After weeks of being busy I finally found some time to install Rock Hard 4x4 c-pillar brace. It's not a complicated install, but the instructions say that you can do it with the roof on. Hell no! You can't even access the zippers to open the roll bar padding with the roof on. I strongly suggest you remove the roof. The great thing is it's compatible with the Tuffy trunk storage as well as the Grenadeacorp under roof lock box. I moved one of the fire extinguishers there and it's fits perfectly. Plan to get another for the other side.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Installed some RAM balls on the passenger Jesus bar so they have a place for their phone or other gear.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Are these from that seller on eBay in Germany?

 

No. From Virginia.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Finally got to hit the trails with the JK!!!!!!



It performed flawlessly! I was worried that the Outback springs would be too stiff. They were perfect. Never bottomed out but I still got full travel of the suspension when needed. I couldn't be happier.



Even got to give the Warn 8274 some use to free up a high sided rig that was about to go over the other side. Awesome day altogether.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Very little trail scars other than the usual skid plates and diffs.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Found some time to install the rear DV8 fender liners. Tip of the day: DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON REAR LINERS!!!!!!!! They do absolutely nothing the originals plastic ones don't. I was hoping they would cover the gap in the frame. Nope! The purpose of me getting these was to help keep crud out of the nook and crannies but they do nothing of that. Don't get me wrong. They're very well made. The craftsmanship is top notch. They just don't do the job. My suggestion is just cut the factory plastic liners to fit with the new fenders. If you need extra coverage, get some rubber sheets and cut some strips to cover the gaps. Just like the old gap fillers made for body lifts. I plan to add some extensions to these liners to try to make it work better. Very expensive waste of money. :( "Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

Recovery of the day. Someone asked on Wicked Jeep NC group if they could help recover a truck stuck on some private land in Clayton. I replied I would help if I get the go ahead from the landowner. Landowner said he would be there to open gate, so I packed up my recovery gear and headed down. I get there and have the truck owners fill out paperwork while we wait for landowner to show up. Turns out that it wasn't just one truck. It was three trucks and one ATV. they had been there all night and two Jeeps with winches had already come to help, and both broke their cables. This was starting to sound pretty bad but since I never back out, I decided to still give it a try.

When we finally get down there I see two trucks buried up to the frame. One was so buried on its side he couldn't open his doors. The ATV was so buried in the mud you couldn't see its wheels. It was no wonder the other Jeeps had snapped their cables. There were broken recovery straps and chains everywhere! The trucks were buried so deep you would have to displace all the ground in front of them to get them out. Broke out the HiLift and Maxtrax. Lifted the nose of the F150 and immediately saw that the frame was caught on a tree stump. More reason for not coming out on a straight pull. Slid the Maxtrax under the wheels and left the nose lifted on the HiLift. Set up my winch and started to pull. I was being pulled in. Broke out the PullPal and secured my rig. Went back to winching. Once the PullPal bit into the ground, and while pulling on the HiLift, the F150 started to move. Once the HiLift fell over, the truck fell right on the Maxtrax keeping it above the tree stump. Cleared the HiLift and started winching again. I had driver assist by slowly applying traction and moving steering from side to side. Out came the truck.

Onto truck two. Black Ram that had to be pulled out backwards. Had no anchor points both for the winch or for the HiLift. Used the HiLift wheel adapter and lifted it from the trailer hitch. Got it high enough to also put the Maxtrax under the wheels. Secured winch also to the hitch. Started winching and it came out ok too. Proof that prepping the pull correctly will make it much easier and cause less damage to the vehicle. Two down.

Now to the ATV. It was in the swamp area, and even if I have 200 feet of winch rope, I wanted to make sure I didn't end up in the mud too. I was glad the owner volunteered to go into the swamp to attach winch rope. It came out with no issues. By then a large crowd had come down. Two were from tow companies that said I would never get them out with a Jeep and a 8000 pound winch. What people forget is that if you can't get them out with an 8000 winch, your 12,000 pound winch is only going to cause 12,000 pounds worth of damage since you can't move the ground. Something will have to give. Fortunately all went well and no additional damage was done, beside the one they had already done during the nights attempts.

I have to say this was probably one of the most pleasant recoveries I've had. Truck owners were very helpful with all the gear and offered to wash the mud off at local car wash. It was a pleasure to do recoveries like this. I gave everyone the OVERT (Off-road Vehicle Emergency Response Team) toll free number and told them all about us.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

What a great story and what a great gentleman jeeper you are.
The world needs more people like you sir.
Best regards
Michael

Sent from my GT-I9100 using JK-Forum

 

Thanks Michael. Just paying back all the times my ass had been recovered by other good samaritans. I agree the world would be a much better place if people helped each other more. Then we wouldn't have so many people becoming dependent on government for everything.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"