I think the first time I heard about Timber Ridge was the day I met Jim Davis. This 2500-acre private wheeling park near Castana, IA, requires a $450 annual membership fee, which effectively limits its use to those who can…
Colorado Wheeling with Chuque Henry, 16-19 Aug 2001
Hackett and Longwater Gulches Chinaman’s Gulch Wheeler Lake Iron Chest Some friends of mine decided to head out to the All-4-Fun event held around 1 August near Salida, Colorado. I thought about going, but then decided I’d have more…
Auxiliary Fog Lights
With a 6″ SOA lift and 33″ tires, my YJ stands about 9″ taller than stock. This puts my headlights roughly 3.5 feet off the ground. That’s convenient when driving down deserted roads in good weather, but it sucks in…
Diagnostic Trouble Codes
When a late-model, computerized Jeep is having engine problems, one of the ways it communicates these problems back to the driver is to turn on the “check engine” light on the dash. One idiot light isn’t very descriptive, so Jeep…
Wrangler Hood Bumpers
Like most vehicles, short-wheelbase Jeeps like the CJ, YJ, and TJ have a rod in the engine bay that’s intended to hold the hood open while you’re working on it. This is fine for working near the front of the…
401 V8 Camshaft Selection
While rebuilding the 401 V8 from my ’77 Wagoneer, I found that the camshaft it had (which appeared to be aftermarket, since the measured lobe lift was higher than stock on many lobes) was quite worn. Since I had the…
Trail Ride Equipment
This list, composed mostly for my own benefit, contains all the things I have (or would have) found useful at one time or another on a trail ride. This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list. There are several other…
Greasable Leaf Spring Bushings
Ever since I installed rear (and originally, front) add-a-leaves on my ’95 YJ, I’ve had to suffer the rough ride that they caused. It isn’t so bad when I’m heavily loaded. In fact, when I’m loaded for bear on a…
Bestop TrailMax Pro Driver Seat
On 16 December 2000, my ’95 YJ was rear-ended at about 45 mph. The impact knocked my Jeep forward about 30-40 feet and broke the back support on my factory driver seat, permanently reclining it about 4″ farther back than…
Custom Sway Bar Quick Disconnects on a ’95 YJ
One of the most significant restrictions to a YJ’s axle articulation is the front sway bar. The sway bar is necessary for maintaining on-road stability, especially during emergency maneuvers and sharp turns, so you don’t want to remove it…