BenJammin25

I am starting this thread to document this trip I was so graciously invited to attend. Also to gain some interest from my fellow cherokeeforum members so this can become an annual trip!


I was invited a couple weeks ago to attend a wheeling trip on the Mojave trail from Barstow, Ca to Las Vegas, Nv. And I've been excited ever since! There are going to be a total of 11 rigs attending which include jk's, xj, yotas, and fords. So I get to show all these guys what an XJ can really do.

BFGoodrich is sponsoring to show off their new All-Terrain TA KO2 tires that are coming out November 2014




So I immediately requested the time off of work and started preparing my rig for the trip. Since I've had my 96 XJ Country for near 30k miles it was time for some maintenance....

BenJammin25

Before I started working on the heep I had to take it out to loosen up anything so I can find any issues before I'm nowhere near anything.

So me and some of our local Las Vegas locals on the forum and my buddy in his JKUR and hit up Potato Ridge / Rocky Gap trail.

And this was a good idea due to my RR Shock mount/BPE nuts had loosened up... For their last time... I also found that my RF spring keeper is missing so no flexing for me til I hit up the JY


Pics:

BenJammin25

Now the maintenance begins:

5 qts Rotella 15w-40
1 qt Lucas oil
Dealer filter

Drained and filled trans
+\- 3qts Mercon/dex III
1 qt Lucas Trans

6 new champion plugs
New plug wires and fresh di-electric grease

New fuel filter
Lucas Fuel Injector Cleaner
Ran a bottle of intake cleaner through vac line at brake booster

New drag link
Alignment
Tire Rotation
Wheel Balance
Luckily I work at a local shop

My baby hasn't ran this smooth since I bought her!!!

BenJammin25

Now for all the other stuff not finished on my XJ.

I started making these switch panels for 96 and older xj's and hadn't made me a good one, had just been using one of my rejects, so I decided to sit down and make ME one along with an order I received. And I think it came out looking great.



I also painted and reinstalled my dash bezel that's been off for months along with the interior trim I removed to install my custom 50" light bar mounts.


I also followed a build thread here on the forum and made a strap to hold down my hi jack underneath my rear seat




While replacing my drag link and aligning the front end I noticed that my factory front skid plate was sort if in the way of my adjuster sleeve and noticed fresh rub marks on the skid. So I got froggy and notched my skid plate and reinforced it with a piece of 1/8"x2" flat bar




Was going to wait til I get my Durango gear box rebuilt, but I also decided to install my Ares Fab unibody tie in brackets also

BenJammin25

Had a busy weekend and went and bought a bunch of stuff for my fuel cell project and did a few other errands

On Saturday:

Found locally:
strap mounts for the cell
Cap - that was wrong
On/off valve
6ft fuel line

went and got my Smittybuilt co2 tank filled

Hit up pic a part and got a new drivers door mirror.

My cb radio arrived along with the coax cable for it and the pump I bought for my air mattress.






So I installed my mirror and figured out where to position my cb





Then today:
I got the fuel cell positioned and test fitted












Then I mounted and wired up the CB radio
















Mount made by one of the local Vegas forum member.








My antenna and HD spring mount arrive tomorrow

BenJammin25

Friday morning can't come soon enough...
making sure I have everything together
Test run on the tent
Cb buttoned up / mount painted

BenJammin25

Hopefully my service manager/ detailer doesn't forget to come wash the heep tomorrow... time to polish the bruised terd

BenJammin25

Got her washed and vacuumed last night








and put up the fuel cell




Tonight we got everything but the cooler packed

Alpha 1-4

Good luck on the trip! I've seen some of the tests with the KO2, look impressive, hope you come away with a comp set!

BenJammin25

Thanks man...it was a great time. The ko2 looks great and appeared to grip great on the two rigs that were running them. No comp set here, but I'm just glad I was invited!!! Keep an eye out though I heard there is going to be a drawing for 3 sets of them!

BenJammin25

#rockstoriches was a success. Had a great time, with some great people, with some sweet rigs.
The pack consisted of:
5 -JKs (JK Forum)
1 -2015 Tacoma TRD
2 -4 runners (Yotatech)
1 -XJ (me)
2 -f-250 s (fordtruckenthusiasts)




Went 160 miles from Peggy sues in Yermo/Barstow,Ca to Searchlight,Nv then into Las vegas
Saw a bunch of cool sights and great scenery!

Alpha 1-4

Who would be hosting the drawing?

BenJammin25

Keep checking... if I find out I'll post it up here