DHappel

I find installing or removing them solo is best done by using a floor jack with a cross beam to lift them into place. First use some duct tape to secure the frame bushings to the slider, lift into place, use a long drift to align, and get the two frame bolts loosely started. Then come back and do the sill bolts. I've played this game a few times....

Double check to be sure the connections are in good shape - high heat can be caused by a poor connection and heavy use of that winch is probably pulling a good 300 amps through there!

How are the frame side bushings for the A-bar holding up? I had a set of poly die in one Rubicon trip.

I seem to remember trying to contact them years ago about something for my LR3 but it never came together. Sounds like I got off easy!

DEPARTURE TIME 0800 SATURDAY Where: Starbucks, 99 and 12, Lodi, CA https://www.google.com/maps/place/Starbucks/@38.1164644,-121.2677157,15z/data=!3m1!5s0x80907551167a93fb:0xd1093161aec4225a!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x809aa1d926c53835:0x8eade498bb6ce846!2sLodi,+CA!3b1!8m2!3d38.1341477!4d-121.2722194!3m4!1s0x0:0x1c52a75d3037412e!8m2!3d38.1166154!4d-121.2550843 Plan to arrive early and fuel/coffee/bathroom as needed and be ready to roll out at 8:00 AM It's roughly 8 hours to Gold Point with gas/lunch stops, so we'll want to get a move on given we'll be traveling at 'Rover Speed' (ie about 5 over) https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Starbucks,+1139+E+Kettleman+Ln,+Lodi,+CA+95240/Gold+Point,+NV/@38.2785499,-120.5404541,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8090755116947c2f:0x1c52a75d3037412e!2m2!1d-121.2550838!2d38.1166156!1m5!1m1!1s0x80bed9d44e4704fb:0x31069b2da7720259!2m2!1d-117.3650767!2d37.3546527!3e0 I'll plan to have my radio on 146.460 as well as my cell 510-825-5056 Let me know if you plan to join the convoy down or if you expect to head down on your own.

FWIW, Paul has been officially 'deputized' as co-leader of this trip. He doesn't know that yet, but he'll find out when he reads this Looks like 6 trucks currently?

I suspect we won't be doing the full trail in as it sounds like we will have some smaller trucks on this "overlanding" sort of trip. Heck, I'm only taking the LR3. That doesn't necessarily mean I won't try it though...it's been quite a while since I did any crawling in the 3!

Man, they're dropping like flies! Some links for information: Gold Point https://www.goldpointghosttown.com/facts-about-gold-point-ghost-town/ Camping here is $5/night. Breakfast is $14. Cash only. I'll plan to call this weekend and make reservations and arrange fuel once we have our final headcount. Panamint Springs https://www.panamintsprings.com/ Camping here is $15/night unless we decide to move on and remote camp Briggs Cabin Geologist Cabin Saline Valley hot springs TrailRecon tour from just this year. 3-part series where they run much of the same areas we'll do. pt 1 pt 2 pt 3 Eureka Dunes https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/eureka-dunes.htm

Obviously, you'll need a range of at least 200 miles. I think any Rover can manage this though I do recommend brining extra fuel just in case. We'll be everywhere from below sea level to above 7000 ft, so pack accordingly! Most of the trip is not especially technical but there are a few areas that will challenge stock vehicles. I do recommend a minimum of good AT tires 31"+, one locker or other traction aid, basic skid plates and armor, etc, as well as spares and tools specific to your vehicle and a spare tire. You'll also be airing up/down several times so an air source will be needed. Don't expect cell coverage for much of the trip. The whole reason I started this trip was at the suggestion of Michele who hasn't been to DV but on the way home from the Mojave trip in Jan suggested she'd like to go. Naturally, work has now conspired to prevent her from coming so looks like I'm traveling solo in the LR3 again. Bummer for both of us.

Gentlemen! I know it seems like I've abandoned you, but as they say, the rumors of my demise, yada yada.... I do have an itinerary mapped out. I've driven most but not all of it in the LR3 in the past, though parts of it were about 5 years ago. Sat 27 - To Gold Point, NV via 88, 395, 168 . Approx 370 mi This is our first transit day, almost entirely highway other than the last bit to Gold Point. I need to contact the caretaker there to arrange for gas, so will need a solid head-count in advance. Since we will have people coming from various parts of the bay and Sac areas, we can meet in Lodi at the Starbucks at the junction of 99 and 12 (Kettelman). There is gas here as well. We'll grab lunch and gas on the road as needed. Sun 28 - Day at Gold Point. (gas) Gold Point is a very interesting old ghost town with showers, a bar, and possibly even a hot breakfast (though don't count on that yet). You can explore the town, explore the trails around town, or possibly we'll head down to the Hard Luck Mine Castle - I'll have to see if he is open. Mon 29 - Gold Point to Saline Valley Warm Springs. Approx 80 mi via Eureka Dunes, Dedecara Pass, Steel Pass The actual warm springs are closed I believe due to the Rona, but it's still an interesting place. If it's crowded for some reason, there are a number of alternative campsites within a couple miles. If by chance the springs have re-opened, be aware they attract a rather...interesting (read clothing optional)...crowd. Tue 30 - SV warm springs to Panamint Springs. approx 102 mi + options (gas) via Lippincott Pass, Racetrack, teakettle junction Panamint Springs offers (pay) camping with hot showers, gas and general store, etc. If we don't want a developed but not interesting campground, we can move on a few more miles and stay at some alternate areas I have mapped out, but regardless we'll want to fuel up here as we'll have covered nearly 200 miles. Wed 31 - Panamint Springs to Briggs Cabin. Approx 36 mi + options via Ballaratt Today we have an option for a challenging run up to Defense Mine, though it may prove too crawly depending on what trucks are on the trip. I have not done Defense Mine myself, only viewed videos. There are definitely some crawling lines, but also some by-passes. We can start up the trail and make the call on the fly; possibly park and walk the last mile or just head back. We can also do the Lookout City loop in the same area. Again, a loop I have not driven myself. You might however get a chance for an ice cream in the ghost town of Ballaratt on the way. Briggs Cabin is probably the #1 cabin in DV and can be hard to get which is why I've put it down for mid-week. If it's taken, there are several other cabins we can chose in the area. Thurs 1 Briggs Cabin loop - optional. Approx 30 mi Briggs is amazing; assuming we can get it on Wed we'll stay here an extra night. There's a fire pit, running water, lights, a huge deck, even a hot shower if you bring your own propane - google it! You'll have the option to hang out in camp, or to make a loop run up over Chicken Rock (sketchy!) and back around past Ballaratt. Fri 2 Briggs to Geologist Cabin. Approx 30 mi Via Goler Wash, Keystone Mine, Baker Ranch, Mengal Pass If Geologist is taken, we can stay at Russel, Stella, etc. Geologist cabin isn't as built up as Briggs, but it's very nice. Sat 3 Geologist to Baker. Approx 110 mi va Stripped Butte, Warm Springs, Jubilee Pass We have a couple of options here depending on what we want. If we need gas we can go over to Shoshone. Out of the way but only about 60 miles to fuel instead of the 100+ to Baker (there may be fuel sooner than Baker but I don't know for certain) We can also skip Jubilee Pass (paved) and head south on Harry Wade Rd toward Baker which would be a bit shorter but again, a road I haven't driven or at least don't remember. From Baker we head for home - approx 450 miles. As it will be a very long day to get all the way home that night some may elect to find a stopping point along the route. Dealer's choice you might say. I have all the routes in Gaia. I'll see about creating a folder and sharing it this weekend.

And...... I'm out. That 4-letter word (work) has reared it's head. Looks like I'll be in Sausalito and Napa instead on Saturday.

Just saw an email saying Bearmach is now selling Raptor 4x4 parts. That may be a good thing as the shipping to the US from Raptor direct wasn't great. They seem like a really solid company for beefy suspension parts for bigger builds. Nevermind - had a brain fart. I was thinking of Adrenalin, not Raptor. Once I clicked the link I realized it wasn't the guys I was thinking of. I don't actually know anything about Raptor; it may just be a house name for Bearmach stuff. So again, I do recommend Adrenalin4x4 gear but don't know anything about Raptor.

Oh, I haven't forgotten about them. Just trying not to spend that money on this truck. Saving that for the next one!

Michele would agree with this plan

Latest in the ongoing saga: Went back to Stockton Wheel and convinced them to at least try re-drilling my old wheel. Left it with them this afternoon and they're going to see if they can true it up in their lathe chuck and see what they can do when their machinist comes in. Really I wouldn't have thought this would be so hard but... If they can't the next options in order of escalating cost are Take them my spare non-beadlock wheel and have them cut the center out of it and weld it into the beadlock, then buy another generic 15x10 steel spare Order 4 new 15" steel Allied beadlocks. Might go 15x8 instead of 15x10 Order 5 new 17" alloy beadlocks and tires - this is a bit of a budget buster though In a couple days we'll know if they can re-drill it or not.

This was a swing and a miss - they don't work on steel wheels. They referred me to Wheel Tech who does do steel, but doesn't do lug drilling. Now on to search for other repair shops

After reviewing the weights, I'm more happy about my steel wheels. If you're OK with steel, Allied (raceline's steel version) is about half the cost of alloy.

Pending a new wheel....

I've had that in the back of my mind; certainly for crawling weight at the wheel isn't such a bad thing. But over-all weight is a negative. Heavy rotating mass is harder on axles, harder on brakes, worse on soft surfaces, worse on the road, etc. In reality I may not even notice if I were to shed a couple pounds per wheel. But I was hoping between a lighter wheel and tire I might loose 10 or 15 lbs per tire. That's 50-75 lbs over all. How much it would impact the truck is anybody's guess, and in the end it looks like I wouldn't be able to drop that sort of weight anyway unless maybe I was willing to shell out mega-bucks for forged wheels and that's not gonna happen.

Come on, cats are all about grip. You know if a cat had a 4wd it would be on beadlocks.

Thanks for the link. I'll reach out to them next week. I really should just fix this one if I can. At $800+ per wheel/tire that's a pretty big pill to swallow.

I found the Raceline Monster RT233 in 17x9.5 with 5x6.5 pattern to fit Rovers. Holy Crap is it heavy! 44 lbs! my steel 15x10s with a giant rock ring are only 38 lbs!

Which Racelines did you get? Was just looking at the Monster RT232 and looks like it's only available in 8 and 8.5" width. A little narrow; don't think I would want to go less than 9

Got an email back from TR confirming they can't do anything for me on the steel wheel. Not surprised.

BTW, I do have a call into TR (voice mail) to see if there's anything they can help with but so far still waiting, Seems like waiting is all I can do right now. I have messages in with Sam at Royal Overland who said he could likely get me a set of Dirty Life wheels, and a guy back east who's had a set of Walker Evans wheels for sale for over 6 months who said yes, still available but hasn't gotten back to my last request (it's all via IG, so probably not the best avenue of communication) Waiting....I'm not good at it.