1999 SEMA Expo - Las Vegas, NV

By Jody Campbell

Elvis, slot machines, lounge singers and round-the-clock gambling... Whatever your poison, the city of sin once again hosts the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) with conventions such as APAA, ASIA, the MEMA Show, the SEMA show and the International Tire Expo. All things automotive is the atmosphere here with products ranging from new vehicles from major manufacturers to aftermarket goodies such as rims, tires, and much more.

In search of 4-wheel drive aftermarket items and new 4-wheel drives, the SEMA show is the place to be. Our first day's quest took us in search of new off-road products that could assist you with the rigors of hard-core off-roading and the stuff that make these trips more pleasurable. Follow along each day as we find these gems that make you're your life better or at least make you say "Wow, now that's cool!".

ADDCO Industries, Inc.
ADDCO Industries releases their newest invention, the All Terrain Anti-Sway Bar (a.k.a. the ATB). Until this product release, most off-roaders (those equipped with anti-sway bars) had three choices. One, disconnect it altogether and suffer from less-than perfect handling on-road. Two, unbolt the anti-sway bar which requires getting out of the vehicle, unbolting the end-links and storing the parts until you are ready to put it all back together again. Three, disconnecting the end-links via a "quick-disconnect" system, which we typically find ourselves fighting with anyhow. ADDCO's answer; use their in-cab controllable ATB system. This system, which uses air pressure, allows the driver to connect or disconnect the front and/or rear anti-sway bars from inside the cab. The current release of the ATB is made for 1997 and newer Jeep TJ's, but we were told that other applications will be available soon.

Pro Competition Tire Company
Pro Competition Tire Company debuted their new Pro Comp tires. Available in a variety of sizes and an All Terrain and a Mud Terrain tread pattern, the Pro-Comp tire is sure to make some waves in the off-road tire industry. Looking more specifically at the Mud Terrain version, this tire offers a 3-lug shoulder design pattern, center lug siping, dual compound tread and sidewall rubber and an aggressive self-cleaning pattern to boot.

Explorer Pro-Comp
Explorer Pro-Comp shows their reengineered YJ coil conversion kit. As you may remember, last year, Pro-Comp debuted this kit but it never hit the shelves. Last years prototype was scrapped in favor of a new and improved system, which gives a bit more travel, better ride and more durable construction. Major changes for this revision include a multi (5) link setup, modified swaybar, upper and lower control arms and more. Targeted once again towards the do-it-yourselfer who is looking to improve the ride quality of their leaf sprung YJ to a more TJ like ride, the Explorer Pro Comp allows this shade-tree mechanic to install this entire coil conversion kit with little more than typical tools and moderate experience.

Explorer Pro-Comp also teased the crowds with a showing of their new mono tube shocks. These shocks will most likely be built for target specific 4x4 applications.

Tuffy Security Products
Tuffy shows their newest security system, the overhead console. Made with the same high quality metals, barrel locks, pry-guard construction and tuff looks, this overhead console makes use of limited space by giving you the option to mount your stereo, CB, light switches, dome lights and anything else you can think of, up (literally) and out of the way. The overhead console comes with two lockable and downward pivoting shelf units to access the items you wish to secure. The entire console is adjustable length-wise to ensure a good fit for longer or shorter applications.

Day 2

Entering the second day of our coverage for the AAIW, we realized that this year's show is even bigger and better than the last. Like window shopping in the worlds largest automotive mall, my shopping list is now complete. The problem is financing all of the things I now crave.

Yackity Yack, don't talk back!
Yakima, the company famous for great vehicle racks has done it again. Adding a complete line of SUV and truck bed racks, their newest innovation, the Beddy Jo caught our eye. This is a new bike rack designed for the bed of compact and mid-sized trucks. The slickest components of the new bike rack are the Wonder Wedges, which eliminates the need for any drilling to mount the rack. These Wonder Wedges fit into the gap between the truck tailgate and the truck bed. When the tailgate is closed, the wedges pull the two hold down straps tight and secure the Beddy Jo rack against the tailgate. The Beddy Jo is designed to be used in the bed of any mid-sized truck and is compatible with all bed liners.

Don't let the Bed Bugs bite
Still looking for something to hold down the gear in the back of your truck. Well keep an eye out for the Bed Bugs. These innovative little widgets lock into the ribs of any truck bedliner and secure all sorts of heavy or bulky items. Believe me, they don't slip. The demo truck bed used for displaying this product was tilted at steep, compound angle, and all the shaking, yanking, and pulling on the cargo would not loosen the Bed Bug's grip. The Bed Bugs are made from a pliable urethane based polymer, and are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Although the Bed Bugs are not yet available, we anticipate that they soon should be with the positive feedback they've been receiving from the SEMA attendees. For more information visit: www.getbedbugs.com

Absentminded Suspension Flex
When it comes to disconnecting the sway bar on your off-road vehicle, you have always had to get out, pull the pins, and secure the sway bar up and out of the way if you're lucky enough to have a swaybar disconnect system. Well, times are changing; enter the AEV Sway Bar system. This swaybar disconnect is different because you don't have to even think about disconnecting it. The swaybar is disconnected simply by putting your Jeep TJ or Jeep Cherokee in Four-low. A cable connects to the linkage of the transfer case and to the disconnect system on the bar, thus providing increased wheel travel in slow off road situations. If the cable gets damaged or somehow breaks, the sway bar automatically defaults to the engaged in position for safety. For more information about this unique product, visit AEV on the web at: www.aev-conversions.com.

Topping the Best
Bestop Inc., well known for their high quality Jeep tops and accesories introduced their new two-piece hardtop for 1986 and newer Jeep Wranglers. This two-piece new hardtop includes a removable front cockpit cover that stores on a patented roof rack system. The hardtop utilizes unique Strata technology, making the top extremely durable, stiff, and dimensionally stable while still allowing for torsional flex. With these qualities in mind, the top adds increased insulation while providing chemical, scratch, and UV resistance. This new hardtop received the 1999 SEMA Show Design Excellence Award for Product Application from Daimler Chrysler Corporation. For more information on this and many other great Bestop products, visit: www.bestop.com

Prototype sneak peeks

Ford debuts their prototype 4-door, super-short bed 4-wheel drive pickup truck.	The 2000 Nissan Frontier is the first mini-truck with four full-sized doors.
Pontiac showcases their futuristic, concept sport utility vehicle.