Herzog said:
I couldn't agree more.
My offroad experience started out around the age of 9 behind the wheel of a 1500 flat four VW powered tubular sandrail that my dad built. I had pillows behind my back, blocks duct taped to my shoes and an itchy throttle foot. Man that thing was fun. Nothing like launching that thing up sand dunes.
My 4x4 experience started at the age of 18 when I aquired my first 4x4, an 89 Cherokee. I installed a 3" lift and some 30" tires on it. After my first trip to Moab with a couple of my friends and some people who would show us around, I was hooked for life.
...and you're still driving the same Cherokee today, right?
Edit: I started with my Toyota Xtracab truck on 31's. One trip to Moab and I was hooked...that truck got a bit of lift, 32's, axle gears and a front locker. Then I built my Willys, 32's open/open at first. Progression is good....
To the actual topic of this thread, most of my original build ideas came from my own head, and sometimes pics in magazines. Like I said about the driving, progression is a good thing here too. I started with a rear bumper on that Toyota, then did a BUNCH of work on the Willys. (SOA w/Toy axles, new drivetrain, rollcage....then linked the rear end several different ways, stretched it, then tossed it in favor of my first buggy)
Now I want to regress a bit. Keep my buggy for the hard stuff, but get my '94 4Runner ready for more mild/family trail use and exploring. Back to the roots, ya know? I want to do the solid front axle a little bit differently than I've seen anyone do it before though.....