WK2: BMackin Build & Adventure

[Numb Thumbs]

No damage. I was in OffRoad 1 all the time.

Can't wait for the bull bars to be available!

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

[Cherokee30D]

Originally Posted by briteway

It's never enough. You'll damage it or rip it off if you need more approach angle. I always take mine off when going offroad and put it back on after a wash.

Hey briteway, I leave mine off permanently. Any reason why you put yours back on after off roading??

Cheers, Craig

[AJ]

Can't wait to see this thing with one of Yankee Daves's Bullbars up front.

[bmackin]

Originally Posted by MattG

I'll be interested to see what you think of the wind noise with all that up top, my cage was bloody awful!

The wind noise actually wasn't that bad surprisingly. The noisiest thing was the luggage bag and the MTs. With the sunroof closed and the windows up I couldn't even hear it.

[bmackin]

Originally Posted by MattG

Hey bmackin, good looking setup. Just wondering how essential you reckon removing the front air dam was for the LCMP action?

Originally Posted by MattG

Well at the risk of hijacking bmackin's thread (sorry)... any damage numb thumbs when you didn't remove it? Trailhawk, would you always remove it?

I would've thought a lift or quadralift would be enough to take it out of the way. Especially if you remove the little down wings in front of the wheels.

It really depends on the off-roading you're doing. If it is anything challenging, (deep sand, deep mud, sharp approach angles, etc.) you'll definitely need to take it off.

I had always been taking it off whenever I went off-road, but thought I would try leaving it on for the LCMP trip. My theory was, the air dam would flex when it hit obstacles and provide slightly more protection for the parts that are exposed when it is off, (i.e. washer fluid bottle, ACC Camera, bottom the radiator, etc.). As it turned out, it does flex... but when it gets pinched between an obstacle and the car and you move forward, it pulls the dam down and under the car. Luckily when that happened, the tabs pulled free of the the bumper so it didn't pull the bumper off, but it did pull the dam off and the plastic frame holding it in place underneath.

When I got home I was able to put it back in place, but some of the tabs holding the plastic turn screws were torn and broken.

A bull bar (with a bash plate for under front protection) is a definite necessity for anyone wanting to do any regular off-roading in their WK2.

Hope that helps!

[bmackin]

Originally Posted by AJ

Can't wait to see this thing with one of Yankee Daves's Bullbars up front.

Me too!

I have to say, I've been really happy with my WK2... BUT... the lack of thought regarding front end protection from Jeep has been rather disappointing. I've already put a hole in my windshield washer fluid bottle, torn the front air dam and broken 2 belly pans. Needless to say, I am very anxious to get a decent bull bar installed!

[bmackin]

Well, after an excellent trip down to Coffs Harbour and a week of catching up on all my missed work, I'm finally back. I'll post some photos and comments from our epic adventure soon.