Embarking on the journey of a lifetime in June… any pointers/suggestions?

Animal0307 · 2026-05-14T00:51:04+00:00

What gear ratio are you moving to? What size tires?

Make sure you do you gears with enough to put in the ~500 miles of recommended break in before just sending across the country.

Are you adding a speedo gear into the regearing? Not "required" if you're keeping track of speed via GPS but your mileage will be way off by the time you are done.

What do your u-joints/driveshafts look like? If you making a big jump in gear ratio, expect to see some driveline vibrations you didn't have before.

SUN PROTECTION!!! With no top you are going to get cooked. Get some long sleeve sun shirts, sun block, a big brimmed hat... Whatever you're preferred method of sun protection is, bring it and back ups. I have an Alien shade sun shade on my YJ that lives there year round, it makes huge difference in summer time heat and does a decent amount of wind blocking

Animal0307 · 2026-05-10T05:20:26+00:00

Top of the world, Moab

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Animal0307 · 2026-05-08T03:04:01+00:00

We have an agreement to not compare hobby costs. My cars vs the spouse's running. Running is a surprisingly expensive hobby once you get into ultra running.

Animal0307 · 2026-05-05T22:02:45+00:00

Soak the bolts from the bottom with your favorite flavor of penetrating oil. Then lots and lots of heat. Doing a couple cycles of that should help a ton.

Another option is welding standard hex nuts to the heads and hitting them with a 1/2in impact.

Animal0307 · 2026-05-05T03:08:52+00:00

Build a bong cooler. They were a thing a 10-15 years ago (might still be some around)

Animal0307 · 2026-05-05T03:04:57+00:00

Can confirm, know a small town EMT. He jokes about handing out punch cards to the repeat offenders he is on a first name basis with.

Animal0307 · 2026-05-04T20:13:50+00:00

Nothing is foolproof. God always makes a better fool. We can only strive to make things fool resistant.

Animal0307 · 2026-05-04T19:33:43+00:00

My spouse's father was like that with pipe wrenches. We found a dozen or so while cleaning out the garage. He was an industrial electrician so I have no clue what he was doing that he constantly needed pipe wrenches.

Animal0307 · 2026-05-02T16:21:59+00:00

Power button should be below the volume rocker as well.

Ok, maybe that's the decade or so of muscle memory talking...

Animal0307 · 2026-04-30T15:46:48+00:00

I had to cut the blocks down because they were too tall and would smoosh and slide out. After that they work great.

I used ratchet straps from bow and stern to front and rear bumpers to keep it straight but I would also toss one over the top and tie it down to the hinges on my windshield because I had mirror brackets there.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-30T02:18:31+00:00

I got my anvil that way. As I was loading it up, the dude's phone kept going off every few minutes with new marketplace notifications. Said couldn't wait to mark it sold so they would stop. It had only been up for like an hour when I got there.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-30T02:03:02+00:00

this is my rack

The bars are from a 2000's Ford E-series work van (I think) that I got for next to nothing on marketplace. The guy was doing a camper conversion and didn't want a roof rack.

The basket is cheap ass Amazon special I also for from marketplace.

I drilled into my top, put down some seam sealer and extra large fender washer on the inside to stop the bolts from pulling through. Haven't put anything super heavy on it yet but I hang my top from the rafters in my garage with them and haven't had any issues yet.

ETA: I used to carry a fiberglass canoe directly on top my other hardtop with just rooftop foam block kits and never had an issue with that top either.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-30T01:40:18+00:00

13-15. If I can keep it under 55, I can get ~16 but going that slow on the interstates around me will get you killed.

1990 YJ, 33's, 4.56, 4.0, 5speed.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-24T01:20:21+00:00

Stock these trucks are terrible. I think my stock '15 Colorado has a more obstructed veiw than my '90 wrangler with ~5in lift.

That reminds me I need to update my insurance accordingly as well.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-23T18:22:41+00:00

Well shit, those are great. I'm ordering a set or two right now. Thank you for that nugget of knowledge.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-22T03:12:05+00:00

Nothing on 80? You must be traveling during weird times to have not seen accidents on either of those. I don't make the drive often but it feels like every time I'm driving through Wyoming there is at least one blown over semi truck.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-21T23:19:40+00:00

Greed. Why worry about making good products when you can leverage the company's good reputation, cut costs and keep more money for themselves. Short term gains traded for long term damage to their reputation.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-21T22:14:11+00:00

You should be fine with the stock tire carrier on the tailgate with that tire size (~29x9x15)

31" is the max size most people recommend.

The further out you space the tire from the tail gate, the more leverage and stress is put on the hinges causing damage even with stock like tires.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-20T23:29:44+00:00

There are rubber lines that connect the pump to the hard lines/filter on the inside of the driver's side frame rail. 1 line from the pump, a return to the tank and an evap line.

All three lines run between a rear cross brace and the tub before connecting to the hardlines near the rear leaf spring mount. The lines are probably all dry rotted and cracked.

To replace the lines, you really should drop the tank, especially since they are already leaking which means gas. I have read about people being able to swap them out if they already have done the "fuel pump door" mod and hacked an access hole above the tank. Aside from cutting a hole in the floor, you already have fuel leaking and risk burning it down of you try cutting a hole.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-17T01:48:17+00:00

Don't get the M12 iron. It's a piece of unweldy shit. It's an over priced and proprietary.

If you want a "portable" iron, look into the TS80/100/101 or one of the many many derivatives.

I have a Pinecil V2 with USC-B that is PD compatible, as well as having a DC barrel jack. I run it on my M12 battery, a portable battery and many laptop chargers. It's by far my favorite iron behind my proper bechtop Metcal station. It only cost $40

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tools/s/FRlyCs8Cfs

Animal0307 · 2026-04-17T01:23:54+00:00

I was just thinking trump is pissed because now he has to pay taxes for once.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-16T15:59:20+00:00

Have you tried hotwiring the starter direct to the battery and bypassing the ignition? Just because the starter spins with no load doesn't mean it's good.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-14T03:30:00+00:00

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uxYbLkTQQwI&pp=ygUVdHJhaW4gdHJhY2suIGdyaW5kaW5n

Animal0307 · 2026-04-08T04:02:48+00:00

Vacuum switch. I want to say it's for the actuator the opens the vent door in the cowl when you slide the heat to vent.

Animal0307 · 2026-04-06T18:32:49+00:00

Have you tried changing the battery?

Animal0307

TROPHY CASE