how to stay motivated?

[NorCal_Chris]

So my rig works fairly well for what it is. But i find myself always wanting more. My tires are worn out, i need new ones.
I need a doubler bad because my gearing blows chunks.
just noticed my 14b cover is leaking agian so i need to fix that
My 203 is leaking out the speedo cable pretty bad
my PS pump developed a leak.

I find myself often wanting to sell my truck and do something else. I think a big thing is how rediculous it is to drive my truck on the street. Makes me wish i had a yota or something that was smaller.

Or a tow rig and just make my truck off road only.

But being the sole provider for my wife and kid and only making about 55k a year with a mortgage doesnt leave me with much at all for play money.


So what do you guys do to stay interested in your truck? Anyone been in my shoes?

 

[Losthills78]

I know wat u mean.. One part one tool at a time.. If she fires up wen I turn the key thats good enough for me..

 

[K85 Octane]

sounds like you covered your bases

you need a tow rig
or smaller play toy
but either way
you will end up with it being offroad only
even if you want to drive it on the street, the smaller toy will end up the same
I think buying your time and being happy with what you have until a tow rig is feasible. Then, if you still want a smaller rig, you can trade in the blazer and get a new toy.

Or, downgrade the blazer to tow rig status, sell the goodies, and save for that new play toy. The blazer shouldn't have a problem with a small toyota or heep.

 

[Big Ray]

It's sad when 55-60K (me) doesn't leave much "play" $$$...

Me, I look at my rig (in progress) and picture it finished it time for my grandbaby to drive...

 

[MJB774X]

I'm in the same boat...I just can't wait to turn out, at least you have a mortgage, I rent...right now I can only dream to buy a house

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Anyone been in my shoes?

Anyone who's put significant time/effort into their truck has been. It can be frustrating, it will make you want to give up sometimes.

So my rig works fairly well for what it is. But i find myself always wanting more. My tires are worn out, i need new ones.

Groove them, you'll get more life/traction out of them and you don't have a ton to loose with those tires. Search pirate, lots of people go that route and Interco tires apparently leave plenty of meat in the tread.

I need a doubler bad because my gearing blows chunks.

Just part of rock crawling, lower t-case gearing is pretty much guaranteed if you get a bit serious about it. At least your 203 is already attached to your trans

just noticed my 14b cover is leaking agian so i need to fix that

Brake cleaner, RTV and a half hour and you're done, not a bit deal (I know how the little stuff adds up though )

my PS pump developed a leak.

The leak may be unrelated but, IME, hard wheeling in the rocks with a 1.5" cylinder kills pumps. It was the cheap route and WAY better than not having assist but it's not enough and is really hard on pumps, for me anyway (42's, Detroit in the front, relatively light ~4300 lbs). I've been going through a couple a year, I'm completely ready to do it right.

Regardless, a lifetime warranty pump from NAPA etc is probably ~$50.

I think a big thing is how rediculous it is to drive my truck on the street.

What's so bad on the street?

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Anyone who's put significant time/effort into their truck has been. It can be frustrating, it will make you want to give up sometimes.



Groove them, you'll get more life/traction out of them and you don't have a ton to loose with those tires. Search pirate, lots of people go that route and Interco tires apparently leave plenty of meat in the tread.



Just part of rock crawling, lower t-case gearing is pretty much guaranteed if you get a bit serious about it. At least your 203 is already attached to your trans




Brake cleaner, RTV and a half hour and you're done, not a bit deal (I know how the little stuff adds up though )



The leak may be unrelated but, IME, hard wheeling in the rocks with a 1.5" cylinder kills pumps. It was the cheap route and WAY better than not having assist but it's not enough and is really hard on pumps, for me anyway (42's, Detroit in the front, relatively light ~4300 lbs). I've been going through a couple a year, I'm completely ready to do it right.

Regardless, a lifetime warranty pump from NAPA etc is probably ~$50.



What's so bad on the street?

I know its all the little crap but it is just taxing sometimes.

Main thing that sucks on the street is big 42in bias tires that like to flatspot, and nice soft flexy springs that like to sway. It is streetable, but it takes effort.

My tires are grooved, but the main pain in the ass is one of them likes to leak all the air out in about 2 days. leaks all around the bead. I need to get a can of bead sealer and see if that cures it. So that is another thing i have to do is go out and fill that tire every day.

 

[Losthills78]

Wen I bought my ride I knew nothing about 4 wheelers ok well just atvs.. I paid 3500 for it.. It had 20000 miles on a rebuild.. The guy kept it stock.. Its got some rust and leaks some wat so I spend alot of time fixing wat I find.. It fairness its almost a 23 year old truck.. Just remember u own it u fix it.. U own a yota ull still be fixing it...

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Main thing that sucks on the street is big 42in bias tires that like to flatspot,

Sucks, no doubt, big radials are $$

and nice soft flexy springs that like to sway. It is streetable, but it takes effort.

Yep, definitely part of the trade off. I've been ready to ditch my 52's since the first couple trail rides; horrible approach angle, little axle wrap control and the spring packs die quickly. I think I'm on pack #4 or #5 now and they're f'ed after Blazer Bash. They hold me back from attempting obstacles because they'll bend (either folding the main leaf in articulation travel or folding over when going backwards). I've tried many variations, if you really use them they aren't as awesome as they might sound. They flex well on a forklift and that's about the best I could say about them.

Honestly, a three (or four) link front with a panhard bar, coil springs, and bushings at the link ends would run circles around 52's (or 56's or whatever else), isn't much more and doesn't kill your approach angle or have any of the other downfalls.

 

[muddysub]

Fortunately as its only been a few months I've been workin on my sub, I haven't hit that point yet. The only thing that frustrates me is that I've got so much to do and it's all expensive, I need an engine, trans, front axle, steering, bead locks, etc. Everything is expensive. So I keep myself entertained with small things, new dash speakers, replacement trim parts, etc. mine is more of a restoration/ expedition rig than a crawler so I'm keeping everything clean and straight. I keep thinking about my suburban winning the Jason Payne award, that's been a motivator.

 

[63chevyll]

I have been there with all my projects, and even customers projects.

I make way less than you and have a few kids and w wife who doesn't work, but I manage through wheeling and dealing to make it work.

My plan I developed but didn't know it was a plan until it happened.

I have a sound daily driver to start..
Then, have multiple projects going all the time and never take on anything too massive at one time. When the time comes you get board with it you can move on to the next one.

While having a few projects going it gives you time to think about your next step and accumulate parts slowly and look for the better deals (search CL, swap meets, EBay, ect)

Also I have a good relationship with my insurance guy and am constantly switching vehicles, about once per year.

It may not work for you but it has been working for me

 

[cybrfire]

As far as motivation goes, I've found that if I just grab something and go with it, it snowballs and before you know it, you've gotten few things done. You just have to realize when the "dread the wrench" feeling is coming over you and at that moment, get after it.

 

[BoondocK5]

I been wanting to get my doubler/transfercase in for a while now. I'm done with school till February. So what do I do? I wait till it's 30 degrees and raining/snowing to go out and lay in the water and cold concrete.
I'll finish that today, I hope...

 

[big dan]

Im feel the same way all the time. Wanted a hard core offroad rig since I could drive and finally 8 years later I was able to put together something close, cut most of the body off, built a roll cage, locked, low geared, crossover with hydro assist, lots of clearance and lots of flex.

Now that Ive got it though my only tow rig is my 85 3/4 ton and it isnt really a good tow rig and since I havent found a trailor that I can afford Im always looking for one to borrow. My rig is still moderatly street legal so I can drive to all the local trails but its not fun (no windshield, boggers) and I want to go other places and get kinda bummed when I cant.

Makes me want to start over and build something a little more civilized. I guess what keeps me going is thinking about how much work and time I have put into what Ive got and how it would all be wasted if I start over. And the fact that I know myself and as soon as I have something more civilized, Ill want something more hardcore.

 

[1970worthog]

I need a doubler bad because my gearing blows chunks.

why not go to a 4 speed? I love mine, course it'd be even sweeter with a doubler

just noticed my 14b cover is leaking agian so i need to fix that
My 203 is leaking out the speedo cable pretty bad
my PS pump developed a leak.

pshh a good afternoons worth of wrenching and Im sure we can get that list sorted out.

I find myself often wanting to sell my truck and do something else. I think a big thing is how rediculous it is to drive my truck on the street. Makes me wish i had a yota or something that was smaller.

one thing I've found to come in really handy is to have a smaller DD. My s10 does great for commuting and playing parts runner and it only cost me $600. As cool as these trucks are to DD, they get to a point were it gets to be ridiculous like you said.

So what do you guys do to stay interested in your truck? Anyone been in my shoes?

well to be in your shoes Id have to make what you make, which wont be for some time
but Ive always found that having a good group of freinds to help me out, even if its just to hang out and bs with, always seemed to help figure stuff out.
and you know if you ever need a hand with wrenching, Im just a phone call away.

 

[4x4k20]

you should consider yourself lucky you could be like me i have allways loved to do something to my 4x4s but i have gotten down with bad health 5 bypass 2 strokes and a bad back its hard for me to get any engery up to do anything to my trucks anymore i want to but its hard to do i just tore my 77 crewcab all the way down to restore it but it looks like its goin be a long time before it gets done everything used to be so easy for me to do as far as foolin around with my trucks so just be thankful you are in good health that can help keep you motavited

 

[imiceman44]

Well I was in your shoes exactly.
My K5 wheeler was my daily driver and it was always in good enough condition to be able to go to work, so when a wheeling trip came along I was ready to go.
Did this for about 6 years.
Then I cam upon a crew cab, so I decided to tow my blazer and that's when I started breaking it and parking it, and it stayed for ever broken, then I fixed my wagoneer and wheeled it till I broke it, and now it's parked in my garage, has been since 2004.
My K5 ended up being parted, and then I bought the chalet, took it to BB2006 and then it sat.
You could get a daily driver (PM me, I might have a solution for you)
But then you might try to do too much to the blazer where it will be parked for too long, or you could break it and think oh I don't need it now so I will fix it later.
Could go either way.
Actually, I still think it's better to get a DD that gets you great mileage, even with reg and insurance you still should be ahead on expenses.
Getting a tow rig will cost you much more, so if you are on a budget a DD is the solution.

So my rig works fairly well for what it is. But i find myself always wanting more. My tires are worn out, i need new ones.
I need a doubler bad because my gearing blows chunks.
just noticed my 14b cover is leaking agian so i need to fix that
My 203 is leaking out the speedo cable pretty bad
my PS pump developed a leak.

I find myself often wanting to sell my truck and do something else. I think a big thing is how rediculous it is to drive my truck on the street. Makes me wish i had a yota or something that was smaller.

Or a tow rig and just make my truck off road only.

But being the sole provider for my wife and kid and only making about 55k a year with a mortgage doesnt leave me with much at all for play money.


So what do you guys do to stay interested in your truck? Anyone been in my shoes?

 

[blazinzuk]

I think we have all been there Chris. Just one of those things. I go out wheeling quite a bit, haven't had the money to fix my crew cab, so I tow with my diesel Jimmy. It sucks to tow with. But just local stuff, would never tow far. Ah you say but you have a tow rig and a trailer, true but it took me nearly 6 years of looking to get the trailer and I traded labor for most of it, still payed the guy 600 bucks but it was worth 1200 or so. Add my labor in there and it cost me more like 2k, but I have it.

I got the diesel because my wife needed a newer car and so I bought a broken car and fixed it, then sold the old daily driver to buy the Jimmy.

As far as Horton goes well he was my daily driver, my Blazer was my daily driver on 42" pitbull rockers. I was willing to put up with the terrible handling, overall small amount of comfort and unfortunately terrible gas milage, also sometimes the mad scrambles to get parts fixed. I wheeled the blazer for a long time with a variety of tires from 38s to 42s with just a 203 and turbo 350. Was even out of wheeling for 2 years cause I couldn't afford to buy a 125 dollar rebuild kit for my trans, let alone pay someone to build it. We just had one car at the time too. It sucked.


Just keep on keeping on Chris save and scrimp for maybe buying a beater car just to daily drive, tires are so dang expensive that sometimes it saves you right there let alone gas money and stuff.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

what tipped this off last night was a freaking bum was sleeping in my truck...

My tire was flat since i hadnt filled it with air so i popped the garage open, fired the compressor up and went out to get the air gauge out of my truck and couldnt see. reached in and there was some dude sleeping on my passenger seat.

It was a major wtf moment for me. I asked him what he was doing and he said sorry man im sleepin. So i told him he needed to sleep somewere else and he left.

So my truck has become a bum hut.

 

[howdiy]

My trucks been sitting with an empty rear end for 2 weeks now, gotta wait till next weekend to get it together

I leave town for school during the week though