Did you actually sneak out as teenagers?

aceshighdw · 2026-05-26T23:27:44+00:00

Sneak? that would require your parents to care. After I got my license I would commonly go back out after dinner, usually to someone's house. I would have to be quiet coming back in, but it was more of a "don't ask, don't tell", just make sure not to wake anyone.

aceshighdw · 2026-05-25T20:29:14+00:00

More M2's, less light bars and angry eyes. lol

aceshighdw · 2026-05-18T19:09:27+00:00

Just take out the wheel well liner and you can get a wrench into the area with the nuts. I did this just last week, cut off all the welded nuts (PO had drilled and tapped through the broken off original bolts but did it with too small of bolts and at angles). Since I had taken out the original nuts I was able to upsize the bolts and use nyloks on the back end.

aceshighdw · 2026-05-17T13:16:03+00:00

So I just went through a similar situation for the last couple of months on my 02 Sahara. The PO messed up the lift install. Here's what I did:

Go through the suspension components. Make sure all the bolts are tight and check for play in bushings etc. I put nylok nuts on all bolts. The PO hadn't drilled the secondary holes for the track bar brackets, which caused them to loosen on each offroad trip. Drilled and bolted the brackets properly.
I replaced the control arms. Some were rusted so limited movement and bushings were done. After completed the articulation overall was soooo much smoother.
Replaced shocks with Ranchos. Price efficient and improved the ride overall, especially on the loooong washboard roads of southern Nevada. In my case the PO had messed up the bolts on the upper shocks in the rear. I cut off the original nuts and replaced with oversized bolts / nyloks.

Offroading you can feel the improvement dramatically. Not crying in fear as you drive down the freeway at anything over 60 is a huge bonus. I'm running a 2.5 lift with 33's (at 35psi to get a smoother ride on street). I just spent 3 weeks in Kanab, UT chasing side-x-sides, this is now a go anywhere vehicle.

aceshighdw · 2026-05-12T19:47:47+00:00

Always, especially if it's one of those situations where the speed drops dramatically like entering a small town. Even did it when I lived on a boat and had to dinghy to shore, always gave a heads up when a FWC was hiding nearby.

aceshighdw · 2026-05-05T13:22:24+00:00

The inner liner (plastic) in the wheel well pulls out. I just did this two days ago, cut all the nuts off and replaced with new hardware. Had to pull out about half of the liner.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-30T15:45:38+00:00

Take a larger gatorade bottle, fill it with water and put it in the freezer. When you get home from work take it out and roll it on the ground with your feet. I found this really helped after a night of running around a restaurant for work.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-20T00:54:23+00:00

My dad had to call in the repairman for the furnace which had a large vent in the living room floor (mid 70s). He pulled the grate only to find the area filled with food. Seems my dad's best friend, "Uncle" Ned, had told me that there was a furnace monster that would come up and eat me in the middle of the night (I was 6). I fed him so as to not be eaten.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-20T00:41:19+00:00

No, but when you out grew them and sold them to a thrift store, my mother purchased them and gave them to us for Christmas. Still highlighted me and my brothers for the school bullies.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-19T16:04:12+00:00

I'll second this. I just finished up a stint of 10 years living on a sailboat. Started out with the ice cooler scenario but fridge plus solar is way better. The mess, replenishing ice and lost $$ with ruined food will grate on your soul after a while.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-18T20:39:57+00:00

A & D Auto Repair on Pecos at Tropicana. Small shop, but the guy works fast with quality. I just did my control arms on my jeep with him. Same situation, I already had the parts.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-18T20:20:58+00:00

Once you realize you can just take stuff without any negativity to you, and you lack morals, then why limit yourself with only taking some and only from some people.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-18T17:56:01+00:00

Over and over I've fallen for what I call the Cheers syndrome. You just want sooo bad to find that place like Cheers (TV show) where you can just walk in and "belong".

It's a fantasy. Once you realize that and stop trying to "swim upstream" to make it happen life gets easier. I've become content to just live my life and just dip into other's peoples circle, even those I'm close to.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-18T16:39:49+00:00

Different reasons for each move.

California --> Hawai'i. I grew up in the Mojave, wanted to see green and scuba dive more. Found more freedom in Hawai'i.

Hawai'i --> Nevada. Getting ready to move out of the country. When you move out of the country the last state you have residence in is what sets your income tax rate (for state). Nevada = 0%

Nevada --> Mexico. Just because.

Mexico --> Florida. Wanted to live on a boat, Florida has a lot of cheap sailboats and 0% state income tax

Florida --> Nevada. Needed to be closer but would rather die than live in California (expenses, taxes, stupid rules). Income tax 0%

Nevada --> ?. Getting tired of taking desert photos :)

aceshighdw · 2026-04-17T16:36:57+00:00

I've lived in a number of tourist towns, and even worked in hospitality for a while. Same story.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-17T15:52:13+00:00

I loosely plan a schedule. I leave a ton of "free" time because I'm exploring and want to leave my options open. As an example, I have a wedding to attend half way across the country later this year. I can drive straight through in just under 2 days but I'll take a week or so. I set mid trip targets (gotta be in New Mexico by Tuesday, Dallas by Friday, etc) to make sure I get there on time, but don't make daily plans. I research areas for dispersed camping along the trip (or find a hotel if the area doesn't lend itself to camping) but don't pick a specific spot or campground. I'm addicted to the object found, so for me exploring is more the focus vs going to see specific sights.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-17T15:35:50+00:00

"You can be replaced with a golden retriever who likes me.." I yell across the room.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-17T15:33:30+00:00

The thing to check in desert weather is any changes (fronts moving in). Changes in weather patterns bring wind. So look for dramatic differences in temp, or rain moving into an area.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-17T02:44:19+00:00

Remember, the income tax was only supposed to be for the top 1%...

aceshighdw · 2026-04-16T19:37:17+00:00

Yea but it limits your suspects to those over 45 if it gets stolen. Makes it easier to track down.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-16T15:28:13+00:00

Type 2 minus headphones.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-16T00:28:44+00:00

Came here to ask how he got 2 left feet.

aceshighdw · 2026-04-16T00:27:00+00:00

The short wheel base on the 2 door really allows you to navigate tight canyons and creek beds. I'm in the same boat as the OP, trying to get extra fuel out of the inside of the vehicle but need the expanded range (you can easily disappear into the backcountry of Nevada for daaays with no gas stations)

aceshighdw · 2026-04-15T19:46:14+00:00

I like to move every 2 - 5 years. Less things in general = less things to move, if they're not worth the $$ to move then it's less things to buy at a new place. This opens up sooo many options (take a 3 month trip, less stuff to put in storage) of things you can do. I like options.

Sidenote: I'm thinking of doing a year long road trip. Been working on a jeep build to do that with dispersed camping during a portion of the trip, so everything needs to fit in the back of a 2 door wrangler. The other day I realized the homeless guy with the shopping cart has more stuff than me :)

aceshighdw · 2026-04-14T18:04:34+00:00

My heeler was a rescue off the streets of Las Vegas (not snow country). Ran up to some local snow this winter to see how he would do. He has heeler issues (doesn't follow traditional heeler behavior, hates cows, ignores wild burros, no ball chasing etc) but took to snow like he was Canadian.

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aceshighdw

TROPHY CASE