I measured tonight and it looks like an 8" ram gets me stop-to-stop and as close to 38deg as I can measure. For now I'll stick with the 8" ram I have and build the mount to accept a 10' ram in case I end up needing it.

 

All fit in. Took way more effort than I would have thought, but pretty happy with the result. Now to figure out the sides.

 

that turned out awesome!

 

Looks really nice.

 

Thanks. I’m struggling with how to close out the corners. Too many different directions going on.

 

Cardboard and duct tape

 

Work in progress. I had a version 1 that I wasn't super happy with. This one will be 3 pieces welded together since I don't have the tools or lack the skills with what I have. The third piece will be added on the right and then.. yep.. more expanded steel.

 

One corner to go

 

Final corner. What a PITA.

 

Looks nice tho

 

looks really nice! Great work and great attention to detail.

 

I agree! Great work!

 

Great job

 

Thanks all. Now to finish up a few more things and I'll be ready for AOAA.

I picked up a vacuum brake bleeder. Looking forward to seeing if does any magic on my brakes. They aren't bad, but there's room for improvement.

 

I have used this with great results: Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder with Auto-Refill Kit

 

I got the Amazon 5 uncle brand. Looks pretty much identical.

I put a front tow point on the winch tray. I thought had some 3/8” flat, but it was only 5/16. It’s two pieces welded together for 5/8” thickness. I made one leg long to extend down the winch tray and used my press to bend it to shape. Hopefully that's enough weld surface.

 

Loving these progress pics. Makes me want another project LOL!

When do you hope to have it "complete" ?

 

lol complete. We are headed to AOAA/Rausch Creek the weekend after Labor Day, so I'm trying to knock out some nice to dos for that. When we get back I'd like to make a full set of panels for it, so if I do want to run them the tabs are there. I've also gone back and forth and adding a tube here or there. Then I hope to tear it down and paint it. I'll work in tear down and paint around any other potential wheeling opportunities. When I reassemble I want to use some Deutsch connectors to make it easy to remove electrical. I figure disassembly will show me where I need them.

 

When I reassemble I want to use some Deutsch connectors to make it easy to remove electrical. I figure disassembly will show me where I need them.

Great idea. I've been adding extra connectors with that same thing in mind. Trying to think ahead when things need to get pulled or serviced.

 

I bled the brakes. It drew down some fluid, but not crazy amounts like I thought it might. Tried to watch a few videos to see how quickly other units draw down the master. In the end, brakes feel the same. So either I had a decent bleed on the brakes or the unit did nothing. I did test that it pulled vacuum and it does. Not crazy amounts but there's some suction.

follow up: for a sanity check I poured the recovered brake fluid into an empty container and then used the device to vacuum it out. It seemed to do fine. So I think it's just my brakes require a lot of throw.

 

Saturday I noticed that my drinker's side upper ball joint was loose and the cotter pin was still in place. The upper ball joint had pulled up about 3/8". Driver's side is fine. I ordered a fresh spicer unit from Jeffs Bronco Graveyard. Took it apart tonight. Was struggling to pull the axle shaft out, finally it came out with the inner axle seal stuck on the shaft. FML

I was able to cut it off without f'n up the seal surface, so that's a win. Also had a spare set of inner seals in the cabinet. So tomorrow I'll pull down the driver's side and remove that axle shaft, drop out the ring and pinion, and install at least one new inner seal. I have a feeling the other will have the same fate.

Leave Thursday morning. But at least everything else is good to go.

 

drinker's side upper ball joint

You watch Vice Grip Garage?

Was struggling to pull the axle shaft out, finally it came out with the inner axle seal stuck on the shaft. FML

Wow I've never seen that before. Thank goodness for being prepared with spare parts ready to go!

 

"Drinker's side".... I like that

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

You may have hit upon his actual problem.
🍸🍸🍹🍹🍺🍺

 

Went to AOAA with @whiterhino and 2 other rigs. We attempted Mammoth on Friday and got kicked around by it. Was still a good day on the trail and Saturday was fun running other parts of AOAA.

I want to return and get redemption.

 

Damn that looks rough!
What would work better, longer wheelbase, shorter, wider, skinnier?
Looks like a great place to snap axles

 

What would work better, longer wheelbase, shorter, wider, skinnier?

I dunno. Sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller. Probably best to be a helicopter.

 

^^^ What he said.

 

Oh, but sir, i want me some of that😅

 

with 8000 acres, they have something for most everyone. Lots of SXS, quad, and dirt bikes out there. We chatted with a group that had rigs from mostly stock to reasonably built and they have been coming from 3 hours away for years. They were running blue and black trails. We ran a few black and reds.

Mammoth is their halo crawling trail. It cost money to build, but still cheaper than land restoration. They now have something to bring in crawlers from all around, and could easily host competition crawls on it with easy to spectate access. They had hosted a few Ultra4 races in other sections of the park in the past.