Another fun day in the woods today! went up the surprise lake trail (easy rocky trail with one tough section that is notorious for bending sheet metal

Trail details

Surprise Lake Trail


Made it up the trail no problem, couple scraps on the front skid plate but the truck did great.

coming through the rocks and tree stump











got to the top of the trail with out any issue but when it cam time to turn around 5 rigs in in a tiny space. came to be my turn and I dropped the front end into a hole and went to back up, wheels started slipping on a snowy wet rock pulled forward to bump the rock with the wheels turned a little too much and the driver side CV let go. (again for those keeping track)

got the truck turned around (winch maxtrax and rear locker work wonders) and down to a more open area to survey the damage

busted the rest of the CV out.



oh yes we used the winch to remove the center shaft





my trophy



Had to winch up one snowy climb that I could not quite get up in 2wheel low lol







still a great day on the trail,

 

Video of the trail run from a friend.

 

Friend finally posted his pictures from Fortune creek last weekend so you will have to suffer more pics from there.


Scenery wasen't bad





Phil playing log skidder







Bashing through snow from another tree we had to move.





The tree in question



Nice creek



Coming down from one of the snow banks

















this felt a little off camber...



this is for you Josh, yes i did have to pull the FJ







Phil exercising his 4.0 breaking trail.



Me and the trail dog

 

I want to run those trails so bad!

 

Plan a road trip we will show you around!

 

I've been meaning to for a while now. My uncle lives 40 min from Renton. Maybe he'll let me tow the ranger back home at least lol. He has a white 97 CCLB 7.3 w/ a 5th wheel for a tow rig

 

Jealous. I spent all weekend under my truck and im jonesing to hit the trail

 

Saw the pics, looks like the coilover swap is going well, get those braces welded on and you on the home stretch!

 

Nice! well even if ya fly out let me know lol, not as much fun as driving it but still good.

 

Man, sucks I had to work..

Love the Scenery out there!

beautiful trees!

 

I will defiantly be back to the cle elum trails as the snow starts to melt out, it was such a neat area!

Surprise lake was fun through the tough section! and amazing vistas.

 

will do man

 

more video

 

sweet gopro video! that rocky trail looks awesome. i'd kill to go wheeling out there.

 

Nice pics,looks like a blast! Seeing the snow though gives me war like ptsd flashbacks from our long *** winter we had here this year.

 

Looks like a good time! Makes me want to take my truck out on some trails

 

Always is if you want to tag along any time just let me know.

In other news, I bought the metal and parts to rebuild my lower coilover mounts today. I
Have never liked how the brackets put the CO at such a sharp angle and I want to space the lower mount out to 1.5 from 1.25 for more eyelet durability and less wear on the bushing.

So I am going to cut off the tabs and weld on new ones on the bottom and open up the upper mount from 1.40 to 1.5 so a full size bushing fits.

 

Those trails look awesome. Wish we had something like that around here.

 

I've been looking at a coilover conversion kit for my ranger and was wondering how you like it and what shocks and springs you got I'm getting the same bumper as you so I fugued you would know the weight. Also the rear bumper is from c4x4 any news if they will come out with that and price? Love the truck and build thread keep it up

 

Nice! I love the set up, specs on everything are further back in this thread. I am using fox 2.0 remote resivior coilovers with 700lb eibach coils .

And yes mike at c4x4 will build the rear for anyone that wants it. Just call or email him. I believe he was at 500-550 for the rear so it's a great price.

 

Ok cool good to know I'm doing a verry similar build to yours and great price for the bumper!! Thanks for the info

 

Another question when it comes to led taillights and reverse lights (plug and play preferably) what ones did you go with?

 

I have had good luck with the projector reverse LEDs from eBay. But for stop and turn I switched back to halogen until I can finish my l1224r swap (osram joule LEDs) All the LEDs I have tirade have not been bright enough for a taillight application.

 

@mikerider

Did your daystar bumpstops snap into the ranger bumpstop holders or did you attaché another way?

 

They are bolt on. A stud is molded into the day star bumps and then an nut cranks down to hold them in place.

Due to the coilover (brackets trimmed for clearance) swap mine are mounted inboard of the stock bump location. And I am utilizing bump stops on the coilover shaft as well because the day star bumps will deflect out of the way on a hard enough hit.