Top Truck Challange, 2012

TreeClimber · Oct 10, 2011

Thankyou for the offer to borrow spacers. Hopefully I won't need 'em, as I've got a complete set now. Pics of spacers, pics of what will become my fire extinguisher mounts, and winch as it sits now.

TreeClimber · Oct 10, 2011

And with the MasterPull upgrade winch cable. Strong. :awesomework:
Yeah... I know about the roller fairlead. But had long talk with Alex, and he said run it. Budget is tight. Every $50 I don't have to spend adds up. So, since this fairlead is like new, with no wear, and the rollers overlap, I should be fine. Hopefully.

TreeClimber · Oct 10, 2011

I'm about done with the easy upgrades. Next is the fab-shop work and big tires (and maybe wheels). Hopefully, it'll be in the shop starting about a month from now. If all goes well, I'll be testing it on Jan 1st snow run with the big tires.

Still have some easy upgrades right before TTC, like switching out the hubs for drive flanges. But I've got to 'borrrow' those flanges from my YJ, and I really don't want to disable the YJ until the last day possible.
Also will have to give the engine a liberal dose of dialectric grease at the last moment. *might have speeled 'dialectric' wrong, but fawk it, you can speelcheck it*

Toyotanut · Oct 10, 2011

PM sent about your fairlead

Avanteone · Oct 13, 2011

Tony, if you want to borrow a set of 35sp Yukon flanges, I've got a set for you.

TreeClimber · Oct 13, 2011

Avanteone said:
Tony, if you want to borrow a set of 35sp Yukon flanges, I've got a set for you.

Thanks, but I've got the 35sp Warn flanges off my YJ.

Now if you wanted to 'loan' me those 17" beadlocks until July..... ? pretty please

TreeClimber · Nov 5, 2011

TreeClimber said:
So my next thing with tires, is to call back to BFG and find out if I can actually get the BFGs or not, and in 42s.

Then I've got to figure out wheels, as the BFG require me to get 20 inch wheels, and if so, what's the minimum backspacing I can get, as the wider tire will still create rubbing issues with the suspension unless I get wheel spacers or 3.5" (or less) backspacing.

And if BFG doesn't come thru, then it's a debate as to Kreepy Krawlers, Iroks, or Goodyears, or...At least if I don't get BFGs, then I can run my existing beadlocks. Although I still may need spacers.

Well it now looks like Goodyear is the tire of choice! Goodyear has agreed to let me qualify under the Racer's program, and get stickies at discounted cost (although it still is a huge $$). IF all goes well, the tires will be loaded up Saturday AM, and on their way here. Yahoo! Huge thanks to a couple members here, who have gone WAY out of their way to help me. MUCH THANKS! Now I just hope and pray that all the logistics I spent time working out thursday fall into place on saturday.

zukkev · Nov 12, 2011

Good luck tony!

Oh, and on the fan clutch/dunk survival thing....don't count on it---I have seen more than a few that ended up fried when dunked...you're better off running an electric dual fan setup, one pusher, one puller, with the ability to manually shut 'em off for the dunks...

TreeClimber · Nov 12, 2011

zukkev said:
Good luck tony!
Oh, and on the fan clutch/dunk survival thing....don't count on it---I have seen more than a few that ended up fried when dunked...you're better off running an electric dual fan setup, one pusher, one puller, with the ability to manually shut 'em off for the dunks...

Last time, I had my CJ5 with the exact same fan I installed this time. So I'm hopeful it'll surive. But I am bringing my spare radiator with me. Just in case.

Tires are in the garage right now. 40" Kevlars. "Not for highway" version. Waiting on beadlocks. Did mount up one on a spare wheel I had, and will be doing the final mockup (for tires) on Sunday.

snowgoon · Nov 12, 2011

I just watch some youtube of the 2011 TTC. Are you sure a 40" tire will be big enough? Back when you won I want to go try but now I dont think I want too. BE fun to ride shotgun and pull cable or watch just dont think I will ever build some think that can compete a there now. best of luck

TreeClimber · Nov 18, 2011

snowgoon said:
I just watch some youtube of the 2011 TTC. Are you sure a 40" tire will be big enough? Back when you won I want to go try but now I dont think I want too. BE fun to ride shotgun and pull cable or watch just dont think I will ever build some think that can compete a there now. best of luck

So I haven't posted many pics lately, but progress is still ongoing. I got the 40 inch Goodyear Kevlar Stickies the other day. Took the grooving iron to them, and opened up the center lugs juuuuust a little, or, about another 1/2 inch. That is larger gapping than the center lugs on the Krawlers which I had been running prior.

Also, have set of Trailready HD Beadlocks which should be ready for pickup this tuesday, to mount the tires.

But I took the initiative to test mount one of the tires on my old rims, and trial fit everything. I'll post those pics later. But they fit fine, except when I turn the fronts. Then, when under flex the tires really hit the inside back of the front fenders. Up clearance seems OK, although I haven't been able to twist it up, because I only have one tire. But the rearward clearance is whack.

Solved that by swapping out to a set of DeFenders from Poison Spyder Customs. They increase rear opening by another 3 inches, and give the same up travel as my OEM fenders.

I haven't been a fan of 'tube' fenders. Just didn't like the look. I considered "hi-line" fenders, but just didn't seem the overall benefit. You cut 3 inches out of the hood, then add 1.75 inches of tube up there. Seems like a lot of work, expense to gain an inch.

Anyhow, the DeFenders arrived today, so I'll have our bodyshop guy throw some paint on it. Hope he keeps the bill cheap. And I should get these installed, along with the Trailreadys in the next week or two. Will post pics once that's all done, along with some fender install pictures.

Regarding 40s being big enough? Yeah, they ain't.

But they ARE fawking huge on this TJ. They competely and entirely fill the way oversized fender openings, from front bumper to tub, and from tub to rear bumper. Really looks amazing.

And I just can't go bigger. So 40s are it. I think I've done as good as can be with tire selection. So next is to TTC it, and see where I place.

I'd be happy with a top 5. But even if I come in 20th, I'm still going to wheel it like Karl, abuse it like Mauler, and roll it like TreeClimber (wait, that's me :eeek

Not Jobless · Nov 18, 2011

TreeClimber said:
So I haven't posted many pics lately, but progress is still ongoing. I got the 40 inch BFG Kevlar Stickies the other day. Took the grooving iron to them, and opened up the center lugs juuuuust a little, or, about another 1/2 inch. That is larger gapping than the center lugs on the Krawlers which I had been running prior.

Also, have set of Trailready HD Beadlocks which should be ready for pickup this tuesday, to mount the tires.

But I took the initiative to test mount one of the tires on my old rims, and trial fit everything. I'll post those pics later. But they fit fine, except when I turn the fronts. Then, when under flex the tires really hit the inside back of the front fenders. Up clearance seems OK, although I haven't been able to twist it up, because I only have one tire. But the rearward clearance is whack.

Solved that by swapping out to a set of DeFenders from Poison Spyder Customs. They increase rear opening by another 3 inches, and give the same up travel as my OEM fenders.

I haven't been a fan of 'tube' fenders. Just didn't like the look. I considered "hi-line" fenders, but just didn't seem the overall benefit. You cut 3 inches out of the hood, then add 1.75 inches of tube up there. Seems like a lot of work, expense to gain an inch.

Anyhow, the DeFenders arrived today, so I'll have our bodyshop guy throw some paint on it. Hope he keeps the bill cheap. And I should get these installed, along with the Trailreadys in the next week or two. Will post pics once that's all done, along with some fender install pictures.

Regarding 40s being big enough? Yeah, they ain't.

But they ARE fawking huge on this TJ. They competely and entirely fill the way oversized fender openings, from front bumper to tub, and from tub to rear bumper. Really looks amazing.

And I just can't go bigger. So 40s are it. I think I've done as good as can be with tire selection. So next is to TTC it, and see where I place.

I'd be happy with a top 5. But even if I come in 20th, I'm still going to wheel it like Karl, abuse it like Mauler, and roll it like TreeClimber (wait, that's me :eeek

Top 5 or 20th, I'd consider it an accomplishment to just finish

zukkev · Nov 18, 2011

Not Jobless said:
Top 5 or 20th, I'd consider it an accomplishment to just finish

X2!!! Go get 'em Tony!!!:awesomework:

Toyotanut · Nov 20, 2011

Right on Tony!!! Can't wait to see the pics...Good luck and if you still need an aluminum fairlead let me know.

Chevyjoe · Nov 21, 2011

TreeClimber said:
I got the 40 inch BFG Kevlar Stickies the other day.

i think you ment GOODYEAR Kevlar Stickies :eeek::haha:

TreeClimber · Nov 21, 2011

86chevyjoe said:
i think you ment GOODYEAR Kevlar Stickies :eeek::haha:

Why YES, yes I did.

wned:
(Just checking to see if anyone was paying attention. You, Sir, get a cookie.)

jeepmauler · Nov 21, 2011

Tony...if ya bring your tires with you I'll help mount them up. It would go fast,I mount ALOT of tires, and it would be one more thing to mark off the list as DONE.

Either way.

TreeClimber · Nov 21, 2011

jeepmauler said:
Tony...if ya bring your tires with you I'll help mount them up. It would go fast,I mount ALOT of tires, and it would be one more thing to mark off the list as DONE.

Either way.

OK

WA-Wheeler · Nov 21, 2011

So are you going to be on TV??

TreeClimber · Nov 21, 2011

WA-Wheeler said:
So are you going to be on TV??

I have a face for radio.

Top Truck Challange is heavily video'd, and has been replayed on some of the cable channels upon occassion. There is also videos available at all Four Wheel Parts locations.