So to actually update this with words - I took the Jeep to Windrock last weekend and camped and wheeled it a little bit. This is the second time since getting it inspected and road worthy at the beginning of 2025 that I've taken it off-road. The first time was back in April of last year and ran Trail 22 - the longest and most medium trail at the park. The locker compressor stayed on long enough that I realized my front locker wasn't engaging so I had to run with an open front diff but it didn't seem to matter. There were some spots where I had to left-foot brake and/or use more throttle than I would if I was locked, but that's wheeling! The frame stiffeners, long arms, Fox shocks, and 4:1 made a huge difference!



Then, I just didn't use it for a while. I fixed up and used my 2dr and the wife and I bought another daily driver, so this just got aired out ever so often.

I decided I would move the Jeep to Knoxville to stay at my parents' house as it's closer to Windrock, Royal Blue, etc. That way, I could take one of the interstate friendly vehicles I have to cross the mountain. Last weekend is when I put that to practice.


The Jeep crushed it! I still haven't fixed the locker issue (I have a replacement solenoid to swap out and try) nor did it have working heat or air, but otherwise it proved itself. I had a blast bombing up and down the longer gravel roads and light-duty trail sections in high range and then in low range it had so much torque that I was able to pop right up the rock steps on Trail 60. My buddy Joe who owned this for a bit commented on how improved it is, which felt good!

My next plan for this is to finally, and I mean finally, fix the heater core and AC. Oh, and the locker haha.