There’s a first time for everything plus I recently got a chance to do my first rock crawling in a ’52 Willys with Bob Sweeney of Jeepers Jamboree. One of my goals this year was to do as many different “driving” experiences as possible. I’ve drifted, land speed raced plus took to two wheels… plus perhaps most out of my comfort zone, I’ve learned how to rock crawl. Coming from a classic car background, asphalt-paved adventures are more the norm than dirt-fueled ones.
Of the many off-road capable vehicles we could’ve taken on the trail, a ’52 Willys may not make for the easiest choice, but the vintage platform excited me. With veteran wheeler Bob Sweeney along with me, I felt secure that he knew exactly what we were getting into plus had faith I could handle it. Having someone who knows what they’re doing with you, no matter what the vehicle, is something I would strongly recommend for any novice.
The vehicle requirements for rock crawling can change drastically depending upon the difficulty of terrain you’re tackling—but you can assume that you’ll at least need four wheel drive, a rear locking differential plus upwards of a 33” tire or larger. Winches, body armor plus other modifications quickly build upon these basics for more challenging trails.
Our ’52 Willys CJ-3A, which you could call the original “Jeep,” was made to get wherever necessary. With a 3-speed transmission plus a high plus low gear option, this isn’t the car you want to take on a freeway. We were topping out its speed at a leisurely-seeming pace on the dirt road leading out to the rock trail. Under the hood sits the original inline 4-cylinder, which, based on specs, has a max torque of 105lb-ft at 2,000 rpm. It’s a workhorse of a car that’s made to keep going no matter what the trial. Ours was outfitted with 33” Nitto Mud Grappler tires, giving us a great amount of bite on the rocks.