OK so time for an update I guess...
First, had an epic overnight snow wheeling trip up to Beckler road (US 2 Stevens Pass) with 15 other vehicles in my club new years eve. Of course snow was everywhere as the entire western washington had snow, but once we hit Beckler around 8pm we were in about 2 feet of snow. Proceeded up the hill and finally got everyone to the top at around 3:30am. I ended up strapping 3 vehicles behind me and pulling them to the top, then backing back down the trail 3/4 mile to get another 3, then doing that another time. At best guess I pulled/winched/unstuck other vehicles at least 40 times that night... we finally got home around 8:30am after I pulled a gladiator back down the top half of the pass. Happy to say my LJ was one of only 2 out of 16 vehicles to never get stuck all night.
Here is a video another club member made, you can see me pulling the first train up to the top at the 1:36 mark.
Here is a pic showing how deep the snow was AFTER the lead vehicles packed down a road... there was around 6' below the tracks based on how deep some of the tree wells were.
So now it's time to start building now ramps for the trailer since mine were stolen. This is actually a good project for me to keep working on my welding. I also got to try out for the first time my new welder. I've been having issues getting enough penetration on 3/16" or thicker material with my little flux core welder and finally got myself a 240v/30a circuit in the garage, a new 240v welder (170a output) and set up with a gas bottle.
Before starting the ramps I did some test welds on some 1/4" pieces I cut up... here is one I welded at a 90 degree angle, then put into my press and tried to flatten... happily the steel bent before the weld was damaged at all so I think that will probably do!
And here some pics of the first of the two ramps I'm building... using 3" C channel and 2.5" x .188 thick angle. I still need to do up the end to hang on the trailer.
I think my welds are getting better finally too, not looking as much like goobers
First, had an epic overnight snow wheeling trip up to Beckler road (US 2 Stevens Pass) with 15 other vehicles in my club new years eve. Of course snow was everywhere as the entire western washington had snow, but once we hit Beckler around 8pm we were in about 2 feet of snow. Proceeded up the hill and finally got everyone to the top at around 3:30am. I ended up strapping 3 vehicles behind me and pulling them to the top, then backing back down the trail 3/4 mile to get another 3, then doing that another time. At best guess I pulled/winched/unstuck other vehicles at least 40 times that night... we finally got home around 8:30am after I pulled a gladiator back down the top half of the pass. Happy to say my LJ was one of only 2 out of 16 vehicles to never get stuck all night.
Here is a video another club member made, you can see me pulling the first train up to the top at the 1:36 mark.
Here is a pic showing how deep the snow was AFTER the lead vehicles packed down a road... there was around 6' below the tracks based on how deep some of the tree wells were.
So now it's time to start building now ramps for the trailer since mine were stolen. This is actually a good project for me to keep working on my welding. I also got to try out for the first time my new welder. I've been having issues getting enough penetration on 3/16" or thicker material with my little flux core welder and finally got myself a 240v/30a circuit in the garage, a new 240v welder (170a output) and set up with a gas bottle.
Before starting the ramps I did some test welds on some 1/4" pieces I cut up... here is one I welded at a 90 degree angle, then put into my press and tried to flatten... happily the steel bent before the weld was damaged at all so I think that will probably do!
And here some pics of the first of the two ramps I'm building... using 3" C channel and 2.5" x .188 thick angle. I still need to do up the end to hang on the trailer.
I think my welds are getting better finally too, not looking as much like goobers