Northern Virginia Roll Call

Man you’re chock full of good ideas.

 

I'm sure my wife would beg to differ!

 

I like this Dave. I mean, I like current Dave, but this Dave...

 

This Dave's been in the shit.

 

Before I saw this, I was like there is no way I would ever pay that much for lights. Now I am like, shit, I need to get some baja adapters for my fogs. I got some rigid adapters for cheap as shit via my Rob's Used Harley Parts account aka ebay, but this is pretty convincing. Going to see if Baja makes some now.

 

I have a Baja harness that i was going to try to sell. You interested?

 

Correct me if I am wrong but not being a government entity, they can hardly decide what is or is not legal. They set standards so everyone is on the same sheet of music per se. How much power is one horsepower. How hard is grade 8 steel and how is it measured. Etc.

The US DOT then decides what is acceptable Federally and various state level DOT's then decide what they feel is appropriate for public useage in their state.

 

Not hypocritical at all. Being the BD Ambassador and getting perks from them while spending your own money on cheap shit would be hypocritical. You have simply evolved your view of what is and is not worth the coin.

I get it.

 

Not exactly, I wouldn’t call myself an ambassador. They held a give away in a thread on here and anyone was welcome to enter. You just had to tell them why you thought you deserved a free light bar. I did, and they picked me. I was extremely surprised.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/baja-designs-giveaway-free-onx6-20-led-light-bar-closed.573662/

 

What is their harness like? I need to decide if I actually want to buy BD lights first. If I buy the harness then I will have no choice but to buy the lights. Can’t afford that right now haha.

 

I thought DOT determines based on industry feedback what is safe and then state police then regulate what is considered legal? They are the ones that pass out the safety inspection stickers to the approved locations to issue them no?

 

Right. Reread what I wrote. I am saying you are NOT a hypocrit.

DOT uses ASE, ANSI, and Federal DOT as the gold standard for safe or not. The state police don't decide what items will or will not be legal, they administer/monitor the safety testing program. In VA anyway, the Code of Virginia sets the general guidelines then gives the Superintendant of DOT to decide what is acceptable. PoPo then enforces the regs, not make them.

§ 46.2-1005. Procedure for approval of equipment.

The Superintendent may establish a procedure for the approval of equipment required to be approved by him. Such procedure shall include the submission of a sample of the device for test and record purposes, submission of evidence that the device complies with this title and with recognized testing standards which the Superintendent is hereby authorized to adopt, and payment of the fee as provided by § 46.2-1008. The Superintendent shall then, within a reasonable time, either disapprove the device or issue a certificate of approval therefor.

The Superintendent may waive such approval and the issuance of a certificate of approval when the device or equipment required to be approved by this title is identified as complying with the standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, Incorporated, or the regulations of the federal Department of Transportation.
​

 

Its a 2 prong harness. I will check if I have a picture, and text it to you.

I have BD, but Im not using their harness. I cut the wire as soon as I got them..

 

Check this guy out on you tube. Mofo needs a bolt he just makes a new one...

https://youtu.be/kqLoC2U5u-g

 

ive seen the 3 day bag (assault pack) for 99, and the actual duffle for 150

 

Those videos are my absolute favorite.

 

My wife just informed me that Christmas is coming early this year...








Wait for it....










It's coming.....







Here it is....
















We're paying off the mortgage tomorrow. (Or at least starting the process)









FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congrats!!! That’s huuugggeee!!!!

 

"The DOT or Federal Regulations will preempt or take precedence over the state regulations when both regulations exist. For example, there is no federal regulation for fog lamps, so the state regulations are in effect. Fortunately, the states have settled on calling out the SAE J583 Fog Lamp Recommended Practice, so that is why there is no federal standard."

Reference: https://www.truck-lite.com/content/news/sae-vs-dot-truth-about-lighting-regulations

 

@3pooches
4 Links and similar designs

A 4 link is more complicated than a ladder bar and can also achieve more. Race car builders are capable of building many desirable handling characteristics into a 4 link set up. A 4 link system controls the pinion angle just as effectively as a ladder bar because it doesn't depend on the springs for triangulation. Instead the upper and lower bars triangulate off each other. Many people build 4 link systems where one set of arms is tapered inwards, or even with one end siamesed together to form a wishbone. This is an effective way to locate the axle side to side without inducing any bind in the suspension.

The problem with a 4 link is that it may not follow the same arc as the spring does throughout the range of movement of the suspension. It may possible to get it close enough that it wouldn't hurt much, but it would be difficult and might cause other undesirable handling problems. A shackle on any of the bars would render the suspension completely ineffective because a 4 link depends on the bars being a fixed length and the mounts being rigid for control. A good way to get around the spring bind problem on a 4 link setup is to put shackles at both ends of the springs or go to a spring floating system similar to what drag racers use. The spring floating systems attach the spring pack to the axle, but allow it to move forward and backward on the housing to eliminate bind.

Conclusions

Be wary of single bar systems when shopping for axle wrap control. All single bar systems depend on the spring pack itself to remain rigid in order to be effective, and this is contrary to the goal of most suspension designers. A ladder bar is always a safe bet because of it's simplicity and rigidity. A 4 Link may offer more advantages than a ladder bar, but you will have to put considerable thought into your system to take advantage of this.

Check out this link...
https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-non-hardcore/1043620-axle-wrap-finished.html