Oil and Hello!

Well, i haven't posted in a while... i've been calming down. But now that i'm cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce, watch out for a flurry of posts about jeeps! i just changed the oil, it was black as the paint (Ding! change oil light came on the day i changed it). So it has fresh oil now, it's going to need it, we're going to Uwharrie tomorrow! Just before my 700 mile trip to Raleigh NC, i also grabbed a new serpentine belt. The OEM belt had some noise after 35K miles and that really muddy weekend we had 2 weeks ago. There's lots more maintenance coming in the next few posts, covering lifting the jeep, adding tires and a great CB install. Cheers! P.S. I'll edit this post with the miles later today.

Growing Pains!

Well, i need to post some pics of my stock 2008 JK. Every time i climb underneath to change oil or clean, i notice the customized components, exhaust, skid plates, control arms, etc. If i take 3 grown men with me wheeling, we tend to level out the trail and that's just no fun!

So, i jumped. Let's start with all the internet research i did. Let's not, there's too much and you can do it yourself! Listen, in the end i found a guy who specifically loves JKs. The guy who loves YJs recommended a $500 Full-Traction coil and sprint kit. Great!

I call back and talk to Jerrod, the owner me thinks and he talked me into the premium 3" lift kit. It's not listed on the web site for one, so you won't find it there. It's the basic kit with a few more extras. It adds quick disconnects for one. Most importantly it adds adjustable track bars. Who cares? Well, if you like your axels off center you care. It also adds upper control arms to get the caster correct. If you care how it rides ON the road, you want the alignment right. So, i'm in.

i drive in, drop off a jeep and 22 hundred duckets, then 8 hours later pick up a jeep that is 3" taller.

Man will it look cool! i'm so excited for my friends to see me with my cool looking j33p!...

No i'm not. i don't care. What was sold to me is a suspension where the cold rolled MI steel springs won't relax like my stockers have. i've been sold no more climbing under with an 18 and 19mm set of wrenches to disco the swizay. i'm sold components that allow for much for articulation without stressing out the sub par components of the rock solid stock ride.

If it does 3" with a great rode ride then it's worth it. Yep, could have gotten it 3" taller by buying a kit myself and hoping i don't lose my hands while compressing those coils. No thanks, i'll keep my hands thank you, they're worth more than 2200 cabbages.

Ya right, prove it you say and being a fine judge of bourbon and an all around great person... you're absolutely right.

This is supposed to be done on the 19th. i need to be in Morrisville soon for work. I'm gonna put the 3 more inches through 700 miles. Then i'm going to work. Then i'm going to buy a day pass at Uwharrie National Forrest. i'll have the iPhone 4 with the larger gee bees with me. i will have pics and movie ready with a trail review. i know those trails VERY well and have been over them all in this jeep many times. Let's see what 3" will do! That's what she said anyhow.

Ah hem, yes, the stock tires are staying on. This same group, Unlimited Offroad Centers, gets Rubicon pull off rims/tires so i think i'll be in for some of those before the snow flies. Which could be next week ;-)

Take care fellow wheelers, posers and wanna bees!

MI Maintenance

So i'm in MI and summer is fast approaching. Hehe, ya in NC it's been there a while. In MI however, jeep maintenance has some disadvantages, mainly it's COLD!

When i got here for instance, i re-took the running boards off. Sure, no problem, get under the jeep, losen a few bolts and bamb, job done. Right? No, in a cold garage in MI you first put down some moving pads to shield you from the cold. While you're under there, the snow is melting and dripping on your face, in your eyes and in your mouth. Yuk!

i have also been so busy that i have neglected my blogging, boooo! So to recap, we rented a lake home in MI. We moved out of our home in Apex, NC, which incidentally i handled without my wife. What a chore! The stuff we took to the summer home fit in a 6x12 dual axle covered Uhaul. i was so busy that i didn't write the mileage down when changing the oil prior to making the trip to MI. Yep, i pulled that bad boy with my jeep (fresh oil). It took it like a champ, getting 17mpg. I have the towing package with the 373 rear and it did a phenomenal job. I couldn't ask anything more from it.

I just changed the oil again at 27,706 miles. That was at about 3000 miles give or take, so the change before driving up here must have been around 24K something. The last post showed that i changed it at 22,250 so there was no long change in there.

So lets talk about tires! In Raleigh my stock tires were awesome. I mean, on the road they're responsive, tire wear is great, there's no road noise. Off road they were great! What's that you say? How can stock tires be great? Well, we primarily went to Uhwarrie where the terrain is rocky and sandy with very little mud. There you don't need great tread. When I trashed a tire i would go and get a new (used) one mounted for $58. In MI? Oh man do they rot! They suck bad in the snow for daily driving. They suck in the rain! They're expensive! MI wheeling involves copious amounts of mud and these are simply a road tire, a complete failure in the mud.

So i'm looking for tires. Guess what? 18" rims suck! The prices for the same tire in 16" are not only cheaper but you have a much wider range of choices. So the hunt for rims and tires begins. i think that now that i'm dealing with mud i'll also need at least a rear locker. First let's get some rims and tires, then lets deal with a locker.

This brings me to the real jeep knowledge: Build a rig for it's purpose. i see all these tricked out jeeps and ask myself, "do they really drive all over the country and experience vastly different terrain?" i highly doubt it. They just look cool right? i guess if investing 25+ grand makes you look cool and you have it laying around then go for it. But i have that attitude, don't be a poser. Build your jeep for the conditions you ride in. Don't know what the conditions are? Get out there and wheel. Find out what sucks and fix it. Don't buy a winch cause they're on sale or look cool. Get a winch when you've been stuck with no one to help! Be practical damnit and keep the jeep spirit alive. Get inventive!

Preventative Maintenance

It's been a while since i last posted. In fact, since the last oil change. This change came at 22250. It was ready and so was i. Commuting 15 miles one way 5 days a week gets old and when the jeep does this lurching thing in 1st gear while crawling toward a stop sign, you know it needs new oil.

Fresh oil and man is that thing happy! Such a cheap, easy thing to do and man what a difference it makes to the health of the rig. Let's get back to the fact that i haven't posted in a while. It will all tie in later.

August 1st 2010, my partner and i had our 3rd child, a boy. A few months later we finally got a name, Bodhi Kai Taubitz. What a wondering little blessing, he truly is a gift. That's a huge reason i haven't posted; there's not much jeeping going on! Basically 100% family outside of work. During this time i have totally forgotten to change my own oil. Sad to say but true. I am lurching and sputtering. For me it's stress that manifests itself in what feels like chest pain or really bad heartburn. Both of which at my age should be checked out by a doctor. Whatever!

Two weeks ago i said screw it, exercise every day; and do it right! After a short two weeks of preventative maintenance i am worlds better. Still not great, but man what a difference. And in short, that's what this blog is about; forcing yourself to maintain a symbol of freedom. In that connection you remember that in a short 100K miles a beautiful machine can become broken down and decrepit unless you take the time to care for it. Likewise our short 100 years can become miserable and shortened if we don't take care of ourselves.

That's the jeep attitude, work and play hard and through it all take care of yourself! Sometimes taking care of yourself is changing the oil on a jeep, while other times it's going for a 5 mile hike with a good friend.

The 2 older kids and i have been to Uwharrie once since Bodhi's birth day, a nice day trip with the doors on and all the top with us. It was a nice cool peaceful day and we thoroughly relaxed. The rig and i are ready to spread our wings and look for new parks to conquer. I have a short list of items (mainly including tires) that we'll need to feel confident in exploring new unfamiliar territories. i am really looking forward to it.

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~Buddha

Calm before the storm

In preparation for tomorrow's heat fest i changed the oil and did the first differential oil change, front and rear. What's a heat fest? In this case it's when your son and his neighborhood friend convince both father's to go to Uwharrie for a day trip when it's 110 degrees. That's why i changed the oils.

It's been 2,696 miles since the last oil change. The still stock JK has 18,253 miles on the OD. i've been having thoughts of a 3.5" lift! i have done some research and there are some very moderate lifts that accomplish this and it will probably be time soon. i've been doing some research and i think i'm in that ~$500 price range. This should alleviate the customization of the skid plates and the need for much more armor.

i am also beginning to look for a camera so that i can better document this jeep before it gets modified.

pshhhhht! Just cracked a beer... Cheers to the JK. It's gonna work hard tomorrow.

Uwharrie National Forrest OHV Trails - What to expect

i realize looking back that you might not know what Uwharrie is, in the context of jeeping. This post is all about, in the context of wheeling/off roading, what Uwharrie is and what to expect if you take a trip for yourself. i will give you a good idea of what to bring to make the experience a peacefull one. Stress sucks!

i've been going to Uwharrie OHV since before they charged, since before the campgrounds had facilities or camp hosts. Over 10 years of experience. I remember my first time, no knowledge of the area, no trail map, no internet knowledge, a brand new 2000 TJ sport. We hit the first trail head which happened to be going UP Daniel. Time after time that's how we would start our journey, up the most difficult hill in the whole park! We felt nervous about getting stuck, about breaking our rig 'in the middle of no where'. It's sad in a way that i won't ever get to feel that way about this park again.

Today i virtually don't need a trail map. i know where you can do any type of wheeling, camping, hanging out that you desire; from the 'big rock' at Kodak Rock, to the 'fall off the side of the mountain' Daniel trail, to the mud pits and large group camp areas. It's high time i give that knowledge back. Ok ok, enough of memory lane.

Let's talk about the day trip and what you'll need (besides a good rig :). The day trip is essentially the same as a 4 day camping trip once you hit the trail and that is the important part. You're going to NEED:

• A cooler packed with some food for lunch and lots, more than you think, of water. Water bottles with caps are great so they don't spill.
• First aid kit.
• Toilet paper and/or paper towel.
• A shovel for all kinds of reasons. One shovel for a group of vehicles is all you need.
• Tire pressure gauge.
• Trail map!!!
• Good boots.

These are the things i consider necessities as well:

• CB Radio.
• Breaker bar and socket that matches your lug nuts.
• A 5th/spare tire that is THE SAME SIZE as your other 4 tires. You don't want to have to put on a smaller tire out on the trail, trust me.
• Tow strap.
• Spare parts for common ailments. Surpantine belt and spark plugs for example.
• Tools to change spare parts and disconnect sway bar links. Break down your tools to what you need, don't bring a big tool set. It adds weight, takes up space and you'll only use the tools you need to change those parts.
• Music :)
• A good hammer.
• Service points on the jeep. For my stocker jeep i take a hitch to put that tow strap on the rear. Make sure you have hooks up front as you don't want your friend pulling your axle off!

These make your trip much more enjoyable:

• Snacks and treats for kids. What defines a snack is up to you. At one point in my life a treat was a bottle of bourbon!
• A chain and lock to lock your jeep doors to a tree or post.
• A good video camera.
• A change of clothes and some toiletries to get cleaned up after the day is done.

After you're all packed up, set the cruise, take it easy, and drive to the Eldorado Outpost. Here is where you will air down your tires, my stock tires to down to 20 or 22 lb. This allows the sidewall to be more flexible for those sharp rocks. If you can, disconnect your sway bar and make sure to disconnect both sides. These two things are hands down the best performance improvements you can do. Take your top down and pack things for a bouncy trail ride. Go inside and purchase anything you like but make sure to get a trail map and a day pass, i got my season pass this year for $30.

Hit the trail and have fun. Remember, slow as you can, as fast as necessary. The guys giving their rides hell always break them and it destroys the park. If your rig isn't capable of going over that obstacle without flooring it, don't do it! Take the bypass or turn around and find another trail. Learn to stay 'on top' of everything even if you have a thousand foot deep gap under the jeep. Stop thinking like you're driving on the road and start thinking like you're driving on slippery rails.

Sometime around lunch time, make sure you stop at the top of Kodak Rock and eat. Hopefully you'll get to see some wheelers do what i told you not to! Hey it's fun to watch someone else break their rig and it's the most gut wrenching hollow feeling when you break yours.

If you're inexperienced, please take a friend with his rig. Getting stuck for 4 hours is NO FUN! Also remember that the trail at night is significantly different (in your mind). Small drop offs look like the end of the world and every little rock looks like a boulder so you might want to plan to get off the trail before it's dark. Remember your way back to the Outpost and that it will take you some time to get your rig ready for the road again.

Reconnect that sway bar. Air those tires back up. Here's a good hint, the bottom of the fill station has a red button that turns it on. I mean, if you feel like putting quarters in there, go ahead, but i don't :) Get under your rig and check for damage, especially leaking fluids. If all is good, head home and clean that jeep! This NC red mud turns into brick if left on in the hot sun. It gets everywhere so you need to climb under there and power wash it real good. It's gonna take a couple times of cleaning to get it good and clean. Also, i avoid the mud as much as i can. This mud is usually really fine silica in water that tends to get into idler bearings and destroy them. In your JK you probably should get some spare idler pulleys as i've heard of more than one jeeper losing one in a single day on the trail. Losing one tends to trash the belt so having both is a great idea!

Oh, if i didn't mention it, have fun and look around, enjoy the view. October is a spectacular month to go, the colors are awesome. i'll put together a post about the 2 person overnight camp trip in the fall. Camp out on the trail if you get the chance and you'll be treated to awesome stars at night!

As always, Cheers!

Father's Day Hotness Causes Carnage

i took the kids wheeling on Father's Day. It was hot. It was the kind of hot where the fan is constantly working harder to cool the motor, leaving the rest of the rig to soak in it's own heat. So hot that when i was reconnecting the sway bar and my forearm touched the front differential, my body reacted on its own and pulled away. That's hot. That's a great reason to change the diff oils.

The 'black dragonfly' as our family calls the jeep, definitely performed differently. I would go so far as to say that an older jeep would have boiled over or destroyed a battery... something! i also noticed that we humans acted differently, more sluggish. We're just different when we're that hot and the proof is in the fender, i mean pudding.

i was letting the boy sit in my lap and steer, as he likes to do. He decided that he wanted to take a trail offshoot and climb the hill. As it turns out the hill was easy, lame even, but turning off the trail proved difficult. The boy turned to the right and out of no where comes the chilling sound of plastic and metal doing the dance of death. The jeep had turned right into a fallen tree and the roots were like fingers coming out to rip sh1t off passing vehicles in a fit of mother nature fueled rage. When it was all over the passenger front fender popped 4 or 5 clips and the quarter is slightly bent in one spot. All in all not bad, but combined with the more than average underbody metal on rock sounds the day was just 'off'. It was sort of like listening to Bieber's voice and then finding out the voice belongs to a male. Something just wasn't right.

i re-learned this father's day that NC heat is no fun to wheel in during the day. This time of year save your wheeling time for early morning, late evenings, and best of all, night wheeling!

i'm gonna have plenty of repairs to keep me busy this winter!