Lightweight RCM Fab Build

Story by Cole Mackie, Photos by Tucker Riddle

Turn-key RCM Fab build satisfies owner Andy Sanders. Offroading since age 6, Andy knew what he wanted in a build; he’s had over 40 years to figure that out. Playing on dirt bikes, mud racing, trail riding, and rock crawling, he has experienced it all. What he wanted now was a purpose-built buggy, and Cole Mackie delivered. “This buggy is for making memories with family and friends, especially my son, who also loves offroading.”

Andy owns and operates a tire service company and 4WD center in Orangeburg, South Carolina. They sell tires, wheels, lift kits, and bolt-on accessories, as well as perform general maintenance for most makes and models of cars and trucks. To say he knows his way around a rig is an understatement. “I started riding dirt bikes with my Dad at six years old, then learned to drive a manual transmission at 13 in a CJ-7; drove a CJ in high school and was introduced to Tellico in college, been hooked ever since.”

Always wanting a super capable, reliable, and lightweight buggy, Andy got in touch with Cole after seeing some of his RCM Fab builds and working with him on a TJ project. Cole built the rig to be reliable and perform well in all kinds of terrain, whether the slick, muddy rocks of the East Coast, the sandpaper rocks of Utah, or the open desert and massive boulders of the Hammers. Special attention was paid to driver ergonomics, visibility, and weight distribution throughout the chassis. The 19-inch belly height keeps the car planted with a low center of gravity, and visibility is excellent, allowing the driver to see all four tires from his seat. The layout and packaging of this buggy allowed for a 16-gallon fuel cell to be installed, so fuel capacity is not an issue even on long trail days, while still allowing plenty of storage for tools, a cooler, and an additional pack basket if needed.