TMR Customs’ Trail Buggy: The Ultimate Pre-Runner Rock Crawler

The Ultimate Pre-Runner Rock Buggy

Creativity, fabrication, and an idea turned to life? That is just what gets you to the computer. Let’s not forget the hours, days, weeks, or even months that go into planning, prototyping, and creating your own chassis—let alone one you release to the world to purchase. Meet Tim and Mike Rogers, owners of TMR Customs out of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, bud! These good ‘ol boys are the creative geniuses behind the TMR Trail Buggy. This beautiful machine is equipped with some top brand names across the off-road industry, like Baja Designs, Atlas Transfer Case, and many more that make this Trail Buggy the unstoppable beast that it is.

Let’s kick off this article diving into some key details. This rig features a complete TMR tube chassis kit from front to back. Every bar, gusset, and bracket on this beauty was designed and built by TMR Customs. Tim and Mike truly embrace their product and stand by it enough to not only run it on their personal rigs but also on their Ultra4 race car, which is a prime example of TMR Customs’ pledge to strength and durability in the desert at high speeds or slow crawling on the toughest trails in America! Running along the sides, roof, and across the dash is TMR Customs’ body panel kit. Even though the kit hides some of the beautiful welds featured on the chassis, it’s only there to give this rig an aggressive, sleek look when crawling through rocks or flying across the desert.

Now, let’s jump to the front of this rig and take a look at those headlights. These aren’t just any ordinary pair of lights, but the best of the best. Baja Designs LP9 lights illuminate the trails ahead with ease during those late evening/night crawling sessions. Separating those LP9s is a strong Warn winch rocking the matching Factor 55 UltraHook XTV Rope Guard to ensure the line is never hung up or damaged, increasing the best odds during a recovery.

Let’s now focus on the heartbeat of this Trail Buggy—a 6.0L V8 motor that was pulled out of a 2007 GM truck. HarFab Racing in Kincardine, Canada, assisted with the install by using a custom harness and completing all the wiring duties. Helping this beast breathe is a Holley Performance Hi-Ram intake manifold to crank out extra ponies when the guys need them most. Taking in that power and turning it into movement is a TH400 transmission with a Dynamic Motorsports torque converter, also installed by HarFab Racing. The trans was soon paired with a 3.8:1 Atlas 2-speed transfer case, ensuring smooth and controlled shifting for 4WD and 2WD transfers when on and off the trails. This rig is running every crawler’s favorite combination when it comes to axles—a Ford Dana 60 in the front and a Chevy 14-bolt in the rear—with full TMR trusses, link and shock mounts, running with 5.38 gears and spools front and rear to keep consistency throughout.

Stopping all this weight and power is a combined set of Ford and GM brakes with a Wilwood master cylinder to keep high pressure throughout the braking system. What’s a perk that buggies have over full-size rigs? Clearance? Performance? How about both of those and more?! This rig is outfitted with ORI 14-inch struts front and rear to really let it stretch out and keep stable in the rocks, as well as on RTI ramps. No shock can perform to its best ability without proper suspension geometry, and that’s why this buggy is rocking the TMR Customs 4-link in both the front and rear to give this rig maximum articulation. Max performance is always important when hitting the trails and traveling across the open desert.

A vehicle’s creature comforts are just as important as its off-road capabilities. Comfortable bucket seats, harnesses, headsets for communication, and an ergonomic steering wheel all play a part in prolonging fatigue during long hours on the trail. Cushion and grip come in many shapes and forms, and this TMR chassis is outfitted with 40×13.50R17 Nitto Trail Grappler K-Spec rubber. This is a sticky tire compound that’s extra soft for utmost comfort, confidence, durability, and the best traction possible when experimenting with the harder line choices and the softer dirt options. On the inside of these magnificent tires is a set of 17×9 Dirty Life ‘Roadkill’ beadlock race wheels that will take all the abuse you can throw at them! This is the best tire combo you can ask for when traveling on the tough rock trails of Johnson Valley, King of the Hammers, and other trails along the West Coast!

This rig truly is a work of art. It is apparent when you are up close with it and truly get to see and experience this buggy’s sole purpose of pre-running races. It never skips a beat, and I have personally crawled alongside it. It’s nothing short of supernatural how it does everything with such ease and flawlessness with every corner it turns or rock it climbs.

Talking with Tim and Mike is always enjoyable and good for a laugh. There’s never a dull moment with the guys at TMR Customs. They’re easily the coolest group of guys that you could ask for in your corner of the off-road community. They allowed us to prepare this article and showcase the creation they see as the best crawler they could build using the resources and knowledge of building they have formed through their combined years in the off-road world. Thank you for that, guys. We will keep a close eye on this rig and the TMR team as they conquer many more obstacles and journeys in this buggy!

UPGRADES

TMR Rock Buggy

OWNER:

Tim and Mike Rogers

Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Engine & Drivetrain: GM 6.0L, HarFab Racing harness and custom exhaust, TH400 transmission, Dynamic Motorsports torque converter, Atlas 3.8:1 2-speed transfer case, Ford Dana 60 front axle, Chevy 14-bolt rear axle

Chassis & Fabrication: TMR Customs chassis kit, TMR Customs 4-link front and rear, ORI 14-inch struts front and rear

Wheels, Tires & Brakes: 40×13.50R17 Nitto Trail Grappler K-Spec tires, 17×9 Dirty Life ‘Roadkill’ beadlock race wheels, Wilwood master cylinder

Body & Paint: TMR Customs body panel kit, Steel-it chassis paint, Custom Wrap by EH Media and Motive Media

Interior: PRP suspension seats with black upholstery, harnesses, and steering wheel