VIDEO Reader’s Ride: Stephanie Cotnoir’s 1997 Jeep TJ

This is Stephanie Cotnoir’s Jeep. She does all the work on it, and she drives it hard. If you have never met a woman from Quebec, Canada, you are in for a bit of a surprise. They are both naturally beautiful and independent. She likes to describe herself as, “a tomboy who happens to love pink.”

1378960_10151952794721154_222810016_nAs Cotnoir told us, “I am a woman in a man’s world, and I love every minute of it. Every critical look is a challenge, and I am always more than happy to prove what I can do. I own my truck, I drive it, I break it, and I fix it. I am not scared to get dirty, and I know my stuff!

Of course I have friends I can rely on if I have to tackle a task I can’t do by myself. That’s why I love off-roading. I learn from people, I work hard, I get their respect, and then they call me to borrow my tools and ask for my help. That’s how it works,” Cotnoir continued.

Cotnoir’s 1997 Jeep TJ runs a fairly stock 4.0L engine, she hasn’t done much to the engine, as it’s so reliable and such a sturdy workhorse, she really doesn’t want to mess with it too much. Who can blame her? It’s backed up with a 32RH transmission and an NP 231 transfer case. The front axle is the stock Dana 30, but out back the Jeep is running a welded Ford 8.8-inch axle.

The Jeep’s suspension has been modified with a 6-1/2-inch Rubicon Express extreme-duty long arm system, custom pink shackles (LOL), and Elka shocks with custom brackets. The wheels are 17×8-inch rims with 37-inch BFGoodrich KM2 tires wrapped around them.

Other upgrades include a TeraFlex high steering system, custom front and rear bumpers, Bushwacker fenders flares, rock sliders, a fuel tank skid plate, a Warn winch, and a snorkel. Cotnoir also added a custom roll cage, KC HiLites off-road lights, a Cobra CB, a custom-made flag pole, MasterCraft roll bar handles, and mud flaps.

Cotnoir bought the Jeep in 2012, but it needed lots of work. It’s a trail truck, and you know how it is: break it on the weekends, fix it during the week! Of course, she loves to just go to new spots and off-road with friends, but what she loves most is going to events, get the adrenaline pumping and race!

She loves mud racing and obstacle courses, and will always push the limit to do the best she can, while respecting her truck and its limits. She will never just go all-out thinking nothing will break, and so far, this technique has proven to be very successful. She won her first two races, and received a very good score in her last obstacle course event.

The video above is of Cotnoir racing through the Machine Fest timed obstacle course in her native home of Quebec, Canada. As you can clearly see, she makes two very quick and successful runs, and is obviously enjoying herself a great deal doing it. That’s what four-wheeling is all about!

And just in case you didn’t know, she also wrenches on the Wrecking Crew monster truck that’s part of the Monster Jam shows. For more on Stephanie Cotnoir, check out the Miss Tool Box website or her Facebook page.

 

 

About the author

Stuart Bourdon

A passion for anything automotive (especially off-road vehicles), camping, and photography led to a life exploring the mountains and deserts of the Southwest and Baja, and a career in automotive, outdoor, and RV journalism.
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