06/17/2006 TSF run with the JCR crowd

Got together with some of the folks from JCR again. This time to run some trails in Tillamook from Browns Camp to Lyda camp. Ran open sections of Firebreak 5, Hogsback, Saddle Up, and Archers/Rocky Uphill, got about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up Rocky Uphill before it just got to be too many rocks too big and too muddy/slick for the ole '90 to handle on 31's with open diffs at both ends. First trail I've tried it on that it couldn't quite get there. Can't feel too bad tho when the only rigs that made it were a YK and a Tomb Raider Rubicon on 35's locked front and rear, and a Bronco on 33's locked rear that had to winch due to an uncooperative carb.

Once again had a blast with no carnage other than some rock rash on the rims and a couple slices in the tires. Also was happy for the new short rubber stereo antenae that replaced the old broken power one that was getting bent to hell by every branch in the forest.

06/10/2006 Got Bored Part 2

Yup, sittin here in the ole apartment at the pc and lookin out the window at the Jeep, just couldn't resist doing something to it, anything, so went down, did some sanding and masking, and herculined the rocker panels, ribbed moulding and all. While I was at it, decided I was tired of the standard issue mildew scented air freshener every time it rains and ripped the carpet out of the back all the way to the rear seat floorboards, also got rid of the rear seat base, and the rear seatbelts. Noisier now, but sure smells a whole lot better, also found where all the leaks are in the rear window gaskets and hatch.

05/20/2006 Trask again, but with some new folks

Had a chance to go on a campout to the Trask area this time, hooked up with some people from Jeep Chicks Rock and had a blast, small group, rigs of similar capabilities with just enough differences that everyone could learn from everyone. No probs with large group seperation, and when there was a problem everyone jumped in to help out and were still smiling at the end. Started on the Yamhill side and came out to hiway 6 at Tillamook, almost all on trails. I only stayed one night, the rest stayed over a 2nd night and headed back about 10 minutes ahead of the first big downpour that was supposed to arrive on night 1. Added bonus, compliments of a 5' diameter deadfall RubiGoddess became the first person to have a custom formed 36" HiLift that perfectly matches the lines of her bumper. It was dry and dusty bringing up the drag, but still great as we were able to run the whole thing at hiway pressure.

Had an absolute blast wheeling with friends old and new!

05/13/2006 Got bored

and removed the bows to the roof rack, also continued the chrome removal by masking off, sanding and painting the headlight and hood trim, and the mirrors with trim black. Also got rid of those silly chrome edge protectors on the doors. Still need to paint the rain gutters, windshield trim and roof rack runners.

04/22/2006 Sandlake, Oregon

Made a quickie day trip to the beach again, had a great time running around in the bowls and on the beach. Sandlake sure isn't what it was 20 years ago. Back then you wouldn't go near the back bowl with less than a 'glas body V8 jeep or a 2180cc buggy. Now, even a Cherokee on 31" AT's can get out of the back bowl, all the hillocks on the flats leading from day-use to the front bowl are gone and just one big flat plain now. Even some of the beach access areas are eroding out from too many people trying to chew their way up with 44" boggers, combined with high water table/underground springs.

04/20/2006 1st Triming and New Bumpers

After much ado, and a fair bit of hole reshaping I got the new Stage 2 XJ bumpers from jcroffroad painted with 2 coats of roll-on herculiner and installed. Trimed the front fender tips to match the bumper line, yanked the rear flares, and relocated the vacuum bottle to a space up under the hood. Also traded the old Chrome grill for a plastic one and painted it trim black as the begining of the chrome removal project.

03/25/2006 SOLV Beach Cleanup

Twice a year the club goes down to the Oregon coast and participates in the beach cleanup. Lord knows we do find some unusual things while we are there. Afterwards, we gather at a friends place in Washington to do some wheelin on the beach up their way.

there is always something special about seeing the shipwreck http://www.iredale.de/maritime/peter.htm

02/25/2006 TSF Sheet Metal Lovers Run

Made a club run to Tillamook Forest with some of the club and some folks from other groups who didn't want to go on a run up to Washington that was advertised as "If you have any windows left in your rig you won't after this" Had an awesome time tho things got a bit rocky when the group got seperated thru a lack of communications and the difference in vehicle capabilities combined with the group turnout being much larger than expected. The '90 is still doing great though and going everywhere I point it. New stuff: Pulled front bumper end caps, front flares, air dam for clearance, CB, threw away front swaybar, (not recommended for everyone), replaced door logos with photo-paper printeds in rear windows.

01/21/2006 1st Run, Trask Area Tillamook Forest

Got to take the '90 on its first run with the club, good sized turnout. We went to check out the Trask area in the Tillamook State Forest with some folks from the local area showing us the way as the club had never wheeled that area before. The 2nd shot is the first hill the '90 got to play on where as one member put it, I "learned how to settle a lifted coil setup"

Had a great time, even tho we were parked for a while to tow a couple of stock rigs out of some gumbo, and had one near disaster when a Zuki almost backed off a cliff where there wasn't as much road available on a backdown as he had thought. All in all the '90 performed awesome, though I can see a serious need for some tow points. New for this run were the 31x10.5-15 Yokohama geloander AT+II's on the factory rims off my '98 XJ that I swapped over "for the run".

01/15/2006 Winter weather passed, now it begins

Having waited for the worst or Oregon winter to clear the area it didn't take me long to get the interior cleaned up and have a lift put in. I went with a Rubicon Express 4.5" Superflex kit with adjustable track bar, full leafs, Slip Yoke Eliminator and CV Driveline. Since I'm not the most mechanically inclined person on Earth, yet, Steve and his crew at Precision Four Wheel Drive in Clackamas, Oregon did an awesome job on it for me. Also didn't take long to get my decals for the club I joined, http://www.ravenoffroad.com attached to some magnets for the doors. Sadly they promptly blew off when i forgot to remove them for the drive home after a windy, rainy run.


Here it sits on a set of 30x9.5-15 Dominators with the factory rims before the decals left the doors.

11/20/2005 The Humble Beginings

Having made my first offroading trip in a basically stock 1998 Jeep Cherokee I decided I was in need of something far less pretty to take into the rocks and trees. Having aquired my Fathers 1995 Grand Cherokee I traded it to my long time gf Chrissy for the 1990 Cherokee my father had given her for Christmas 5 years earlier.

This is what I got.