I didn't make it to the clean up this weekend because snowboarding got in the way

This up coming weekend I'm not 100% what I'm going to do, but some of my friends are planning on a camping trip out by Roosevelt Lake if anyone is interested let me know.

The weekend after that we are planning a day trip to the Wickenburg area to check out a bunch of ghost towns. This is the details that were sent to me:

March 19, 2011

GHOST TOWN ADVENTURE
(Off Road. 2 out of 5 AORC Trail Rating)

We head North of Wickenburg on Highway 89 to an area known for extensive gold mining. We start at the Stanton and Weaver ghost towns. After visiting the area we continue to the Hassayampa River and Box Canyon. This is a great history Adventure.

Meet: 8:30am @ Premier Automotive (I17 & Deer Valley Road)

I have done this loop many times. Not very hard at all, but the ghost towns are amazing. Ther are plenty of other little towns in this area that I'm sure we'll hit up too.

Again, please let me know if you're interested so I can let them know how many people I'll have with my group. I think I'm going to leave my truck at home on this one and ride along with Stacy so if you decide to come, you'll finally meet the famous FJ driving Stacy!

 

lol yeah work has been keeping me very busy Ted. I'm so tired now I have no energy to stay up late yotateching lol. I plan on coming over to pick up that stuff from you Ted so stay tuned!

-RONI-

 

Roni- Good to hear things are going well....though you didn't say they were well or good...just hoping that no energy and no Yotateching means $$ in your pocket. Now, I know there's a job around here with MY name on it....I JUST have to find it...

And hollar at me when you're ready...pretty much any day would do...just need to know when you're on your way so I know to stay home.

-Ted

 

Things are good indeed Ted.



I will let you know when don't worry man. Maybe we can take a look at the tie rods and ball joints huh?

Good luck with Job searching my friend!

-RONI-

 

I'd be down to help out. I'm gonna need to find a shop to do my alignment too...so maybe we can run something down at the same time. If we're going to do the ball joints, have you thought any more about the BJ spacers? I'll be pulling the T-bars out of mine and putting in those sway-aways that I've had for over two years now. Maybe we can get a wrenching day going here for the both of us????? Anyhow....glad all is well...and the job search keeps going n going n going n going n going....<---I think ya'll get the idea....

I cant wait to hit the trails again...

-Ted

 

Well actually before I go replacing tie rods and ball joints I was thinkin we could take a look at them and diagnose the problem. I don't want to go replacing them if I really don't have to you know mang? When we look, we shall discuss bj spacers. lol I'm down for a wrenching day let me know when!

I know what you mean about the job search.



I can't wait either.....but I still need tires uuurrrgghh!!



-RONI-

 

Sure, we can take a look at the t-rods, b/j's and anything else to get em' fixed up for ya.

The job hunt does continues: Today I have a meeting with the owner of a certain "Offroad Fabrication" company. I'm really excited that he's even willing to meet with me...so we'll see how this goes today. Hopefully he takes me on...but I still have my classes to contend with which may or may not be a problem. I still want to take one more class next fall and then get my cert's. Just hope he really understands.


-Ted

 

Thats really cool Ted!!!! Thats true love for off road!


So...stopped the shaking in the truck! lol

Truck started making this crazy loud clunking noise..clunk clunk clunk clank and then !BOOM! from the front passenger wheel well. Took it apart to find this...




Bearing exploded!!! There was all kinds of great gunk-n-chunks. Replaced with new bearings and now no shaking! Can't believe that happened. I will be replacing the driver side bearings next week.



Did this at my cousins house. He and my other cousin also have some pretty sweet rides. Here's a really crappy pic of them.







-RONI-

 

Ouch! That sucks....So did you swap manual hubs or stick with the ADD? Can't believe that bearing came apart like that, it must have been one bad racket that made you pucker. Did it come on really bad all of a sudden?

OOOOHHHHH....and those are some nice rides. Do they loan em' out if you let them barrow your 4Runner?

Sent PM..

-Ted

 

Well my cousin (who btw has an 86' 4runner and a yotatech account) has a pair of Aisin hubs and if he sells his runner he just might hand'em over to me! Muahahaha!!!! *Mr.s burns**eeeeexcellent!!*


Well the truck was shaking for about 2 months but never thought to check the bearings....so I'm guessing the bearing was bad for a while...but I'm telling you I heard a KABOOOOM!! and then It was making so many noises I was too scared to drive it!

As far as trading rides...not really...but then again I guess I'm not too fond of loaning my truck out either! lol I did however get to take them for rides. The blue is stage 2 dyno comp. and I'm not sure exactly what the silver has BUT I can say that it is way too fast. lol When I took it for a ride the back of my head was mashing the head rest lol I can barley drive it with the race clutch haha both very fast and fun. (and too expensive for me!)

-RONI-

 

AAAHHHH! Working again...feels soooo goood. Hopefully this turns out to be a permanent situation. I really enjoy what I'm doing now. And a big THANK YOU to those who've helped me out...YOU know who you are. A great BIG
for your help, guidance and suggestions...

-Ted

 

Helllllz yeah!! Congrats! I know its been a long search for you. Hopefully it turns out to be worth the wait.

Now that we're all employed (I think) we should plan on another run kinda soon. I'm doing a ghost town run tomorrow; we're heading towards Wickenburg and we are going to hit up Stanton, Weaver, Octave and a few others - everyone is welcome - PM me for details if interesetd Next weekend I'll be in Telluride CO getting in some late season snowboard action - but after that, I am wiiiiiiide open to go wheelin any weekend!

 

Great news Ted!!

 

Well Gentlemen- I know it's only been two days working at the new job, but I can't tell you how much I'm diggin' it! It should work out to full time permanent, but it all depends on how many orders we get for our goodies...I hope/ think I might be able to offer my 4Runner as a test mule but don't know for sure if we already have something for the 2nd Gen.s I know we have a couple of things for the 1st Gen.s, as Jeff can attest and the "owner" seems interested in covering more Generations of the vehicles. It's just we're totally backed up on orders right now and with him bringing on a "newbie" and having to train me, it's slowed down the progress a bit. Shouldn't be to long before I can actually start making a positive contribution to the over all work flow and start making some headway with the orders. BUT...there's so much too learn with what he already covers...PHEW! However, the last couple of days seem like I'm living in a fairy tale...I love it. I'll keep you updated as to how things continue and my progress.

Jeff- I'd totally be down for a run when you get back from your trip...should we start taking roll call now for April 2nd? I'd like to do Bull Dog Canyon....or really anything.....I just wanta wheel...

-Ted

 

April 2 sounds good to me! Also, on April 9 the group that I went wheelin with yesterday is doing a run out to the Martinez Mine area in Florance if anyone is interested. Here is the current info I got from them:

April 9, 2011 (with camping optional Saturday night)

MARTINEZ CABIN ADVENTURE w/CAMPING OPTION
(Off Road. 3 out of 5 AORC Trail Rating)

We are excited to get back to Florence and this great off roading area. In 2010 AORC member Jim led us to the Coke Ovens. This year we head to a cabin once used by miners of the Martinez Mine. We go by an old stage coach stop and go through some dramatic canyons. They say if you walk a half mile from the cabin to the mine area the buildings and work area are well preserved.

Meet: 8:00am @ Holiday Inn, Mesa (60 and S. Country Club


I will have my truck and Stacy will bring her FJ - Yesterday we has 12 trucks with us and it was a great time! Everyone was really awesome and it was a perfect day!

 

Pictures or it didn't happen!


Sorry Jeff- With some of the other threads I've been reading through, this quote came up quite often. I've fallen in love with it...demands proof. Besides, I LOVE pictures...so post some up...if I can't get my fix out on the trail, I'll get it any way I can.

-Ted

 

here are a few of the pics that some of them put up - I'll try and get my pics up tonite:

Stanton:








Octave:



Stacys FJ:







the 12 pack:



Hassayampa Box Canyon:









Happy now Ted

 

YES! I really like pictures...something about them and a 1000 words...and some imagination.

So who all wants to go on April 2nd? ROLL CALL:
Location is either Butcher Jones, or Bull Dog Canyon...OR..???

JEFF
TED
RONI?-pending new tires??
CHRIS?-pending the wife's permission??
MIKE?-pending currently available time off??

I might have one or two more people on my side that would/could be possible to go...one's a new fellow employee and the other might be my new boss...we'll see.

-Ted

 

I'm in! I'm pretty sure my friend Nic will come along where ever we go. I'm sure Stacy will come with us too.


Ted - Brandon just did a ton of work on Nics 86 4Runner, you may have seen it - dark blue, white top, he got front and rear bumpers and sliders.

Roni - I still have that 1 lightly used BGF A/T if you want it.

 

I was thinking about Bulldog Canyon, but everyone would need to hit up the Mesa Ranger station and get registered as well as gate codes. I'm not sure everyone will have time to get out there and get registered.

Regarding Roni - As for Butcher Jones goes, even with your current tire situation (unless that has changed) you were able to easily handle everything that is out there.

Plus there are sooo many trials out at Butcher Jones for us to explore. or we could even go some where new like 4 Peaks or Sycamore Creek - they are both in the same area as Butcher Jones.

And, don't forget, on the 9th I'll be heading out to Florance to do Box Canyon and Martinez Mine trail. There is alot of really awesome stuff to see at Martinez. There have been alot of rurmors that the Martinez area is closed, but let me assure you it is all open. The guy who runs the club I'm going with went out there on Sunday and did a pre-run - everything is open and beautiful!

If anyone is interested in doing Martinez Mine with us, please let me know so I can add you to our roster.