Tuesday, October 28, 2014

My Jeep Adventure

 Women's Wheeling Day at Rausch Creek Off Road Park



Saturday morning dawned, and with it, my anticipation for a day of adventure. Before the sun even graced the sky, I set out on my journey northward, bound for Rausch Creek Off Road Park. This haven of excitement and challenge awaited, promising joy to all who ventured its trails.

Arrival and Anticipation

As I arrived for the 2nd annual Women's Wheeling Day, a mixture of emotions surged within me. It marked my fifth off-roading excursion but my inaugural solo journey without an instructor by my side. Checking in at the office, excitement, nervousness, and eagerness coursed through my veins.


Camaraderie and Acceptance




Eager to hit the trails once more, off-roading was becoming an addiction. Anxious to meet fellow Jeepers for the first time, I wondered if I would find acceptance within the Jeep Girl community. To my surprise, the women I met were all incredibly friendly, helpful, and encouraging. They made the day even more enjoyable, and I realized that my fears about being accepted were completely unfounded.


Airing Down Tires: A Simple Task

One of my concerns before the trip was airing down my tires. I had never done it before and was worried it would be difficult. However, it turned out to be one of the simplest tasks of the day. All I had to do was attach my tire deflators and remember to re-inflate my tires at the end of the trip.

Importance of Airing Down Tires



For those who are unfamiliar, airing down your tires is a crucial step in off-roading. Lowering the tire pressure increases the amount of wheel surface that touches the trails. It's a fundamental off-roading necessity, enhancing traction and facilitating smoother rides over rugged terrain.

Off-roading 101: Airing Down Tires 👉 Read More


Choosing the Right Trails: Green vs. Blue



At first, I debated going with the group heading out on the blue trails, which are more difficult than the green. However, after some advice from experienced drivers, I decided to stick with the green trails. This turned out to be a wise decision, as the green trails still offered plenty of challenges and excitement.


Rock Gardens Obstacles



Right off the bat, we encountered two Rock Garden obstacles. M
y stock Jeep faced its trial by fire. Although these were quite intense, my stock Jeep and I managed to navigate them with ease. I even recorded and uploaded both Rock Garden obstacle videos to my YouTube channel, The Jeep Momma.


Reflections and Future Adventures


Overall, the Women's Wheeling Day at Rausch Creek Off Road Park was a fantastic experience. I had the opportunity to meet and bond with a group of amazing women who shared my passion for off-roading. I can't wait for next year's event!


Future Plans: Sway Bar Disconnects and More

After my adventure, I realized that sway bar disconnects would be a useful addition to my Jeep. There were several moments on the trail where they would have come in handy. Looking back this was the start of the many modifications I began making with my Jeep. Eventually, I just upgraded to a Rubicon.
  


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Must Have Tools on the Trail

The Significance of Preparedness in Off-Roading 

Being adequately prepared with essential tools and recovery gear is of paramount importance when embarking on off-road journeys. On my YouTube channel, I've shared informative videos, such as "Top 5 Tools Needed," "Top 5 Fluids Needed," and more, to help fellow off-road enthusiasts gear up for their adventures.

When planning for off-roading excursions, it's crucial to consider the tools you routinely use for maintenance and repairs on your vehicle at home. These are the very tools that should find a place in your off-road toolkit.  I've had to replace my steering stabilizer multiple times, and this experience underscores the significance of always having this essential item in my tool bag


Broken Steering Stabilizer

The two tools needed to fix the bracket that attaches my steering stabilizer on my Jeep are an 18mm wrench and my rubber mallet. The 18mm wrench typically doesn't come in a set so you need to buy is separately

Tools in My Tool Bag

BFH - Hammer
Adjustable Wrench
Big Screwdriver or Pry Bar
Socket Set and Ratchet
Vice Grip Pliers
Screwdriver and Bits
Zip Ties
Duct Tape
Bottle Jack
Flashlight
Bungee Cords 

Must Have Tools 👉 Watch Here


"You may not have it all together, but together you will have it all."

It is good to be prepared but don’t get too crazy trying to pack everything into your Jeep. You may not use everything you bring and you may not have everything you need, but you may have things others need and vice versa. 

Every time you go out you will learn what works for you and your wheeling style. Just prepare the best you can and grow on that each time. At the end of this post is a list of items you may or may not want to add to your list of tools. 

ARB Tree Trunck Protector https://amzn.to/3Z3CLIk 

Warn Winch Gloveshttps://amzn.to/3L5QOYi 

Gorilla Tape https://amzn.to/3qQeAAO 

Tire Repair Kithttps://amzn.to/3Z3DrgQ 

Jumper Cableshttps://amzn.to/3P4Nu0V 

Folding Shovelhttps://amzn.to/3P3faTx 

Bungee Cords https://amzn.to/3EqzauF 

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Other Tools to Add to Your Tool Box

Socket Set - Standard & Metric with 3/8" & 1/2" drives - Deep & Standard Sockets 
Crescent, open-end combination box wrenches Standard & Metric
Allen Wrenches
Torx sockets (especially if you own a Jeep)
Standard & Phillips screwdrivers, large, medium, small
Pliers / Needle Nose (various sizes)
Needle Nose Pliers 
Large channel-lock Pliers
Pipe wrenches - having 2 medium of these can be useful for tie-rods 
Utility knife or razor blades
BIG pry bar
Snap ring pliers
Magnet
Duct Tape
Bailing Wire
Wood Blocks - useful for jacking platforms, ramps, suspension supports
Rope Lengths
Super Glue
Epoxy
Ratchet Straps
Rags 
Work / Leather Gloves

Spare Parts / Repair Items

Extra Fan / serpentine belts
Hoses, fuel line, coolant hoses
Spare Tire
Tire repair kits, plugs
Extra Lug nuts, tire star wrench or lug key with key socket
Cotter pins / keys - various sizes
Nuts & bolts assorted standard and metric sizes
RTV - form-a-gasket
Radiator stop leak - silver flakes in tube
Spare Hub (and hub fuses if applicable).
Spare Universal Joints (U-joints for drive shaft & axles)
Spare Drive Shaft (rear and front)
Extra spark plug wire (size of  longest wire)


Electronics Repair Kit

Volt ohms meter (multimeter)
Wire cutters / wire crips / wire strippers (multi-tool)
Spare fuses of all sizes and types used in your vehicle
Electrical tape
Spare wire - lengths of various gauges
Spare switches
Spare relay if you use relays
crip on ends (male and female, various gauges)
Small pocket sized needle point blow torch (handy for soldering wire)
Flux core solder for repairs
Wiring Diagram of your vehicle

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