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S • Jason Koerner • Shelbyville, TN
CJ’s Diesel LJ
2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited LJ • Connor “CJ” McGee • Tennessee Off Road
HARDLINE
1998 Jeep Cherokee XJ • Bert McFarlan • Nashville, TN
G-Money’s Gladiator
2020+ Jeep Gladiator JT • Gina “G-Money” Marie
Richter’s Turbo TJ
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ • Michael Richter • Richter’s Offroad Performance
Featured Overland Rig
Dixie Dingo
1997 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Owner: Kyle Daniels • Nashville, TN
Trail Role: onX Offroad Guide
Dixie Dingo is a trail-proven overland Cherokee built for simple, self-sufficient camping, recovery readiness, and weekend adventure. Kyle kept the setup practical, reliable, and ready for everything from marked trails to winter camping.
Dixie Dingo Build Details
Built for the Trail
Camping Setup
- Darche Eclipse 270° awning
- 23ZERO Dual 1100 tent
- Vevor 12V fridge
- Custom drawer system
- Rear seat delete for added storage
- Mark Trail cooking supplies
- 12-inch cast iron pan and Dutch oven
Power & Communication
- Auxiliary 12V battery
- 1000W inverter
- DC-to-DC charger
- Icom 50W GMRS base unit radio
- Midland ghost antenna
Recovery & Trail Gear
- Warn 8500 winch
- 30K tow rope
- Snatch rope
- Tree saver
- Soft shackles
- Diesel heater for winter camping
Dixie Dingo Build Story
Simple, Capable, and Ready for Camp
Dixie Dingo proves that an overland rig does not have to be overcomplicated to be effective. Kyle’s Cherokee is set up with the essentials: shelter, power, cooking gear, recovery equipment, communication, and enough storage to make the most out of weekends off the grid.
From the Darche 270° awning to the 23ZERO tent and custom storage system, this XJ is built around practical trail use and comfortable camp life.
Featured Gladiator Build
Gaucho
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S
Owner: Jason Koerner • Shelbyville, TN
Gaucho is a heavily upgraded Jeep Gladiator built around trail capability, dependable drivetrain upgrades, useful onboard equipment, and an adventure-ready storage and camping setup.
With 37-inch tires, deep gearing, front and rear traction upgrades, reinforced axles, onboard air, an Alu-Cab topper, and Infinite Offroad rock lights, this Gladiator is equipped for difficult trails and weekends away from pavement.
Gaucho Build Details
Built for Capability
Suspension & Steering
- MetalCloak 3.5-inch Game Changer suspension
- Apex AutoLYNX 10-inch sway bar disconnects
- Hellwig rear sway bar
- Rusty’s HD steering tie rod and drag link
- MetalCloak Baller joints
- Adams front driveshaft
Axles & Drivetrain
- OX electronic locker in the front
- Eaton TrueTrac electronic locker in the rear
- Artec front and rear axle trusses
- Artec gussets
- Revolution Gears with 5.13 ratio
- 37-inch Toyo Open Country Trail Pro tires
Overland & Trail Equipment
- TenSix four-way onboard air system
- Alu-Cab bed topper
- DECKED cargo drawer system
- Open Road 270° awning
- Hooke Road cargo rack
- Infinite Offroad rock lights
Gaucho Build Story
Trail Capability Meets Adventure Utility
Gaucho combines serious trail hardware with a practical setup for travel, storage, and camp life. Its suspension, steering, gearing, lockers, axle reinforcement, and 37-inch tires provide the foundation for difficult terrain.
The Alu-Cab topper, DECKED drawers, Open Road awning, onboard air system, and Infinite Offroad rock lights add the utility needed for recovery, nighttime trail use, and comfortable weekends outdoors.
Featured Custom Fabrication Build
CJ’s Diesel LJ
2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited LJ
Submitted and built by: Connor “CJ” McGee
Business: Co-owner of Tennessee Off Road
This 2005 Jeep LJ is a heavily fabricated, diesel-swapped trail build powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM617 engine. CJ combined one-ton axles, an Atlas transfer case, 42-inch tires, coilovers, custom steering and suspension fabrication, armor, recovery equipment, lighting, and a purpose-built interior into one unmistakable rig.
Several major components were designed or hand-built by CJ, including the steering gearbox rotation for the front stretch, the front track bar, and the front coilover towers and support bar.
CJ’s Diesel LJ Build Details
Diesel Power, One-Ton Axles & Hand-Built Fabrication
Powertrain & Axles
- Mercedes-Benz OM617 diesel engine
- Built 42RLE transmission
- Atlas 3.8 transfer case
- 2005 F-250 Dana 60 front axle
- Sterling 10.5 rear axle
- 4.88 gears and ARB lockers
- Motobilt differential covers
- DTillFab rear brake-caliper relocation
- Teraflex rear fuel-tank skid
Suspension, Steering & Chassis
- 16-inch Radflo coilovers front and rear
- Motobilt triangulated center section
- MetalCloak bushings
- Tennessee Off Road steering gearbox rotation for front stretch, designed and built by CJ
- Custom front track bar built by CJ
- Hand-built front coilover towers and support bar
- Motobilt rear coilover towers
- 1-inch Daystar body lift
- 17-inch Vision beadlocks
- 42x13.50R17 Mickey Thompson tires
Armor, Recovery, Lighting & Interior
- MetalCloak fenders and spare-tire carrier
- Motobilt rear armor, rock sliders, and rear bumper
- WARN winch and Factor 55 recovery gear
- Infinite Offroad lighting and chase bar
- sPOD lighting controls
- ORO LiteDOT taillights
- DS18 sound system
- GenRight center console
- PRP bucket seats and five-point harnesses
- SpiderWebShade
- Bulletpoint phone and winch-controller mounts
- Bartact grab handles and fire-extinguisher mount
- GlowShift gauges and Winters shifter
CJ’s Diesel LJ Build Story
A One-of-a-Kind LJ Built Around Fabrication
CJ’s LJ stands out because it is more than a collection of bolt-on parts. The Mercedes-Benz diesel swap, one-ton axles, stretched front suspension, custom steering changes, coilover conversion, and hand-built components required planning, fabrication, and problem-solving throughout the build.
The result combines 42-inch tires, deep gearing, lockers, armor, recovery gear, lighting, and a purpose-built cabin with the custom work needed to make the entire package function together. It is both a showcase for CJ’s personal build and an example of the work behind Tennessee Off Road.
Featured V8 Cherokee Build
HARDLINE
1998 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Owner and builder: Bert McFarlan • Nashville, Tennessee
HARDLINE is a highly modified Cherokee built around a fuel-injected small-block Chevrolet V8, deep gearing, locked axles, fully triangulated four-link suspension, 37-inch tires, and a practical trail-and-camping interior.
Bert designed the XJ to handle difficult terrain while still carrying communication, navigation, lighting, cooking, heat, and sleeping equipment for longer trips. It remains street legal, although its current road manners mean it is usually trailered to the trail.
HARDLINE Build Details
V8 Power, Deep Gearing & Trail-Camp Utility
Engine, Transmission & Axles
- 350ci small-block Chevrolet engine
- MSD Atomic EFI fuel system
- TH700R4 automatic transmission
- NP231 transfer case
- Trussed 1978 Bronco Dana 44 front axle
- Aussie ratcheting locker in front
- Matching Ford 9-inch rear axle
- Full spool in rear
- 5.38 gears
- Old Smittybilt XRC-10 winch
Suspension, Steering & Fabrication
- Fully triangulated long-arm four-link front and rear
- Fox Racing shocks at all four corners
- SPC power-steering system
- Hydraulic steering assist at the axle
- Custom-built front bumper
- Custom-built rear bumper
- Approximately 8–10 inches of lift
- 37-inch tires
- Street legal, but currently trailered because of road manners
Electronics, Lighting & Camping
- Radioddity DB20-G base radio with Midland antenna
- Alpine iLX-670 double-DIN receiver
- OnX Premium displayed on the dashboard
- Incline-o-meter and custom in-dash gauge cluster
- LCD display for EFI engine data
- MICTUNING six-gang switch panel
- Four zones of Quake LED roof-rack pod lights
- RGB rock lights
- Rear-seat delete with sleeping room
- Custom diesel-heater setup for winter camping
- Lightweight summer tent and universal awning
- Custom-built chuck box for cooking supplies
- Planned 12V refrigerator and dual-battery system
HARDLINE Build Story
Built to Wheel Hard and Stay Out Longer
HARDLINE blends old-school V8 power with purpose-built suspension, locked axles, deep 5.38 gearing, and the storage and equipment needed for extended trail days. The fully triangulated four-link suspension and hydraulic steering assist support the XJ’s trail-focused setup, while the custom bumpers and winch add practical recovery capability.
Inside, Bert has created a useful command center with radio communication, dashboard navigation, EFI monitoring, lighting controls, and a rear-seat-delete area that can carry gear or become a sleeping space. A diesel heater supports winter camping, while a lightweight tent, awning, and custom chuck box cover warmer trips. Future plans include built-in storage for a 12V refrigerator and a dual-battery system.
Featured Overland Gladiator Build
G-Money’s Gladiator
2020+ Jeep Gladiator JT
Submitted by: Gina “G-Money” Marie
G-Money’s Gladiator combines a carefully selected MetalCloak suspension package, 35-inch trail tires, beadlock wheels, recovery equipment, premium lighting, and a complete truck-bed overland system.
The build is designed to stay capable on the trail while offering organized storage, fast shade coverage, secure bed protection, and dependable lighting for nighttime travel and camp setup.
G-Money’s Gladiator Build Details
Trail Capability, Organized Storage & Camp-Ready Utility
Suspension & Steering
- MetalCloak GameChanger 2.5-inch full suspension package
- 1.5-inch leveling kit
- MetalCloak Black & Gold shocks
- Hellwig adjustable track bar
- MetalCloak steering stabilizer
Wheels, Tires, Armor & Recovery
- 17-inch Fuel Rincon beadlock wheels
- 35-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires
- Fab Fours front bumper
- WARN winch
Overland Storage & Lighting
- RSI SmartCap EVO
- SmartCap Smart Bars
- Open Road 270° awning mounted to the Smart Bars
- DECKED drawer system in the truck bed
- Infinite Offroad rock lights
- Infinite Offroad headlights
- Oracle taillights
- KC light bar
G-Money’s Gladiator Build Story
Balanced for Trails, Travel, and Camp
Gina’s Gladiator is built around a balanced approach. The MetalCloak suspension, steering upgrades, 35-inch Nitto tires, beadlock wheels, Fab Fours bumper, and WARN winch provide a strong foundation for off-road travel and recovery readiness.
The RSI SmartCap EVO, Smart Bars, Open Road 270° awning, and DECKED drawer system turn the truck bed into an organized overland platform. Infinite Offroad lighting, Oracle taillights, and the KC light bar improve visibility while giving the Gladiator a distinctive look after dark.
Featured High-Performance Jeep Build
Richter’s Turbo TJ
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Owner and builder: Michael Richter • Springfield, Tennessee
Business: Owner of Richter’s Offroad Performance
This 1997 Wrangler TJ is Michael Richter’s personal high-performance Jeep, built around an all-aluminum 5.3-liter LS engine with forged internals and a 78mm turbocharger.
At 19 pounds of boost, the combination produces more than 900 horsepower at the wheels. The drivetrain, fuel system, ignition, suspension, rear axle, and chassis-control components were selected to support that power while keeping the unmistakable form of a classic TJ.
Richter’s Turbo TJ Build Details
Turbocharged LS Power in a Classic TJ
Engine & Boost
- All-aluminum 5.3-liter LS engine
- Forged internal components
- 78mm turbocharger
- Air-to-water intercooler
- More than 900 horsepower at the wheels
- Power figure achieved at 19 pounds of boost
Fuel, Ignition & Transmission
- Holley fuel system
- Holley Dominator ignition and engine-management system
- Turbo 400 two-wheel-drive transmission
- Transmission brake
- PTC 3800-stall torque converter
- Adams custom driveshaft
Suspension, Axle & Chassis Control
- Rough Country custom suspension
- Built Ford 8.8 rear axle
- TRZ anti-roll bar
- Performance-focused drivetrain and chassis setup
- Personal build of Michael Richter
- Built by the owner of Richter’s Offroad Performance
Richter’s Turbo TJ Build Story
More Than 900 Horsepower in a 1997 Wrangler
Michael Richter’s TJ brings an entirely different kind of capability to the Featured Builds collection. Instead of being centered only on slow-speed trail crawling or overland travel, this Jeep showcases serious forced-induction performance inside one of the most recognizable off-road platforms ever built.
The forged 5.3-liter LS, 78mm turbo, air-to-water intercooler, Holley fuel and ignition systems, Turbo 400 transmission, transbrake, PTC converter, custom driveshaft, built Ford 8.8 rear axle, and TRZ anti-roll bar work together as a complete performance package. Producing more than 900 horsepower at the wheels on 19 PSI, the TJ also serves as a strong example of the custom work and performance focus behind Richter’s Offroad Performance.
More Featured Builds Coming Soon
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