Looks good! Any plans for a winch?

Thanks! Most people leave their hoop about 1"+ away but that lean i wasn't really into. I left it 1/2" away from the grill if I ever wanted to take it out. I also have 1/8 of play if I wanted to bring the entire bumper out more.

Welding is easy to learn, just takes practice. A lot of shops will do it for you if needed.

thanks! Yeah, I'm planning for a winch just incase i get myself stuck when I'm alone but I'm torn between a smitty or warn.

Any suggestions?

straight flexin, she's mounted!

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Well, I was going to say don't mount it until the winch is in but.......

Warn is great but overpriced IMO. Smittybuilts trail knickname is Shittybuilt. I have an Engo that has pulled me and my buddies more then any winch ever should have too. They used to be a lot cheaper but their reputation grew and their price went up.

Whatever you go with make sure to check it before every trip. The whole it's better to have and not need mantra goes out the window if you have it, need it and it don't work.

I'll look into engo, and yea I hear you. I'm scared to go out and just get stuck. Although I won't be getting a winch till later in the coming months as I have to address my suspension and brakes first. Perhaps I should looking into some track boards.

Being smart about what you and your rig are capable of is the single most important thing you can do. If you're new to wheeling then it's harder to know because you don't have prior experience to fall back on. It doesn't mean you won't be able to make smart, calculated choices though.

I wheel alone more then I wheel with buddies. It goes against the status quo but I've always encouraged people to wheel solo if they want. It about what I said in the last paragraph. Be smart. Have the tools to repair and recover if needed. Have a small ham radio and know the repeater stations. Have a backpack with food and shelter in case you need to hoof it out. Do those things and the risk in wheeling alone is mitigated.

Don't be afraid to go have fun. If you get to a spot that feels sketchy either back out or have a plan to recover before you try it. In all the years and miles of wheeling solo I've only had to hike out once. It was a valuable lesson that only cost me a few miles of hiking and a couple of beers to the guy that helped yank me out later that day.

As far as traction boards I don't carry them. I do own them and have used them to make it easier to recover others. They are very useful in the snow to get then rig back up on top. It's hard to compare my rigs ability to most because of what I've built it for. I can tell you what I always carry though.

20v tools, full deep socket and box wrenches, spare CV axle, spare LBJs and bolts, spare UBJ's(I have SPC arms), a chainsaw, an axe, full size shovel, hi-lift, spare tire, tire plug kit, air compressor, hand held ham radio, fluids, extra fuel and my "go" bag is always in the rig. That's got a bivy sack, 30 degree down bag, extra layers, stove, fuel. pot and lots of top ramen.

Start getting your essentials together and start getting after it. Worse case you get a free hike in but I'm betting you'll be just fine.