Operator's SAS'd and S/C'ed Rocky Mountain Adventures, and Trip thread (Pic Heavy!)

So I'm not new to builds, but my last build was a 180 from this one, as I modded a Audi A4 (at the bottom of this post). Sold that car to pay for the truck. Got my 1st taste in off-roading back in 2004 (Montero Sport), but didn't really get to start hitting trails until I moved back to Colorado, and started renting Jeeps in 2020. Got hooked, and decided to get a off-roading vehicle of my own. I love the outdoors, and it just works out that Colorado & off-road trails go hand in hand!

How the truck currently sits. Started the SAS: Jan, 2025


Couple years ago on 38's.


This is the truck before it came into my possession. Admittedly it was already pretty well modded.






The tires that came with the truck were shot, made the drive from Utah back to Colorado, a LONGGGGGG one!
Finally home

So I got a used set of 33's Dick Cepek Extreme Country 285/75R16's to put on the truck while I got a new set of 35" tires mounted and balanced. Added some Plastidip as the wheels were just black.




1st time out on a local trail. Rainbow Falls


One of the 1st mods I added was a winch.




The A4 that paid for the truck.

 

Before I put the new 35's I took off some unmatching spacers (ECCPP and a no name) and added Spider Trax.



Treated the truck like I have all my other vehicles in cold weather states, and got decicated winter tires, and some used wheels. 31" Mastercraft Courser MSR 235/85R16 tires.





Went back out to Rainbow Falls with a guy in his stock ZR2.



1st trip over an hour from the house, was Redcone Pass. Didn't get to complete the whole trial due to snow (in October!). Camped out the night before, and used the RTT for the 1st time. Also plastidipped the Pro Comp Alloy wheels. New 35" tires Roadone Calvary 315/75/16.












Ended up with a small issue with the tail latch for the spare.

 

And my next trip out had my 1st major problem. One of my Spider Trax failed. This was after my Red Cone outing. Doing a simple trail called Longwater Gulch, with a lifted Rav4.


Did some research and troubleshooting, and found the Spider Trax lugs to be a tad short (for me and my needs). So I went with Bora spacers up front.

Next change was adding rock sliders. Went up to Denver and had 1st Choice Fabrication build and install them.



Found a guy on Craigslist selling his old custom deck storage system. For $200 it was hard to pass up. It's not the easiest to open and close the drawers, but it's still convient for storage.

 

Decided to get the truck wrapped, to liven up the binary Black/White look. Really liked the Ivan Stewart retro look, so that's the route I went. Just in time for my 1st Tacoma meet, and some snow wheeling.






A quick video of my 1st snow run.


Wanted to get rid of the black spray painted grill that came with the truck, so I got a new one and had it hydrodipped.

 

Finally got around to getting my blown suspension swapped out. And swapped my CV Axles. Eventually added Torch AAL's.
And got rid of that huge spacer!



Old vs New

 

Picked up some wheels I had been eyeing for awhile!

I fixed the squat with AAL's eventually.


Led my first trail run. Hackett Gulch





Took a poor line and had to winch on a trail I never had an problem with before.

 

Got hit with a late spring snowfall, so I got some powder snow-wheeling done.












Solo run of Twin Cone and the half the 1st section of Lower Webster Trail.

 

Had my 1st attempt of Wheeler Lake, but alas it was too early in the season, and snow block the way forward. Crappy thing about being in the lead is I don't get too many video of myself.











Running China Wall

 

The return to Wheeler Lake!

 

Right after Wheeler we realized we still had alot of daylight, so we took a run a Mosquito Pass, but AGAIN, Snow met us, and turned us around..... Also ran into a Bronco that was stuck on the other side of the snow.







After Wheeler, I decided I wanted to step up to 37's.

 

First run with the 37's was a return to Red Cone, to complete the loop I wasn't able to finish on my last attempt.













Photobombed some Jeep Youtube Channel.

 

Miner's Loop: Hancock, Cumberland and Tincup Pass's followed by Grizzly Lake
Drove up the night before the run, and camped out.


















Grizzly Gate Keeper

 

1st major trail break. Passenger spindle broke. Got creative and was at least able to move off trail to let the rest of the group through.

 

Due to the trail break, I decided to strengthen some components. Beefing up the steering with a Tundra Rack. Also gusseting the spindles.

 

Took awhile but I installed the retrofitted headlights I had sitting in the garage for over half a year!
Old vs New

Autozensation


Time for upgraded brakes! Tundra brake booster installed.



Beefed up the battery. Old vs New.



Getting ready for winter
Vision Off-Road 351 Flow Series Satin Grey Wheels (for Winter)




Kanati 37x12.50R17 Trail Hogs. 3-Peak rated.


Compared to the Treps.




Fit all 4 in the Jetta wagon!


Splurged big time on lug nuts!

 

The gear I have picked up over time.

$180 Smittybilt 2781 SmittyBilt AIR COMPRESSOR 5.65CFM - SB2781

Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor (Returned, never used)

Gear bag



Contents


Recovery Gear Bag


Empty Camper Bed with sides open


Safety Bag


Storage Box



Contents



Passenger Side Storage Drawer


Driver Side Storage Drawer


Both Storage Drawers


New Recovery Boards


Modified MAXI TRAC Compressor



DIY CO2


Adjustable High Flow 250 PSI Carbon Dioxide Co2 Regulator and Handle


Truck Bed Cargo Bar


Installed


Rotopax DLX Pack Mount with RotopaX Pack Mount Extension


Roto Pax, and Rock Slide fuel storage. 35" Spare


RockTrix RT112 Spare 37"

 

Gear continued.
Ayleid (2 Pack) Shackles 3/4" D Ring Shackle Rugged Off Road Shackles 45000LB Break Strength with 7/8“ Pin & Black Isolator Washer

Hi-Lift Jack

$150 XT485 48" Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack

XT485 48" Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack and mean Mother bag



YIYITOOLS Jack Base and Handle Keeper

Rhino USA Tree Saver Tow Strap (8' x 3") - Lab Tested 31,518lb Break Strength

HORUSDY Recovery Tow Strap 4" x 20Ft - Heavy Duty 40,000 LBS Break Strength

WORX WA0079 Large Zippered Tool Tote

ToughBuilt - 30" Massive Mouth Tool Bag

7-Ton, Tall Jack Stands

WorkPro Tool Bags

Titan Auto Heavy Duty 3/4" Steel Shackle

Hi-Lift Jack

$40 BL-250 Bumper Lift, Black

BL-250 Bumper Lift

Shackle Hitch Receiver 2 inch 41918 Lb Break Strength

BPA-RACING 10-Ton Snatch Block | Pulley Block

Hi-Lift Jack

$54 LM-100 Lift-Mate, 5000 pound capacity

LM-100 Lift-Mate

INVICTUS 2 Pack Synthetic Soft Shackle Blue 1/2 X 20 INCH Maximum Break Strength 41,000lbs

$108 Maxsa Innovations 20333 Heavy-Duty Escaper Buddy Traction Mats for Off-Road Mud, Sand, & Snow Vehicle Extraction and Recovery, Bendable, Unbreakable, Orange, 2 Pack

Maxsa Innovations 20333 Escaper Buddy Traction Mats

MAYASAF Hubcentric Wheel Spacers (for trail repairs)

Maxi Trac 300LPM AIR COMPRESSOR

$80 Midland GXT1000VP4 - 50 Channel GMRS Two-Way Radio - Long Range Walkie Talkie with 142 Privacy Codes, SOS Siren, and NOAA Weather Alerts and Weather Scan (Black/Silver, Pair Pack)

Midland GXT1000VP4

FieryRed 30ft 7/8" Recovery Rope 18700lbs Tow Rope

Titan Tools 12024 1/2" Drive Ratcheting Breaker Bar 24"

Seymour Midwest Structron 49632Gr Round Point Shovel

 

Stereo upgrade

PowerBass OE-6C 6-1/2" Components 2-ohm


PowerBass OE-700 7" Midrange Speakers 2-ohm


Soundstream Reserve RSM4.1200D 4-Channel Amplifier


Soundstream Reserve RSM1.2000D Compact Class-D Mono Subwoofer Amplifier


Skar Audio VD-10 D4 - 10" Shallow Mount Car Subwoofer


JOYING 10.1” Octa Core Car Stereo 1920×1200 Android10 HeadUnit JY-TQ101N4G


InstallGear 1/0 and 4 AWG power wires. ROCKRIX 4 Gauge Black ground wire. 18 AWG NTE Electronics WH18-06-25 Hook Up Wire. InstallGear 14 Gauge AWG. Recoil 2 Pack Premium Solid Brass Positive Negative Battery Terminals Clamps with Two 0/2/4 Gauge Outputs. 4 Channel Elite Audio Premium Series 100% OFC Copper RCA Interconnects. KabelDirekt 1 to 2 RCA/Phono sub interconnect.

$17 Recoil MFH12 2 Way Mini-ANL Fused Distribution Block, 1 X 0/2/4 Gauge in / 2 X 4/8 Gauge Out Fused Distribution Block with 60A, 80A, 100A Fuses, Solid Brass for Maximum Power Transfer

Recoil MFH12 2 Way Mini-ANL Fused Distribution Block, 1 X 0/2/4 Gauge in / 2 X 4/8 Gauge Out Fused Distribution Block.
InstallGear 0/2/4 Gauge ANL Fuse Holder.

 

Winter run of the local Gulches.

 

My truck isn't my daily, so it's rare that I drive it in to work..... Well of course one of the few times I take it in, my truck gets broken into....