Chele's Rubicon: A Page Dedicated To My Jeep

GWNF – Winter RunNov 8-11, 2007

2007-11-12T05:33:00.000-05:00

This trip was solely to relax and enjoy the camping experience.

We camped on Kephart Run, all the way at the end of the trail, which is equivalent to approximately twenty-two minutes of bumpy, winding forest service road that never ends. By the time we got there on Friday evening and settled in our camp chairs, it was six o’clock and absolutely dark.

On Friday morning, we woke up bright and early at 9am and started our day with a great breakfast and coffee. We took a leisurely run on Dry River (getting stuck twice in the process) and a ride up Second Mountain which turned into a night run on Gauley Ridge. Please note that my expert mapping skills saved us from spending the night, freezing our asses off, in the woods. Okay, so that’s a little exaggeration, but remember kids, just because the map says the road is there, doesn’t mean it is. Oh…and it started to SNOW!

For Saturday, we once again woke up late and decided to travel to Crabtree Falls. It turned out to be a lovely drive, with colorful trees and winding roads. The trail was fun, although we didn’t get to finish it before dark and decided to turn around and head back to camp. The hunters were roaming the trail threatening to shoot us if we didn’t leave. Well, not really threatening to shoot us, but implying they’d be hunting and one said “you sure got a purty mouth, boy.” Okay, maybe not that either, but they wanted us gone. You could tell.

Sunday we awoke early and departed.

The trip was fun and relaxing, even in temperatures just above 32 degrees with no showers. I haven’t been that happy to take a hot shower in quite some time.

Things I know because of this trip:

Fish DO die when they are frozen.
It costs $10-$15 to enter Shenandoah National Park (depending on what time of year it is.)
Degaussing ships is required to keep them from setting off magnetically sensitive ordinances.
Birds can land on high tension lines, but water pops. Still haven’t figured that one out.
The difference between a class III misdemeanor and the actual punishment is $4,500 and imprisonment of up to 6 months. (Don’t ask.)

Pictures to follow…..

Proof that I can change my own oil.....

2007-09-28T09:35:00.001-04:00

So what!? I'm a girl.

Here's the proof.

Thanks Ashley :)

Oak Ridge VA4WDA Annual Trail RunSep 21-23, 2007

2007-09-24T22:35:00.000-04:00

Good wheeling, good people, good prizes and most of all a way to raise money for a good cause. The VA4WD Association annual trail ride and poker run has something for everyone!

I wasn't particularly ready to go on a trail ride this year. My Jeep sat in the driveway for the last month waiting for some fluid changes and a new roll cage, but I was unable to get all that done. I ended up just rinsing off the GW mud and packing her up to get out of town on Thursday. No time for maintenance!!

The weather was perfect and there was only a 20% chance of rain. As it turns out, it did sprinkle a couple of times, once in the middle of the night, on my face, because I pulled back the rain fly on the tent for some air!

As for the trails, they were dusty but fun. Our group was lead by Keith who was wrangled into the job and we had several folks from Beltway Jeepers in our group. There were some damage, including some drive shaft problems, bent tie rods, and other minor issues, and one big hydro locked engine (OUCH!). The only problem I had was when I tried to line up my passenger side to get on a rock and ended up on my tie rod and drag link, which promptly bent a bit. Not enough to hinder the ride home, but enough to be looking for a heavy duty after market replacement.

For the raffle this year I won a bookbag from Tom Wood's and a shop light. A friend from Beltway gave me a certificate he won for a tax prep next year! Yay! Maybe next year I could win some tires...or...maybe not.

Can't wait for the 2008 run!!!!

To see the photo album of this trip click here.

West Virginia CampingBrandywine Campground - Aug 10-12, 2007

2007-08-14T21:36:00.001-04:00

This trip started as a way for me to get some rest and relaxation from work and as a way to celebrate my recent birthday. I was hoping to camp in GWNF, but with no men going, and only one other female friend arriving on Saturday, I decided to go for Brandywine Campground. The best place in the whole campground is the overflow area in the back. There is a wooded area past the field and it only costs $2 per day per person to stay there. You really feel like you are all alone back there. People camping near the front of the campground were like, "Where are you going all the way back there??" You couldn't hear a peep from the rest of the campground. Perfect!

There is a lake to fish and swim in and there is wildlife! We had an encounter with a mama bear and her cub. They were searching our campsite for food (which we had stashed in the trees). I was able to get a picture of them. It's kind of like those pictures of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. I swear it's a bear. The racoons were in my Jeep trying to get into the cooler that I tied down. I know because they left little muddy foot prints inside and on top of the Jeep.

As far as the actual four wheeling this trip - not too much. A new friend showed up and we took some basic trails. I tried to follow the topo map, but took a wrong turn and we had to ask some Deliverance hunters in the woods for directions out. The GPS she had worked great - if the forest service didn't gate their roads!!

Pictures No Worky

2007-07-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

If you try to click on a picture link below this post, it won't work. The communists at Yahoo Photo closed shop. I'll fix them when I have time.

VA4WDA 1st Annual Trail CleanupGWNF - May 5, 2007

2007-05-13T21:47:00.000-04:00

Yay! We get to pick up trash! Not. Okay, so I went on this trip, not because of my deep seeded need to help the environment and clean up the National Forest, but because I wanted to be with my friends and camp. Sue me.

I had to leave at 02:00am Saturday morning because I couldn't get out of town early enough on Friday and I didn't want to set up camp in the dark. Lennox and I arrived at 07:00am, which left just enough time for me to set up my camp before the impending afternoon rain.

The weather looked worse and worse as we went to our meet up location. It was definitely going to rain. I can't remember the name of our trail, but there were lots of tires to pick up. We started by winching tires up the side of the hill, but I suggested that we pull them up. I mean, where's the fun in letting the machines do all the work?! We collected trash until about noon, then deserted...trying to find a rock or two to climb on.

I lead our small group down Second Mountain, praying that it was open at the bottom. We climbed on the only rock on the trail, then headed over to Dry River.

Saturday evening, on our trip to town, I realized my Jeep was broke. Yup. Freakin' figures, huh? I didn't break it at GW though, I'm pretty sure it was a left over break from Crozet in March. I hadn't driven the Jeep since I got back from Crozet, so I didn't detect the problem. Seems like there's going to be a u-joint problem and if history is anything to learn from, maybe the axle shaft. We'll see when I clean her up to take her to the Jeep stealership.

The most memorable part of the trip was Saturday night. Between the margarita bucket and the bratwursts, I forgot my Jeep troubles and just enjoyed my friends.

It was a great weekend. Many thanks to Keith for letting me drive his bad-ass CJ home while he towed my limping TJ on his trailer.

VBJO March RunCrozet, VA - Mar 10-11, 2007

2007-03-13T21:49:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I got to go wheeling, so I really enjoyed this trip. Everyone was really laid back and we took it pretty easy. The weather was about 70-something degrees on Saturday and 60-something degrees on Sunday, so it was perfect for what we were doing. We stayed in cabins at the Misty Mountain campground, which was really nice. Running hot water is always good when it's cold at night!

I just have to mention that I started Saturday by hitting a tree first thing with my new bumper, scratching the paint right off. This is a big joke. Chele ALWAYS hits a tree. Well, I hit two. The second one was on Heckler Hill and I sustained very minor rear quarter panel damage getting up an obstacle.

Dave Phillips (CORE 4WD) was nice enough to lead us through blue/low black trails. For a lot of those with us, this was their first trip to Crozet. I had a lot of fun trying out new obstacles that I hadn't tried before. It's starting to get easier for me to drive now and I don't feel so out of control when the Jeep gets squirrelly.

Ironically my most expensive damage was sustained in Richmond on the way home. A boulder (well, large rock) flew up and hit my windshield and caused TWO breaks in the glass. Please take note; I JUST replaced the glass 300 miles ago because a rock hit my windshield, just outside Richmond, on the way home from a wheeling trip. Go figure.

You can view many shameless pictures of me and some of my friends here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Front Stinger Addition

2007-03-03T18:30:00.000-05:00

Since I have an issue with running into trees, it was necessary for me to get a new front bumper. This one is a bit more functional and less limiting. It was designed and built by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

Oak Ridge Video!!

2006-11-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

Bottom of Quarry Trail:

CJ5 Hill:

A Slideshow of the Jeep!!

2006-11-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

T4WD Annual RunOak Ridge Estates - Sep 21-24, 2006

2006-10-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

This was probably the most rushed trip that I have ever had! I didn't have Thursday off and had to work overtime or go to school a majority of the evenings that week, so I actually packed up the weekend before. I was able to speed my way to Oak Ridge and arrived at about 21:30. My friends were nice enough to save me a place and lend me a light, so I got set up pretty quickly. That first night was in the low 40's and facilitated my head cold to worsen.

I wasn't really in the mood to do anything crazy this weekend, so I took a lot of bypasses and only did a few good obstacles. I rode with group five tailed by my friend Jay. The rest of the group was from 7 Hills Jeep Club, a very friendly group of people. They were sensible and had some really nice rigs.

Somewhere along the way I noticed a noise in the front end. It sounded like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Turns out (thank you Paul) that it was a U-joint going bad; nothing that kept me from traveling home.

I am writing this several weeks after the trip and I have yet to get the Jeep cleaned or repaired. I've been so busy with work and school that I cannot find the time to do it.

And the picture above is the only picture of my Jeep from the entire trip. Being sick, I didn't take any pictures either, so it's my only picture memory of the whole weekend.

Stuff Just Happens...Now how do I keep up?

2006-06-30T20:34:00.000-04:00

Stuff is piling up in my life! Must get things done.

I hit a tree the other day. Oops! It was off-road and I swear that sucker jumped in front of me. Anyway, I must get that front bumper replaced. That's okay though, because I need some front tow hooks. It has come to my attention that my Jeep CAN get stuck. I just don't like to admit it.

I have a lovely crack in the windshield from a rock that got thrown up on the interstate. I think I'll just get the whole glass replaced. I can't drive with that break right in front of my eyes.

Then there's the oil leak that's still leaking, the dent that needs to be spray painted and the many other parts that should be touched up.

I'm a perfectionist sometimes and can't rest with a list of "stuff I need to do."

Oh! And I might have found a good deal on Rhino lining! I'll let you know how that works out!

VA4WDA Annual RunOak Ridge Estates - June 15-18, 2006

2006-06-18T23:07:00.000-04:00

We started this trip in the early afternoon on Thursday. Jay (and Armando), Keith (and Cheryl and Ethan), Dave P. and I all convoyed up together. We got there around 6pm and set up camp to enjoy a night of beer, DVD, and chat.

Day 2 started early with registration in the staging area. Somehow, Dave P. (Core) ended up being our trail guide. Things seemed to go smoothly as we registered and lined up. I think the most exciting part of Day 2 was Trail 2 and the hill climb. I managed to be the only Jeep to make it up the right side of the trail. No CLUE how that happened. It was a good day.

We wrapped up the night by watching the repairs, drinking lots of adult beverages, sitting around the tiki torch and having a wicked marshmallow fight!! Cheryl feared for her life when marshmallow-chucking individuals were falling over her tent! It got late...and the stars were beautiful.

Saturday was Day 3 and it started too early. I had developed a new wrinkle from lack of sleep. I felt bad, but kept moving. One of our first trails was Quarry. I had really been looking forward to this trail. I was excited about the large rocks in the river and the hill climb at the top. Both went well and the hill climb was a success, if not a bit crazy. I managed to make it though-with all parts in tact. It seems like I manage some sort of wheel in the air on each trip. Some mud and trails later, we arrived back at camp.

Saturday night was much the same as the last. We sat around the tiki torch, made smores, hit the adult beverages, listened to some music, and played toss-the-dollar-store-glow-in-the-dark-bracelette-thingee. Games were invented and hilarity ensued. There was a late night intervention with Aleve and water. Thank goodness! I hit the hay a little earlier tonight, in hopes of a better morning.

Sunday we packed up and headed home. I was happy to get home to my bed, but sad to end another weekend of fun.

Thanks to everyone who made the weekend possible and to everyone who spotted for me. It was great!

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Virginia Beach Jeeps Off-roadShow N' Shine May 20, 2006

2006-05-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

Virginia Beach Jeeps Off-road had a Jeep Show N' Shine to raise money for Operation Gratitude. They raised over $400 in cash and took in many donations to send packages to the troops. I wish I could have stayed all day, but the time I did get to spend with friends was GREAT!

Virginia Beach Jeeps Off-roadOBX Run Apr 23, 2006

2006-05-07T09:10:00.000-04:00

This was an absolutely beautiful day. It started out somewhat cloudy as we staged at Border Station to head off in a convoy. There were about 13 Jeeps and everyone was on time. As we headed south, the spring sunshine popped out of the clouds and made it a sunny event. CB chatter was amusing on the way there. I was leading this trip, as the other organizers were either broken (sorry Maria), working, or just too far away. I've never lead anything before!

As soon as we got there, we of course had to stop for a photo op while everyone got geared into 4WD. It was low tide, so we really didn't even need 4WD for a majority of the trip. I got stuck for two seconds at the very end of the beach and had to turn on my rear locker to break free!

On the way home, Rex's Jeep had some trouble about 45 minutes from the Virginia line on 168. It just stopped working. We pulled over to a gas station and after about 30 minutes of troubleshooting decided to just trailer it home. Which lead to the next problem, what's open on Sunday 45 minutes south of Virginia that has a rentable trailer? I'll tell you-nothing. Luckily on the way north looking for a place, we found a U-Haul rental place at a hardware store just south of the Virginia line. Rex and his friend were able to recover his Jeep with a considerable time and gas commitment.

All-in-all it was a good day...except for that one thing....but that's another story.

Thanks guys for making it a great run!

Tidewater Fourwheelers Members Only RunCrozet - Mar 25-26, 2006

2006-03-25T18:03:00.000-05:00

Crozet was crazy!

On day one, Saturday, I left Hampton Roads at 03:00 to get there with enough time to check into my shared cabin, stretch my winch, air down, and disconnect. Turns out I got there in plenty of time! We had some snow/rain mix early on. Nothing like starting out trails that are sketchy for our size rigs with even more sketchiness! So much happened, I can hardly remember it all. I tried to go up this rocky slope and couldn't make it and actually got stuck between a tree and a hard place trying to turn around! (How humbling. Thanks to you guys for helping me out without tearing my top off!) I know there was some mechanical problems, a broken shock mount, broken track bar mount, quite a few stucks, some new scratches and dents, lots of posing on a big rock that had its own concerns, and a rollover!

Saturday night turned out to be far milder than the rainy/snowy day. Dinner was prepared by some dedicated Tidewater members (one of them was the Prez!) and it was ready to go when the last few folks got back to the campground. Nothin' like burgers, hot dogs, soda, and a warm fire after a long day of running up and down rocks!

Sunday was far more damaging for me. We only wheeled half a day, but I managed to bust up my windshield frame pretty well on Boulder Byway (I think!). Dave (Core) got a couple of dents and one good rear quarter panel gash. Keith (Fromme) did this cool twisty over the rock to the right of the stump maneuver which was so impressive; I wished I'd had my camera! He said it felt sketchy?! Well, it LOOKED sketchy! I wish I could have watched everyone all day, but I really only saw the folks near me. Later in the day, on Drivetrain Debauchery, I managed to get a wheel up (seems to be becoming par for the course) and Keith made it up the impressively large rocks.

Jay (ruffrider) managed to damage his front driveshaft, but I have it on good authority that he fixed it ASAP on his return home. If you see him, ask him how his wife found out he damaged Blaze; it's a FUNNY story that is worth re-telling.

I met some very nice folks on this trip and felt welcome. I want to thank all of you who helped me out of all the jams I managed to get myself into; Mike who stood on my slider to keep me from going over, Billie and Dave for guiding me wisely, and so many more that I couldn't name everyone by name!!

I'd like to thank my Dad for coming out Saturday and my little girl for putting up with me the whole weekend :)

1 3/4" Rear Coil Spacer Addition

2006-03-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

To offset the sag in the rear end from the large and very heavy bumper, tire, hi-lift, and gas can, I ordered 1 3/4" coil spacers. For about 45 dollars and change, I had what I needed to level the Jeep out.

Dave (Core4WD) once again did a lovely job of installing the spacers and the Jeep sits beautifully, but in Jeep fashion, you can't make any modifications without creating, what I affectionately refer to as, the "Snowball Effect."

To put it simply, with most modifications, you end up having to make even more modifications to accomodate what you've just done. For example, the simple 45 dollar and change coil spacers have now made the stock rear track bar too short! This caused me to have to order a rear adjustable track bar to fix the problem. But that is not the end! I also needed rear adjustable lower control arms to adjust the axle!! This was not inexpensive, but it totally worth while.

Coil spacers installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

02/25/2006 RTI Ramp

2006-02-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

Took my heep over to Dave's for the RTI test. Dave was able to identify several issues that should be resolved and we may even be able to get a better RTI score and some more flex by making some minor modifications. It's a 23 degree ramp.

02/19/2006 OBX Day Run

2006-02-19T19:50:00.000-05:00

This was my first run with the VBJO Meetup group and I had a great time!

The day before I had stayed up until midnight working on getting my flat fenders on, but it was worth it.

We left the Border Station around eight-ish and traveled south. Maria was our organizer and she did a lovely job with 11 Jeeps in attendance. Jack and Lisa were there and so was Jay. I met a couple of new folks, but wish we had more time to socialize. See, the high that day was about 32 degrees, so needless to say, we didn't spend a WHOLE lot of time outside our Jeeps socializing. The day was not uber-eventful, but we did get some really nice beach photos. Jay got to stretch his legs and try out his new gears for the first time, and I think that worked well for him. Jack and Lisa had a throttle linkage problem which was resolved with a little work. We left the beach area in the late afternoon after a stop at Pizza Hut and got home at a decent hour. So..it was fun! Thanks Maria!!

Flat Fender Rubicon!

2006-02-18T18:53:00.000-05:00

Finally! I've done it! It was labor intensive, but I got it done!

So, you ask, what was it like installing the Smittybilt SRC Rock Crawler Fenders? Well, for starters, read the directions!! It says, install and drill all the holes and THEN get them painted. Heed this advise (although I did not). There is plenty of drilling involved. Pretty much, this is the dumbed down breakdown of tasks:

a) Doing first the passenger's side and then the driver's side (one at a time, or you're going to forget where everything goes unless your some kind of Jeep genius), remove all things bolted onto the factory fenders (except the hood latches), remove all the lights, annoying little connectors, factory rock sliders (rubicon) and any rock sliders or rails (I managed with them on, but I wouldn't recommend it), and remove the factory fenders.

b) Install the SRC fenders and mark all the holes that need to be drilled (this would include the fuse box, battery tray, aux battery tray, horn, windshield washer fluid, one hole for the rock sliders, and some other stuff!) and drill away.

c) Put it ALL back together again, bolt everything down to make sure it fits and then start taking apart the driver's side (which was a piece of cake compared to the passenger side. Apparently there's a learning curve!).

d) After everything is bolted back together, close the hood and make sure nothing in the engine compartment touches it. Then, following the directions and CAREFULLY observing where the old hood latches are, drill some more holes. It didn't say this in the directions, but I recommend you actually latch the fender side of the latch to the hood side of the latch, then use paint on the latch bolt to gently close the hood and mark the hole on the fender. If you don't latch the hardware to the hood piece, you're going to mess it up. Go ahead. Ask me how I know.

e) Once everything is fitted and bolted, take everything BACK apart and get the fenders painted and then remount when dry.

Note: Get some larger washers to mount the fenders. The SRC fender holes are a bit larger than factory and the washer will work through. I used 1" stainless washers that fit the factory bolts. Get about 30 of them. That covers both sides. Oh, and you'll probably have to pick up some small bolts for holes that were tapped into the fender. That would be trial and error. And…get an extra person. This is NOT a one person job!

GOOD LUCK!

Misfit's RunGeorge Washington National ParkJan 13-15, 2006

2006-01-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

This was a great trip! It was just the nicest group of people. I had so much fun playing in the snow and joking around. Oh, and the wheeling was fun too!

Dave P. and I left Mt. Trashmore at 06:15 Friday morning, picking up some others near Richmond at 08:00. We took our time, since some folks were towing, and got there around noon. I immediately checked into the Hampton Inn and the hard core guys headed down to Kephart Run to camp. It was rather balmy on Friday. (God bless them though for withstanding the SNOW, RAIN, and 60 MPH winds on Saturday, early Sunday!) Later that day Keith, Ed, and I left the Hampton Inn and headed down to meet the campers. We managed to get out on the trails for a nice relaxing trip that lasted about three hours.

Saturday started out with a trash clean-up at Second Mountain. It started to snow just as soon as we hit the trail. By the time we got to the ATV loading area at the top, the snow was in full swing. We spent the rest of the day wheeling around GW with Paul C. in the lead driving his Kaiser on 42" tires! (Side note: That's the most awesome rig!) Around 18:00 we were wrapping up the last leg of our trail ride in the dark when some of us near the front heard loud tree snapping noises. A tree fell!! Apparently the weight of the snow and the high winds knocked it over. Dave P. was directly in its path and accelerated out of the way. It was a close call. Thank goodness all are okay.

Sunday was the best day of all! Dave P. & Mike D. lead the pack in Dave's TJ, followed by myself (Rubicon), Keith & Ed (CJ), Jim (Rubicon Unlimited), Eric (Rubicon), and Mike B.(Dodge pick-up). We headed up Dictum's Ridge from the bottom and hit the rocks. Dave made it up just fine using the right side of the trail. I, on the other hand, had the bright idea of going left. I had it all worked out in my head, however, it didn't go quite as planned. Luckily, Dave was there to pull the winch cord out and hook me up AND offer a few words of comfort ("CHELE, YOU'RE OKAY!"). Everyone else (for the most part) winched themselves up. Mike B. broke his pick-up's driveshaft, but was able to hang in there in 2WD with Eric's help for the rest of the trail.

The ride home was uneventful, but the company was good and the 4 hour trip FLEW by.

Thanks to all for a good time AND your help.

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Winch Fixed!!

2006-01-09T17:16:00.000-05:00

Finally, after six months, I have gotten my winch fixed. It's been broke since I got it back in June (the electric out wouldn't work), but I also crimped the winch cord at the end of August at the Oak Ridge pre-run. It was nice that the dealership couldn't fix it, so Mopar replaced the whole thing!!

I'm just a few repairs from being new again!

Bent Track Bar Fixed!

2006-01-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

On the trail ride to Oak Ridge at the end of August, I managed to knock my steering wheel off about 45 degrees. I had a few people look at it and no one could figure out the issue (including the mechanic at Sears at Greenbrier Mall!). I finally made an appointment with Hall Automotive in Virginia Beach (they did not cringe when I rolled in with a lift..definite plus). They treated me nicely and said that I had bent the track bar. Now I just have to get used to driving with the steering wheel on straight!

Gerry Can & Hi-Lift Addition

2005-12-30T18:08:00.000-05:00

Today I picked up my Gerry can that was delivered to Dave's and went to Northern to buy a new Hi-Lift jack. I took them both home and installed them. Everything fits together nicely, except the Hi-Lift gets in the way of the whip antenna. That's okay though because the Hi-Lift is only going to be on there for Jeep trips.

Click here to go straight to the build up picture album or click on the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Differential Leak Fixed!

2005-10-02T19:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I had a front diff leak (from the August Crozet trip) and I couldn't fix it myself. For some reason, no matter how many times you've seen it done, it's just not the same when you try to fix it yourself. So, when a friend said that he would walk me through changing the fluids in my Jeep's front and rear diff, I was pleased to say the least. So, tacky blue latex gloves and gear oil in hand, I made my way to his house. Two hours and a greasy shirt later, it was fixed!!! I did it!...With my own two latex covered hands.

Thanks to a friend for the technical advise!!

9/23 - 9/24/2005 Oak Ridge VA4WDA Annual Trail Run

2005-09-26T21:02:00.000-04:00

Oak Ridge was great! I'd like to know the final number of how many people showed up, but 247 Jeeps were registered. Thank goodness the trails were dry! Everything ran smoothly and kudos to the planners for a job well done.

Debbie, Jay, and I arrived Thursday afternoon. The VA Four Wheel Drive Association run at Oak Ridge did not start until Friday, so we had some daylight to kill. Jay headed to camp and Debbie suggested we head to Crabtree falls for a relaxing ride through the woods. And that was what it was. Everything went okay, but, as the day progressed, I noticed significant play in my steering. So much in fact, that it scared me to drive on those backcountry roads. I made a mental note to call a Jeep dealership early on Friday and get in there ASAP!

Friday morning we hit the staging area at Oak Ridge. (I called Jeep as soon as I got there and made an appointment in Waynesboro for 1pm that day.) There were A LOT of people there and there were impressive displays of all sorts of four wheel drive vehicles. We had stock and extremely modified vehicles. I just had a great time checking everyone's junk out. We got on the trails and had an uneventful day, which I had to cut short, leaving at 11am, to get to Jeep. Turns out my track bar was loose. I could kick myself for not checking my bolts before heading to the stealership. So, one hour of labor later, I was on my way back to Oak Ridge to hang out for the evening.

Saturday was even bigger than Friday!! Everyone was there!! The trail ride that day was great! We hit that one big rock in the river (I wish I knew the names of these trails...) and I went WAY over it this time. I got to a point on that rock and just thought, "Uh..maybe I shouldn't have gone quite that far over, okay breathe and go sllooww..." I made it over with this HUGE grin on my face. I wanted to do it again, but could not. The second obstacle that made me sweat was minutes from the big rock. The two larger Jeeps in front of me hit the bypass. I eyeballed the hill and said, "No way!" Cory (bless his heart) was behind me, in his relatively stock Jeep and said, "I'll do it!" Ooookay. So I pulled up and he handled it like a champ!! (Go Cory!) When I saw him, I knew I had to do it and I did, thanks to Cory's example!! After that, nothing posed a problem for me. I didn't get stuck at all and got over CJ-5 Hill on one try. I was sorry to see the day end.

On Sunday, I was supposed to hit GW to do some more wheeling with Lennox, but we were so tired, that we just headed back home. We got home about 1pm and were both beat, but the experience was worth it!

Thanks to all who worked instead of wheeling and those who took time from their busy lives to plan a great weekend.

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Koz Bumper Addition

2005-09-20T19:48:00.000-04:00

Got this great new bumper with swing out tire carrier. Definitely needed it for rear quarter panel protection. I ordered this one from Koz Offroad. Now, that being said, I can also say that I DO NOT recommend doing business with them. For several reasons: a) They said they had it in stock and yet it took over a month to get it mailed off b) As many times as I e-mailed them or called them, they only called me back once and that was the day before they mailed it off c) The gas can that I ordered was not sent and I have not been followed up with regarding it. I plan on calling them shortly to clear that up, but I doubt they will answer anyway.

All I can say is: when dealing with these folks, be prepared for trouble.

Edit 10/04/05: I finally got the gas can stuff, but they never responded to an email that I sent them regarding it. Guess they figured since it's in the mail customer service does not matter.

Bumper installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

Lower Control Arm Skid Plate Addition

2005-09-15T16:41:00.000-04:00

These are lower control arm skid plates from JKS Manufacturing, Inc. They were a cheap upgrade to strengthen that vulnerable part of the Jeep and protect the control arm bushings from rock damage.

Skids were welded/installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

4WD Meet & Greet: Sonic/Lowes 9/1/05

2005-08-31T16:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all that could make it out despite the high cost of gas!!

I recognized some faces from the last Meet & Greet and learned a few new names this time. It's great to see everyone come together and share stories and wheeling tips. I truly believe that the cornerstone of any club is the friendships forged during the activities.

I am glad to report that we did not have any incidents of flat tires at this Meet & Greet.

See y'all at the next one!

Conway/Oak Ridge/Crozet Wheeling Aug 26-28, 2005

2005-08-29T14:31:00.000-04:00

What a great trip!! It was a testament to our love of wheeling when one realizes just how much we did. Damage was done to many people’s rigs, but everyone handled it admirably.
Friday, after setting up camp, we went to Conway to take on "the hill climb". Only a couple of Jeeps stayed at the bottom because they were open/open, but everyone else made it up without a winch. Good job!! The waterfall was a beautiful reward for taking on the hill.
Saturday, in the rain, we went to Oak Ridge to clear the trails for the annual trail ride at the end of September. There wasn't too much trail clearing to be done. The couple of obstacles we tackled were handled with little effort and no permanent damage. CJ-5 Hill was intimidating in the rain, but turned out to be not so bad. I got a little grumpy at the end of the day, but that's because I was wet, tired, and had not had a hot meal for two days.
Sunday was Crozet day. I recovered from my grumpiness, had a hot meal, and was ready to tackle the challenges ahead. It was wet and the blue trails were even bluer. Mud and slick rocks were abundant. Most people scraped the underside of their Jeeps ruthlessly and I was no exception. Thank goodness for rock sliders and skid plates! Fran lead our group of thirteen rigs in the morning and then again lead for four Rubicons in the afternoon. Many people pitched in with spotting and kept everyone else on top of the rocks.

Overall, I came out okay. I did manage to dent my fender after slipping off a rock and into a tree stump, I damaged my winch cord, my front diff is leaking and I bent my track bar. Oh well, it's a small price to pay for the new friends I made, the current friends I got to know better, and the joy of spending the weekend doing what I enjoy most.

See you on the trails!

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Big Daddy Tie Rod Addition

2005-08-24T19:41:00.000-04:00

Since my factory tie rod got bent somehow, I have replaced it with a Big Daddy Tie Rod!! This sucker makes the factory tie rod look like a tooth pick. Nothing is bending this thing!

Tie rod installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

4WD Meet & Greet: Sonic/Lowes 8/4/05

2005-08-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

I really can't take credit for the idea. My friend in Florida who is in a Jeep club kept bragging about how much fun he had at their Meet & Greets...so, I ripped off the idea. I think it turned out well! Thanks to all who came and those who actually brought a friend (or two...). Next time I promise to bring another Jeeper with me!

See pictures by clicking here. I tried to get everyone's 4WD vehicle in a picture. If I didn't, I promise it was not intentional! If you want a high-resolution picture for printing, email me using the Email Me! link to the right under "Links" and give me the picture number. I'll email it to you ASAP. Be advised, a single picture can be up to 4MB.

See everyone around!

Bestop Translucent Bikini Top Addition

2005-08-01T17:20:00.000-04:00

I bought this so that I wouldn't get extra crispy in the summer sun. This thing is GREAT!! It's somewhat water resistant and still lets some light through. I've taken the doors off and am just using a trail cover at night to keep the water out. They are available through 4 Wheel Drive Hardware.

6/30 - 7/04/2005 Crozet/GWNF/Conway Trip

2005-07-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

We had a great time. I got a few scratches, mainly to the sides from brush and the hood from some limbs. The hood one is actually quite nice :) Everyone was so good to me and spotted me the whole time. Fran came ALL the way up from Hampton Roads, just to spot for me and Debbie in Crozet for half a day (lol, probably just me, Debbie is totally on her own!!), which I thought says a lot about his character and passion for fostering others' love for wheeling. Dave was awesome about checking out the underside of my Jeep to make sure all was well. Check the pictures out, I'll try to make sure I explain some of them in the captions!!

Check out the all the photos by clicking here.
Check out some of them set to music by clicking here.

CB Addition

2005-07-01T17:28:00.000-04:00

If there is one thing I recommend you get right off, it's a CB. I got this sucker installed 1 day before I went on the trail ride to Conway/Crozet. It paid for itself 6 times over just for that one trip. I'm sure there is nothing worse than not being in the loop on the trail. A lot of valuable information came over that thing.

I had a 102" whip antenna installed on the back bumper to compliment the lovely CB.

33" Wrangler MTR Addition

2005-06-29T18:40:00.000-04:00

This was actually the most expensive addition so far to the Jeep. However, it has been the most worth while!

Tom Wood's Driveshaft Addition

2005-06-28T18:22:00.000-04:00

Well, with the lift came a longer driveshaft!

People keep telling me how small it is. I'm starting to get a complex.

These were installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

3.5" Rubicon Express Lift Addition

2005-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

I decided to go with the 3.5" because I'm not looking for anything too exteme just yet. I mean, I'm trying to hold onto just a tad of the warranty...for now.

So here is before (lift):

After (lift):

Before (flex):

After (flex):

So that's all folks! I am so excited!!

These were installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

Skid Plate Additions

2005-06-26T23:37:00.000-04:00

A little birdy told me that skid plates will save the day...
so I stocked up.

First we have the engine skid plate:

Then there is the after market gas tank skid, which is beefier than the stock one and allows more clearance:

And finally this is the steering gear box skid and differential skid:

These were installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).
Click here to go straight to the build up picture album or click on the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

Detours Drop-Kick Slyders Addition

2005-06-26T18:25:00.000-04:00

These rock sliders look amazing. Of course, I haven't tested them out yet. I will let you know. I can say this, however; I went to order the Drop-Kick Slyders from Detours Offroad Hardware webpage and there was a note that said they were closed for the month of June. I contacted them by email and got ahold of Mark who said they were shutting down for the month, but since I needed them ASAP, he'd make one more set. Bless his heart. Customer service was A++!!!

These were installed by Dave; C.O.R.E. 4WD (Custom Off Road Enterprises).

Edit: These things are GREAT! I am scratched them all up and they have held up like a champ. A++ recommendation! (Remember to add some no-skid sticky tape to them. It will help on rainy/icy days.)

Warn XD9000i Addition

2005-06-03T21:51:00.000-04:00

Yay!! I'll never be stuck for long!! As soon as I figure out how to use the damn thing. I'm just happy I got one. Now this doesn't mean that I can go smashing Murry up against the rocks...it just means I'm not staying stuck!

Click on the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right or click here to see this image (and a close up).

Memorial Day Weekend: Part II

2005-05-29T21:11:00.000-04:00

Sunday: Virginia Beach, VA - Camp Jeep on the Road

It was really neat that they set up down at the beach. The parking was HORRIBLE. Ashley and I had to BEG a lady to let us in the full lot to let us park. We got there with little time to spare. The course was cute. I got to drive the Liberty, Grand Cherokee, and Rubicon. We had some picture ops and Ashely attempted the rock wall. All in all, it was a fun day. We got to "see" Wayne Newton on stage. From FAR away. There were so many people, we didn't stay more than a couple of hours.

Oh, and I got a Jeep water bottle, and a Jeep carabiner, and some other miscl stuff. How nice :)

Me driving:

For more photos, see the Memorial Day album under the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right or click here.

Memorial Day Weekend: Part I

2005-05-28T20:04:00.000-04:00

Saturday: Corolla, NC

I went and met up with some others from the police department (it was ALL brass there, let me tell you) on the Corolla beach at the 1 mile mark. It was nice to socialize a little, but then a storm moved in...QUICK. Everyone cleared off the beach. There was wind, water, lightening, and hail (and I left ALL my Jeep windows at home...)!!! It was bad, but cleared up within an hour. It was nice because where the beach had been packed end to end, it was now very cleared up, like an off weekend. So, the rain, in a way, was a blessing. I'm a bit over cooked on my front side.
Here are a couple of pictures:

Murry

Wild Horses

Tomorrow: Camp Jeep On The Road, Virginia Beach, VA

Wet Okole Seat Covers Are In!!

2005-05-20T13:49:00.000-04:00

I got my Wet Okole seat covers in Blue Hibiscus today! They took about 25 minutes to install and look great.

Okay, It's Officially Broken In!

2005-05-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

Me and my friend Ashley went to Corolla, NC last night. We got there at about 6pm and drove all over the beach. It was great fun. The Jeep got sand in every crevice possible, as did we. I decided to name my Jeep Murry. Don't ask why, I just thought HE needed a name. There is a folder of pictures posted under the "General Photos of Stuff" to the side. The four wheel drive, etc. worked WONDERFULLY!

The Details of the Purchase...

2005-05-12T16:11:00.000-04:00

I think I did pretty well overall. Here's what I got:

2005 Rubicon
Security Group
Engine Block Heater
Floor Mats
AM/FM Stereo w/In-Dash 6-Disc CD
4-Speed Automatic
Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel w/Cruise Control
Add-A-Trunk
Locking Fuel Cap

I had them add a Warn XD9000i to be installed at a later date and me, the sucker, bought the extended warranty and gap insurance.

Here is a link to an off site post about what I paid. (It's post #96 and post #87.)

...in other news...It's Mother's Day!

2005-05-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

Negotiations Are In Progress....

2005-05-03T20:05:00.000-04:00

I went to Greenbrier Jeep today and made a deal on a Rubicon. It seems almost too good of a deal to be true. The Jeep is coming from another lot. It will have a Warn 9000 winch, 1/2 doors, add-a-trunk, 6 disc changer, and many many other things....How I got all that at the price I got it for is news to me. We'll see if anyone gets screwed on this.
Oh, and I couldn't help myself. I called and ordered some "stuff" from Quadratec for the Jeep. It's amazing how that "stuff" just adds up. I mean....WOW...will talk about "stuff" in the future!