I'm a Newbie

[94eddiebauer]

Hello all-

I am 17 years old and i drive a 1994 eddie bauer 4dr explorer. Right now it is stock with the addition of some cheap halogen fog lamps, but i plan on a lift kit this summer. I live in Michigan and am very involved in my autos program at my high school. I am going to compete in a MITES competition next month through school.

I have some off-road experience, mostly from my dad's Wrangerler TJ, but even today i found myself off-roading. (today is the closest to getting stuck i have been in my explorer-- 1 foot of muck. I was able to rock forward and back until i backed all the way out in Low Range). I really need new tires too.

I do not have a ton of money, but i want a 4inch lift or so with new shocks, springs, ect. I also need a K&N to keep the dust out.

My end goal is to make it out west in the next year and explore some of the mountains with my friends. Michigan has some nice places too, so i'll start here.

Anyone else in Michigan?

--Bill


:exporange

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Bill welcome to the site!

 

[Burns]

Hello Bill. Welcome to the Site. You have found the right place to be.

 

[IZwack]

Welcome to ExplorerForum Bill .

 

[94eddiebauer]

Thanks for the welcome guys. That picture of Bill Nye is scary. That will keep me up at night. lol.

Now that its nice, i just can't wait to go wheelin' for a day. only 7 weeks of school left.......

 

[94eddiebauer]

I still need new tires before i hit the trail... i wish i had more money. I'm working on the job thing.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[Burns]

Welcome to ExplorerForum Bill .

I forgot of that guy...lol ahhh thank goodness

 

[mynameisaric]

I still need new tires before i hit the trail... i wish i had more money. I'm working on the job thing.

BUAHAHAHAHA!! i feel ya. i make twice as much money as i did a year ago.... but it still isnt enough for my "serious explorations".... sigh.... oh well.

i'll give you the break down of how it goes around here.

small lift with stock components (ie: 4" suspension lift with stock d35 ttb and 8.8 rear) and that will fit some nice 33's

next you discover open diffs suck really bad, so its on to lunchbox lockers. thats 600-800 bucks.. and that will settle your nerves for the next offroading trip or two

but then something will break in your weakest link(d35 ttb) and you'll think to yourself "man, i wish i had a full size truck axle in here"

so you set off on a quest to find a dana 44. and miraculously you find a 44 with a dana 60 rear and you think to yourself "i am going to have one sweeeetttt truck"

but all of a sudden a good deal on dana 60's comes your way that you just can't pass up. so you buy them. so now you have:
-a broken truck that you can't wheel
-a set of full size truck axles you are trying to sell
-and a nice set of full size axles you are going to build
even with all this stuff you are not happy though. You soon find out that these axles need lots and lots of TLC before they can go under the truck. Then you find out how much fab work it is to get them under the truck. (this is where i am personally)

the only thing that gets you through this mess is daydreaming all day at work and web wheeling at explorerforum and pirate4x4 for inspiration.

good luck dude. i'm not too far from you, so maybe we'll meet up on a trail someday

 

[IZwack]

Yeah you newbs better not forget Bill Nye!
Or else a Senator's gonna comma knockin' on yo door.

 

[94eddiebauer]

BUAHAHAHAHA!! i feel ya. i make twice as much money as i did a year ago.... but it still isnt enough for my "serious explorations".... sigh.... oh well.

i'll give you the break down of how it goes around here.

small lift with stock components (ie: 4" suspension lift with stock d35 ttb and 8.8 rear) and that will fit some nice 33's

next you discover open diffs suck really bad, so its on to lunchbox lockers. thats 600-800 bucks.. and that will settle your nerves for the next offroading trip or two

but then something will break in your weakest link(d35 ttb) and you'll think to yourself "man, i wish i had a full size truck axle in here"

so you set off on a quest to find a dana 44. and miraculously you find a 44 with a dana 60 rear and you think to yourself "i am going to have one sweeeetttt truck"

but all of a sudden a good deal on dana 60's comes your way that you just can't pass up. so you buy them. so now you have:
-a broken truck that you can't wheel
-a set of full size truck axles you are trying to sell
-and a nice set of full size axles you are going to build
even with all this stuff you are not happy though. You soon find out that these axles need lots and lots of TLC before they can go under the truck. Then you find out how much fab work it is to get them under the truck. (this is where i am personally)

the only thing that gets you through this mess is daydreaming all day at work and web wheeling at explorerforum and pirate4x4 for inspiration.

good luck dude. i'm not too far from you, so maybe we'll meet up on a trail someday

Thanks dude.

 

[monkeybizness]

Yeah you newbs better not forget Bill Nye!
Or else a Senator's gonna comma knockin' on yo door.

this noob won't be forgetting mr. nye. he's my hero.

 

[IZwack]

this noob won't be forgetting mr. nye. he's my hero.

Naturally he's your hero -- everyone from the DC area regard Nye as their hero . I sure do.