derf

We started doing videos documenting the install of some custom stuff on April's TJ in a new channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmrpOopAoBKrQ7icaAHAoDA It's really more focused on the technical stuff and not so much on being entertaining. That and I have a face for radio and a voice for print. So I don't expect it to be a big hit channel. But some people may find it interesting. Once I get my MJ build going again, I'll probably document the process here.

I've driven across Kansas and Nebraska. I know exactly the kinds of scenery you're talking about.

I've been doing road trips my whole life, including going from Iowa to North Dakota and back to visit the grand parents over Christmas. Road trips can be fun if you like to drive. For winter driving up north, pack cold weather survival gear just in case. Shovel, sand/kitty litter, sleeping bag, warm clothes, at least one day of food/water. Tire chains if they're legal where you are would be good. Stop regularly. Get out and walk around. Get the blood flowing. I find 1.5 hours to be a little too often but everyone is different. Don't let your gas tank get below ¼. Fill up when you stop. Keep hydrated but if you drink too much you'll need to stop more often. 12 hours in one day is a looong day. Plan stopping to get some sleep along the way. Some places don't like you sleeping in your car in their parking lot. A cheap motel off the highway is a better option in my book. Pack plenty of what you like to listen to. Music is my go-to. A lot of people like audio books. Keeps your brain active so you don't zone out and nod off. Podcasts are good for that too, assuming you get good cell phone coverage. Download stuff ahead of time to fall back on. I like to keep a paper road atlas in the car with me as a backup, especially if you use your phone/tablet as your GPS. I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Michelin-North-America-Road-Atlas/dp/2067250175/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=7E5Q5R9RRP0T&keywords=road+atlas+michelin&qid=1645507854&sprefix=road+atlas+michelin%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-3

I suppose the long wheelbase helps...

Yeah, back when you could find an album with more than 1 song on it you wanted to listen to. That's one where the whole album makes in into my playlist. I've been going back through the classic arcives lately myself.

That calculator allows you to put in the manufacturers revolutions per mile number from their specs. If you use that instead of the advertised outside diameter the results tend to be pretty dead on.

Just on anecdotal experience, I'd prefer an ARB locker over an OX. But I have no direct experience with either of them.

I had an XJ with limited slip front and rear. It did fine on trails rated up to about a 6-7 in Moab. Went all over hell's revenge with it. No problems. I did bypass the harder lines on the obstacles. As soon as you get a tire or two in the air, you're not going very far. So I couldn't tackle everything in that Jeep. My old J10 had Eaton E-Lockers front and rear. My 2012 JK had them as well. My new Rubicon has factory selectable lockers. I love having selectable lockers. They are easy to drive with and lock up quickly when you push the button. And then you can get yourself into all sorts of trouble fun. Unlimited budget, I'd do selectables front and rear. And I'd probably do Eaton E-Lockers instead of ARB since I don't need an air source (saves several hundred). That tire rotation time really doesn't make a big difference on the trails in the real world. Next step down would be TrueTrac front, Eaton back. From there, TrueTracs front and rear. Below that, TrueTrac rear, open front. Last choice, open front and rear.

Over 800,000 dead so far, just in this country. I wonder how many more will die because they believe the disinformation.

My folks are in their 80s and both got delta variant. They had their shots. They both pulled through. Many of their friends in the same age group didn't get shots before getting hit. Not one of them made it. Regardless, I hope it's a false positive. If not, I wish you the best.

I didn't know anyone made 5.29 gears for those axles. The D30 has up to 5.13. Maybe 5.38s.

Some people have one of those days. I have one of those lives...

Disconnect the throttle linkage. If the idle goes down it's the cable/linkage. If not, it's the carburetor.

X2 on cleaning it. Also, there should be an idle adjustment screw that you can use to change how fast it idles. Also, is it a manual choke? If so, engaging it would bump up the idle. If it's an automatic choke that isn't working properly, that would hold it at fast idle.

I'd echo the recommendation for a TrueTrac. I had one in the front if my XJ and it did great all around. Good on dry pavement and in the snow.

The factory setup with 3.55s and 205-225 series tires was a compromise to get more fuel economy at the cost of driveability. Going to 32's, you'd want to run 4.10s. That would get you back close to stock type performance. The 4.0 runs best with 4.56 gears and 32" tires. It puts the highway RPMs up where they need to be to pull hills without down shifting while at the same time not running too high so they don't kill your fuel mileage. Personally, you'd have to fight to convince me to run anything but 4.56 with 32s, especially after I ran that combo for a few years in an XJ that I recently sold.

I had 4.56 gears with 265/75R16 tires (32s) in my 2001 XJ with a 4.0 and automatic. It was just about perfect for higher altitudes (Denver area) and highway cruising was good. No gear hunting happened. Went all over Moab (lower altitude) and never thought I needed more or less axle gear. With a manual I might consider 4.10s over the 4.56. It's important for the automatic that you have the correct speedometer gear in the sender in the transfer case. It affects shifting with the automatic I believe.