HARD-CORE THUMPIN' Part 2

The Toy's tires are 19.5/44-15LT Super Swamper Boggers on 15x14 Eaton rims. Travis controls them with a Mustang rack-and-pinion steering system, Borgeson joints, and telescoping, stainless-steel Borgeson sector shafts.

To achieve maximum interior impact, Travis fabricated slanted gullwing doors. Inside, he added a rollcage and Grant wheel before taking the truck to Hartley's Upholstery (Lewistown, PA) for some serious customizing. Pressurized nerf bars lower down to make it easier to get in and out of the truck.

Under the hood, Travis decided to stick with the original 22R motor. However, he had H&P Engines (Thompsontown, PA) work it over with .030-punched cylinders, a Comp cam, 10:1 compression, dual 44mm Mikuni carbs, a Downey header, and a SuperTrapp muffler.

Travis's brother Terre laid on the base paint and Chris Long (Selinsgrove, PA) did the graphics. Body modifications include Bushwacker flares, a custom rollbar with five KC lights, Smittybilt bumpers, and a tilt bed.

When all's said and done, Travis revealed a few of his secrets to success. First, he has an architecture degree from Penn State, so drafting and design skills go without saying. Next, he got a lot of help from talented friends: welder Rick Wiekel (Troxelville, PA), painter Jake Glenny (Beavertown, PA), chromoly metal bending by Gesselman Motorsports (Beaver Springs, PA), machining by R. Ziegler Machine Shop (Kreamer, PA), general help and tools courtesy of brother Terre. Travis also gives a special thanks to his girlfriend Tami, for "putting up with my bad habit."

He concludes, "I only have $17,000 invested in it. It's cheap if you build them yourself and don't pay someone for labor."