The Mudcave: Overlanding/offroad chat.

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Apex
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Detroit wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:15 am
Apex wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:06 am

Storing a remote mounted winch would be my issue right now. I've thought about what you have said about winches in the past a lot lately. Remote makes a ton of sense, for all of the reasons you've mentioned.

What winch do you have for your remote setup?
Ah, yes...I just keep mine in the garage, which you can't do. You could always carry it into your place and put it in a closet or something, it's not huge.

I've got a Warn VR-10s on a Warn multimount cradle. The VR series is Warn's "entry" winch, and the 10k capacity has proven to be ample. I've been pleased overall with it the few times I've used it. Upgrading to the synthetic line was worth the piece of mind as well. Bought it as a black friday deal last year, for a solid deal.

I wired my truck with the Warn wiring kit that includes a solenoid for safety. I recommend the entire setup.
Sounds like I would be interested in a similar type of winch that you have then. 10k capacity with synthetic line. It's going to be a bit before I pull any triggers on this, so the feedback is appreciated.

:like:
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ChrisoftheNorth
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Apex wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:20 am
Detroit wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:15 am
Ah, yes...I just keep mine in the garage, which you can't do. You could always carry it into your place and put it in a closet or something, it's not huge.

I've got a Warn VR-10s on a Warn multimount cradle. The VR series is Warn's "entry" winch, and the 10k capacity has proven to be ample. I've been pleased overall with it the few times I've used it. Upgrading to the synthetic line was worth the piece of mind as well. Bought it as a black friday deal last year, for a solid deal.

I wired my truck with the Warn wiring kit that includes a solenoid for safety. I recommend the entire setup.
Sounds like I would be interested in a similar type of winch that you have then. 10k capacity with synthetic line. It's going to be a bit before I pull any triggers on this, so the feedback is appreciated.

:like:
I've heard that Smittybilt and other Chinese winches are pretty good for less money. I'm just a bit of brand whore when it comes to something like a winch...where it working or not can be the difference between a fun wheeling trip and a significant (maybe life threatening) problem.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Apex
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Detroit wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:24 am
Apex wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:20 am

Sounds like I would be interested in a similar type of winch that you have then. 10k capacity with synthetic line. It's going to be a bit before I pull any triggers on this, so the feedback is appreciated.

:like:
I've heard that Smittybilt and other Chinese winches are pretty good for less money. I'm just a bit of brand whore when it comes to something like a winch...where it working or not can be the difference between a fun wheeling trip and a significant (maybe life threatening) problem.
I have heard a lot of great reviews lately on Smittybilt's X20 line... 10k winch with synthetic line is about 5 hundo... a good cost savings over a Warn. But with a winch, it's something that I would need to work every time. A good warranty does me no good when I'm axle deep in a mud put on the trail and the winch fails.
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ChrisoftheNorth
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Apex wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:29 am
Detroit wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:24 am
I've heard that Smittybilt and other Chinese winches are pretty good for less money. I'm just a bit of brand whore when it comes to something like a winch...where it working or not can be the difference between a fun wheeling trip and a significant (maybe life threatening) problem.
I have heard a lot of great reviews lately on Smittybilt's X20 line... 10k winch with synthetic line is about 5 hundo... a good cost savings over a Warn. But with a winch, it's something that I would need to work every time. A good warranty does me no good when I'm axle deep in a mud put on the trail and the winch fails.
IIRC, mine was $650 on sale with rebate. $150 more for piece of mind is worth it to me.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Apex
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Detroit wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:11 pm
Apex wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:29 am

I have heard a lot of great reviews lately on Smittybilt's X20 line... 10k winch with synthetic line is about 5 hundo... a good cost savings over a Warn. But with a winch, it's something that I would need to work every time. A good warranty does me no good when I'm axle deep in a mud put on the trail and the winch fails.
IIRC, mine was $650 on sale with rebate. $150 more for piece of mind is worth it to me.
:notbad: I'll keep my eyes open around black-friday for a :dill: like that.
$150 for that piece of mind is worth it to me as well.
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:27 pm Yessssssssss.

Brackets for my OE ZR2 sliders have shipped. ETA is 9/11. :doomed:
:fuckyeah:

:truk: goes to :dillerman: on 9/11 for gangsta lean TSB.
Wonder what my loaner is gonna be.
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SAWCE
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Apex wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:19 pm
[user not found] wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:27 pm Yessssssssss.

Brackets for my OE ZR2 sliders have shipped. ETA is 9/11. :doomed:
:fuckyeah:

:truk: goes to :dillerman: on 9/11 for gangsta lean TSB.
Wonder what my loaner is gonna be.
Service managers old Cobalt.
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Apex
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SAWCE wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:41 pm
Apex wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:19 pm

:fuckyeah:

:truk: goes to :dillerman: on 9/11 for gangsta lean TSB.
Wonder what my loaner is gonna be.
Service managers old Cobalt.
I'll leave a nice surprise for him then... :hue:
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:51 pm
Apex wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:01 pm

I'll leave a nice surprise for him then... :hue:
:baby: :poop:
I've got plenty of that...
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Apex
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Anyone have experience with GMRS radios? Looks like they can be used in conjunction with FRS radios on certain channels. They work better than CBs from what I have read, and the antennas are way smaller for the mounted ones.
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Wed Sep 12, 2018 11:58 am
Apex wrote: Wed Sep 12, 2018 11:04 am Anyone have experience with GMRS radios? Looks like they can be used in conjunction with FRS radios on certain channels. They work better than CBs from what I have read, and the antennas are way smaller for the mounted ones.
Need a license to operate one legally.
There's no test for the license, unlike HAM, and they're good for 10 years.
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Dbest
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Remote hitch good. Fake heep bad.
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3rdgenfan
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Great pics as always, the only use of 4wd I've had with mine was using 4Lo to creep up a shoreline at the lake to jump start the boat :lol:
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Apex
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3rdgenfan wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:12 pm Great pics as always, the only use of 4wd I've had with mine was using 4Lo to creep up a shoreline at the lake to jump start the boat :lol:
Who dis?
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:14 pm
3rdgenfan wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:12 pm Great pics as always, the only use of 4wd I've had with mine was using 4Lo to creep up a shoreline at the lake to jump start the boat :lol:
Hey, he posts!

Apex only used Auto 4wd today - which was impressive. I put it in 4Lo to climb the one hill I did with the ruts and tight breakover. It works. :lol:
:dat:

The stock capability of these :truk: s, plus OEM skids, is :impressive:
I might look for some ZR2 takeoff tars on the cheap...
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:44 pm
Apex wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:37 pm

:dat:

The stock capability of these :truk: s, plus OEM skids, is :impressive:
I might look for some ZR2 takeoff tars on the cheap...
Yeah, with some tires you'll be plenty capable.

I'll eventually get my 1" lift done. :iono:
Such choices, much rubbing doe. Have to find out what I want.

Long term I’m looking at adding some additional skids from the Bison, Bison rear bumper and the MOI front bumper insert. Then Fox suspension lift to run some 32s.
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[user not found] wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:25 pm Hey, look - more :truk: doing :truk: things.

Photos from today's exploratory run - decided to explore Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson and poke around the trails and fireroads there. Trail conditions were fairly dry, only a few holes here and there that still had water in them - thankfully the area drains pretty well. Really amazed with the stock capability of these trucks, though.

Getting started.
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I suppose this is how the wall of death begins...
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A little mud here and there never hurts.
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We did encounter a few areas to test the 4wd systems out. This is much steeper than it looks from up here.
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See?
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I decided to try one of the intermediate lines - slightly rutted, but the top had a breakover that could be tricky.
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Up and over!
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I did make minor contact with the transfer case skid, but nothing major.

Apex's turn to try a line.
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He took the slightly easier route up - a bit wider and less rutted.
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He did take the same way down that I took, though. A little tricky in spots, but nothing crazy.
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We found another challenging area with a few routes to the top - very rutted, one even had a rock garden of sorts. A bit more than I felt like trying today, and shame I didn't take the camera to the top. We'll be back.
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Wrong turn, but good photo op!
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Everything is slowly starting to change - great color on the trees right now.
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Loving these flaps, too.
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Until next time.
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Looks like tons of fun
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wap
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[user not found] wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:14 pm
3rdgenfan wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:12 pm Great pics as always, the only use of 4wd I've had with mine was using 4Lo to creep up a shoreline at the lake to jump start the boat :lol:
Hey, he posts!

Apex only used Auto 4wd today - which was impressive. I put it in 4Lo to climb the one hill I did with the ruts and tight breakover. It works. :lol:
Fresh :meat: !!

Also, :megusta: on the pics, Z!
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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Apex wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:35 pm
3rdgenfan wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:12 pm Great pics as always, the only use of 4wd I've had with mine was using 4Lo to creep up a shoreline at the lake to jump start the boat :lol:
Who dis?
I came from a vortex of VWs. It was there where I was forced to sign up for such a forum, doe.

I'd love to join you folks on the next minor adventure, but first I still need to seal up my dust caps after I did the TRS biXenon install....I've been lazy.
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Apex
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3rdgenfan wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:46 pm
Apex wrote: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:35 pm

Who dis?
I came from a vortex of VWs. It was there where I was forced to sign up for such a forum, doe.

I'd love to join you folks on the next minor adventure, but first I still need to seal up my dust caps after I did the TRS biXenon install....I've been lazy.
:howdy:
Welcome to our band of "merry gentlemen."

What color is your :truk: ? Please say red...
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Apex
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[user not found] wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:23 pm
Apex wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:06 pm

:howdy:
Welcome to our band of "merry gentlemen."

What color is your :truk: ? Please say red...
Nah, he's team #whitepower
#supremecolor
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troyguitar
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[user not found] wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:29 pm
Apex wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:26 pm

#supremecolor
Tremendous color. The best.
Image
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Apex
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troyguitar wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:32 pm
[user not found] wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:29 pm

Tremendous color. The best.
Image
:jimp: :plac:
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3rdgenfan
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That orange is niiiice.gif though.

Image

I'm northern Delaware, forgot to add that before...whoops.
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Apex
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3rdgenfan wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:49 pm That orange is niiiice.gif though.

Image

I'm northern Delaware, forgot to add that before...whoops.
Twins!

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