“One last time.” The words we never say, or even think, before going out for a final attempt at anything. It may just be a superstition we brought over from our days of racing mountain bikes, but everything seems to head downhill just after someone announces that this is their last try at something.
Not really believing in this superstition, we headed out for one final trip of the New Years weekend. As usual, after determining a final meeting stop, we split up and everyone went their own direction according to speed and vehicle ability. Also as usual, we took the long route and still arrived first. Killing time while waiting for the rest of the group on dirt bikes, daily drivers and a RZR we headed into the hills for a short loop before heading back to the meeting place to find the group. Shortly after arriving we noticed a leak in the rear of the Jeep. Closer inspection would reveal our differential on our Ford 8.8 was shot. Something had broken loose inside and kick around with enough force to punch a hole in our diff cover. Maybe we shouldn’t have gone on one last ride…
Not wanting to break anything else, the rest of the group headed home to retrieve the trailer. Luckily we were at a place where we could get the tow vehicle in and out without much trouble. That was the end of the trip and we headed home with the TTB WJ beaten and broken, never a way we want to end a weekend.
The whole drive home we were hoping it was minor and would be a cheap fix. Once at home we took off the cover to see the damage, luckily it wasn’t as catastrophic as we thought. It turns out we had crushed our cheap mini spool we used when we first built the axle. At the time we were investing our money elsewhere and may have gone a little cheap on some parts. It held up for 2 and a half desert seasons and Tuff Trucks so we feel like we got our money’s worth. We ordered a newer, stronger one and the Jeep was good to go. Just waiting for the next trip out.
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