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Introducing Bumble, our new Jeep. Bumble is a 2023 Sport S with a V6/Automatic. After many years of driving Barbie, we decided an upgrade was due, so we made the change. We already have the Mopar 2 inch lift installed and will be buying tires soon. We named it Bumble after the snow man from the Rudolph cartoon. We are already having fun with the name. A Rubicon style name graphic is on order for the hood and the graphics shown below will go on the windows. No big plans for modifications. We will add or change what is needed to continue doing the trails we have done in Barbie. I am impressed with how high the jeep sits with the Mopar lift. It is supposed to be 2.5, it feels like more.

Starting to do some mods to get Bumble Trail ready. Installed larger, wider off road tires today. Went from 31 to 33 inch. They sales guy at Discount tire talked me into wider rims and I am glad he did. These are about 1.5 inches wider and have a more positive offset, helping to visually fill wheel wells. Plus, I am VERY happy with how the new rims look. When we brought it home: New Tires and rims Installed Seat covers on the front seats. We always cover the seats in any vehicle we buy. This protects them from my butt sliding across the cushion on the way in and out. Removed the rear seats so we can maximize the room for camping gear. Lots of room back here! Next up, Rock sliders. We are leaning towards the LoD brand.

Some photos from our weekend adventure through the Table Mesa rec area on Crapshoot, led by @SonoranWanderer! My personal first time on this trail - it was fun! The 2 obstacles on the trail were interesting and made you pause to think for a minute. The views were very nice with some scenic overlooks and plenty of wildflowers waiting to burst into color. The desert is extremely green right now. We had an interesting mix of vehicles with us, a 50/50 blend of current and "vintage". 😁 3 JLs, a YJ, an XJ, and a sweet Ramcharger.

I sure hope I got the maneuver that was Rita's demise out of my system!

Jack got her lift. 3.5 inch Metal Cloak. Installed by Valley Spring. Went with the Fox 2.0 thanks for the recommendations!

i spent Sunday removing the rear storage system temporarily in order to do some re-wiring for a new project... while it was empty, i added a third L-track anchor point in the middle of the platform above the drawer:

Barbie had to sit out in the storm last night. Bumble is nice and dry. 😁 You may notice she is a bit too tall for the barn door. My morning view of Mingus Mtn, the Black hills and Jerome.

Last week we replaced the awful Milestar Patagonia tires that had turned into square tires! We are loving the new BFG KO2s. We are using this more for an around town vehicle and we have snow up here so went for a slightly smaller all terrain tire. We are throwing a lot less mud coming home on our dirt road and can actually drive 70mph without rattling our spines and internal organs!! What a change! I have to be careful not to speed through town now!

Info attached... https://www.iflscience.com/five-planets-and-the-crescent-moon-are-set-to-align-in-the-sky-heres-how-to-watch-68112?fbclid=IwAR2izPSNUYT6jHVPzZS4uH26SM2dg3N30T682AbI4WtIGhEtYUuFJbHlxf4

Washed a bunch of Jeeps this week and decided that I should do a family photo shoot while all the Jeeps are still here. L-R 81 Wagoneer, 77 Cherokee " The Chief", 23 Wrangler "Bumble" and 97 TJ "Barbie" 😁

We are sticking with the tent and cots. I'm a bit too tall to fit comfortably in the back of the jeep.

The gang and I completed our KOFA Run this morning. It was good to see some familiar faces, even Louie the dog was along for the ride. Over the three days we were there we only saw 3 other people, we essentially had the place to ourselves. The weather was perfect, nights were a little colder than I expected but not a big deal. This was my first trip using a tent so I may have felt the cold a little more. Still awesome weather everyday. We ran the trails noted in the original post and added a part of the Hodoo Trail down to the cabin. Those in attendance were: @gearhead (Co-Lead and Tailgunner) @Ken Ford @Mick Bowers @Rawhyd Day 1- We covered approximately 25 miles to camp in the shadow of Polaris Mountain. We took King Road to Polaris Mountain road to where it J hooked an ended at an epic camp spot that had views for days. We set up camp, relaxed and took in the scenery. The trails were easy and in good shape. Day 2- 46 Miles- We woke up to a beautiful morning and broke camp with a goal of making it to the Hovatter Homestead by days end. We made our way back to King Road then went and explored the Polaris/North Star Mine, this area is pretty darn cool. The trail to Polaris Rd. is easy, Polaris Rd. itself is a short moderate trail. We visited the old cabin then hiked the old road to the mining area. Not much has changed here which is impressive. We explored the mines with core samples and the other debris on the trail to the big mine. After exploring we made our way out the KOFA cemetery where we stopped and paid our respects. The rest of the day's trails were easy to moderate with no significant challenges. Mild off camber spots, rocky terrain, ruts, some steep climbs and epic scenery sum it up nicely. This time I did not let the Hoodoo Wash beat me, I remembered where I got sideways last year and corrected my mistake. We made our way down to check out the Hodoo Cabin this year. It is a pretty cool cabin, however, there is a warning about Africanized Bee's under the bathroom so that's kinda scary. We arrived at the Hovatter Homestead a little before 3 for another relaxing evening under the stars. I visited the family graves, payed my respects the to Hovatter's again and thanked Mr. Hovatter for his hospitality. (I am weird like that) We had the entire place to ourselves until it got dark, then the coyotes started making a bunch of noise. They kept the noise up overnight doing whatever coyotes do at night. Day 3- 29 Miles- We woke to another beautiful but colder morning. We took our time breaking camp then made our way out Hovatter Road to the Pilot on Vicksburg Rd. The trail was just as bumpy and rocky as I remember from last year for the first portion then it evened out and was easy all the way up. The views on the way were just as awesome as l remember. Thanks again to everyone that came along for the ride, I had a good time and hope you did too. I did not take many pictures myself this time and am looking forward to seeing everyone's pics. I did get this pic from @Mick Bowers.

Hi everyone, I finally got the Mammoth trip video from last April published! I am so sorry it took me this long! This year, I am going to work hard to try and get caught up, somehow~ I am 12 videos behind. HAHA... This was such an amazing trip! Thanks everyone for letting us join the adventure and film~

this is what victory looks like!

Jack got a 3.5 inch Metal Cloak lift, Fox 2.0 shocks, Teraflex rzeppa high angle joint, Metal Cloak evap canister and power steering relocation brackets installed. She's ready for a shake down run!

random updates... lead most of Asbestos Mine trail but ran into deep snow near the top and had to turn around. cool shot of gadget coming back down by @4x4tographer: driver side door handle broke inside, got a new one installed pretty quickly (Mopar part # 68059175AA). ran up to Mingus Mountain on Sunday to play in the snow a bit. i also recently added an inverter to my auxiliary battery area...

Have a great bday

That feeling when it breaks loose is magic.

She has already been kicked out of her parking spot, so Yes, she is Jealous. :)

Scout route GPX uploads are supposed to meet the same quality standards as normal write-up GPX files. Scouts uploading trails are on contract and are paid by the mile (uploaded). Scout Route GPX files and write-ups are also reviewed by senior TOR personal before being published. I can tell you the person reviewing AZ uploads (Wade) is "fussy" about the GPX quality, and rightfully so. The main point of TOR (regular or scout routes) is that each trail has been driven, as presented very near to the date published, to ensure accuracy and currency. And speaking for myself, route GPX files I upload have been carefully cleaned (edited) prior to uploading to remove "parking drift" and side trails (or missed turns) not pertinent to the route being described. I personally also use two independent GPS devices to record and validate the primary against the secondary recorded route to ensure best accuracy. ====== If anyone is interested in learning how I edit so you can build your own clean GPX files for whatever purpose, as a TOR scout, or just to hand out GPX files to friends and such, I am happy to show you. Overview: I use Garmin Basecamp. I have OSM map files downloaded into Basecamp so the software solution is completely free ($$). I then import my recorded GPX files from both GPS devices (Gaia on an IPad, Garmin Montana 700i). I will take the higher resolution recording (Gaia usually) and duplicate it for editing (keeping the original untouched) I will then use the Basecamp detailed GPX viewer to remove any excess trail lead-in and excess follow out I then begin to closely inspect the path for instances of parking drift. Places where I stopped and the GPS recorded multiple "points" but due to natural GPS drift, may appear to having my traveling and a tight circle I use the GPX viewer to selectively remove the excess recorded points I will then edit out any side trails (eg: exploring camping options), missed turns, backups, etc... GPX viewer to remove excess data points I will then visually (re)validate the edited route as true to both of the original recordings I do NOT validate that the recording follows trails as shown on the map as map data may be outdated or plain incorrect. I may use map data to split a single recording into multiple named trails TRO is changing their standards to record each named road/trail by itself instead of arbitrary complex routes The trails I upload are true to the path you need to travel to successfully complete the route. This is the intended outcome of TOR

Photo courtesy of @4x4tographer I am borrowing information from @4x4tographer with his blessing. He helped me get my hands on the permit for this run, thanks dude! 🙂 Join my wife and I for a day trip on the famous Casner Mountain Trail! The USFS only allots 22 permits per year to help keep this trail in good shape. Each permit limited to 10 vehicles/25 people, that means getting there and running the trail is a special treat. This trail will take us high above the city of Sedona along a series of serious switchbacks where we will gain 2,000 ft of elevation in just under 2 miles. At the top, we will ride the ridge-back of the mountains with beautiful views of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness to the right and Sycamore Canyon to the left. As we climb, the landscape will transform from scrub brush and junipers to the tall and shady Ponderosa pines. We'll cruise through the Coconino National Forest and end up just outside of the city of Flagstaff near the I-17. When & Where: Saturday: July 1, 2023 @ 8:30 A.M. Air down and depart NLT 9:00 A.M.- Please arrive fueled up and ready to go. Location: Dirt lot near the intersection of 89A and Loy Butte Road (FR 525) 34.815120577231774, -111.9052835271499 Trail Rating: Moderate We will be running the trail from South to North, dropping us off near Flagstaff. This trail is not very technical- based on past experience it is well maintained. There are very steep inclines with tight turns (in the switchbacks on the way up and along the saddle), moderate off-camber and narrow shelf roads. Because of the steep , off-camber and very tight switchbacks Full-sized trucks are not recommended. Also, if your rig is a manual I ask that you be very comfortable with it when climbing uphill. Great trail resources: TrailsOffroad: https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/1460-casner-mountain-trail A great trip report and photos from @4x4tographer Vehicle Requirements: High clearance, 4x4 with low range, aggressive A/T or M/T tires are required. GMRS or ham radio in good working order. Most stock 4x4 vehicles with low range will do great. Rear lockers/limited slip recommended.(Not required) Communications: GMRS Channel 20 (462.675mhz) Additional Items: Dress for the weather Bring a chair! Bring snacks, a lunch and plenty of water Recovery gear/traction aid Emergency supplies / Med kit Sunscreen! Don't forget that camera - you're going to want it Bring a positive attitude! 🤘 Sign-Up: Per the permit: 10 vehicles MAX and 25 people MAX. When you sign up, please tell me how many are in your party. Anyone above the 10 vehicle max will be added to the standby list. Don't worry if you end up on stand-by; people drop out as plans change and you may end up getting a spot! Attending: @shellback91 & Mrs. shellback91(Lead) @MzPriss +1 @AZRNintheJeep242 @LaZorraRoja +1 @Jbjr +1 @Sputternutz +1 @Dcoleaz +1 @snoopy61 @REDROCK TONIHAWK +1 @camas Harris +1 Standby squad @Gonzo-Ralph +1

I can attest to this! When I ran the trail, I had to keep stopping because the folks in front of me were taking pictures. Starting out again on that steep grade with a manual was challenging! The views were worth it though!

This is what happens on a winters night... Before, after and what could be considered logic in some circles

I see your bear and raise you...

We replaced our factory ball joints on our 2021 JLUR with new rebuildable Dynatrac HD Ball Joints today! It was not too hard except that the knuckle was stuck and took a lot of effort to get out of the old ball joints.

Replaced cabin air filters, did a fluid check and inspection of miscellaneous nuts, bolts and things.

Yes plus 1 please. And thanks you!

Worth noting, Metalcloak has unparalleled customer service. I had initially emailed them to ask about clearance with their tie rod and my stock wheels. They told me up front that I’d have some issues. They recommended putting a few washers onto the steering stops on the knuckles - but said long term that spacers/new wheels were the final answer. All that to say, maybe give them a call/email and see if the same is true for the JK. Dimensionally we’re a little different, but they’re an honest bunch out there. Last note, I knew going into it that I was lifting, wheels/tires, new HD steering… so the domino effect was anticipated in my case :) There may be some aftermarket tie rod options out there that work with OEM wheels, but in generally I found Metalclock to be the most budget-friendly HD option on the market.

Thanks Marty! I didn't take any pictures as usual, lol!

Great trip, Marty. Thank you for planning and leading it!

Hopefully the tribe will do a future permit type system and open it up to small groups. So frustrating how we lose acess because of irresponsible idiots!

Nice job on the packaging Kris Also, the bed liner you applied to your drawer front and drawer box seem to be holding up well. Ive referred several people to your “how to” when you built the storage unit

finally added a small pure sine wave inverter to this system. this Giandel 1200 watt unit had good reviews and was thin enough at 3" to fit between the wall and fridge. FYI, it seems to go on-sale on Amazon for about 30% off every few weeks. it was a quick install since i'd already wired in an extra fuse holder when i first setup this whole auxiliary battery system. i ran a 3 outlet extension up to the passenger side of my rear FrontRunner cargo area shelf to have better access to plug things in when needed. the inverter also has a remote turn-on button, but i left that off since it's easy enough to just reach behind the fridge and push the on button when needed. gave it test run with this small electric kettle and everything seemed to work as expected!

Congrats!! This should be a lot more comfortable for those long trips!

Congratulations @Curly & Devon!! Bumble is a great name, and pretty Jeep!!!

Happy Bday K Party on

Happy b-day Mr K! Remember that it's not the years, it's the milage.

Happy B-day Kris!

Happy B-day you wild and crazy jeeper.

Happy Birthday Kris

After poking around some here is what I am finding. Overall I am impressed and like it. I am sure they will be improving/updating as time goes on. I thought I'd share because why not. 🙂 I have it set as the base layer in these images. I only have The Gaia Overland in Feet and the MVUM layer on my map and I can see what I need to see. This is up north with the opacity all the way down on the Gaia and MVUM layers. Opacity on Gaia Overland all the way "up", MVUM opacity all the way "down". The brown "tabs/plates" over the road that show road/trail numbers are part of the Gaia Overland layer. There are more details and POI's for lack of a better word. This is with both layers opacity all the way "up". Notice how the MVUM now labels 00161B. I am sure some of the bugs, if that is what this is, will be worked out.