Things I should check BEFORE Uwharrie

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sarca

sarca

I upped my wrenchin skills, now up yours!
10 Year
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Jun 2, 2012
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Coastal NC
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onsc4x4.com
So BEFORE Uwharrie in September...what random things should I check on my 40..Im driving it all the way there from the coast..itll have brand spanking new suspension ... what other 'little' things should I check?

I plan on only trying the baby trails..fluids are all good, no leaks...AND while Im at it...what random parts and pieces/tools are good to bring along...JUST IN CASE...?

Dont even worry about what I do or dont have...just tell me what you wouldve brought your first time out on the trails if youd only known THEN what you know now..Besides..I like overpacking!
 
kinda random thing but i actually take mine on the full highway loop around charlotte so that i am running at highway speed for a decent amount of time to make sure temps are good and things seem to be good once im off highway.

Have you put it into 4wd and then out? sounds simple but you'd hate to get there and that not even work.
 
Before I got her, it had gotten a 2F dropped in..works like a charm...but I dont know the transfer case shifting pattern...or if the original shifting pattern couldve been kept with it..The shift pattern plate on the glove box is for the original F and 4wd shift pattern..is there an easy way to tell? Could I eff it up by trying different gears until I figure it out?
 
All of them are the same both older / newer. Until you got to a 88 fj62 then it is vacuum. See if it has the 2wheel low mod done.

I usually bring stuff like starter / alt / birfs / driveshafts / fuel hose / clamps of all sises / fluids / couple vise grips incase i brake another brake line to clamp it off so still have brakes. I bring more than that when i go up there for a week but you get the idea.
 
Also, go over all bolts / nuts under it one time before you head out, then again when you get there. I always check mine before i hit the trails and usually look under at lunch and then again when i get off the trails.
 
check your wallet.....you can buy whatever you need from Darin...lol
 
did you say just in Tcase??? :D
ask steve bout his first time out...... although someone did tell hed be alright on daniel in a stock 40 :D
 
as far as tools a metric wrench and socket set plus two screwdrivers and a hammer go a long way. Others like darin mentioned are good ideas too, the vice grips esp. Zip ties can be a life saver and bring some extra fluids since youve checked em all currently, but water and oil are always nice to have on the long drive. Sounds like youve checked knuckles for grease and drivetrain for oil. How bout a couple shots of grease in each ujoint?

Youll likely end up with a tool bag and a recovery bag that stay in the truck and get updated each time out. Thats how mine evolved. And of course a first aid kit because we all know you aint wrenchin till you draw blood :D
 
^ and you keep forgetting a land cruiser
 
Hose clamps and vise grips are on the top of the list. I typically carry a small bag with a simple assortment of tools. You're new suspension will have a break-in session on the trail and you'll definitely want to tighten that hardware after a day out on the trail so bring what you need specifically for that. Looking forward to seeing MeJane on the trail. There's a good possibility I'll have my newly lifted fj60, Sandy, out there too for her maiden voyage.
 
Truth of the matter is that it is hard to know exactly what to bring. Best you can do is plan from your own experience and theu suggestions of others based on their experience. To bring "everything" you might need will require towing a trailer.

The basics are a good tool box with all the basics (as detailed above) and the parts required to get you home or at least off the trails. Recovery gear is a requirement as far as I am concerned, winch included. Extra oil and water are also a must. Water can be the drinking water you carry as well.

Basically, the older the vehicle and it's parts, the more you wind up carrying. The harder the trails you run the more you carry. I carried a front CV axle and rear axle even for my brand new FJC. I drove my FJC home from Uharrie, 200 plus miles, in front wheel drive when I broke the rear output shaft of the T-case going up Daniel. Far too much skinny pedal on my part. A spare rear drive shaft is also a good idea if you are running harder trails.

So you see, the list can be endless. Jerry just smoked a radiator driving down the road a week or so back, what happens if this occurs at the top of Mason Jar at Harlan? Odds are you will not have a spare with you and finding one locally to swap out will be tough. But who carries a spare radiator?

Your worst case scenerio is going to be something like a radiator failure that leaves you on a trail. At that point it is a matter of either finding a replacement part and swapping on the trail or towing to the trail head and aranging transport from there. This is why I decided to trailer whatever rig I am bringing even if it is a daily driver. It may cost more in fuel but it is a cheap insurance policy.

Always go with others, it betters your odds at having what you may need even if you have not brought it yourself.
 
SOO Much good advice..I think the ONLY thing I have on lockdown is the first aid kit - but then again, Im bringing my own medic with me (the huz, retired corpsman)

This is going to be a busy month..I want to try and get the winch on before then - my huz had the idea of putting it on a removable reeses hitch on the front...I havent even had a chance to look around at whether that would work..

Someone mentioned lugnuts - we're covering this as we finish up the suspension- theres one on front wheel thats broken off, figured Id look at it when we pull it off next week.

Radiator is brand new and good to go...so thats one thing I wont be too terribly concerned with..Im more worried about the oil gauge not registering..thatll be hopefully fixed in the next month too.

I feel like Im going to show up and introduce myself and the conversations will be:

Me:Hi Im Charity
All of you:Hi Im (insert generic real name here)
Me: (pause) Im sorry...who? Whats your mud name? OHHHH youre that guy who (insert story from here)

Im looking forward to seeing everyones rigs, taking lots of notes and filing away hundreds of questions.

Anymore suggestions, stories or suggestive stories?
 
if I ever get a winch it will be removeable to use on the front /rear, and to store out of the elements...
a wise idea IMO
 
As Stan mentioned up there these older vehicles will break something.

If i go wheelin for 5 days and do not break something then i did it wrong. That is my motto. And usually i succeed. I am actually proud of it also, cause everytime i have made it back down and onto the trailer. Note i said trailer.

If you get stuck up there, i know there are more than a few of us that can get the cruiser home for you.
 
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