Upgrading to the next level RDE2ROK

A shot from EJS in Moab this year. I'm getting the itch to get back out, the weather is cooling down and Jeeping season is around the corner.
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RDE2ROK said:
The summer months are too hot, that's when I make improvements & maintenance. It's also a good time for shows & M&Gs. But the cooler weather is around the corner.:thumb:
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Wow, our weather is so different. I will be parking my Jeep all winter and our summer is fairly cool, minus a hot day here and there. I always used my Jeep in the snow but our province uses salt on the roads so there is no way I'm using my restored jeep in winter.

Look forward to seeing more photos!
 
Got to see your rig briefly in Tucson. The pics are awesome but seeing it in person, even from a distance, is very impressive! [emoji106]
 
USMC Wrangler said:
Got to see your rig briefly in Tucson. The pics are awesome but seeing it in person, even from a distance, is very impressive! [emoji106]
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It was a very cool event supporting Law Enforcement in Tucson and a big turnout. Here is a drone pic of the staging area. And a few pics of the event including SWAT & Bomb Squad officers. What a great time.
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John, Rig looks good, and nice photos on the outing...Keep up the good work! I hope to be back in the spring, but enjoying the mountain wheeling in the meantime.
 
My build has been finished (kinda) for 14 mo and I've been on some pretty difficult trails, that being said, after every wheeling trip I always wash it inside & out and even underneath! The next day I start under the rear with an assortment of wrenches, big screwdriver, flashlight,rag and a small grease gun. I work my way to the front, steering ,tires,wheels,eng, look for fluid leaks and check for cracks in everything and tighten bolts. You get the picture. I've been a truck driver for almost 28 years and have a lot of experience in pre-trips and post-trips. But I can't believe what I saw this last weekend!
We drove to a jeep event about 60 mi from our house, and 60 mi back. Doing 70 to 80 mph on the freeway, RTI ramp, and about a block from my house I hear a noise from the left front and then the esp light comes on! I pull in my garage and this is what I saw! SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME!
Understand that I'm running High Steer arms, kinda like the EVO setup.
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Yes, you see it right! Two bolts were missing,one I pulled out with my fingers and only one is in tact!
All three bolts were broke, but to the eye they looked fine. I put a wrench to them a few times after the build was fresh but they never were loose, so I always give them a visual.
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I hope everyone learns a lesson from this. My wife and I are lucky to be alive, this could have turned out very bad.
 
This is my next plan, double sheer.
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I will have to get some high steer arms machined to align with the lower arm ( knuckle )


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That is crazy how those bolts sheared like that, glad to see you caught it when you did and nothing bad happened to you or your wife.
 
hinrichs said:
That is crazy how those bolts sheared like that, glad to see you caught it when you did and nothing bad happened to you or your wife.
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Thanks for the thoughts. I just thought this was a good lesson for everyone to see and take notice. Safety is very important to us all.:thumb:
 
RDE2ROK said:
Thanks for the thoughts. I just thought this was a good lesson for everyone to see and take notice. Safety is very important to us all.:thumb:
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I will admit I have been very lazy with checking things on my jeep, and motorcycle, so I am glad you posted about this.
 
Ouch scary crap for sure!!! Looks like they loosened up after a while and simply cracked, ugh! Also nworth checking the heims themselves, as much as I like them for a trail only rig, I do not recommend them for street usage as far as steering.

Awesome that all turned out well!
 
Glad that didn't let loose on the freeway!!!! Good to hear you made it home! I too like that you posted this to help remind me to do the same check as we do get complacent at times and don't check enough. I like your double shear idea, I'll have to work on that one myself! :thumb:
 
Desert Rose JK said:
Glad that didn't let loose on the freeway!!!! Good to hear you made it home! I too like that you posted this to help remind me to do the same check as we do get complacent at times and don't check enough. I like your double shear idea, I'll have to work on that one myself! :thumb:
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This was a big wake up call for me. Feeling very blessed that nothing happened on the freeway. You know I wasn't putting any blame on anyone but disappointed in myself. I'm taking the the jeep to a machine shop to get the broken studs extracted and will be looking into getting some arms made. :beer:
 
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