$2000 to spend???

[Hunt]

I am 3 weeks into a 5 week job out of the country and my mind is buzzing. My problem is that on these trips I get to surfing the web and "wish booking" as I call it. I find some widget and research it to death, find out how makes variations on the design, advantages/disadvantages, etc.

My thoughts right now are either a Northwest Fab "Black Box" for my Atlas OR a 2x2 Torchmate Table...

The only problem with the TM table is my very limited garage space.

So the questions is if you had $2000 to spend on your offroad project or on shop tools that later gets used on your offroad project what would you buy?

I'm really just looking for cool stuff to research that I might very well end up owning.

 

[Chevycrew]

2grand

Do my 60 swap, put in a doubler...

 

[LT.]

ChestonScout is the only one that I know of who has a Black Box. Some time ago he was having problems with his up. I thought he had said that he wished he had just gotten a doubler instead. I could be wrong though.

LT.

 

[Greg]

Spend the $2k on an epic wheelin trip... Load up the TJ, grab a buddy and take a week or 2 touring some of the best wheelin locations you can get to. That rig is about as built as it needs to be, spend time behind the wheel IMO.

 

[cannoncrawler]

I agree with greg.

once you get to a certain point, your cost/ gain ratio falls apart.

go make memories!!!!!

 

[Hunt]

Spend the $2k on an epic wheelin trip... Load up the TJ, grab a buddy and take a week or 2 touring some of the best wheelin locations you can get to. That rig is about as built as it needs to be, spend time behind the wheel IMO.

I agree with greg.

once you get to a certain point, your cost/ gain ratio falls apart.

go make memories!!!!!

I totally agree that I need to wheel it more. Work beckons. I'm away from home and I'm really just looking to do some desk top wrenching.

I am dyeing to get into Ultimate Adventure. :-\

 

[Greg]

I totally agree that I need to wheel it more. Work beckons. I'm away from home and I'm really just looking to do some desk top wrenching.

I am dyeing to get into Ultimate Adventure. :-\

Totally understandable! I've spent plenty of time away from home working and have done the same thing.

These days I try to haul a 'trails' atlas for CO & UT with me, so I can plan out trips, rather than make build plans. I've found myself spending more time on new trails and less time in the garage.

 

[ChestonScout]

I do have a Black Box.

It was very convienient for me since Im running a Ford tranny and a Chev 205. The Black Box can have any input/output combo you want so that is the main reason I did it.

I did have one problem with it. A snap ring was left out of the inside which allowed some parts to come apart. Northwest Fab paid for the shipping and fixed it for me for free. Of course I wasnt happy about it but Kyle came through.

Having said that tho.....

I agree with whats been said. Your Jeep is ready to run. Do you find yourself needing lower gears??

And as for the table.....I think it would be cool but again, your Jeep is built already. You would most likely be using it for other peoples junk. Which could pay for itself I guess but I say.......

Load the Jeep up and go wheel!

If you have any questions about the Black Box tho.....feel free to ask!

 

[Hunt]

I do have a Black Box.

It was very convienient for me since Im running a Ford tranny and a Chev 205. The Black Box can have any input/output combo you want so that is the main reason I did it.

I did have one problem with it. A snap ring was left out of the inside which allowed some parts to come apart. Northwest Fab paid for the shipping and fixed it for me for free. Of course I wasnt happy about it but Kyle came through.

Having said that tho.....

I agree with whats been said. Your Jeep is ready to run. Do you find yourself needing lower gears??

And as for the table.....I think it would be cool but again, your Jeep is built already. You would most likely be using it for other peoples junk. Which could pay for itself I guess but I say.......

Load the Jeep up and go wheel!

If you have any questions about the Black Box tho.....feel free to ask!

I am a constant tinkerer. I just can't leave well enough alone.

Actually I was looking to gain a higher 4x4 gear. The 2.72:1 would be great for running up and down the service roads. Charlie has a 3:1 in his 3 speed Stak in his KOH car and it really is an amazing thing. I'm sure I could come up with a use for the 11.7:1. I like widgets and a 4 speed would be fun.

The whole K.I.S.S. just doesn't apply to me. I can't do it. Its and addiction.

 

[ChestonScout]

I understand. I usually do more wrenching than wheeling just because. My problem is I think I have gone backwards in capability now. The Scout was pretty amazing on the one ton axles and 44" tires. It was pretty low to the ground and went anywhere.

But then I decided I wanted rear steer, so in went Rockwells. I had to lift it 6" to clear them so of course 44s were to small. So I went to 47s. The rear steer is WAY fun but I feel I was more capable on the 44s.

Anyhow....

If you want to spend money on a gadget....The Black Box is nice. Tell Kyle I told you to call.

One thing I wasnt expecting was to having to pay the fee to ship it across the border from Canada. It made me mad for some reason

 

[Hunt]

I understand. I usually do more wrenching than wheeling just because. My problem is I think I have gone backwards in capability now. The Scout was pretty amazing on the one ton axles and 44" tires. It was pretty low to the ground and went anywhere.

But then I decided I wanted rear steer, so in went Rockwells. I had to lift it 6" to clear them so of course 44s were to small. So I went to 47s. The rear steer is WAY fun but I feel I was more capable on the 44s.

Anyhow....

If you want to spend money on a gadget....The Black Box is nice. Tell Kyle I told you to call.

One thing I wasnt expecting was to having to pay the fee to ship it across the border from Canada. It made me mad for some reason

I've been talking to someone at NWF quite a bit through email and once on the phone. They are redesigning the shifter on the Atlas specific model so it is a few weeks out still. I'll ask for Kyle specifically next time.

I am up in Canada all the time. I figured I just have them send it to my hotel to save some shipping and the $35 customs fee. Every penny helps.

I think I am going to put the air conditioning back in the jeep this summer. Not that I need it out here. More to brag about. "Yeah its a supercharged 5.3 with a 40 spline locker. Oh and did I mention it has AC?" LOL

 

[ChestonScout]

Nice!

You most likely have been talking to Kyle. He used to have 1 employee (he was the guy that left the snap ring out of my box) but wasnt having any luck with him so he decided to do it all himself.

 

[Tacoma]

Curious what is better about the Black Box vs. the Klune?

 

[ChestonScout]

Curious what is better about the Black Box vs. the Klune?

The Black Box has support bearings on both the input and output. Klune only has it on one. I cant remember for sure but I think its output. Other than that I believe they are basically the same.

 

[Tacoma]

Hmm. Alright! thank you.

 

[Hunt]

I've been looking at lights too. I just can't decide if I want to go with the style of Vision X LED light bar or the huge, in your face, long reaching Light Force HIDs. Spare time is killing me.

 

[Cody]

I would also spend it on a wheelin trip or 3.

 

[Hunt]

Another trip would be great. I did KOH/Johnson Valley in February. Big trips are tuff to schedule with getting time off work and such.

The current issue is that I work away from home and get cooped up in a hotel after work and start web wheeling.

 

[spencurai]

Go on a trip man. You are in the brotherhood of "guys without 9-5s". We go somewhere and work for extended periods of time. I have found there are guys out there that would rather build than wheel. If they could build bitchen rigs and wheel once or twice a year they would. I am the kind of guy that would build an OK rig and wheel at every possible opportunity. Having blinged out stuff is fine and all but I find I have more of a challenge wheeling a reliable yet less capable rig.