By: Randy Burleson - 11/2000

4x4Wire covers Jeeps at SEMA 2000

Each November, Vegas fills to overflowing with the SEMA Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. Take Vegas' bright lights, wild reputation, and 24x7 lifestyle, then mix in thousands and thousands of vendors, journalists, and buyers... the resulting trade show is massive, almost impossible to see in only four days. 4x4Wire toured the show, snapping pictures of the latest products and the hoopla that surrounded them.

This is just one room of one convention center that SEMA filled in Vegas. Vehicles and vendors overflowed into tents and parking lots -- this is the second largest convention in Las Vegas! Randy Burleson

It is no small surprise that Jeep's TJ occupied a booth on every aisle. Lifted, lowered, accessorized... each Wrangler TJ was different and unique -- and many had eye-popping paint schemes.

TJs, TJs, TJs... convention-goers couldn't swing the tiniest of cats without hitting Jeep's latest short-wheelbase offering. Randy Burleson

Jeep even displayed this long-wheelbase four-door TJ... room for the family and all their gear. Randy Burleson
	We found even more wheelbase, four doors, and a hatchback at the Daimler/Chysler/Jeep display. Their Grand Cherokee stood tall on a lift and carried serious bolt-on accessories, from wheels, to bumpers, to roof rack. This was no mall running Grand Cherokee... Randy Burleson

Tuffy showcased their full line of interior protective gear. Randy Burleson

Aftermarket equipment manufacturers brought their own Jeeps to showcase their products. In many cases, these vehicles were even more impressive than those at the vehicles' manufacturers booths.

This XJ cleans up well for show use, but documented scrapes on its flanks show proof that it gets off the convention floor for real trail use, too. Randy Burleson
Garvin showed off their roof and bumper racks. Randy Burleson

Several manufacturers brough stripped-down Jeep frames to showcase their gear...

Tera showed off a frame equipped with all their best equipment. Randy Burleson	Meanwhile, a few rooms away, Tomken displayed their own frame. Randy Burleson

In fact, one vendor brought a Jeep that was literally covered in their product!

Everything on this little flatfender was lined with non-slip coating. I do mean everything... seats, tub, hood, fenders... everything. Randy Burleson

Team Currie's new competition Jeep was the highlight of the Detroit Locker / Tractech SEMA booth. Jeff Waggoner and John Currie drove their 'old' TJ to winning scores in ARCA and WRCC events, and this new rig looks even more capable. From the flat belly pan to the top of the well-gussetted roll cage, this looks like quite the contender.

Team Currie debuted their new competition Jeep at SEMA, showing it in the Detroit Locker / Tractech booth. This narrowed TJ shows static flex that promises continued excellence in ARCA and WRCC series...
37" Goodyear MT/R meats fill the fenderwells.	Twin hydraulic fiddle breaks individually control the rear brakes.	It wasn't John Currie or Jeff Waggoner at the wheel, it was a dummy!
A coil-over Currie 'Hi-9' delivers twist to the front wheels.	The rear is one of the few views that clearly shows this TJ has been narrowed.	A matching Currie 'Hi-9' hangs under coils at the back end.

Click here for more SEMA 2000 Coverage and hundreds of other SEMA pictures.