After touring each and every booth at Expo this year, I've come to the conclusion that our industry, despite the slow economy touted by mass media, is on a strong upward growth trend right now. I base my opinion on all the new product offerings I found at show, as well as many phone conversations I've had with business owners after the show.
A new fabricated axle for the hardcore crowd:
Starting business just two months prior to the Expo show, 60 Nine Axle Company is probably one of the strongest indicators that demand for high-quality off-road parts remains high. These new fabricated 9-inch axle housings are as trick as they come. Company owner, Matt Magliacano showed us how his center sections are the perfect balance of light-weight rigidity and brute strength. Check out www.60nineaxle.com to learn more.
Comp Knuckles from Spydertrax Off-Road
If you missed the new Pro Series 60 Knuckles from Spidertrax, you missed out big!
These are probably the strongest fabricated knuckle made. Designed to survive the rigorous abuse of King of the Hammers racing, these chromoly knuckles offer a 50-percent increase in strength over the previous design. They hug the u-joint tighter than any other design currently on the market. This allows for a more compact setup while achieving an impressive 50-degree steering angle. The use of a spherical ball and race combo eliminates the bulk and weakness of standard ball joint setups and provides a much simpler package than traditional kingpins. These knuckles feature a 7/8-inch spindle bearing and a improved shoulder bolt design that exceeds grade 9 specifications. They are designed to press onto 3 ½-inch OD axle tubes and accept one-ton unit bearings (unit bearing mounting hardware included). Able to handle axial loading of up to 11,000-pounds per side, these knuckles are virtually indestructible. Info: www.spidertrax.com
As for the coolest vehicle display in my opinion, it was a tie between the Big Oli Trophy Truck and the Buckshot Motorsports pre-runner in the Beard Seat booth. Each of these vehicles were in a leag all their own.