A discourse on "Off-Roading".
In the beginning, off-roading was merely just slapping on a body lift (okay it took longer than that, a week), some black "rock crawler" steelies(whatever that is), 33" BG-Goodrich All-Terrrains and yeah, I was the big kid on the block with a smile that stretched from ear-to-ear. Trail runs were all local (and illegal) because anything more than 30 mins drive away wasn't worth going to (or so I thought at that point).
All the while, my friend acquired a job at a local bowling alley with an angle grinder and a stick (SMAW) welder. We practiced welding a few times a week whenever I was home from college and soon enough, we were laying down some pretty sound weld runs. That is about the time when I built a roof rack from a Home Depot cart that was being thrown away due to excessive rusting and old age. At my University, I had access to Bridgeport lathes and end-mills so whenever I could, I snuck into the machine shop (after befriending the shop manager) during Open-hours and spent the hours between classes milling away -- aluminum was always my favorite, probably because it was so much easier than steel and the "bling" effect of machined aluminum.
Well after finishing my undergrad, I eventually found a job (eventually is the key word) and bought my first stick welder from the local Harbor Freight Tools. The welder was underpowered, kept "sticking", but in time, I think I got more than my money's worth out of it. A few things I build with that welder:
- 1350 transfer case shifter converted to 1354 and "boosted" up for the body lift
- a bike rack
- engine bay modifications for my friend's '73 Maverick
Of course all the while I was a member of this great forum and people such as The Great Jefe (his SAS thread was my blueprint) kept me inspired to keep pushing my Explorer. Aside from the typical "upkeep" exercises (like swapping a transmission), I kept making modifications to my Explorer and eventually (a few years later) began thinking about a Solid-Axle-Swap. Obviously, such an undertaking is not a weekend project (except for Yomie) and required quite an array of tools. So began the "tool-up" process which included a used 220v Lincoln stick welder -- purchased from another off-roader in Harrisburg, PA for $100. Along with the tool-up process was a massive research undertaking on the axle-swap process. Half a year later and my SAS project was started and a few months later, it was finished.
A few more minor modifications after the axle swap process were made (such as the full hydraulic steering) but now, a year and a half after the first SAS process was completed, I am tooling up again for the next axle-swap. Except, this time, the process will (hopefully) be more refined -- the welds will be pure MIG, I will be using my own bender, and I will actually be working under a roof (as opposed to the baking summer sun in the first swap).
So what is "off-roading"? Well to me, at this point in time, its not really about taking my Explorer up some rock face (although that is fun). It is more about the building process, and the skill and knowledge one (hopefully) acquires along the way. Laying down a good weld bead is probably (slightly) more rewarding than climbing up a rock face. Of course my wheeling experience is limited so maybe once my vehicle makes it down to Tellico (or wherever we're going, hopefully the west coast!!), then that perspective may sway a little.
Okay I'm done, flame suit on
: You know which one you are
Dr's orders
