TeamCF

Sounds like fun. But. (there always is one on this weekend when it comes to going out to play) It will be a zoo. And if you didn't already buy the special pass, you will be told to leave. They only allow so many (around 1,000 or so) vehicles/ATVs out there on Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends. And you have to buy a pass in advance in order to be allowed on the sand. To help keep numbers down and make it easier to patrol. At least that was how it's been the past few years. Kinda doubt this year will be any different. I'm not sure if TSF is the same way or not. I don't think it is. But it will proly have all those that didn't get into Sand Lake there. And be a zoo as well. So you guys might want to call ahead/check some websites first. Just a heads up. More info here: http://www.sandlakeoregon.com/index.html http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/passes/recreation/holidaypermit.shtml

Some more info on that. http://pistonswildforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=yacoltburntrailproject&action=display&thread=1064 The 80 page plan released by the DNR. http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_draftwesternyacolt_rec_plan.pdf

I've not been down to those dunes yet. Like you say the distance starts to become an issue. Kinda like why drive down there when Sand Lake is closer, save the $$ for more trips. But yeah, they are supposed to be really good.

Yeah that's the Yacolt Burn area. I know some guys actively involved in that project. Lots of info here: http://pistonswildforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=yacoltburntrailproject That is basically the club responsible for getting those trails. If not for them. There would be no progress towards having trails out there.

Out near me we had a few little spots but they are all busts now. Supposed to get some actual marked trails but they are taking their time on it. Up near Astoria and such I'm not 100% sure. But last I heard it's alot of gates as well. Try and search out local 4x4 club forums and stuff like that. Hopefully you find some you can lurk on and gather info without joining if you don't want. You can get alot of good info just "listening in" as to whats good or not and what sounds like trouble.

Browns Camp is pretty fun. There are trails ranging from rough powerline access roads. To stuff that is just a mandatory winch up even for the rock buggies. You'll need an OHV permit. (like $10.50 for two years, can be got at most motorcycle shops) And maps can usually be had at most of the gas stations an such near there. All the trails are on the maps with difficulty ratings like how they mark ski runs and all are marked out in the forest. So it's pretty easy to get what you want out of it. Just watch out for the big summer holidays. Can be a zoo out there. And if it's a hot summer check ahead. The past couple years the trails have been closed for a couple months due to fire danger. These days I'm into more the exploring type stuff. Doing multi day trips out to nowhere and back via as many forest roads and trails I can find to avoid highways. But browns and sandlake get the occasional run as well.

So many places are getting gated around here. There was an area close by me that was, in the forest services words, "Not off limits to OHV use at this moment, but it will be soon." that was last year. It is now. Your best bet is to stay at places like TSF/Browns camp and Sand Lake for the time being. Just about anything else is a no go and will just make it so they take more away from us. (We p*** them off, they in turn close more trails. in our best interest to stay where we belong.) There is an area opening sometime soon NE of Vancouver, WA in the old burn area. (Could already be opening.) And some class 2 trails out here around Mt. Hood that are supposed to open at some point. But FS money is short and it takes lots of it and time to get trails built, marked and ready. (besides the fact they really don't want to open them anyway but are just to try and cut down on illegal wheeling in the area) Also get some maps and do some exploring. I've regularly found open roads that have turned into decent trails just due to lack of maintenance and being real remote. As long as you respect signs, gates, tank-traps. We'll keep having something left to wheel. Sorry to sound like a party pooper. It's just that they are looking for any excuse in this state right now to make 4WD a pointless feature. So we gotta be extra careful these days. Or we'll be finding new hobbies. I just figure a warning now is better than finding out what they do if they catch you. Depending on their mood around here it's anything from just a couple hundred dollar ticket. To really huge ticket and they impound your rig.

Ahh would have been great to come see this. Always liked all those little cars. But I'll be on a 3 day wheeling trip down in SE Oregon that weekend. Maybe next year.

*raises hand* Sandy, OR.

Lookin good. This little friendly competition is doing wonders for the amount of custom wheeler Soobs on the board.

I saw the title and thought "sounds cool!" Then I scrolled down and saw the pic of the Justy body sitting on the frame with the big meats. I about shot tea out my nose. Awesome. :slobber: That EJ just barely fits in there. Awesome x2 for engines that barley fit. Always makes for more fun.

My 83 GL has 205/75/14's on it. With no lift. I did do a slight bit of trimming but it did not require much. The tires are just over 26" tall. Some oddball All Terrains I had to special order. And remember things like a 27" swamper at 27.5", is actually taller than a 28" swamper at 27.4" for a 14" rim. (that's not a big difference, bit still the "bigger" tire is actually smaller) So check the exact specs of the tire you are looking at to make sure the size on the sidewall is actually the size they come out of the factory. Can be off by a bit. But nothing a BFH can't fine tune for ya. *Those sizes are right off Interco's website.

I disappear for a bit and look what's going on. Pretty sweet.

Summer will work. Just keep me posted. Yeah I don't like going over a 27". Running 26" A/Ts I had special ordered now and no lift. I'm getting in and out of places lifted, welded rigs are breaking in. So I really see no need. And the Jeep club likes it just the way it is. But it would be nice to have a bit more clearance under the body sometimes. And I figure you've proly came up with some really killer strut tops from the sound of it.

I'd be interested. Been only wanting to only do a 2" for the type of stuff I've gotten into but with the strut blocks done it sweetens the 4" for me. I can handle the steering shaft. (could handle the struts as well, but if you are gonna crank some out and have it all figured, all the better) My only problem is $$$ at the moment. Got a time frame when cash will be needed?

I'm most likely out. Got a 3 day run out at Virtue Flats with Links 4 Jeeps in March and the Soob needs too much work and $$$ pumped into it. And I have to use my two yearly trip permits wisely. Already used one. Gotta park it for a bit.

hehe I've ran across them before. Had some extra time so I helped him get the parts he needed off an old Volvo. (older guy with his wife and they were both stuggling with a handfull of tools) As for my organization.... What organization?! I tend to have a corner of the garage with the bigger stuff. Right now there is my old worn out EA81 on a stand. A 5spd D/R and driveline waiting to go in. And some various other parts sitting there. Small parts go in a few large drawers under the bench. I try to always keep the tools cleaned and put away unless I know I'll be needing a certain one again right away. Out in the shop I keep my spare wheels/tires stacked up in the loft. A couple spare diffs under a bench. And a new Y-pipe for DEQ against the wall. Rest of the shop looks like a hurricane went through due to a major recovering of the walls to make it a bit nicer out there. My collection of spare Subaru parts has not grown to the normal amount for an old Soob owner. Mainly because I'm always bugged to keep it all trimmed down to only what I really need.

Last time I did work on front 4WD hubs on a 91' ***-250 diesel with the leaf sprung IFS (looks like a solid axle but pivots close to the middle), the front hubs required a special socket with teeth. Proly pretty much the same on yours. As the IFS on them is of the same design. The hub socket is probably easy to find at a tool rental if you end up needing it. And you do need it as it reaches in there a bit so the hammer punch method is out. Plus you can't damage the nut or I would think the hubs would not work right. As far as anything else I'm not sure. I only went as far as wheel bearings, new studs (they were breaking off) and brakes on that one. All pretty straight forward if you take note on how it came apart. (also had a manual)

Nice. That'll be nice getting the rear hatch function back.

One of those trailer balls will be tough. A grease fitting in just the right spot to keep it lubed and you'll have a pretty burly pivot point. I like it. And I think I've seen a rock crawler with a similar setup, but it's not very common. A bit outside the box is good. Very good indeed.

Yeah that was Scoobyclimbs and I in that YT vid.

Already can't wait for this year. Last year was a blast. Big thanks to the people putting it together.

If I can make it happen (big run weekend before plus I don't know if I'll have the Soob back on (off) the road by then anyway,stubborn bearings, DEQ, ect, ect.) I could go for either day but Sunday may work better. But either could be just as doable. Oh and I just have to add. Watch the cookies on the beach and such. Every time I get all hooligany out there I shred a front tire. Dealing with that as well right now. Tore a sidewall out a bit on the driver front, and they are all terrains. Lots of sharp rocks and broken glass hiding under the sand out on the beach area. 99% of the sand lake is fine. But the beach has some tire shredding goodies if you get too playful out there.

+1 I like it, good job.

I've gotten into the habit of not posting about most of the runs anymore but scoobyclimbs requested these. As he forgot his camera that day. We went up towards Ollalie (I spelled that wrong, I just know it) Lake last sunday and found a little bit of snow. As we got higher (up around 4,000') the snow turned to rain and was making it slushy so we never made it to the lake for lunch. Back down between 2 and 3 thousand feet it was powder again. Overall a fun day and his EJ was loving blasting through the snow. Up in Squirrel Pit. Scoobyclimbs getting a bit of stuf*********e. Got all sideways in a uneven part of the trail. Stuf*********e like that with a 4" lift breaks axles. Luckily the tire was quite locked into the body so it could not turn. Made for being stuck till we jacked it up and evened it out some but kept it from spinning the over extended axle. Time for bumpstops. I told him he just needs to do this to the hatch. Put a swivel in the center like some of the old Power Wagons had. The cure for Soob articulation..... (solid axle conversion is proly easier) Since we can't talk on the phone and drive anymore (I always turned my phone off in the car anyway). I now like to take pictures at 40mph in 6-8" of rutted snow. It's safer.... Should have gotten more pics but it was just too wet out most of the time once we got up higher. And I'm not sure of the weather proofness (..."proofness"?) of my new camera. * I like how "stuff" + "age" got hit with the filter. ....... Now I just need to make a ring nut socket to replace my rear wheel bearings. Mine is siezed in there (I did punch out the stake) and I already had new bearings shipped to me. So JY swing arms are NOT an option, before anyone says it, I looked into it already. (plus good luck finding an EA81 near me in the JY anymore. Damascus is fresh out for the last year, plus I don't have time to check my oil some days let alone wander a JY.) I can't see paying $120 for a new socket from Subaru for one time use.