3rd Annual DML BBQ and Trail Ride - July 6-7, 2001
Forestville, NY
Thursday July 12, 2001
Andy cruises down to Jon's place in the late morning/early afternoon. About 12:45,
he realizes he forgot how to get there and calls Jon. He, Jason, Norah and Adam
are at Wendy's, and will "probably be back soon after you get there." Andy arrives
at Jon's empty barn at 1 PM sharp. Around 3, they return from lunch and the
grocery/supply run.
After a little small talk and unloading the bounty, Andy's Dak is rolled onto
the lift for a tire rotation and the installation of the tow hooks and skid
plates scavenged from the Bleazard's '98 when they "returned it to stock" prior
to turning it in for an '01 QC. Madness ensues.
The transfer case plate lines up smoothly after heating and hammering the frame
cross member into submission, bent at last year's BBQ. It doesn't bolt on so
easily. Then a false start using some Grade 5 Stainless bolts with Nylock nuts.
They don't want to crank down all the way, so Jon keeps going at it with the
wrenches and eventually shears the bolt in half. Back to Plan B - factory
hardware. After completing this one, we beat the gas tank plate into submission
and bolt it up. We wash up and get some grub (chicken marinated in Italian
dressing, grilled) before proceeding.
After dinner, the real fun begins. As it turns out, part of the skid plate
package is a bolt-in cross member that fits right under the Y-pipe. Jon &
Jason didn't remove this cross member from the '98, thinking it was a "normal"
piece. After a quick dry fit, we realize Andy's truck doesn't have this piece
and the front axle skid plate can't be bolted on. 2/3 ain't bad.
We pull the bumper off and start in on the brackets, which are replaced by a
larger piece from the tow hook package. Unfortunately, these brackets use bolts
that are pressed in and simply will not come out. Jon tries a few hammers and
nothing works. After quite a while, we give up and busy ourselves with other
tasks.
Late in the evening, Jon whips out videotapes of the 2000 Top Truck Challenge.
Click on any thumbnail for a full sized version
Working on Andy's truck, the mud pit, setting up the web cam
