words of advice to yourself...

[sixstringsteve]

Often I fail to heed my own advice. Let's hear your advice to yourself as it relates to 4x4s.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Advice for myself. Remember, these are specific to me; this advice does not apply to everyone.

- wheeling a stockish rig on easy trails can be just as fun as a buggy on hard trails
- stop modding a rig just for looks! Too often you mod a rig for looks, but try to convince yourself that it's a practical mod. Every time you mod a vehicle, ask yourself if it's for looks, bragging rights, or functionality. If it's for looks, that's ok, just admit that it's for looks and don't try to convince yourself it's for any other reason
- in order to modify your truck, you have to modify your truck
- the best $100 you can spend on your rig is fuel
- having the coolest rig on the planet means nothing if you don't get out and wheel it
- you can never "get out" of wheeling. You can definitely get burnt out, but give it 4 months and you'll be craving it just like before
- avoid the pitfall to just keep building a rig bigger and bigger until it's eventually a trailered-only truggy (see post #1)
- set goals for your rig and don't build it past those goals.
- gear/mods/equipment don't making wheeling any more fun. They're just fun to buy. You can still have a great camping trip without a fridge, snorkel, ham radio, etc.
- there are more roads and camping spots to explore in Utah than you could ever visit in your lifetime. Getaways need not be exotic, expensive, and far away.
- work/life balance is more important than a large salary
- never wheel a rig hard without sliders
- you know that you ALWAYS lose money when you build a rig and sell it later. Stop trying to make money doing it. Think of the valuable education you gained with the build. That's WAY cheaper than a few courses in college, and way more educational and fun.
- the end goal is to see more nature, relax, make new friends, and make memories with old friends

 

[bryson]

Advice for myself:

- wheeling a stockish rig on easy trails is just as fun as a buggy on hard trails
- stop modding a rig just for looks! Too often you mod a rig cuz it looks so much cooler with huge tires and bumpers, etc. Stick to the functional stuff. Everytime you mod a vehicle, ask yourself if it's for looks, bragging rights, or functionality.
- in order to modify your truck, you have to modify your truck
- the best $100 you can spend on your rig is fuel
- having the coolest rig on the planet means nothing if you don't get out and wheel it
- you can never "get out" of wheeling. You can definitely get burnt out, but give it 4 months and you'll be craving it just like before
- avoid the pitfall to just keep building a rig better and better until it's eventually a trailered-only truggy
- set goals for your rig and don't build it past those goals.
- gear/mods/equipment don't making wheeling any more fun. They're just fun to buy. You can still have a great camping trip without a fridge, snorkel, ham radio, etc.
- there are more roads and camping spots to explore in Utah than you could ever visit in your lifetime. Getaways need not be exotic, expensive, and far away.
- work/life balance is more important than a large salary
- the end goal is to see more nature, relax, make new friends, and make memories with old friends

Excellent advice. I need to heed this advice as much or more than anybody.:-\

 

[Greg]

Good idea Steve! Kind along the same lines of your thinking...



Take the time to 'qualify' your needs and build your vehicle according to how you will be using the rig.

Have a detailed build plan, long before you start modifying. Stick to the plan!

 

[sixstringsteve]

Take the time to 'qualify' your needs and build your vehicle according to how you will be using the rig.

Have a detailed build plan, long before you start modifying. Stick to the plan!

Good ones!

 

[SAMI]

The first 3 posters in this thread are perfect for the topic.. Now where's Bart?!

 

[jackjoh]

Pick a rig, buy it, use it, change practical stuff, be satisfied with your capabilities, fun, fun, fun.

 

[airmanwilliams]

- stop modding a rig just for looks! Too often you mod a rig for looks, but try to convince yourself that it's a practical mod. Every time you mod a vehicle, ask yourself if it's for looks, bragging rights, or functionality. If it's for looks, that's ok, just admit that it's for looks and don't try to convince yourself it's for any other reason

Did you post this for my benefit?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Advice for myself. Remember, these are specific to me; this advice does not apply to everyone.

Nope, not meant for you. It was meant for me. A lot of times I see a really cool looking rig on the internet, then I convince myself that I need a certain mod, when I'm really only after a certain look. I've caught myself doing it in the past few years. For example, 37's on a toyota just look right. They're the perfect size (well, 40's are pretty sweet too). And if I look at pics of toyotas on 40s after a while, I'll subconsciously tell myself that my truck would look so good with 37s or 40s. Then I'll justify mods that I don't really need, mods that are just going for a certain look. But in reality, 35's are more than I'll ever need with this truck. So I'm trying to catch myself from rationalizing decisions based on looks alone.

 

[DAA]

A few random notes to self...

CTD's and deep mud don't mix
Bouncing on a ledge and more throttle dont' mix
Keep some food, water, blanket etc. in the rig
When parking on a slope near a deep lake, make sure and set the parking brake
The water at Strawberry is really cold in November
You can always dig yourself out of a snow stuck, it might take a really long time but it can always be done
Remember to bring a shovel
Eating snow with lots of little black bugs in it because you are really thirsty makes you sick
Travel coffee mugs work for digging out a snow stuck but it really sucks
Albert Enstein only said that compound interest was the most powerful concept in the universe because he never used chains on all 4
V8's are good
Time is the only thing you can never get any more of, don't waste it

- DAA

 

[Tacoma]

-- bring tools
-- if you know it's close to breaking, fix it before you leave, because it WILL break if you dont. And you will be far from help when it does
-- don't be stupid
-- function before fashion
-- 3/4t axles ON the rig work better than 1 tons in the garage. Get on the trail
-- GO SOMEWHERE

etc.

 

[sixstringsteve]

-- 3/4t axles ON the rig work better than 1 tons in the garage. Get on the trail

good one!

 

[TJDukit]

Don't build your rig to offset your inability to drive, it will only make you think you can drive and get you in trouble.

If you wheel with alcoholics they will drink and get drunk on the trail and eventually do something stupid, if all your wheeling friends are alcoholics...get new friends.

 

[spencurai]

I get to wheel by myself if nobody else wants to go but I get to be real about it, know my limits, and prepare for contingencies.
A winch costs about as much as a back country tow bill
Stock tires don't matter as much as you think they do, prepare accordingly
Wheeling with girls is fun.

 

[Gravy]

Flopping isn't that bad.
Tire plugs are good.
When possible: build at full bump.
Don't buy cheap upholstery.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
Balance is happiness.
Replace it with better stuff.
Simple works.
Check your electrical.
Wheeling is more fun if your oil pan doesn't leak.
Fix that dang death wobble.
You can never have enough electric in the garage.
Hippies always break stuff.

 

[jmaxj]

don't pee into the windy side while on the trail, it hots your passengers apparently
don't leave cell phone in rig it either gets lost in a roll or falls out of pocket and gets ran over while racing down rds.
when the stupid guy in the group says try that, it usually ends up being really awesome or really stupid.
and my number one i live by.

keep it simple, don't over complicate the rig, the group or the run.

 

[Kevin B.]

I need to remember not to improve my rig faster than I'm improving myself. 35s and long travel and a doubler would all be great, but I've already got more truck than I know what to do with.

I need to remember that wheeling for me is a means to an end, and there's nothing wrong with driving the easy trails if the scenery and company is worth it. I don't HAVE to have a rig capable of Pritchett or Coyote Canyon if I haven't driven Seven Mile Rim yet.

 

[JoeT]

Learn how to plug a tire. When the cameras come out, pull your head out. I really struggle with that one.

 

[Bear T]

Don't listen to Tacoma,
Don't let Tacoma drive,
Don't let Tacoma work on your junk.
DON'T LISTEN TO TACOMA.

 

[Bear T]

but really,

low and slow
give it a little go go juice
make it or break it
if nothing else make it look good for the camera
I hope nobody was watching
trust me, I'm a trained professional.