Testing a new product is something many companies do. It shows where things are doing well, as well as where the weaknesses are and need improvement. For US Gear, there’s no better avenue to do it than through off-road racing, and in particular, with Ultra4 champion Loren Healy.

Healy was present at the 2018 SEMA Show to talk about his badass Ultra4 4×4 racing rig, which is shaped around the intense rockcrawling and occasional wide-open speed in events such as King of the Hammers. To say that the race is difficult is an understatement; it’s a gauntlet which whittles down a 100-strong field into a dozen competitors in a battle of attrition. It’s not uncommon to see cars drive across the finish line with leaking coolant lines and ripped-open tires.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Healy and US Gear joined forces to put parts through the off-road wringer. “There aren’t many other forms of motorsports that are as hard on parts as we are,” said Healy. “That’s why US Gear wanted to get involved with the team. We’ve put their parts through the toughest tests – all-wheel-drive, stuff is getting shock-loaded, 130 miles-per-hour through the desert – everything we do is super-abusive on the drivetrain.”

The vehicles, as Healy describes them, can do just about anything, from long-distance endurance events to short-course races, duking it out in close quarters. “I love the desert, the fast, technical driving out there,” commented Healy. “I did get back my background in rockcrawling, but wide-open-throttle is where I thrive. There’s nothing better, for sure.”

We look forward to seeing Healy and his rivals bash it out at King of the Hammers come February 2019. In the meantime, however, we encourage you to check out US Gear’s website and Facebook page to find out more on what makes their drivetrain products a winning addition to any build.