My buddy got a new 4 runner (to him) and wanted to try and go four wheeling for the first time. We went to a trail called Rainbow falls on Sunday. Place was an absolute circus, worse than trail riding in moab back when EJS was busy.

That is the sad deal about things right now...people just keep piling in rather than turning around and finding something else or somewhere else to go.

I hope to see NOBODY out there when I hit the road in a week :cotter:

The crazy part was all the big groups camping.

I didn't expect it to be that busy but not that surprising. Tr mountain towns and counties dont want anybody visiting. Plus all the high country trails are still closed with snow. The other major area for side by sides and dort bikes is closed for mud season. So trail choice is lowish, plus everybody getting cabin fever

I am finally getting around to finishing all the crap I listed. I've spent the last two Saturdays at my friend's garage, fabricating and wrenching. I hope to have this thing ready for more 4x4ing soon.

My tires are getting pretty bald. I would love to step up to some 40s, but there are some other upgrades I would like to do before then. Mainly, I'm still running a spool in the rear. I street the Jeep all too much for a spool or even an automatic locker. I think the next chunk of change will be spent on an ARB for the rear in order to save tires some.

Stimulate the economy with your stimulus check already!

Man, it was really hard not to pull the trigger on an ARB/compressor when it came through. I'm saving it, though, because I would like to wait until they do one of those deals where they'll throw in the free compressor.

I'm ready for an ARB and I'm curious to see what my gears look like, as I have nearly 10k miles on them now and they were set up by me. :cotter:

Well if they haven't gone boom yet, you're pretty safe I'd say :lol:

Even if they didn't look perfect, can't change them now anyhow.

Yeah, I'd wait until the free compressor deal as well.

Well thanks to Justin, who alerted me on the moving sale at East Coast Gear Supply, I just dropped the money on an ARB and all of the accessories for my 14 bolt, including an ARB air compressor and tank.

Giggidy.

hell yeah!!

i'm super excited to try the ARB on the trail, i've never run selectable before.

Yeah, ARB are the shiz, have had them in a couple vehicles now.

I have the twin compressor in my JK, but I use CO2 to run the locker...the twin compressor and the Monster Valves are a pretty fast filler for my 40s.

You'll be tickled w/ them..nothing like flipping the switch and locked, out of the mess and another flip and you're steering freely!!

Enjoy!

Now that I have one, I’m curious how much I’ll actually use it. One, because I have a Detroit in the front and I bet most of the time I won’t even need to lock the rear. Also, do people just turn them on once they get to the trailhead or is it a constant on/off ordeal based on how tough the section is that you’re about to attempt? I guess I’m wondering if it’s at all hard on the locking mechanism to be locked/unlocked regularly. This is all about to be new to me. I can’t wait to get it in and try everything out.

When I had arbs front and rear back in the day. I would lock the rear when I started wheeling. Would lock the front when I needed it.

I have an Eaton e locker in the front now and just lock it when I needed it. After having both I really like the e locker.

my plan is to leave them open until i get to a worthy obstacle, lock both in, then unlock as needed to maneuver/dig. but we'll see if that plan changes as i learn this new config.

currently running a DeWALT 60V compressor ratchet strapped in the back :lol:

This makes me laugh. It’s only stupid if it doesn’t work.

Depends on terrain...Moab, open until I get to an obstacle that requires them. It’s so sticky out there that 2wd or basic 4wd are usually enough. But both help when needed, or when you simply want NO struggle!

CO, it gets slick n wet, use them when I need them, which is more regularly than in Moab.

Bottom line, I flip them on and off all the time, because turning is so much easier with them off... just so damn handy.

to be fair ... you also wheel a school bus :roflmao:

Why not an Eaton Elocker?

Not available for a 14 bolt.

As in ECG didn't have it in stock, or that your particular flavor of 14bolt doesn't have one available?

I do know there are eaton Elockers for some 14bolts, but with enough variations........

I used to lock the rear most of the time and leave the front open. Then when it looked like I would need it, or when I did need it, I would lock in the front. I rebuilt the front one a few times, they are pretty basic inside, I wouldn't worry about their robustness in terms of repeated lock/unlock.

It’s only offered for the 9.5” semi float axles. The only selectable locker for a 10.5” full float 14 bolt is the ARB at this time.

Gotcha.

:squint:

My TJ had ARB lockers, too :f2:

Also because they suck.

I'd rather have an electric locker than air for ease, but unless an Eaton came my way ridiculously cheap...nope.

I have really liked mine so far :dunno: (about 2 years)

After hearing enough people with problems with them, they're lack of serviceability and customer service, and machining tolerances (thanks to Chris Vetteboy)...I'll pass on them...especially in a 1 ton application.

If I were to go to a selectable in the buggy, it would also be competition style (e.g. always locked unless unlocked, instead of the opposite).

Ditto. Whenever I get around to wheeling again. Lol

i thought that was a good idea too, but they are a lot more $$. between the Yukon ZIP and ARB, standard vs comp, and the 9"/d60 combo ... the pair of standard ZIPs was enough cheaper i didn't even second guess it.

Yeah more expensive, but on some of the trails we run...well worth it. Not having am axle locked could cause far more damage in the long run.

Well...I didn't go wheeling...I'm out in Montrose doing it now :f2:

Ran Capamity and Die Trying yesterday, I'd imagine Death Row and Cactus 1 or 2 today.

Doubt well do Boulder Canyon...but maybe hit up 21 Road on the way home :cool:

I have always wanted to run all the Montrose trails. One day.

This happened last weekend. :lol:
https://i.imgur.com/K1mVUE0.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jTjxXSh.jpg

NICE!!!!

:rock:

:rock: :lol:

Spent Friday through Monday in Montrose this last weekend....had a blast wheeling.

We did Calamity (like half a dozen times, different routes, dropping in different ways), Die Trying twice (made the exit the second time), and Cactus 1 out Cactus 2. Our group ran Death Row, but my buddy Matt and I were the last two in the group, the trail had a lot of rigs on it (one other group we all know and everyone wheels together), so we turned around as by 3pm, three of 10 rigs had gotten through the first obstacle...with three more or so and an exit to go.

Need to get back out there and do Death Row, then step it up and do Boulder Canyon...but that's a "don't plan anything else the entire day" trail.

Total carnage:
1.) A sidewall puncture - rallying to catch up to the group on Death Row, and didn't need to. Threw plugs in it and it was good to go the rest of the trip
2.) My winch - power studs are contacting the case, so just need to go in and get some isolation made up out of nylon washers/nuts
3.) My steering wheel and disconnect. Must have left it on the cowl of the buggy when I left. $170 mistake right there :banghead:

Some pictures and video...mostly on Calamity dicking around. Some links to video on FB (not sure if they'll work).

https://www.facebook.com/mike.lopez....9766548048813/

https://www.facebook.com/mike.lopez....2656934426441/

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4ac1773b_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b197a344_c.jpg

Exit of Die Trying:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c659c8fd_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fcf5f689_c.jpg

:rock: not sure why I never wheeled montrose back in the day. Looks like a lot of fun.

It was a hell of a blast.

Death row is no joke...looking forward to running through it (hopefully before Boulder).

Did my first night wheeling the last night there (pretty much everyone went out the two night before until 2-4am playing around, but I was just too beat). Gotta do more of that, especially having all the lighting for it now.

Helps that a close friend of mine (one of my groomsmen) now lives there. He brought out an RV he just bought (older one he picked up for $2k) for me to crash in :rock:

HELL YEAH, DUDE :rock:

How close are those trails to the city of montrose?

From like dead middle of town...25-30ish minutes?

It took me about 25 minutes in the truck to get from camp to the Ace Hardware in town.

Or, at least to the area we stayed at, right near Calamity.

Death Row, Die Trying, Topless, Cactus, etc. we're about a 10-15 minute "drive" down Rim Road in the rigs.

Boulder is a little way away, same-ish distance from town but on another stretch of road...haven't been there yet.