It's Four Wheeler of the Year time, and we're out in the backcountry testing five new SUVs.    

Today's itinerary took us out to Johnson Valley here in southern California to our top-secret test loop that features steep hill climbs and descents and rocky trails galore.  Here are a few highlights from the day. 

Early in the day Holman scoured the back of the Sequoia for Dr. Pepper with sugar only to find the sugar-free version.  You wouldn't think this would be a highlight but it is.

Stover is never happy unless he's changing a flat tire.  Today he was in his Happy Place early on.

Our sunset group shot meant that each rig had to be positioned perfectly and a full days coating of dust had to be removed with dusters.  This is the staffs favorite part of the test.  

Our days activities began to wind down after dark.  We convoyed out of Johnson Valley and began the trek to our motel near Victorville.

Of course we couldn't leave the valley without generating another flat to keep Stover happy.

Tomorrow we have track testing and more trail testing.  We'll check in tomorrow night.