Just another Jeep

[Somecallmetimm]

A few from my latest adventure seeking the wildlife of the Flint Hills region of Kansas. While certainly not as grand as the Tetons or Wild as the Ozarks. The Flint Hills offer remote and wide open areas, stellar sunrises and sunsets, and a unique perspective on natural beauty.

My favorite kind of sign...
One of my favorite types of signs... by Tim, on Flickr

Heading to Coyne Creek Rd. by Tim, on Flickr

American Bison
Bison by Tim, on Flickr

Obligatory Jeep pic. At one point I actually used 4x4. Not all flat back roads.
My jeep waiting patiently while I take pix... again by Tim, on Flickr

More bison...
Bison by Tim, on Flickr

Wild Turkey (not the beverage)
Turkey by Tim, on Flickr

This one place you can almost always find wild horses congregated on a hilltop. It's possible one of the local ranchers feeds them. IDK.. but the herd seems to really like that hill.
Horses by Tim, on Flickr
Horses by Tim, on Flickr

More pix if you're interested.

2024-09 Flint Hills

Cruising the back roads for some dirt road therapy.

flic.kr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Trying something new... the mounts were given to me years ago, and I've been debating on how to use them. Recent scamazon sales prompted the purchase of a 50" light bar., the pods were purchased some time ago. So I went at it only to discover the mounts were designed for a 52" bar. Some pondering occurred and a solution was dug out of of the parts pile (aka the garage). The job is not complete, I still need to wire the lights to the newly installed gang switch. But the bulk of the work has been accomplished.

The lights
Lights by Tim, on Flickr

How to fit a 50" light bar into a 52" space... use 1" seat lift pucks.
seat lift by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

This will all get removed tonight. I had heard wind noise could be an issue. That fixable. What I wasn't prepared for was the harmonic resonance of the cooling fins and the insane amount whistling. the resonance starts around 45 and only gets worse from there, then the whistling kicks in. It's all still new enough and clean enough to send back to scamazon.
Going to look into other options... thinking of building a bar then adding a hand full of 4" LED pods from HF... they've apparently stepped up their off road light game quite a bit recently.

Regardless of where I go from here, it's back to the drawing board.

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Mmmmm heated seats...
The button rotation has been corrected....
creature comforts by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Exploration and Jeep stuff is what happens when life stops getting in the way. I carved out a cool afternoon to install a birthday gift.

Snazzy lights by Tim, on Flickr

Illuminations... by Tim, on Flickr

Winter camping coming up next month. Might squeeze in a local weekend between.

 

[Somecallmetimm]

The new lights are amazing and super bright, even with the amber cover on them I was able to blind my boss this morning when I was showing them off (hehe). The more attentive of you probably noticed the antenna interference on both sides..
On the radio side, I simply installed a 7" rubberized antenna, and now it falls below the light. Don't listen to the radio anyway, so I really don't care for the loss of reception.
On the GMRS Side, I relocated the bracket to the side of the light. Not perfect, but its solid and actually improved reception a little.
Relocated antenna by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Accessories...Little things that make an experience a bit more enjoyable. In preparation for a 4 day trip into the exciting back roads of Missouri and Kansas, I put together a diesel heater in a box. Plenty of documentation on how to do this permeating the interweb.
My version is similar to most, unique in small ways and simple. Since I'll be using it with tents, the control panel is on a 3' long lead so I don't have to rely on questionable wireless remotes. Tested and ready to go.
Diesel Heater Case by Tim, on Flickr

I also came up with a solution to a problem I didn't have with a portable 10w base camp repeater. Instead of using a duplexer I went with a dual antenna setup using a couple spares I had sitting around.
repeater by Tim, on Flickr

Obligatory jeep pic. It was a bit dubious about traveling during the recent snow storm
What do you mean "we have to go to work"? by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

A bad day of camping is better than a good day at work... the 4 day trip got trimmed down to an overnighter due to mechanical issues with one of our rigs. (not mine)
Diesel heater and the TJ worked like a charm.
If you're in Missouri, be sure to make your way to Midwest Adventure Outfitters in Crocker. We spent Saturday morning there at their first Rigs & Coffee event. Neat little shop, and Benji is a great guy (even though he likes Toyotas)! He also hosts New Found Overland podcast.
Kansas invasion at Midwest Adventure Outfitters by Tim, on Flickr

Highlight of the trip was getting my belated birthday dinner and a picture with my favorite beaver. Yeah, silly, but what's life without a little silliness? (BORING!)
hanging out with my favorite beaver by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Here we go again, hovering to work on axles. This time they're getting full rebuild with a locker added to the front.

Hovering again by Tim, on Flickr

Built a thirst aid kit for travel. The bright color makes it easy to find in the dark, or before I make the switch from glasses to contacts.
Thirst aid kit by Tim, on Flickr

Basically everything you would need for an emergency quality cup of coffee or espresso.
Thirst aid kit by Tim, on Flickr

Finally added a table to the TJ tailgate
Twitchy gets a table by Tim, on Flickr

I've wanted one of these for a long time, and figured I'd get it in before the tariff's kicked in. Besides, it pairs well with the Thirst Aid Kit.
Twitchy gets a table by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Ventured off into the wild with a small group of friends on Saturday after our local Rigs & Coffee event hosted by Go-Treads. It was a gorgeous spring day, although the flint hills were full of several off highway events, including a foot race, bike race and a sxs poker run based on beer.

My jeep in the Flint Hills by Tim, on Flickr

Madison Ks. by Tim, on Flickr

Madison Ks. by Tim, on Flickr

Sunday weather was just as beautiful. The XJ is in full hover mode again, axles are getting rebuilt. Rear is about done and I pulled the front yesterday.

Hover jeep once again. by Tim, on Flickr

Lowered with a stance...
Crusty got lowered. by Tim, on Flickr
Tires are there for decoration only. Front suspension is out along with both axles. Might as well have fun.

 

[Somecallmetimm]

No one likes bad news... But timing couldn't have been better. My buddy who's rebuilding the XJ axles sent me this in a text

Bad news... by Tim, on Flickr

A bearing spun on the carrier, and one of the pinion bearings was shot. Good thing it was caught during a rebuild. Ordered a few new parts and now it's good as new.

oh so clean and shiny! by Tim, on Flickr

Got the rear back and brought the front to him. Looking forward to getting this beast up and running.
Time for the front axle to get some love by Tim, on Flickr

In other news, my daughter convinced me to sell my TJ to her (family discount) . It'll still be in the family, my daily driver duties will be passed on to a 2012 GMC Sierra 4x4 (retired from my work fleet). It might not be the best looking rig, but at least I know it's history.
The XJ will be my project and receive a bit more love, the GMC will need some configuring to fill in while the Cherokee is being worked on. Because trips will still have to happen. I'll probably start a build thread over in domestics... we'll see.

 

[Somecallmetimm]

I pulled the winch off the TJ to be installed back onto the XJ in the future. And reconfigured it to an earlier stage, at my daughter's request.

Spot back to it's old configuration, all part of selling it. by Tim, on Flickr
Good protection from deer or whatever might jump out at her.

Got the new daily driver I won't be doing much to it other than keeping it running and some minor add-ons so that it can temporarily fill in as adventure rig while the XJ is under the knife.
Say hello to my Old Man Truck. No build, but I am a bit intrigued with slide in bed campers...
The new whip by Tim, on Flickr