man the first cut was tough! I closed my eyes and cut like a 1/4in, after that it was well I need to make this look good now. pretty happy with the results, not quite as clean as I would like yet but its 90%.

will also keep me legal for tire coverage and they are nice and flexible so I wont break them. I really just want to buy glass but I know the first time I wheel the truck I will crack it! this was my solution.

once I get my wider rear axle I will do the back the same way with a smaller flare.

 

Looks good, Mike! Where did you get the flexible fenders?

 

Ok where to start... Great pictures and great truck.
You need a new rear bumper to match the front... C4x4 Fab might just have a rear bumper that will match up.

The flares... just asking, why didn't you go with something like the BushWacker Flares ? The ones you have seem to be just pieces of rubber similar to Jeep Extender flares.
Remember it is just me asking, your choice not mine and as others have said, wow that first cut must have hurt you more than the truck !

Great truck and really like the switch setup.
Did you make the front part of the console ?

 

Thanks they are pacer performance 4.25" flares bought from Amazon

I have a c4x4 rear bumper and have for a few years now ( see pic in this thread)

As for the flares the bushwakers only give 2.5 in of coverage and would give me no more room on the fender for wheel travel. The DBR kit needs a lot of room to cycle the full 14"

My options to allow full wheel travel were fiber glass or get creative. I like glass but I know I will break it the first time out on the trail.

So I chose to cut out the fenders to give me the performance and add a universal flare to get me tire coverage and keep me legal. The flares are nice and flexible so they should work well on the trail.

Also yes I built the console holding the switch and radio panels.

 

Looks mean from the front.

 

thanks man! I'm liking it more and more

 

Hell yeah! Do you need the flares by law or just wanted them?

 

Need them by law, they turned out better then I thought need to get some better pics

 

Did you have problems with the cops?

 

Na no problems but I would have when the rain hit again had about 5.5" of tire out past the fender. it would flint mud down the side of the truck and onto the roof.

 

Finally ran the lower naches trail, I have run the upper and east side many times but was worried about putting the truck on it side in the trenches on the lower. The new suspension has given a lot of stability when off camber and I love how confidence inspiring the truck now is.

we had a lot of fun, watched a TJ break a rear diff yoke and u joint. ( he was new to wheeling and was bouncing the rig up a hill and not letting his winch do the work to get him up the hill. we stopped to help him out and get him into front wheel drive so he could get off the trail.

lots of close calls on the trail but no body damage, just a few new scuffs and scrapes. was within inches of bad damage but with some re positioning and great spotting from a buddy I got through no problem


Heres video from the trail. enjoy.

https://youtu.be/iPeO8Y3v0Jk

trail description

http://www.nwjeepn.com/lowernaches.htm

 

Sounds pretty awesome but the YouTube video is private!

 

Crap it should be working with the link, I will check

Fixed now!

 

Cool looking trail. Is that national forest land?

 

Yes it is, it's part of an off shoot of the Oregon trail. There are trees that still have rope marks in the from pioneers pulling their wagons up the hills. Cools stuff!

 

Got my new CVs in a few days ago and did some work on my skid plate adding some bracing to keep it from bending more.

 

Guess I missed your update. Nice work! Your welds are looking pretty good as well! Do you get your shielding gas from Mel at central welding supply on the Renton Highlands? Just curious since your located in Renton. I need to buy an 80cf bottle of argon for my scratch start tig set up and he seems to be decently priced.

 

Hey I missed it somehow too! Lookin good though!

 

Thanks man, I usually go to the Tukwila central welding supply, it's close to my office.

Thanks!

 

That's actually where I picked up all my scratch start TIG gear from because the Renton shop didn't have a 17 series valved torch in stock. I'm sure either place has the same price for shielding gas though. Either way I'm gonna have to wait until November when I get back from Pullman.

 

Nice, I really don't miss Pullman. How's school going?

 

Yeah I feel it, I'm not a huge fan of Pullman. It's going good. I'm actually getting to take classes that I enjoy. I'm taking EE221 (matlab), Timber design, Reinforced concrete design, water resources engineering, Technical writing (not so enjoyable), and the FE review class.

 

It took me a year to figure out Pullman but I enjoyed my time over there, meet some great people and had some great times out in the woods on Moscow mountain.

Sounds like your doing civil engineering from the course work? Do well in technical writing it really comes in handy.

 

Still a long way off from starting my build, but thanks for sharing this. This is one of my favorite threads and I have been looking for switches like this!! Perfect!

I am trying to have as much planned out as I can so I don't do a lot of double work! haha.

 

They are sweet switches, it certainly pays to have your end goal in mind!