Daily Driver, Go Where I Want To Build
- Thread starter jjvw
- Start date
OP
OP
A bunch of us, including @tworley , @rasband and @hosejockey61, ran Sidewinder and Trough Trail near Kremmling, CO yesterday.
A few observations...
We ran this last year when I had the Patagonias. Trough was the trail that tore a hand sized flap out of one and a remember seeing little piles of black dust after some of the rock climbs where the tires were spinning. I remember lots of wheel spin and looking for traction. With the MTRs, there was very little wheel spin and far less looking for traction. The MTRs really made this a much less frustrating and far more enjoyable trail compared to last year.
This was also the trail where I broke the front driver's side Superior cromoly axle shaft. I partially blame the Patagonias and their lack of grip for this. But that is what got me the big RGA shafts and those haven't broken yet.
My efforts to raise and tighten up the Jeep paid off here. I hit the raised body mounts and the raised rear bumper. And the front bumper despite the little front stretch. Point being that it would have been worse before all of that when those bits were more exposed.
We got to see rasbrand's GR mini boatsides do their thing, allowing his Jeep to sink further into the rocks and let the tires stay on the ground. We also saw how the big side steps get in the way. That was all very informative for my upcoming slider project that I need to quit my procrastinating on.
Trough is on the more difficult end of what is available out here and I was a little apprehensive about this run because of what what happened last year. But the work is paying off. It's a lot of fun having a rig that doesn't struggle and fight you unnecessarily. Instead, being able to focus on driving and navigating makes for a fun day. And being able to do what we did and hop right back on the highway without a care is still pretty amazing to me.
A few observations...
We ran this last year when I had the Patagonias. Trough was the trail that tore a hand sized flap out of one and a remember seeing little piles of black dust after some of the rock climbs where the tires were spinning. I remember lots of wheel spin and looking for traction. With the MTRs, there was very little wheel spin and far less looking for traction. The MTRs really made this a much less frustrating and far more enjoyable trail compared to last year.
This was also the trail where I broke the front driver's side Superior cromoly axle shaft. I partially blame the Patagonias and their lack of grip for this. But that is what got me the big RGA shafts and those haven't broken yet.
My efforts to raise and tighten up the Jeep paid off here. I hit the raised body mounts and the raised rear bumper. And the front bumper despite the little front stretch. Point being that it would have been worse before all of that when those bits were more exposed.
We got to see rasbrand's GR mini boatsides do their thing, allowing his Jeep to sink further into the rocks and let the tires stay on the ground. We also saw how the big side steps get in the way. That was all very informative for my upcoming slider project that I need to quit my procrastinating on.
Trough is on the more difficult end of what is available out here and I was a little apprehensive about this run because of what what happened last year. But the work is paying off. It's a lot of fun having a rig that doesn't struggle and fight you unnecessarily. Instead, being able to focus on driving and navigating makes for a fun day. And being able to do what we did and hop right back on the highway without a care is still pretty amazing to me.
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OP
Look here!
Thread 'Eagle Rock/Saran Wrap Saturday 4Sept2021' https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/eagle-rock-saran-wrap-saturday-4sept2021.54515/
Thread 'Eagle Rock/Saran Wrap Saturday 4Sept2021' https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/eagle-rock-saran-wrap-saturday-4sept2021.54515/
Did you ever consider welding little wings onto the ends of the bumper like Mike_H did?
OP
I had that with the big old bumper. Right now, I value the increased clearance. So now I need to put corners on.
OP
I mostly copied @NashvilleTJ's idea of removing the lower leg of the door surround. It looks much better.
I only removed the circlip at the hinge and didn't add the slide pin on the tub end.
If it's too much of a pain to remove the uppers and reassemble, I'll add the second pin.
I only removed the circlip at the hinge and didn't add the slide pin on the tub end.
If it's too much of a pain to remove the uppers and reassemble, I'll add the second pin.
OP
And I got a Radioddity GMRS radio and a couple handhelds to replace the Boafangs.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096533TR6/?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SLR7W7F/?tag=wranglerorg-20
And I'll be rewrapping the steering wheel pretty soon...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096533TR6/?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SLR7W7F/?tag=wranglerorg-20
And I'll be rewrapping the steering wheel pretty soon...
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OP
Haven't talked on them yet. But they feel much nicer to hold and use. The speaker is much louder, too. Maybe the best part is they are charged through USB-C.
OP
On the highway driving 75mph with no windows, I could understand the NOAA weather report. Couldn't come close to that with the BF.
OP
https://metalcloak.com/tj-wrangler-slim-rear-bumper.html
Aside from the dust (I know how that goes) I really dig the set up overall! What kind of radio is that?
OP
They really can't do anything right!
One of the cheap Android units. It's just ok. It uses Android 6 and is so slow and out of date that most of the apps are unusable. Bluetooth mirroring works, though. It can't be updated and I haven't found a way to root it.
ah I gotcha. I haven't decided what to do stereo wise yet when I move to the newer style center bezel, I liked how yours was shaped to fit.They really can't do anything right!
One of the cheap Android units. It's just ok. It uses Android 6 and is so slow and out of date that most of the apps are unusable. Bluetooth mirroring works, though. It can't be updated and I haven't found a way to root it.
WTF?? I mean seriously, ignoring sound principles simply to hop into that bumper market? I'd be ashamed to perpetuate the philosophy that my customers won't use their rigs enough to leave off those lower bolts.They really can't do anything right!
OP