Radio Flyer-84 Grand Waggy

[dodgerammit]

I get the bruised ego

I got denied there and then 150 feet later I messed up and got to do it again. it is the only time I’ve pulled it and I’ve done what most consider to be quite difficult trails like hells revenge and poison spider mesa in Moab. The pic spot was on Poughkeepsie Pass in Ouray CO.

Man, a Ouray trip has been on the bucket list for almost 20 years. Ever since I seen a magazine tidbit about Black Bear Pass with a pic taken from the switchbacks overlooking Telluride......

Someday...

I always envisioned the Wag going over it, but now that I have a YJ, a more realistic option would be to flat tow that behind a small RV or Skoolie and make the trek over some of the less challenging/more scenic trails that way.

For now, we have the Wag and the Gazelle Tent setup for trips.

The Oklahoma trip was a rare, long haul, but definitely put us in the realistic mindset of needing something we could cruise that was bigger and more powerful for treks like that. Gives us something to work towards within the next 10 years.

Just gotta remember to enjoy the journey in the meantime.

[Yeller]

We started traveling over 20 years ago, we had an opportunity to got to Moab UT with friends, it was a serious bucket list place to go so we skimped and saved to go, it was such an experience that we made the life decision that we had to do more. So we do a minimum of 3, 9-15 day trips a year and they are almost always around exploring the road less traveled off road. For a number of years we traveled the country looking for the hardest, dumbest stuff to put rubber on, today it’s more about seeing over the mountain or around the bend, with a few obstacles mixed in. We love exploring the Rockies and west with a focus on SE Utah.

[dodgerammit]

We started traveling over 20 years ago, we had an opportunity to got to Moab UT with friends, it was a serious bucket list place to go so we skimped and saved to go, it was such an experience that we made the life decision that we had to do more. So we do a minimum of 3, 9-15 day trips a year and they are almost always around exploring the road less traveled off road. For a number of years we traveled the country looking for the hardest, dumbest stuff to put rubber on, today it’s more about seeing over the mountain or around the bend, with a few obstacles mixed in. We love exploring the Rockies and west with a focus on SE Utah.

We're in a similar spot. With a regular work schedule, the longer trips aren't within the scope yet, but we try to do about 3 camping trips a year. Typically, we range 3-4 days on each, then also do plenty of day trips to closer areas to do events we like.
Within about 10 years from now, I want to get into the pre-retirement phase, if possible, and either scale back on the work week, or transition to a more seasonal schedule in a job that aligns more with my lifestyle or interests. That'll require getting out of the factory life (which I'm A-OK with) and into a lower paying, yet much less demanding job and schedule.

I have no desire to work til the ever increasing, mandated retirement age. They can stuff that where the sun don't shine.
Life's too short, and there's too much to live for other than making some other moron rich.
I've pulled my overtime and did the hustle crap as much as I needed, but way more than I wanted.
My stuff is paid for. I no longer volunteer to 'go the extra mile'.

[Yeller]

We started traveling over 20 years ago, we had an opportunity to got to Moab UT with friends, it was a serious bucket list place to go so we skimped and saved to go, it was such an experience that we made the life decision that we had to do more. So we do a minimum of 3, 9-15 day trips a year and they are almost always around exploring the road less traveled off road. For a number of years we traveled the country looking for the hardest, dumbest stuff to put rubber on, today it’s more about seeing over the mountain or around the bend, with a few obstacles mixed in. We love exploring the Rockies and west with a focus on SE Utah.

We're in a similar spot. With a regular work schedule, the longer trips aren't within the scope yet, but we try to do about 3 camping trips a year. Typically, we range 3-4 days on each, then also do plenty of day trips to closer areas to do events we like.
Within about 10 years from now, I want to get into the pre-retirement phase, if possible, and either scale back on the work week, or transition to a more seasonal schedule in a job that aligns more with my lifestyle or interests. That'll require getting out of the factory life (which I'm A-OK with) and into a lower paying, yet much less demanding job and schedule.

I have no desire to work til the ever increasing, mandated retirement age. They can stuff that where the sun don't shine.
Life's too short, and there's too much to live for other than making some other moron rich.
I've pulled my overtime and did the hustle crap as much as I needed, but way more than I wanted.
My stuff is paid for. I no longer volunteer to 'go the extra mile'.

Sounds like we have similar desires. I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that provides more PTO than I can really use, but I’ve been there since 97 lol. We have some health things that will prevent early retirement so we just go a lot. I give them plenty but they pay me well and since I travel for work, often I get to double dip, got to spend 6 days in Townsend for the cost of an RV spot and enjoy the smokies just 2 weeks ago.

My life moto for the last several years is “plan like tomorrow might happen, but go like it is never going to”.

[dodgerammit]

My life moto for the last several years is “plan like tomorrow might happen, but go like it is never going to”.

Mine is "Life is uncertain. Enjoy the dessert now."

The one thing that slapped me in the face is just a year ago, there was this guy, old enough to retire, but always worried about having a certain amount in his 401K. He kept pushing retirement back, waiting for that magic number to hit. He was getting pretty serious about a spring retirement. Going home from work, on a Friday, early in December to watch his granddaughter's dance recital, a teenager crossed the double yellow line and hit him head on at a high rate of speed.



All that time he spent doing extra at work. Pushing back his retirement travel plans with his wife.....


....for nothing.

[Yeller]

Exactly. I graduated from a very small school, my class was large at 23. By the time I was 21 we were 18, all drug and alcohol related by themselves or someone around them. Was a real eye opener, life is fragile live it! And no I don’t drink, hate the feeling.

Also I’ve watched a lot of people retire that didn’t do the things they wanted to do in retirement before retirement. They never do what they said they wanted to do more than once maybe twice. If it isn’t part of your lifestyle before rarely will it be after, it will just be a novelty.

[dodgerammit]

Exactly. I graduated from a very small school, my class was large at 23. By the time I was 21 we were 18, all drug and alcohol related by themselves or someone around them. Was a real eye opener, life is fragile live it! And no I don’t drink, hate the feeling.

Also I’ve watched a lot of people retire that didn’t do the things they wanted to do in retirement before retirement. They never do what they said they wanted to do more than once maybe twice. If it isn’t part of your lifestyle before rarely will it be after, it will just be a novelty.

I only started drinking occasionally (and very occasionally) around 30. I seen first hand what it did to a couple of classmates (came upon the wreck just a couple minutes after it happened), so it really gave me perspective.

I only drink one, and when I do, I'm staying put for several hours. I've noticed specific times I have one. Camping, grilling, or have finished a big project and am happy it's over and want to unwind afterwards. That's it.
Never been drunk as far as hangover, puking, etc. Once I get a slight buzz, I stop, just chill out and enjoy the calming effect, usually while snacking or having a meal. More often than not, I find myself foregoing alcohol. If it disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't care. I'd probably just replace it with a dessert or something

As far as retirement, my grandfathers have been my inspiration. Both stayed busy, immersing themselves as much as they could into a passion/hobby. But yeah, they always enjoyed doing those things before retirement. Retirement just freed up their schedule to do that thing even more.

[Bakydnutbstr]

Nice job on the rims,Caps (scrubbed with Brillo cleaned pretty nice, don’t notice pitting and peeling chrome so much),red ~white ~blue,mine I used permanent markers. The red blue were translucent,I did “JEEP” center in black but will use paint pen white to color it in, it will stand out much nicer.
Nice repair on the roof. I love to read when JEEPERS do the work themselves.
Like part bout cutting out leaf spring reminds me of cutting out all 8 bolts on mine ,the joy! & memories.
You don’t have much rust on parts . Oh when you did the lift did you have to change the pitman arm for more drop to reach steering link?
Awesome companion to ride along with ya,best friend.;

[dodgerammit]

Nice job on the rims,Caps (scrubbed with Brillo cleaned pretty nice, don’t notice pitting and peeling chrome so much),red ~white ~blue,mine I used permanent markers. The red blue were translucent,I did “JEEP” center in black but will use paint pen white to color it in, it will stand out much nicer.
Nice repair on the roof. I love to read when JEEPERS do the work themselves.
Like part bout cutting out leaf spring reminds me of cutting out all 8 bolts on mine ,the joy! & memories.
You don’t have much rust on parts . Oh when you did the lift did you have to change the pitman arm for more drop to reach steering link?
Awesome companion to ride along with ya,best friend.;

Pitman arm is stock. According to BJ's you don't need to change until about 4" of lift. I do get a small bit of bump steer on harsher impacts, but I also need to replace the steering stabilizer, so that may 'hide' the issue once replaced.

Yeah, the GSD loves Jeep rides.

[dodgerammit]

Okay, been having a lot of trouble with imgur lately, so trying ImgBB for photo hosting. I am unable to get the images to automatically show, so you gotta click the links.

Decided to finally do something about the cargo area. Had mulled a few different options from a faux wood flooring to fresh paint, to bedliner.

Bedliner won out due to the practicality of what I wanted. But not just any bed liner. I didn't want a rough texture, and black wasn't gonna happen since it wouldn't match. Durabak offers a smooth bedliner with UV stability in their marine coatings. They also offer several colors. One is tan.

So, cleared and cleaned the crap outta the cargo area.
https://ibb.co/pQbfn1X

Scuffed the floor with some 60 grit and a wire cup brush on a drill, then wiped with xylene.
https://ibb.co/9ykrZQ5

Put down 3 coats.
https://ibb.co/f8VfZMz

Then dug the carpet rub strips out of storage where they've been stashed since I purchased this rig 7 years ago. They cleaned up nicely. I installed them with some #8 stainless pan head screws. Only did the cargo floor area for now. Unsure if I want to install them on the tailgate. Got some better lighting for this shot to get a close approximation of the color.
https://ibb.co/MBbcs09

About to head to the local big box store for some supplies to rebuild the cargo side panels. I want to do something like many do with their cargo panels in FJ60s and make storage cubby access doors.

Stay tuned!

[devildog80]

Enough room in the PS rear corner to mount a low profile air compressor too. That is mulling around in my brain to do with my '84 GW, just need to get the Jeep fund funded better, and see how it all develops.

[Bakydnutbstr]

That came out very nice I thought you put in a bed liner [looked at last link first]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[dodgerammit]

Enough room in the PS rear corner to mount a low profile air compressor too. That is mulling around in my brain to do with my '84 GW, just need to get the Jeep fund funded better, and see how it all develops.

That side has the most space, so it's getting all the extra fluids (oil, atf, gear oil), the XJ/ZJ/94-02 Ram jack kit, and a set of booster cables, and a spare serpentine belt.

The driver's side will also get an access door (smaller due to rstep's tire carrier) It won't be hinged, just removable with thumb style cam locks. It'll give access to the tailgate relay board, but a nice Viair or ARB inflation system for an emergency would most likely fit there as well. Great idea!

Just finished cutting the panels out a few minutes ago. Gonna use 1/2" cabinet grade plywood since it'll be thick enough to run some smaller screws into to mount the hinges. The weight between the plywood and the original panels is negligible. Maybe a couple pounds. Not enough to worry about. Gonna coat both sides of the panels with the same smooth Durabak as the floor before final install.

Replacing the rear speakers at the same time. Going with a pair of 6x9 3 way Kenwood KFC-6966S for replacements. They will get mounted in those access doors. I removed everything associated with the rear 5 1/4s.