I have to have an army man as a nod back to the WWII Jeep's rooots!
2025-08-06
Julie’s tying to grow some succulents in the yard
She's hoping they will make some cool and pretty ground cover. So far, they don't seem to like our environment and the chickens like them too much…
My u-joint gave up…
Upper left shows the left and right side where the caps were cracked and chewed up. Lower left shows the cracked sides of the cap. Upper left shows the only needle bearings that were still left in place in any of the four caps. And even some of those have broken in half or come apart.
Now worries though. Lower right shows a fresh new joint all installed and ready to go.
I think I’m missing a few parts…
Wheel, rotor, caliper, hub, axle shaft… I had to take a few things apart to rebuild my u-joint that had given up…
2025-08-05
One more version of the sunset from a week or so ago.
I was all packed and ready for our camping trip when the sunset lit up the horizon all across the back yard.
If you’re going to rebuild a u-joint
…then use full circle retainers for your bearing caps. They're far superior to the c-clips the joint comes with. They're c-clips falling off is the number one reason u-joints eat themselves for lunch. Hopefully this holds me for quite a bit longer.
Makeshift slide hammer
Put the rotor on backwards, add a few lugnuts loosely threaded on, then give it a yank. Pops the axle shaft right out of the housing in a jiffy.
Realizing how much I love my wedding ring…
…what it stands for, how much it means to me, all the memories I've made with Julie and the kids while wearing it, and how cool it is.
Every once in a while, one of the kids will ask me to let them see it, or send them a picture of it… 🥰
Just another night at the range…
…under the moon and the stars, trying to figure out why the blower isn't working.
2025-08-04
Another view of the sunset from a week ago.
We really like our little homestead and feel blessed to live here❤️
You don’t always need an upgrade…
The JL hood latches on my JK had loosened up to the point I was considering replacing them. But I didn't like the options or the pricing I was finding online. So I decided to see if I could figure out a fix? I cut about an inch of two-sided Velcro and rolled it over the hasp. Snugged them up perfectly. Cheap, easy, quick, and secure again!
Always fun when these two are together.
They look cute and happy together for sure❣️
Unless Andy's trying to be scary looking, hahaha.
We also got to hang with them yesterday for lunch, ice cream, and a movie. Good time!
You might ask why we were welding on my Jeep…?
I might have lost a bolt (upper left picture, lower green circle) which caused the rear ear to break off its welds (flat plate behind the nut just to the left of the top green circle). The final straw was when the front ear tore loose at the head of the bolt meaning my track bar was disconnected). So I took it apart and cleaned it up a bit (right hand pic), then my neighbor welded it back together and it's a little stronger than it started out (lower left picture).
This all happened at the off-road park last weekend. Luckily, I had a spare bolt (the lower green circle in the upper left picture) and was able to jury rig it enough to get me home.
2025-08-26 Off-Roading Jeep Badlands Kilted Trail Guide with Josh and Cody
A little different vibe this time. Sand dunes, an old rock quarry and ATVs
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