[CTBrent]

I realized today and tonight how much different it is wheeling with no lockers. I went out in my new zook to some light trails to test out the rig and it was a blast but I was seriously limited by being open. So I tried to make up for it by being creative but the ice held me back on a few trails. I really hate turning back... especially on some of these simple trails. So I bushwacked a bit and got to where I wanted to go... but I bet while going up hill it took me 4 or 5 times longer than usual. I know no locker is going to help out in some of the ice I was in but I realized how spoiled I was starting out with my last rig locked up.

Does this make me want to weld the rear? A little, but I think this will make me a better driver, I really started focusing on what line to take tonight so I guess it can't hurt. The feeling though of taking two giant leeps back stings I tell you. It gave me a ton more motivation to get the other rig completed... then I will be spoiled!

 

[zooky]

In reply to:

It gave me a ton more motivation to get the other bacon completed... then I will be spoiled!

[/ QUOTE ]
Well complete it then! I cant wait until its ready, its going to be delicious. Sounds like its gonna be one hell of a rig.

 

[CTBrent]

I'm working on it man... Delicious it will be! I should say, and you and I both know this, man do things add up quick. Theres at least 2g's left of parts to buy... that means WORK! My goal is set for spring, I WILL meet it. It is going to gone zookin for sure!

 

[1941]

I don't wheel in the snow much but the couple times I tried it was slightly scarry at times with lock-rites.

If you are on a snowy and slick sidehill and you stop or lose traction, getting going again in the right direction was not easy. With no lateral stability, I just kept sliding right off the edge of the trail. Once I was moving forward it was ok but sometimes an ARB would be nice

 

[1918]

In reply to:

A little, but I think this will make me a better driver, I really started focusing on what line to take tonight so I guess it can't hurt.

[/ QUOTE ] I have a little tintop here that I want to get going. It's basically all stock with a simple SPOA. I'll drive it when I start rebuilding my 3.8L Zuk. I'm actually looking forward to hitting the trails in an almost-stock rig. It seems we build them so well that they're not as much fun anymore. I'm sure driving the stocker will humble me as far as driving ability goes.

 

[1289]

In reply to:

It seems we build them so well that they're not as much fun anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree with you 100% Ray. I hope one day to have the money and skills to build the ultimate Kick-Ass Samurai but I'm having WAY too much fun driving my "little" tintop on the same trails as every one else to care. Sure it takes me a couple of tries to get up or around some obstacles but I have a blast doing it, especially when things get a little sideways.

It's a shame too many people here and on the other boards seem to push the "Bigger and Bigger" mentality as much as they do and forget that a stock or near stock Samurai and even the Sidekick/Tracker are very capable with very few mods. The best advice I ever read on this board to a new Samurai owner was to wheel it stock for a while before modifying it. Great advice then, great advice now.

 

[JEEPN]

In reply to:

A little, but I think this will make me a better driver, I really started focusing on what line to take tonight so I guess it can't hurt.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are right in this regard. A lot of us in my area started out with open diffs, crappy ratios (20:1), and used 31's on Jeeps and Scout's, lockers were unheard of at the time. We didn't have a choice but to learn to pick a line and learn how to read an obstacle.

In reply to:

t's a shame too many people here and on the other boards seem to push the "Bigger and Bigger" mentality as much as they do and forget that a stock or near stock Samurai and even the Sidekick/Tracker are very capable with very few mods.

[/ QUOTE ]

How true. My Zuk is mostly stock, with only a rear locker, GRS-1, and lift (& tires) to set it aside from a stock one, and I've been able to keep up with a lot of people in much larger rigs. I also have very little invested, which makes me feel great. I routinely wheel with Jeep friends that have 36's and two lockers, but find very few cases where I couldn't keep up with them. The highlight of my wheeling career (spanning some 25 years) is going up an obstacle the guy with the "Battilac" couldn't make because his auto tranny kept cavitating. The 500 Caddy, welded D60/70, and 42" Swampers will get you a lot of places, but the little Zuk with 32's, one lockright, and GRS-1 was able to pick and weave around nicely to get through the obstacles.

I am a HUGE advocate of wheeling something near stock before you start modifying. Above all you should know WHY you're modifying and have a REASON for it, not just because everyone else is doing it. If you don't have these answers, you probably shouldn't be modifying it too much.

The most humbling event I remember was when I went on a run with my big bad Scrambler, and a guy showed up in a '51 CJ-3 on 1/2 bald 225 street tires, no lift, and no lockers. I figured it'd be a drag fest and even made a few snide comments. Well, the guy made me eat my words (I'm not too big to admit it), and drove that Willy's like I have never seen one driven before, or since. He went over every obstacle with ease, and when it came to the 100 yard mud section with 33" ruts, he straddled the center, almost tipping over the whole way, then drove part way up a tree at the end and pivoted it on 2 wheels back onto dry ground. It was by far a very humbling experience, and while I thought I was a decent wheeler, I was way out of my league compared to that guy. It made me realize that while I'm pretty decent behind the wheel, I still have a lot to learn.