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Messages - Flyin6
1
« on: Today at 08:14:13 PM »
When you raise the front end, the axle mount beams or control arms or whatever they are now pointed down a little, so that pulled the caster out of there that I need to track straight down the highway.
2
« on: Today at 07:13:53 PM »
Yippee!
3
« on: Today at 07:12:23 PM »
I did a bunch of yard work after the truck work. This time of year I am at the plant beds almost every day. Burning weeds, trimming bushes and trees, grass cutting 2.5 acres, and cutting in the beds...Whew!
4
« on: Today at 07:10:20 PM »
Chore, thought it was fun? Almost can't tell there are 2 dogs there, spot above the nose gives and eye is about it.
Glad the bags aren't leaking, some you don't have to think about now.
At least it has a solid axle, IFSs are worse.
Yeah, glad I don't have to revisit those bags. The alignment is tomorrow, then I'll get to the front bumper. That may take a bit longer. I'm thinking of welding in a winch mount before I install it. I was thinking I may want a winch to pull trees off the trail for when we get off-road with it.
5
« on: Today at 07:01:56 PM »
Installing that Carli piece is not all that easy.
The cylinder is gas-charged to around 200 psi, I think. Anyway, compressing it is not for someone recovering from RA!
The tricky part is that there are four little alignment spacers that fit either side of the heim joints. So while compressing that thing and trying to line it up, one needs to somehow slip in the bolt just a little ways, then get it through the first bushing, then the Heim, and then the fun begins. While you are pushing the thing to compress it, with your third and fourth hand you need to force in the lower spacer...to where it aligns with this spring-loaded bear trap, then get that bolt through the second (pinched in place) bushing then through the mounting ear.
If you can do that, well kudos to you because I only got it after some focused praying and zero cursing or bad thoughts.
Get that done and you're nearly finished. I did not torque, just got everything snugged up. The locking nuts will keep everything in place, but if you read of a dually careening off a mountainside with a lop-sided camper on the back, well, I guess it loosened back up!
6
« on: Today at 06:53:53 PM »
I had just had the stocker off so removing it again was pretty straight forward
Carli's piece looks so much more refined.
7
« on: Today at 06:51:52 PM »
Next up was the front Carli steering stabilizer.
8
« on: Today at 06:51:03 PM »
These two are never far away. The big one was laying against either rear dual wheel just before I started on the liner re-installation. As if the dog knew where not to be!
9
« on: Today at 06:49:22 PM »
Before the weather turns foul, I will get up in there with a bunch of 3M cavity wax and spray a good coat over my arms and hair! :-0
The stance is what I was looking for:
10
« on: Today at 06:47:53 PM »
I began the chore day by reinstalling the rear wheel well liners
They are pretty big, but unlike the GM units, these are a lot thinner and floppier. I trimmed four big inside flaps away that were obscuring the part of the overload spring that I like to view to see if they are in contact with my revised pads. Once I did that the liners were easier to handle.
Oh, and the airbags are holding air just fine now. It was the Pac-Air flexible inlet fittings that were the culprit.
11
« on: May 04, 2024, 04:04:12 PM »
I have severe osteoarthritis in one hip and more not quite severe in a knee and other hip. Tried cortisone injections with limited success. The past 6 months I have had injections of Monovisc in the severe hip and have had some relief. Next will be replacements. I have had good results from keeping my weight down and avoiding sugar any flour.
Copy on that. I have all but eliminated sugar, but seem to eat bread more often. I think the most important thing about bread is to stay away from enriched flour. Sourdough and more "ancient" and less processed wheat is best.
12
« on: May 03, 2024, 01:19:02 PM »
Don, I'm a firm believer that the key to mobility is staying mobile. Glad you're fighting through this!
That is a simple fact and wisdom learned from many who came before us Motion is lotion and all that So I had another crazy thought. With this RA, you never really know if, for example, you need a knee replacement or it is just an RA attack. It was my shoulders last summer/fall, but now it's my knees. Believing I may be on the mend from a direct RA attack, I began thinking about knee replacements. I have had surgeries on both. No meniscus remains in either knee, and I have a good diagnosis of severe Arthritis in both knees. So, has anyone heard of that Chicken based grease that is injected to fill the joint's inner cavities? I know here comes the jokes..."Man, you get that stuff injected and you'll be able and willing to chicken out in a fight and run away..." Heard all of em But if you have a good one, please share Back to my reasonin' I was thinking I could convince a doctor to inject me with the stuff for the summer's upcoming trips. Then as the effects wore off toward the fall, I could opt for one or two replacements and heal over the Christmas holidays. I could avoid all the festivities I don't like anyway and heal up during the nasty cold/wet months. Be back in the saddle sporting shiny new metal parts for the Alaska trip in 25! Just some thoughts at the moment, but there just may be some late summer sweet corn there...
13
« on: May 02, 2024, 10:17:32 PM »
Rheumatoid Arthritis can be a bear.
It started affecting me last spring, a little more than a year ago. As the disease took hold it made me an effective cripple. My low point was a morning when I could not get up out of the chair to go to the bathroom. It is an awful disease and it kicked my butt for sure.
It takes months to get an appointment with a Rheumatologist, but through the utter persistence of my wife, she got me in in a week.
I had to undergo a lot of tests. I had studies done on my heart, Liver, and Kidneys. Some of those studies involved minor surgery. I confess starting last May until late this past fall, I was pretty miserable.
The Rheumatologist started dosing me with Hydroxychloroquine, two times a day. The thing about treating RQ is that they are aggressive or else you could suffer permanent joint damage.
I discovered I could take a small dose of prednisone and get 2-3 days of relief. The long-term drugs take at least six months to start to become effective. Luckily, I think I am a little past that point now and hopeful of finding a cure.
I am writing this here because as soon as I started gaining mobility, I started working out, but it has been a slow road. At first, I could only do 10-15 minutes of walking on a treadmill. I could not reach down to the floor or even effectively bathe myself. Yea, it was a bit_h.
As I started getting a little better and then a little bit more, I started walking more. I could not bend my wrist to do even a single pushup! By comparison, I used to do 100!
Well, today, I completed a 4-mile hike, and just yesterday I did a hike up and down 500-foot elevation changes at a place called Benger Mountain. It has been a real struggle, but I am fighting it with everything I have.
At the moment the pain from today's hike is under control after taking three Tylenol, but I am making headway.
I will not give up and hope to fully recover from this crippling disease.
14
« on: May 02, 2024, 09:51:55 AM »
I did the same thing to mine. Weld it back together and carry on...
With your torture testing background I can’t say I’m surprised….. ![popcorn :popcorn:](http://real-man-truckworks-and-survival.com/Smileys/default/popcornemot.GIF)
Well... ;-)
15
« on: May 02, 2024, 09:02:32 AM »
Congratulations, Matt for delivering the word of God on a daily basis for years now!!
Coming to this thread has become a regular thing for many of us here. In fact, we have now visited this thread and God's word over 100,000 times
May the glory be to God for he is the very reason we have this thread.
But also, Thanks Matt
16
« on: May 01, 2024, 11:18:46 PM »
Costco here is the same as the stations and No diesel! Why be a member?
Wow, not here. Costco is way cheaper than anywhere else, even Sam's Club. And it has diesel.
17
« on: May 01, 2024, 11:17:51 PM »
I did the same thing to mine. Weld it back together and carry on...
18
« on: May 01, 2024, 07:14:50 PM »
Knocking on the door of 100,000 views
One hundred thousand times someone wrote or read God's word!
19
« on: May 01, 2024, 07:13:06 PM »
20
« on: May 01, 2024, 07:11:58 PM »
NW MT
D $3.95 G $3.50
Both have been floating within 5 cents a gallon of those prices for a couple weeks
Kentucky is approximately the same. Costco fuel, of course, is about 50 cents a gallon cheaper.
21
« on: May 01, 2024, 07:10:40 PM »
Tate, Thanks for that update. My takeaway is that Mopar is doing their homework and installing some stout components. That, and now we know for sure that we are back to clutch-type limited slips. Another takeaway is that this newer carrier is going to be a tad bit more difficult to play with given its pressed-together nature. I for one will just run this factory setup until Trump leaves office after he completes his second term in 2033.
22
« on: April 30, 2024, 07:46:31 PM »
I then added 20 psi to the bags to test for leaks overnight.
That raised the rear end a bit more.
Obviously, the back end will settle down with 4,000 lbs. in the bed, but I can say, I am pleased with the results.
23
« on: April 30, 2024, 07:42:29 PM »
I did not get any pics, but I added a 1" spacer beneath the airbags. I then used bolts that were over 1" too long. After threading them through the spacer and mounting them into the bottom of the bags, they protrude downward. The idea here is to allow the suspension more flex if I ever extend it in more severe terrain. The Carli shocks will allow for more droop so these bag extensions will accommodate that should it ever happen.
Here are the finished Carli install shots:
24
« on: April 30, 2024, 07:37:39 PM »
Here's a before and after showing the additional height with zero air pressure.
Before looks like 43 1/4"
After is 44 3/4"
Some of that is just the fact that the suspension has not settled from being unloaded on jack stands for two days. but I easily picked up an inch +.
25
« on: April 30, 2024, 07:33:31 PM »
I finished up the rear suspension and repaired the leaky airbag fittings (I think...)
I pulled the air bags off and tossed the factory supplied cheapo swivel fittings in favor of the brass ones the local truck repair shop gave me yesterday
26
« on: April 30, 2024, 10:06:17 AM »
So here's a question: I like the lug nuts showing look, that and the rear hub showing. It is either that of slide on the cheapl plastic hub caps.
Question, Leave em off, of go all girly and install them back like factory?
I don’t mind it either.
My .02..
I’m not sure how much luck and crap will get on them. What I’ve found with my Chebby ones, they are clean. In my trailers, without the plastic caps, the mud and goo really plugs up the threads. So much so that I’ve had to shorten some wheel studs.
My vote would be based on your operating conditions. Not to goooey, then lose ‘em. Gooey, probably keep ‘em.
Good thoughts... My concept of the operation is that I want to be able to visibly see if any lug nuts are loosening up with all this road warrior stuff coming right up...
27
« on: April 30, 2024, 09:02:28 AM »
We do have a pond that would hold it. 96 does speed it up considerably.
Sam's right. Ponds eat zero turns. My neighbor across the street, 3X! If it weren't for my truck and its front winch, would have been a fiver! Oh and then there's a notable member of this community ;-)
28
« on: April 30, 2024, 09:00:27 AM »
So here's a question: I like the lug nuts showing look, that and the rear hub showing. It is either that of slide on the cheapl plastic hub caps.
Question, Leave em off, of go all girly and install them back like factory?
29
« on: April 30, 2024, 08:58:39 AM »
Getting there. Dodge has always had solid running gear. Some of the earlier auto trans were not up to snuff and not a huge fan of the AAM front axle.
Stock wheels look good too.
Doing steps on it too? I sold my powersteps as I prefer the side protection of the stationary.
On the steps, dunno. It came with the cheapo side steps and actually, they do work. My oldest son says I need to lose them. I would prefer AMP Research steps for this one, but again, dunno... Opinions?
30
« on: April 29, 2024, 09:07:43 PM »
I had to attend a fire department board meeting, so I did not finish.
Chatting with the guys at the truck shop, they told me that my airbag leak issue is being caused by leaking swivel fittings. They do not use them but have some better stationary solid brass fittings. They just gave me two of them for no charge. How cool is that?
So here is the resting condition as of COB, today. I'll get on the bags tomorrow and hopefully, have it ready for the alignment shop.
31
« on: April 29, 2024, 09:04:28 PM »
After the U-bolt thing, I was able to proceed, and managed to get the first, then the second Lift block installed with the new hardware.
32
« on: April 29, 2024, 09:02:03 PM »
Very quickly, I noticed the warehouse guys sent me the wrong U-bolts, so I had to go out and have some made up for me. Having to take a couple of hours to chase down the U-bolts effectively killed any chance I had of finishing the install today...
In the box, you can see the Carli-supplied U-bolt, and the one I just took off my truck. They are the same length!
So is life, no big deal.
33
« on: April 29, 2024, 08:59:34 PM »
As is usual, the dog chose a spot that was in the way of everything...
I throw boxes and trash on him thinking it will startle him, but he never moves...
34
« on: April 29, 2024, 08:58:20 PM »
They sent me the rear shocks, lift blocks and U-Bolts.
The shocks have a lot of gas pressure. I'm talking getting a jack to compress them!
35
« on: April 29, 2024, 08:56:42 PM »
Today I got after the rear suspension (again).
Before adding the Carli stuff, the rear is about level with the front.
36
« on: April 29, 2024, 06:35:12 PM »
That'll work!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
37
« on: April 29, 2024, 06:32:47 PM »
96"??? What??? Huge, that is what that thing is. Now get that boy of mine on it mowing your pastures. He needs to learn to operate stuff like that...
38
« on: April 29, 2024, 06:31:15 PM »
Moving along! Hope you get the nice ride you’re after first round this time.
Just caught the 12 bolts in the rear axles. I think it was 8 in the 11.5, so that one has been beefed up considerably.
It is apparently. I chatted with Tate this morning about it. He sent me some detailed information about that axle. We can settle the argument about which kind of differential is in there. It is a two-piece differential with internal clutches preloaded by some Belville washers. Apparently, it is possible to rebuild it. There are 30, 32 and 33 spline axles depending on what truck you are driving. The dually gets the mutant strong stuff. That is why everything seems so darned oversized in the pics of my truck axle.
39
« on: April 29, 2024, 10:23:41 AM »
40
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:28:31 PM »
The front end is mostly done. I'll have to bolt on the front steering stabilizer if/when it comes in. But for now, I am front-end complete. On the backside tomorrow.
41
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:26:54 PM »
In went the springs and shocks along with the new Panhard and except for the axle side Panhard attachment it all went on fairly quickly.
42
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:16:46 PM »
Factory vs Carli springs:
43
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:15:55 PM »
Panhard or front centering link or whatever it is called has to be setup and adjusted. It is a bit of a process, but I had done one earlier on the blue truck, so this one went together faster.
44
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:14:08 PM »
After removing the front cross bar, and disconnecting the shocks, the front can be lowered enough to pull the springs out.
45
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:12:49 PM »
I call it 40 7/16" before the Carli springs and I measured it at 43" even afterward.
Carli says their springs lift it 2.5", I actually measured a 2 7/16" lift.
Pretty close
I started by jacking the thing up and pulling off the wheels on the front.
46
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:10:19 PM »
Today I got after the Carli suspension parts I just purchased from Tater. Most of the stuff was delivered, enough to get the front end almost completed.
The idea is to level it, the same as I did on the 2022 single wheel 3500
Carli lifts the front 2.5" and the rear 1" to level everything.
Here are some before and after shots
47
« on: April 28, 2024, 10:14:36 AM »
How do you guys get your wife to get rid of stuff she hasn't touched in over 10 years? I'm trying to get our house back in order after a remodel and just don't want to move stuff again that will never get touched again until our kids have to clean out the house after we are gone.
Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
This is a great question! Here's how I did it I talked her into moving into a smaller house, a barndominium we are yet to build. There was not going to be either a basement or tons of storage space. She connected the dots naturally and has been shedding stuff for almost two years. I figure in about another year or two we will be back at fighting weight.
48
« on: April 27, 2024, 04:11:26 PM »
Hiked all loops of the Bender Mountain loop/trail today. It was a good one for cardio and leg strength. The hill rises 713 feet from the parking lot and then runs along either side then finally up on top of a narrow ridge overlooking the Ohio River. Not particularly long, like 2.5-3.0 ish with all the loops, but a lot of up and down. We took our granddaughter. Good times! Yesterday we did 4+ along the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati and Newport, KY. Beautiful time of year to get out. We are doing a fair amount of hiking/walking in preparation for the July Wyoming trip. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ohio/bender-mountain-loop-trail
49
« on: April 27, 2024, 08:33:31 AM »
^^^^^^^^^^OK, them's some gud comments. At least for the popular herd, I must be doin' something right for once ;-) ^^^^^^^^^^
50
« on: April 26, 2024, 07:31:27 PM »
I recall that round, when o bummer got elected you couldn’t find any of that ammo anywhere.
Ashley had a friend with a gun in that round back then and I recall him hitting me up. I’d say if you get one have the coin to buy several cases and stock up. I personally don’t need another round and I like the .22mag in the pmr-30 obviously not comparable ballistics but I have several rifles and pistols in 22wmr already and it’s a light fairly powerful round. That pistol has 30 rd mags too.
I’ve personally been stocking up on .410 as of late. When looking at my inventory I was light on small game shot. The wife and I are planning on grouse hunting this year to get us out of the cabin after the big game push is over.
I don't necessarily see myself as needing a 5.7 but a few of the operators were all over that gun over in the stan. Not sure if anyone got shot by one over there, have to ask around. And the .410 thing is a great idea. You had me wanting to buy two. One for me and one for an up and coming grand daughter who needs to do some field time with me.
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