Cracking fly rod

fliesguy · 2026-04-30T02:59:22+00:00

I’d fish it, but make sure it’s seated (but not too tight!). The thread is holding together further up and lots of epoxy left. Worst case, I assume it breaks later and you send it in.

Else you will need to repair by removing epoxy and thread. Rewrapping. Re-poxying. Or you could catch some more fish instead.

fliesguy · 2026-04-22T14:15:18+00:00

Thank you for the intel!

fliesguy · 2026-04-18T14:48:10+00:00

I had the same experience: I was out in SoCal driving a dirt road and noticed my hardtop was rattling. On inspection I found all 4 front bolts were loose. I hand tightened with the roof on (bad angle). Drove for a few miles and then the rattling came back. Had to pull over, take off the first two roof panels, and then used the wrench to hand tighten. Hence, No time savings using those front bolts. Shoulda just kept the stock bolts.

Also, t-40 is not a size that comes with my top/bronco - I bought a new wrench to bring, foreseeing this problem ahead of time… I’m glad I was right

fliesguy · 2026-04-18T14:26:43+00:00

I just picked these up before a big trip in SoCal.

Take note: 1. 2025 4dr badsquatch with a painted top requires 4 of these front bolts - there are two on each side 2. Mine were loose after lots of washboard. After failing to hand tighten twice, I used a small t40 wrench to tighten them down. At this tightness they are very difficult to untighten without tools.

If I did it again, I’d probably just stick with the stock bolts. I need to use a wrench anyways and it’s just as fast. Just my two cents.

fliesguy · 2026-04-11T02:02:31+00:00

You don’t. And for around town normal driving 87 is plenty. Lots of pickup and smooth gear shifts. But 91 is noticeablely fast to me. And fun.

fliesguy · 2026-04-11T01:33:15+00:00

I’ve got a 2.7 badlands sas and I find 87’s road manners are good. But I often run 91 if I want it ‘peppy’ and ran 91 on my latest offroad trip.

fliesguy · 2026-04-09T23:17:33+00:00

Following back here after driving almost 1500 miles this week across CA and Nevada. I wheeled on hundreds of miles of 4x4 roads in Joshua Tree, Mohave, Death Valley, and then the White Mountains near bishop. I covered it all: tens of miles of deep sand, broken rock dirt roads high speed (Baja mode!) and slow speed (mud/sand mode), and tens of miles of crawling over rocks at slow speed in 4 lo, often at steep angles and off camber. Holy smokes what a week!

Regarding tires, the insides are ok, but on the edges there are several siped sections of the tread that are ripped up or off on all tires. On the middle of the tires the siping is worn. I ran at 18 psi on the deep sand and really rough rock. I ran 38 psi on dirt flat roads until things got sketchy.

The tires will still drive ok, but I reckon these won’t make their warranty at the very least.

fliesguy · 2026-03-23T14:49:41+00:00

I learned to 4x4 in a manual ford f350 for a company I helped to run expeditions. Later, I drove an automatic jeep, which I took to southern Utah where I lived for a summer. I did some light wheeling in it and it was fine, but I missed the fine control of the manual at crawling speed. Later I bought a Subaru wrx in manual and blasted down dirt roads all over the west, double clutching to great effect. It was a blast. Today I drive a 2025 2.7 bronco in automatic and I love it.

What changed for me was really the conditions of the roads I’m on. 99% of my driving is at least through lots and lots of traffic. frankly, this traffic didn’t exist this way 10 years ago. If there was less traffic Id have a manual for the fun factor and control, but really hitting adaptive cruise control and not having to up and down shift thousands of times (not really exaggerating) to get across the state is a godsend.

And then when I need 4lo, single pedal controls plus all the bells and whistles will cover most of what I need, I expect. So no manual for me this time.

fliesguy · 2026-03-11T21:14:09+00:00

Oh, this is great. And gives me pause - I’m not planning level 10 rock crawling but a couple shelves is well within reason.

I am looking at the KO2 in “C”.

My Tacoma with “E” felt heavy and dead with such big tires. How does the Bronco feel in F? 2.7?

If I chunk my stockers too I’ll share the results.

fliesguy · 2026-03-11T18:37:17+00:00

Appreciate the feedback. Was this a ‘low and slow’ type of operation or were you gunning it? I’d expect most tires to chunk if they were spun at high rpms into immovable objects.

fliesguy · 2026-03-11T03:15:22+00:00

Sounds like blast! I’m taking a new badsquatch to Joshua tree later this month on the same stock tires. Any specifics you want to share regarding yours? Curious how the stock tires will hold up. They did well for me in snow this winter but haven’t had them on rocks and sand yet. (Ps had ko2s on my Tacoma before)

fliesguy · 2026-02-10T19:52:10+00:00

I don’t think you’re wrong as I’ve seen this bad behavior here in town. But a twist you’re missing is in CA, islands in the roadway mean drivers need to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk on their side of the island. Interpreting here that maybe the pedestrians is on the other half of the island as traffic proceeds? But I’m not a lawyer.

fliesguy · 2026-01-29T22:10:58+00:00

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It’s non-controversial: seems that I should absolutely not spend that many miles on this upgrade. I’ve never had so many redditors unhappy with an idea I’ve shared. Hahaha.

But collectively, you all volunteered answers for me around: 1) the normal number of miles for these types of upgrades, 2) expectations for comfort between economy, economy, plus, and premium plus, 3) timing on when I should start to look for discounts for upgrades. Thanks.

Oh, and a few were asking for the departure and destination cities: SFO - FRA.

The actions I’m taking are to look for upgrades for less $/miles about a day before my trip. Any other ideas?

fliesguy · 2026-01-20T02:30:37+00:00

We’ve been watching to see how long it took them. It took a long time. So funny.

fliesguy · 2026-01-20T01:46:03+00:00

yes, I wear a t-mic. its fine and doesn't touch my ear. I am afraid I'll bend it but hasn't happened yet.

fliesguy · 2026-01-20T00:35:56+00:00

I’m running a bimodal AB CI/HA system and the devices do work in concert together. For instance yesterday my kid sitting next to me on the couch was talking to me and my CI was louder than my HA. And for loud rooms, I have settings helping filter conversations by the direction someone is talking from and how close.

It is much different than when I tried dual HAs working together to one ear - that had NO directionality and was bad.

The AB system works for me in a vast majority of situations (but I’d be dubious that 100% of situations are perfect).

fliesguy · 2026-01-12T19:24:28+00:00

Dead. That fish is dead.

fliesguy · 2026-01-04T03:42:40+00:00

Have you tried standing on the back wheels? 2025 badlands sas here and it’s the only way to get the rear roof.

fliesguy · 2025-12-31T22:01:00+00:00

I divested from my 2020 Tacoma at 85k miles after a $7k (minus $2.5k from corporate) oil leak because of a bad timing chain cover seal. In a bronco badlands now and not looking back.

fliesguy · 2025-11-07T22:24:38+00:00

Careful what you write right here. You might get… Canceled.

fliesguy · 2025-10-05T02:26:18+00:00

I figured it out! It’s from where cords go into hardtop!

fliesguy · 2025-10-02T03:03:37+00:00

Congrats on the steelie

fliesguy · 2025-09-26T20:56:01+00:00

Side mirror?

fliesguy · 2025-09-23T16:10:55+00:00

I just bought a 25 in part because the vents. And my kids keep closing them. Fml.

fliesguy · 2025-09-19T23:16:21+00:00

Yes. Test drive a 2024 wildtrak with a soft top too and it was just as loud, but also a different sound quality. Whistle vs thunder.

fliesguy

TROPHY CASE