This 2005 Mercedes Benz G500 was used by LeTech to test the portal axles that led to those on the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Off Road Evolution Jeep Wrangler (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Off Road Evolution Jeep Wrangler (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
This Nitro Gear & Axle Jeep appears ready to climb rocks of all shapes and sizes (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Trucks at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Escape the zombie army in the rugged Survivor Truck II expedition vehicle (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Right next to Survivortruck.com's tent truck, this smaller truck camper had a horror-inspired look (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Rugged truck with fold-out Cascadia Vehicle Tent (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
4x4s at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
2012 Tactical Jeep JK (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
4x4s at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
4x4s at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
DPR shows one of the larger trucks at SEMA (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Petersen's Ultimate Adventure truck looks like all kinds of fun (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Spectra Chrome shows the ultra-shiny King Sling (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Toyota TRD Tundra (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Atturo Tire Jeep Wrangler at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
4x4s at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Toyo Tires Jeep Wrangler at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
2008 Jeep JK Rubicon Express (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
2015 Ford Transit 350 HD High Roof Van by Detroit Custom Coach (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Detroit Custom Coach's Ford Transit van has a luxurious interior with minibar, 32-in Jensen HD TV and iPad control system (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Four individual seats + a rear bench (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
It felt good to kick back in the DCC Transit after a day of show touring (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
2015 Ford Transit 350 HD High Roof Wagon by Vegas Off Road Experience (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Built around outdoor adventure and camping, the VORE Transit has a 2-in lift, bumper and roof racks, and KC Hi-lites LED and HID lighting (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
With its five exterior TVs, an inside 36-in Sony TV + PS4, and premium sound system, the VORE Transit is as much fun to hang out in as drive (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
More bad-ass than the Rally Fighter: Local Motors prepared the XC2V for DARPA (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Local Motors says retail and commercial versions of the XC2V are in prototyping (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Local Motors large and small: The XC2V and Cruiser (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Thoroughly modified Wrangler from Starwood Motors (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
700-hp 4WD Land Rover Defender-based Urban Warrior (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
It may be called the "Urban" Warrior, but it "likes the rough stuff," according to the ad that accompanied it (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Modified Jeep at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
We first saw the Pink Jeep in its native habitat of Sedona, Arizona, after Overland Expo. It migrated northwest to SEMA (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Classic Ws of off-road: Willys and Warn (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
RSO Performance's "The Sniper" is built around an FJ40 quad cab body (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Sniper's modifications include 3-link front and 4-link rear suspension, 20-in Method race wheels and 41-in Interco IROK tires (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Nitro Gear & Axle Jeep shows off its suspension (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
SCORE Baja 1000 area at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
SCORE Baja 1000 area at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Finally an off-road truck that looks like it's been off road (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The A-Team van revived (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Chevy Colorado Z71 with boat in tow (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Legacy Dodge Carryall is powered by a 430-hp Chevy LS engine or optional Cummins turbo diesel (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Legacy offers a number of Jeep Scrambler conversions, including 556-hp supercharged Dual-Sport V8 and 240-hp turbo diesel packages (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Ford F-150 Raptor SVT golf cart from Caddyshack Golf Cars (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum SuperCrew by A.R.E. Accessories is outfitted with a variety of extreme sports gear (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The A.R.E. F-150 includes a ToolMaster HD Series truck cap and Surco Safari roof basket (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Whether you're hitting the park with the BMX bike or snow with the snowboards, you have GoPros to capture the action (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Jeep first revealed the Wrangler MOJO at the 2014 Easter Jeep Safari (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Designed for snow sport lovers, the Jeep Renegade Frostbite includes a ski/snowboard rack and frosty paint scheme (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Renegade Frostbite also includes a JPP rock rail guard, JPP graphics and Trailhawk wheels (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The icy color scheme continues inside the Renegade Frostbite (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
A counterpart to the Renegade Frostbite, the Renegade Riptide is inspired by warm-weather recreation (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Renegade Riptide includes a Mopar rack with surfboard and surf-inspired Jeep Performance Parts logo (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Ram 2500 Outdoorsman recycles the utility hoops from past SEMA concepts into bed tent supports (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Ram 2500 Outdoorsman has 17-in Mopar concept wheels, 35-in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires and a Swamp Thing Green paint with camo accents (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance greets the dirt with push-button locking axles, 4.88 gearing, a 4:1 Rock-Trac transfer case and other upgrades for serious off-roaders (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Another carryover from Easter Jeep Safari: Cherokee Dakar (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Trucks at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Timberland (the boot company) shows its all-new tire line on a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
This looks like the guy you want to call when you're spinning tires in mud or sand (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
River Raider-outfitted Jeep ready to gun its way through the barricades (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
River Raider-outfitted Jeep ready to gun its way through the barricades (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
We'll be polite and call this Hummer kit from Forgiato wheels an acquired taste – if anyone's acquired it, please let us know in the comments (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
American Force outside at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
When in the desert … build a sand sculpture (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Survivor Truck II (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Few other places in the world let you see a race-ready Baja truck face to face with a Bentley (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
4x4s at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Spyder Performance Lighting Jeep outside at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
1967 Jeep CJ-6 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Paramount Offroad at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Classic VW bus ready for road tripping (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
1965 VW 21 Window Split Micro Bus (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
1965 VW 21 Window Split Micro Bus (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Starwood Motors at SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Local Motors' Extended Adventure Dakota (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
The Extended Adventure truggy expedition vehicle is based on a 4WD 2001 Dodge Dakota (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
Rugged rides of SEMA Show 2014 (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)
View gallery - 112 images
We've already looked at all the wild custom cars of the SEMA Show, but that was only half the story. For roughly every neon-lit, overpowered car on display, there was a jacked-up truck, makeshift off-road camper or heavily armored 4x4. The trucks and utility vehicles were every bit as much the story as the cars, and we tell it in this photo gallery.
We started our trip to Las Vegas with an off-road excursion from eastern California, so despite the overflow of incredible sports cars (we liked those, too), we were a bit more tuned in to the Baja trucks, rock crawlers, UTVs and expedition vehicles spread across the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding lots.
To round off this gallery, we've included vans/camper vans and a military machine or two. If you love heavy-duty, go-everywhere, live-on/off-the-road hardware, this could be your favorite Gizmag gallery since Overland Expo.
Chris joined the New Atlas team in 2011 and now serves as the automotive and campers editor, traveling extensively to gather the latest news on cars, outdoor sports gear and other innovations designed to help people experience and enjoy the greater world around them.
1 comment
Mous
I'll verify the VW bus is tough. 11 inches of clearance. I got lost in the Arizona dessert in my '59. (someone had put in a lake since the map was drawn and there was no road around), so I followed a cross country sand buggy rally figuring they knew how to get back to the hwy. Sandy washes, rock slopes, and 45 deg hills w/ $10k custom buggies overheated on the side of the road. I arrived at their camp and got free beer. The rally organizer was infuriated that I'd made it. (w/ 400 lbs overweight, bald tires, leaking heads. and slipping clutch)