Tech Sessions

[BadAssEddie]

We can use my ballin' wireless Fluke

You're not really that cool.

Is it really shit on Alec week?

[TerryD]

We can use my ballin' wireless Fluke

You're not really that cool.

Is it really shit on Alec week?

It's not on my calender, but I could pencil it in!

Here's a few ideas:
Proper winching/recovery technique
CB tech and use
Rig safety inspections


And spotter/driver development. I don't know if this can be done in a parking lot, but there is something I've noticed. People who are new to the kind of off roading we do sometimes do not follow spotters advice. It's nothing conscious, but they have a tendency to steer the wrong direction or to straighten the wheel after the spotter has them steer to the right direction. I'm sure I did it or may still do it, but as I've wheeled more and more I've learned to trust my spotters advice. Part of that is usually having Grubb spot for me and usually spotting for him when needed. For the new guys it may be good to just do some spotter based driving just to help them get comfortable with someone else actually controlling where their vehicle goes while they are in the driver's seat. It's just a thought and I'm not sure how to go about it other than actually wheeling. Maybe having this at Mountain Lake where there is fairly easy trail that's close but using spotters to try and drive a painted line or something.

[Ctrow]

showing how to pull a shaft in a dana30 might be a good idea considering that will probably be about the most common shaft failure out of the club vehicles and new guys will see how a unit bearing works

Good point, I think we should do both styles at some point because they each have tricks and intricacies to them. More knowledge doesn't hurt anyone.

We need Trow as our dana 30 shaft changer extraordinaire

I was waiting for that. You could time me. The "log trick" for limping a rig with a broken c-clip rear axle off the trail is a good one to know. Add proper winching techniques to the list as well.

[Big Rick]

Here's a few ideas:
Proper winching/recovery technique
CB tech and use
Rig safety inspections


And spotter/driver development.

Very interested in all of these. I believe it was Mcninny who mentioned front tow points at the last meeting. I don't really have anything on the front dedicated to that and I'm not sure if the cross bar on my brush guard would be sufficient.

I have my CB installed and everything but I think a combination of a poor ground and lack of tuning limits my range severely.

My vote is to cover those at this meeting...simply because I probably won't be able to make any other meetings. BUT don't plan around me just because I'm dumb and leaving town lol

I wish I could make the other meetings...I'd like to catch a few of those other tech sessions as well...streaming video anyone? lol

[willhf1011]

A CB tech session would be great, it'd be awesome if we could convince Terry out to a meeting since that is kind of his specialty..I'm sure he'd have a lot to offer us.

I think a winching demo/session is a good idea as well. Keep them coming and we will try to nail down some ideas for this weekend.

[willhf1011]

I was waiting for that. You could time me. The "log trick" for limping a rig with a broken c-clip rear axle off the trail is a good one to know. Add proper winching techniques to the list as well.

Now you're the one who doesn't answer their phone, or pm's. How about proper winching technique while using a satanic winch?

[BlueDodgeRam]

I will volunteer Treehugger for the CB install

[willhf1011]

I will volunteer Treehugger for the rolled vehicle recovery session

Excellent

[BlueDodgeRam]

Build me a cage and that can be accommodated.

[Ctrow]

I was waiting for that. You could time me. The "log trick" for limping a rig with a broken c-clip rear axle off the trail is a good one to know. Add proper winching techniques to the list as well.

Now you're the one who doesn't answer their phone, or pm's. How about proper winching technique while using a satanic winch?

hey hooker, when did you call me?

[willhf1011]

hey hooker, when did you call me?

10 minutes after you called me the other day.

[Ctrow]

hey hooker, when did you call me?

10 minutes after you called me the other day.

and lies.... I'll give you a ring tomorrow afternoon.

[MtnManMatt]

As far as electrical, that's probably one of my stronger points (or at least I think it kina is... ) and I'm kina in the process now of redoin all the auxiliary wiring in my Jeep including adding another battery. I have it all planned out, but am kina stuck in the "before" stage for now due to lack of free time and some of my parts/tools still being at home. If we did an electrical session, we could certainly have a gander at the messy rat's nest it is now to see the problems and then do an "after" sometime down the road. Just throwin stuff out there...

Thats a great idea. I know wiring is a tough point for a lot of people and it can be frustrating. I was in that boat but feel that I've become pretty proficient at it since doing my jeep. I was so tired of dealing with factory wiring that with this most recent rebuild I started entirely from scratch and did the engine harness myself. Not working around someone elses mess makes it almost enjoyable

Yep, I would definitely enjoy wiring from the ground up instead. When I got my Jeep, the previous owner had done a few electrical modifications (auxiliary back-up lights, PA, and such), but his wiring was screwy and inefficient (wires run every which way, no relays, weird factory system taps, and insufficient wire size and connectors). Although my initial wiring knowledge wasn't much better than his, over the years I've definitely learned a lot and have tried to upgrade things as I've added new stuff. Unfortunately though, the best result for this method is to end up with a patchy electrical-taped unorganized mess of wires (and there are a lot of them). Since recently adding a bunch more lights, a new winch, and with plans for more, I decided I'd redo the auxiliary wiring from the bottom up. Some improvements and things that could be discussed include:

-Dual battery system - Isolating my deep-cycle Optima for auxiliary (lights, winch, etc.) circuits and adding a cheaper starting type battery for starting and the isolated stock vehicle system
-Larger auxiliary fuse box
-Larger gauge wires for the starter and sufficient wires for everything else
-More waterproofing
-Load resisters for turn signals with less amp draw
-More switches!!!
-Rerouting all the wires with an actual plan in mind

And a bunch of other stuff I'll think of later. But anyway, ye, good wiring technique isn't hard to learn and will save ya money. Buying Painless Wiring's stuff will become much more painful once ya figure out how easy it is to do the same thing yourself. It's good stuff, but usually nothing that you couldn't throw together for much cheaper with a trip to the local auto store. Also, it's amazing how much difference good connectors and correctly sized wire can make (lights especially!)...

But I'm rambling...

CB session would be nice. I have one, but there's an ungodly amount of extra noise when the engine is running. Dirty power supply due to alternator running?

And the spotter/driver session would be interesting too. I know I was definitely havin trouble out at Pott's Sunday with trustin/followin advice from my spotter. It's not the spotter's fault, all of y'all were great, it's just that good spotting is a bit foreign to me and past experiences have left me a bit apprehensive concerning advice on where to pilot my expensive hunk of metal...

So ye, I'll definitely try to make it out to some of these sessions.

[zach119]

Anyone wanna learn how to mount or set the bead on tires? I'm gonna mount my Iroks here soon but I'll wait and bring them to a meeting if there's any interest.

[techcruiser89]

I'd love to see some tech sessions on wiring and welding, and honestly I'm a blank slate when it comes to this kind of stuff so I would be appreciative to every session available. Even if guys are doing little stuff on their own and would like some company or an extra hand I'd be more than down to come and learn. Seeing Will put a new motorcycle tire on the wheel was interesting experience to give an example.