Starting over: A lightweight Rock Crawling Daily Driver

[Blake Stamper]

I drove my TJ across Snoqualmie Pass for 3 years with a lunchbox locker in the front & a Detroit in the rear. And before that I had a Samurai with lunchbox lockers in both axles and drove it in the snow too... IT's not as bad as many claim it to be.



I'd love to find one of the Jeep edition 8274's.

Thanks, that tidbit definitely makes me feel a little more confident in an auto locker because Snoqualmie Pass is no light dusting .

The main reason I bought that 8274 was because it was a jeep edition, the sticker is basically gone but you can see what remains still. it's tough because part of me wants to restore it and part of me wants to build it out. I just know both ways I don't want to cut corners on it so until I have more money its going to sit in a box. I got it for 150 so I cant complain too much.

 

[The4bangertj]

I almost got a lunch box front locker while I was in Idaho. Rexburg gets a lot of snow so I was worried but with ko2 being snow rated I almost never went into 4wd anyways. With a snow tire the only time I went into 4wd is when we had some ice under the snow or I was running train runs in over 6in of snow.

 

[Blake Stamper]

I almost got a lunch box front locker while I was in Idaho. Rexburg gets a lot of snow so I was worried but with ko2 being snow rated I almost never went into 4wd anyways. With a snow tire the only time I went into 4wd is when we had some ice under the snow or I was running train runs in over 6in of snow.

Definitely no stranger to 6+ inches of snow off-road…

That being said I no longer actively choose to go wheeling during the colder times of the year lol

 

[Wildman]

DAMN $150..... I bought my last 8274 about 10 years ago for $300 and thought I'd done great... Up here they are going for $600 in bad shape.

You can get replacement sticker if you want.

https://collinsbrosjeep.com/warn-winch-decal/

There are a few FB 8274 groups that have a lot of good information. And of course we've got @Blackjack here to help anytime we have any type of winch question. When you get ready to rebuild it make sure to ask on here and you'll get help.

I just rebuilt mine & went with a 6.5HP motor & the new heavy duty shaft. Plus painted it Blue just to be different.

It's been my experience that the nay sayers about auto lockers in snow are people who have little to no experience with them. Yes there are times having a auto locker can be bad but they are rare.

I ran studded tires on my Samurai and that thing was crazy in snow & ice.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Another recent addition is this synergy steering links.

It’s not a currectlynk but I paid nowhere near currectlynk prices for it and it doesn’t ruin the steering geometry.

 

[02GreenTJ]

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Another recent addition is this synergy steering links.

It’s not a currectlynk but I paid nowhere near currectlynk prices for it and it doesn’t ruin the steering geometry.

I kept bending my currie steering and switched to the synergy tie rod. It takes a huge beating and returns to straight as an arrow. Everyone I know with Jks runs Synergy steering with no issues. I've had them side by side and the geometry is basically the exact same so not sure why it gets a bad wrap by some people. Also all the ends are replaceable unlike the Currie. Looks good.

 

[Blake Stamper]

I kept bending my currie steering and switched to the synergy tie rod. It takes a huge beating and returns to straight as an arrow. Everyone I know with Jks runs Synergy steering with no issues. I've had them side by side and the geometry is basically the exact same so not sure why it gets a bad wrap by some people. Also all the ends are replaceable unlike the Currie. Looks good.

I like how it looks, in an ideal world I would have done a Currie with @mrblaine ‘s heavy duty tie rod, I do like that the synergy uses TJ tie rod ends because they are cheap to replace, but the biggest flaw I’ve seen is I’m almost maxed out in both drag link joints and my steering wheel isn’t straight yet, the currectlynk is a superior design for adjustment as well as it from my understanding changes the geometry to be more optimal on a 4in lift. Overall I’m not upset in the slightest because I paid a whopping 150 for it and it resolved my DW from worn out tie rod ends.

 

[02GreenTJ]

I like how it looks, in an ideal world I would have done a Currie with @mrblaine ‘s heavy duty tie rod, I do like that the synergy uses TJ tie rod ends because they are cheap to replace, but the biggest flaw I’ve seen is I’m almost maxed out in both drag link joints and my steering wheel isn’t straight yet, the currectlynk is a superior design for adjustment as well as it from my understanding changes the geometry to be more optimal on a 4in lift. Overall I’m not upset in the slightest because I paid a whopping 150 for it and it resolved my DW from worn out tie rod ends.

Gotcha I haven't run the drag link but have had very good luck with tie rod. Your comment makes sense tho. 150 is a helluva lot cheaper than a currie setup + the BMB tie rod

 

[TheYonderGod]

That's a cool Jeep! I'm gonna keep your lightweight philosophy in mind as I build mine, though I'll probably go for more of a middle ground.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Did some wheeling yesterday in some of the biggest rocks I’ve ever done so far, for being open front and rear and on 31s I am very pleased with how it went.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Did a little early Christmas shopping for myself and picked up a ridgid case to organize tools a little better. Also picked up the new Milwaukee 3/8 stubby a couple weeks ago, I’ve played with it in the store and it’s a little beast of an impact.

I originally wanted to do packout but for $50 less I think this case will work great for my needs.

 

[D's Jeep Wrld]

Did a little early Christmas shopping for myself and picked up a ridgid case to organize tools a little better. Also picked up the new Milwaukee 3/8 stubby a couple weeks ago, I’ve played with it in the store and it’s a little beast of an impact.

I originally wanted to do packout but for $50 less I think this case will work great for my needs.
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This is nice! Gonna have to do something like this since my mighty little m12 impact and the Milwaukee socket set just loosely sits under my seat along with my kinetic rope and soft shackles
......I keep telling myself that I'll get a pelican like case and make a Organized setup.....but just throwing my stuff under the seat works for me....Aka being lazy

 

[Blake Stamper]

This is nice! Gonna have to do something like this since my mighty little m12 impact and the Milwaukee socket set just loosely sits under my seat along with my kinetic rope and soft shackles
......I keep telling myself that I'll get a pelican like case and make a Organized setup.....but just throwing my stuff under the seat works for me....Aka being lazy

The setup is pretty cheap tbh, $30 for the ridgid case and 12 for the little harbor freight case on the inside. I think I paid like $20 for the pair of tool rolls.

 

[FarFire70]

The setup is pretty cheap tbh, $30 for the ridgid case and 12 for the little harbor freight case on the inside. I think I paid like $20 for the pair of tool rolls.

Able to drop of list of what you're carrying?

Is this your off-road kit or a day-to-day?

Building a list for a future build-out of an off-road carry as I way over carry off-road, so curious what folks are carrying.

 

[The4bangertj]

I like my packout and how it’s latched on my tailgate but I’d never buy a packout unless I was using that latch together system. That impact is crazy powerful.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Able to drop of list of what you're carrying?

Is this your off-road kit or a day-to-day?

Building a list for a future build-out of an off-road carry as I way over carry off-road, so curious what folks are carrying.

It’ll more than likely live in the Jeep, sockets live in the knock off pelican case, a glue tread kit will go in front of the sockets, wrenches in the tool wrap and from there I’ll add and subtract based on need and research.

 

[Blake Stamper]

I like my packout and how it’s latched on my tailgate but I’d never buy a packout unless I was using that latch together system. That impact is crazy powerful.

I love the way packout works but is just not worth the cost, I’ll probably even buy a baseplate and 3d print some feet for the rigid case.

I was stoked when they revealed the new stubby at pipeline almost as much power as an m18 mid torque but way smaller.

 

[Blake Stamper]

Well hi there powered steering leak.

 

[D's Jeep Wrld]

Well hi there powered steering leak.

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I've never had an issue with the elbow cracking off but only my cap on my 3rd one now ! Guys I hear about having the Cracked resv. Elbow break off or crack usually have a worm gear hose clamp torqued way too much and oop "Heyyy my frigging pump reservoir is cracked " it's either a constant tension clamp or a crimp on deal/stainless ziptie kinda thing on it !

Could the leak be from too much Pressure from being at redline much....alot ? I'm stumped....once I install my PSC box and pump I'll most likely just do a custom reservoir cause this is annoying.....plus I wanna fab up something to scratch my fab itch

 

[Blake Stamper]

Got some wrenching therapy in for the day, pulled off the rtt and rack that I foolishly added, installed my Barnes bumper and pulled the flares in prep for corner armor to go on.

I haven’t been able to really get much done to the Jeep until now because I’m currently living in a hotel due to a fire that took 140’ of our fencing and filled out house with smoke.

The house is fine other than damage we’re just waiting on insurance while we wait for insurance they moved us into a hotel until December 6th.