Post McGrew thoughts.... (1 Viewer)

[Ebag333]

Just a couple of random thoughts I had re: things I've learned, decided, or would like to know.

Things I've decided:

Big thought is...I need armor. Lots and lots of armor. I want a blacksmith from 1650 to look at the bottom of my rig and go "Hey, that looks familiar." Any suggestions on cheap armor, unfortunatly my pocketbook won't be able to fork out for the good stuff. Basically I want the capability of wheeling like Travis, while actually wheeling more like Allen.
(Travis, maybe you could post up some pics of your setup? Or do you have them already in the "It's not REALLY a cruiser" forum?)


Things I'd like to know:

First off....pretty much the entire trail my back end slid around, it had (seemingly) very little grip on it. It seemed to me that FlyRod's gripped way better....maybe tires and/or pressure? Travis, aren't you running Toyo M/T's? (Mine are basically new tires...er....were new tires. Maybe that's why?)

What sort of suggestions for a trail bag? I'm not planning on doing any hard-core wheeling (McGrew is probably the toughest I'd go on, at least until I get built a bit more).




Things I've learned:

Braking = good. Helps keep you from bouncing around too much. (Thanks Travis. My e-brake thanks you too...now wanna help me R&R it? )

Trust your spotter. But trust yourself more. There were a few lines that were suggested that I either fudged on (and glad I did) or wish I'd run differently (not that any lines ended badly). (Hmm, I think I see a comment like that after just about every wheeling trip.) Not that the spotting wasn't great, it was absolutely fantastic (no complaints Curtis, you bailed me out of plenty of spots ). Of course by the end of the trip I wanted to go back and redo it all, because I could see a lot of mistakes I'd made (including sometimes not listening more to my spotter :whoops: ).

Locked Diffs = pivot point. With that rear locked you're NOT going to be able to easily swing wide around any obstacle. That one kinda caught me by suprise the first obstacle, and nearly ruined the line for me.



I'm sure everything I've posted is blindingly obvious. But I'm still the newbie, so it's news to me!

 

[Fly Rod]

Just a couple of random thoughts I had re: things I've learned, decided, or would like to know.

Things I've decided:

Big thought is...I need armor. Lots and lots of armor. I want a blacksmith from 1650 to look at the bottom of my rig and go "Hey, that looks familiar." Any suggestions on cheap armor, unfortunatly my pocketbook won't be able to fork out for the good stuff. Basically I want the capability of wheeling like Travis, while actually wheeling more like Allen.
(Travis, maybe you could post up some pics of your setup? Or do you have them already in the "It's not REALLY a cruiser" forum?)


Things I'd like to know:

First off....pretty much the entire trail my back end slid around, it had (seemingly) very little grip on it. It seemed to me that FlyRod's gripped way better....maybe tires and/or pressure? Travis, aren't you running Toyo M/T's? (Mine are basically new tires...er....were new tires. Maybe that's why?)

What sort of suggestions for a trail bag? I'm not planning on doing any hard-core wheeling (McGrew is probably the toughest I'd go on, at least until I get built a bit more).




Things I've learned:

Braking = good. Helps keep you from bouncing around too much. (Thanks Travis. My e-brake thanks you too...now wanna help me R&R it? )

Trust your spotter. But trust yourself more. There were a few lines that were suggested that I either fudged on (and glad I did) or wish I'd run differently (not that any lines ended badly). (Hmm, I think I see a comment like that after just about every wheeling trip.) Not that the spotting wasn't great, it was absolutely fantastic (no complaints Curtis, you bailed me out of plenty of spots ). Of course by the end of the trip I wanted to go back and redo it all, because I could see a lot of mistakes I'd made (including sometimes not listening more to my spotter :whoops: ).

Locked Diffs = pivot point. With that rear locked you're NOT going to be able to easily swing wide around any obstacle. That one kinda caught me by suprise the first obstacle, and nearly ruined the line for me.



I'm sure everything I've posted is blindingly obvious. But I'm still the newbie, so it's news to me!

Agreed on the armor. But remember real armor = real weight so protect what you need to and don't worry about the rest.

The Hi lift trail kit contains some good items. It is $55 and has the basics for hi lift recovery, including a tree saver, but not winch recovery.

You did fine on the trail. Different tread patterns have better slip angles from different directions. Your would probably push up the steapest stuff while mine would slip. Mine are probably just better on side angles. Also, carefull application of power can help alot on keeping things hooked up. I am still working on that one. You tires may also really like lower pressures???

All in all I was very impressed at how you did for a total newbe.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Everyone did good, yes watching the spotter a little more would be good, but we're all a little guilty of that... Steve, thanks for letting me try to crush your muffler.... I'll get what's left next time!

Avatars for Al...

 

[knoll0351]

There is a thread on the FJC sight with my build up, but the picture quality isn't very good. It would probably be better to model your skids after Garett's or fab some similar. Flyrod's right especially on the 80 there aren't as many bits that need protection and covering the whole undercariage would be rather heavy. Thicker steel protecting smaller areas will be much more affective.






I used some half inch plate to protect the bolt heads where it attatches to the cross member. And the angle iron that I used to attatch to the core support is protected by the actuall IFS skid.

 

[knoll0351]

Here I used the last of that half inch plate that I had bought as scrap from the steel yard as armor for the lower control arm mounts...this is definately a good idea to keep yours as pristine as they still are.

And yes I know that the welds here on the control arm mount armor are lousy...I'm not nearly as good a welder with a buz box...especially with stick that is meant to be used on the level.

 

[TOY350]

Like I said before, on the 'Con I used EVERY piece of armor I have put on my 80. The only thing I hit on the McGrew in my 80 was my cat skid (part of the slider) and a rear control arm which I am working on some additional protection for. I think sliders on an 80 are must right behind the transfer skid. You can replace your bumpers when they start falling off

 

[Ebag333]

Like I said before, on the 'Con I used EVERY piece of armor I have put on my 80. The only thing I hit on the McGrew in my 80 was my cat skid (part of the slider) and a rear control arm which I am working on some additional protection for. I think sliders on an 80 are must right behind the transfer skid. You can replace your bumpers when they start falling off

Rear control arm (both the mount--which I put a decent dent in--and the arm itself) I definatly need to fab up some armor for.

I've considered going Steve's route with a custom exhaust routed above the frame. After I get a body lift (1") I'll look into that as it should buy me enough room to easily do it. Plus I guess you can sell your cats if you go after market to pay for most of the new exhaust.

I've already started thinking of easy ways to reinforce the stock bumpers to save some $$$...

 

[Darkrealms]

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I see a plasma cutter, I have a new friend ; )

Gabe if you can make it, or have have someone that has the tools help you.

 

[knoll0351]

I bought it to use so if anyone needs some assistance with fab work I'll make myself as available as I can. Gabe and I have been PMing about that very subject. Just need a pneumatic tube bender now.

 

[Darkrealms]

I bought it to use so if anyone needs some assistance with fab work I'll make myself as available as I can. Gabe and I have been PMing about that very subject. Just need a pneumatic tube bender now.

Well sorry don't have one of those but I did get myself the Millermatic Passport Plus. I'm actually pretty impressed with it but I think I still like Argon over CO2.