new pictures of Gregs jeep

[Chadnutz]

The approach and dearture angles give me a hard on. I'll be in the bathroom for a while.

[mark]

Thanks for sharing.

[Krawler68]

What are you so excited about? It looks the same as every other Avalanche jeep...just yellow...

[Cajun]

Originally posted by Krawler68
What are you so excited about? It looks the same as every other Avalanche jeep...just yellow...

I'm not seeing the problem(other than the fact it's yellow)...

The purpose of a "stinger", as those hoops are called, is threefold. First, it will prevent an endo. Second, it protects the hood and radiator from being crushed in a roll. Lastly, and most predominantly in competition, it is a great leverage point for the spotter to attach a strap to. Also, I agree with Doug, they just plain look cool. While I don't see the Scout receiving one, the vision that is my CJ includes one. My only concern is that with the planned 110"ish wheelbase that the added length will get in the way on some of our wooded trails.

That thing is awesome. I don't particularly dig the cage design, but other than that I love the lines on it. Before it's untimely demise, I thought their "Bruiser" was the coolest CJ-buggy thing out there, and Greg's is just as cool. Congrats Greg, awesome ride.

[Chadnutz]

I don't pay much attention to rigs that are build professionally / commercially, nor do I pay attention to their drivers. I think that super buggies like these make rock crawling too easy. How cool does your rig have to be before normal trails don't excite you anymore. Then you get bored with the normal trail runs and the people you have been wheeling with for a while. Then it seems like you run out of places to go and friends to trail with.

You always have to have the last word don't you...

[Cajun]

I don't see it so much as making rockcrawling too easy, as much as it allows people to 'wheel places and trails once deemed "impassable." Plus, if you want to compete, this is pretty much what you need.

Also, while extra width is great for stability, it totally changes your line selection, thus changing your approach to virtually every obstacle on every trail that you've ever run before going full-width. As for getting bored with your 'wheeling buddies, why? If you suddenly think you're the coolest thing out there just because you've got a sweet rig, you're a dumba$$. Period. Chances are your 'wheeling buddies will drop you anyway.

If you're building a trail-only rig, why not go all out? Something that will dominate the trails that you normally run and be able to handle itself on any trail in the country. I know that's the goal with mine. I don't think many, if any, wheelers limit their build ups by thinking, "if I run these huge gnarly tires the it'll be too easy," or "Nah, that suspension will give me too much useable travel," or "Those lower gears will give me too much control, better leave those out." I know I'm not going to, and I think there's at least a couple around here that think the same way.

However, having said all this, driving skill is the single most important aspect. When it all comes down to it, no matter how bad a$$ your rig is, it won't drive itself.

[Chadnutz]

You missed the point of my reply. You pay someone 50 grand to build a buggy that can walk over any trail that TAMOR will encounter. When does the rig become too capable? If you just sit behind the wheel and idle over everything without having to work the brakes here, the gas pedal there, what makes it a challenge. I've had to try to wheel open diffs and IFS for 5 years now, and I know that I am damn proud when I make it up something people don't think I can do. If I can jack off with one hand, read a book with the other, and steer with my knee while still making it across any obstacle out there how am I having fun.

Points of my argument:

Why pay someone else to build YOUR rig?
If you have the best rig around and you don't want to drop another $50,000 into it, when do you lose interest in the sport. When you can't get any better than you are now? When your rig can't get any better? When none of your friends can take your trails?

I am not trying to push my opinions on anyone. I was merely getting the idea out there. I respect the fact that you are building you own rig. This will always leave you with options of tinkering with it to make it better. Not having it as good as it will ever be right off the bad with no idea of how to improve it.

But then I could counter my argument and say that in 3 years no one has touched me in a race when I am on my Jet Ski yet I haven't gotten bored of punishing all who try to beat me.

[Seth]

So whats the story with those axles, and is that wall on the first superduty pic as vert as it looks?
Seth

[StevenAg03]

i dont know who mentioned it but gregs jeep does look strikingly simular to Bruiser....i like the jeep....there is always another step with a jeep...and everyother vehicle for that matter...Chadnutz are you seriously saying that if someone told you they would send your Mazda off to avalanche to be built you would tell them no???? if you would your not too bright...

if someone would do that for me id let em have it....then id prolly get something else to tinker on for several years. i could take my time building one and have a bad ass one to use the rest of the time...as a matter of fact that is what greg is doing....he has a TOY that he is building on his own....

[robertf03]

for some, like myself, the fun is building it. Others just want to wheel it and not have to worry about a spring hanger falling off cause it was welded on in the driveway during a thunderstorm.

It looks cool, but its a single purpose vehicle. Even though I'll probably never drive the CJ on the highway again, I still want it to be able to handle that without drawing every cops attention.

[Chadnutz]

Only if they buy be a crew cab deisel for the street! haha

Great point Steven.

Nutz

[Cajun]

Originally posted by Seth
So whats the story with those axles, and is that wall on the first superduty pic as vert as it looks?
Seth

I'm sure someone will correct me, but I believe those axles are 9"/60 hybrids, all wrapped up in a custom chromoly housing. They use high pinion 3rd members and a combination of technology, black magic, and voodoo to make some very stout axles. Very cool stuff, but I'd have gone with the High Marks. Then again I'm just a sucker for portal axles

That wall is the exit on Upper Helldorado in Moab. I've never been there, but all the pics and video I've seen of it show it to be just about completely vertical. Maybe Doug can lend some first-hand knowledge as to its angle. While I don't think it has ever been driven without a winch, there was a rumor that a 'Mog did it a year or so ago during EJS.

[Krawler68]

Originally posted by Chadnutz

You always have to have the last word don't you...

NO

[Krawler68]

As for that wall...shiat...it's steep... wheelbase is the only thing that conquers it...I went and watched a few people hit it over the summer when I was in moab...damn... I don't think my EB will ever have a chance to climb something like that...

BTW... Chadnutz... quit being an idiot... you saying that you have "wheeled" your IFS rig is like me saying how many hardcore trails my Flowerjoke with 35's and a detroit locker has spanked ...

[redcagepatrol]

Chadnutz,

As for Higgs having it too easy where "TAMOR" wheels: Obviously you have not been where we have - with Greg.

Places like Clayton, Disney, Farmington, Tellico, Las Cruses, Moab to name a few. There are plenty of obstacles on these trails that we had to winch up because nobody could make it. Now someone in our group might have a chance to make it up and winch us from the top...

Greg was getting tired of the Toyota's constantly showing him up, that is why he is building one at his house. The Jeep is at Avalance because his dad wants to be in a magazine (more or less)

One last thing: Andy is very right is saying that DRIVING SKILLs is truely all that matters on hard trails, not the truck - I have seen it time and time again and it is true

DRIVING SKILLS is all that matters