RamCharger.net

Grill steaks, drink beer, watch baseball - gonna TRY and get into the Pirates/Phillies game here in da' 'Burgh! 

Top Gun Customz sold me one in early '07... before I KNEW better... 

They use the knuckle block, instead of a drop pitman arm, or adjustable draglink.  At THAT time, they went with the double shock setup for each corner - we're actually gonna ditch those, for single Bilstein 5125's.  The steering stabilizer is a single unit, but they market the 4 1/2" lift as something you can run 35's with... which should utilize a dual stabilizer... so you end up adding that later, too.

My spring packs seem OK... a bit stiff still at this point, as my RC only has 50 miles on it since the lift and restoration work.  It's STILL in the shop for the re-gear, steering & tranny work, so that hasn't changed.  We'll hafta see how those hold out - especially with the custom front bumper & multicarrier both loaded down.

I'm sure Rough Country has a better kit than the entry level unit; my advice would be, to buy THAT instead.

I gotta try that Magnum intake... especially since mine's a '92... and has a Magnum engine! 

The stereo arrived today!  I also had a custom spacer made, to fit the spare tire mount, so I can FINALLY mount my spare!  That arrived this week.

I envy you southron guys, with your 30 year old rust-FREE trucks! 

Makes me wonder how I ever ended up up HERE! 

Quote from: Toyradio on June 22, 2013, 11:38:27 AM
I have 2 trucks, a couple trailers, my RC the Nissan , the wifes Monte Carlo, anf three mud trucks. Transportation wont be the problem. Going to hit Lowes and hire some day help if need be.

The Nissan should fit IN the RC - the Monte Crapo in the bed of the 150!

ta da. 

Not MUCH going on with the RC of late - it's still at Gibbs!




Outside of the shop!




Just accumulating a few odds and ends on the side - got the stereo/6 cd changer unit from a fellow XK owner, so I have a stereo for it now!



Already have an amp and speakers!


The cb rig will be the main thing in this build though. 

Not that I might not take the old shaft and steering gearbox, and try & rebuild 'em - just for the exercise - but is there a height and/or tire size, at which you'd recommend replacing the stock units?

I'm going wih both the Borgeson gearbox AND the Borgeson HD steering shaft in my build; 4 1/2" lift with 35's, for reference.

We're NOT worthy!!!   

A GOOD job these days, is a blessing indeed - here's hoping you get it, and it's what you enjoy! 

Quote from: SixGun on June 18, 2013, 12:26:48 AMYou gonna put one of those 50 cals on your War Wagon?? 

I was THINKING... that if you opened up that area around the rear vent dome, you COULD put a turret gunner back there! 

My OTHER truck, is a Jeep Commander.  So I moseyed up for the Jeep Cruise-In Friday afternoon/evening.  This was the Third Annual one, but my first.  Butler, PA is where they made the ORGINAL Jeep - Bantam Motor Works - back in 1940.  Ford & Willys had more capacity, so they eventually took over the production, but the Bantam was the FIRST, and it was made here in western PA.

Had a LOTTA fun up there that afternoon... while it lasted... save for the Autistic kid, who kept yeling about "dog monsters," and, "we've got to go - we've GOT to GO!" the whole time...     Next year, #3 son is going - #1 son can stay home and watch Thomas the Tank Engine videos....

At any rate, as I figured (correctly!) that XK's would be few & far between, I figured, I'd better vacuum mine, and hit it with a quick wash before proceeding. I mean, you can't go show OFF a dirty Jeep, can you?!?!




That done, it's time to try and figure out HOW to get around downtown Butler, where I hadn't been in 9 years!!! It's only one county away, and not that big a town (20k? Maybe?), but I wasn't familiar with the route, or the gameplan. Hmmmm... I think I'll follow THIS guy!




So I get there, park, and here we is!




Lo & behold, the second of what would be three Commanders, is about 3 carlengths behind me!




Yeah - the blonde went with the Commander - so did her husband (NOT pictured)...




Across the street from, Our Hero...   




The THIRD Commander, was the star of the SHOW! And he wheeled in from NH!





I'd LOVE for my XK to look like this someday.  Probably AFTER it's paid for, and the warranty has expired! 

There were a few WK's represented - some stock, some mild, and some wild! Including;





Mine wasn't the only stocker!

Great Granddad... with his newest grandson. 




Couple of "late model" Waggies - for sale! Two '89 Models.





Some nice old Chiefs, J10's & Comanches represented, too.






Talk about BRAVE! I don't know HOW this snuck in! I think it won, "ONLY in Class!" 




With four small kids, bigger is BETTER (Commander, Ramcharger) in my book... but that's not to say TJ's, YJ's, JK's etc, aren't interesting - ESPECIALLY the ones that roll into an event like this! Here's a few that caught my eye, for various reasons.




This one even turned #1 son's head!




Ruger Firearms' Jeep!




Guns & Jeeps ARE a good combo!





My picture doesn't do the paintjob on this one justice!




I REALLY love the rack setup on the back of this one!




Of course, it's hard to have a Jeep gathering, WITHOUT noting their military history. Bantamfest was started for that very reason. LOTS of restored military Jeeps, and military-themed Jeeps were out in force!










I think the Boombox was optional on this model... 

MORE military Jeeps!





Not QUITE "G.I.," but nicely-themed!





Our English cousin!    Some sort of "Rover," from the early 50's, I think...




And finally, GREAT-Great-Grandpa - the progenitor of us all. A Bantam Jeep.





EWWWWWWwwww... DIRTY Jeeps! 







LOTS of crowd, even at 4 in the afternoon - I'm sure it only got MORE crowded as the night came on, and the parade began. Passed a LOTTA Jeeps headed north, while we were heading back to Pittsburgh.

Southern end of festivities, looking north (we were parked on the FAR north end)




A little north of the center of town, looking southward.




When we first arrived, looking south.




NO shortage of XJ's and WJ's!





But as my first four wheeling experience, was in a high school buddy's CJ-5, I always have a soft spot for those. This is an '80 model - my buddy's was an '81, but was this exact same color! His had aftermarket rims that were close to this, but it's practically a dead ringer for my first four wheel ride.




A nicely displayed '74.




This might've been the best LOOKING Jeep of the show, though. Clean enough you could eat off of it!





AMC... I remember them... 

And of course, LOTS of classic AMC & Willys iron - especially Jeepsters, trucks, and wagons!











This one was particularly sharp!




It was refit with a lot of modern amenities. I'm not sure on the engine, but it now has A/C!!!   

Some other "interesting odds 'n' ends!  Classic NON-Jeep iron!




SERIOUS mudders!!!





And... I have NO clue what this is... or was... but it was here, so I snapped a pic of it.




And the... WHUH?!?!?  Why?   




And THEN there was the gal with all the toy/stuffed dogs bolted to her TJ. I had the camera aimed, centered... and... couldn't do it. I'm sure even Compass owners would rightly shun such a person...   

 



You could REALLY play John Gage OR Roy DeSoto in that - just like we always dreamed of doing as kids! 

WRONG end of the Commonwealth for me, but I have a line on an older RC (has the removeable roof, so it's an '81 or older!) that runs, at a GREAT price.  If someone on that end of the state (or VA, MD, DC or NJ even!) is interested in transporting/storing it for a while, maybe we could work out a deal for parts off it, or...

Drop me a line and let me know, if this sounds interesting.  Pics to follow... as soon as I get some!

We NEED a "Ramjam-per-state."  TX is a L-O-N-G way to chug a 21 year old truck! 

Besides, we just MIGHT have a hill, rock, or mud puddle or twelve in PA to play on for a weekend...