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The Trail Ahead Of Us
United States
Приєднався 19 чер 2013
Welcome to The Trail Ahead of Us! Gear, vehicle and trail reviews. Inspiring people to get out and explore. To go on overlanding adventures, and to see what this beautiful country has to offer. Travel along as we journey in our 2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JKU.
Please subscribe, comment and like. We appreciate your support!
Please subscribe, comment and like. We appreciate your support!
It Can't Be That Easy, Can It? Installing the @armorlite Flooring System
The ArmorLite Flooring System, at least for the front of a Jeep Wrangler JKU, is super easy to install. I have the GooseGear 100% delete platform, but have been wanting to replace the carpet for some time now. I only wish I had done this sooner. As you’ll see, I chose to take out the seats and clean everything. That’s honestly the most time consuming part. The fit and finish are fantastic and this should be super easy to clean and maintain.
Enjoy and please consider Liking and Subscribing to the channel. Thank you.
Join our Patreon Family at:
patreon.com/user?u=45307007&u…
Follow on Instagram at
the_trail_ahead_of_us
Enjoy and please consider Liking and Subscribing to the channel. Thank you.
Join our Patreon Family at:
patreon.com/user?u=45307007&u…
Follow on Instagram at
the_trail_ahead_of_us
Переглядів: 416
Відео
Jeep Beach 2024. An Inside Look at DIS and the Famous Beach Scene
Переглядів 4685 місяців тому
In 2023, #jeepbeach celebrated its 20th anniversary. Each year, over 230,000 enthusiasts come to Daytona Beach, Florida for this annual event. During the week long festivities, you can party into the night, see hundreds of vendors inside the famous Daytona International Speedway, try your hand at the obstacle course and of course, cruise the world-famous, Daytona Beach. You’ll see why Jeeps are...
MetalCloak Chromoly Sway Bar Links: A Game-Changer!
Переглядів 3998 місяців тому
The #metalcloak chromoly sway bar links are just another example of the quality and craftsmanship that I've come to expect. An easy and simple upgrade, these sway bar links replaced my three-year old Rubicon Express links and along with the Front and Rear Track Bars, Drag Link and Tie-Rod, you can't go wrong with the customer service and quality of MetalCloak. Enjoy and Subscribe. Join our Patr...
Florida Wildlife Management Area Adventures : Three Lakes
Переглядів 3679 місяців тому
There are many places to visit in Florida. Beaches, historic towns, ghost towns, college towns and wildlife management areas like #threelakes . Our friends, Ronnie and Chris joined as we took an easy Saturday morning drive off the beaten path before we welcomed in 2024. Located in Southern Osceola County, just a few miles Southeast of St. Cloud, Florida, this 63,000 acre area is part of the Gre...
MetalCloak Chromoly Rear Track Bar and Bracket: A Game-Changer!
Переглядів 2,6 тис.9 місяців тому
The final piece of the suspension has been replaced. The #metalcloak Jeep JK Rear Track Bar and Bracket are on and will help drastically improve steering and handling by changing the geometry and location of the rear track bar. MetalCloak products have a Gold Zinc coating which greatly improves wearability over time. And they just look really good. Subscribe and Enjoy! Join our Patreon Family a...
Falcon 3.3 SP2 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shocks. Are They Worth It?
Переглядів 1,7 тис.9 місяців тому
Falcon 3.3 SP2 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shocks. Are They Worth It?
Genesis Offroad Gen 3 Dual Battery Kit: Pros and Cons Revealed
Переглядів 1,8 тис.10 місяців тому
Genesis Offroad Gen 3 Dual Battery Kit: Pros and Cons Revealed
MetalCloak Chromoly Drag Link and Tie Rod: A Game-Changer!
Переглядів 14 тис.Рік тому
MetalCloak Chromoly Drag Link and Tie Rod: A Game-Changer!
Off-roading Florida's Fire Roads. And a Deep Water Recovery
Переглядів 402Рік тому
Off-roading Florida's Fire Roads. And a Deep Water Recovery
Jeep Badge of Honor: Ophir Pass Trail. Ophir, Colorado
Переглядів 7 тис.Рік тому
Jeep Badge of Honor: Ophir Pass Trail. Ophir, Colorado
Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 Fast Adjust Steering Stabilizer Install: But Does it Work?
Переглядів 2,2 тис.2 роки тому
Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 Fast Adjust Steering Stabilizer Install: But Does it Work?
Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors. Why You Need to Go.
Переглядів 1262 роки тому
Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors. Why You Need to Go.
Jeep Badge of Honor: Tread Lightly Trail. Ocala, Florida.
Переглядів 2,5 тис.3 роки тому
Jeep Badge of Honor: Tread Lightly Trail. Ocala, Florida.
Grandfather Mountain in Zero Visibility? Why It's Still Amazing.
Переглядів 1623 роки тому
Grandfather Mountain in Zero Visibility? Why It's Still Amazing.
If it’s not Gold, it must be Old… with MetalCloak, you can KOJO, Keep On Jeepin On! 🇺🇸✌️😎
Agreed. I still have no issues with their products. And their customer service is off the charts.
What color is this? khaki or army green? Thanks.
This one is the Khaki.
Lol! This guy again 🙄
I’d drill the holes larger too.
There best song..
Ya, def was such a good song to hear live.
Rocking band !
They were great, live.
Omg that's amazing
@@lynnfarrell4166 I was terrified. Some of those drop offs were 2,000 feet.
Lmao
I m sadly in the Middle East and I can’t even find batteries with terminals in the proper location. I never thought this would be an issue like I can’t stand it
That's definitely unfortunate. Are you able to reach out to Genesis? They also sell batteries on their site.
Always will be better than pearl jam
Terraflex joints you can set the play as the joints wear. I thought my joints were shot. I got the tool and adjusted the preload of all 4 steering joints. Noise and play are gone! Metal cloak joints are the same flop design but not serviceable. You have to replace. But they did metal cloak and terraflex both have awesome customer service.
Thanks for the info. It was a mess for sure. A lot I wasn't aware of and had to work through. The pictures didn't do justice for how bad the threads were. Just totally gone. But I see your point. Hopefully, no issues moving forward.
@@thetrailaheadofus yeah man 👍 my metal cloaks arms wore out in 2 years. They sent my new tie rod ends no problem, but I got a terraflex set for free and found the alignment was easier to set and the joints are adjustable and replaceable (snap ring) so I keep a extra joint in case I bust one in the trail. The metal itself is forged and feels heavier then the metal cloak. I’m happy with both. And both companies helped me out with parts without charging.
@@WolfOverland Damn, two years? I guess a lot of depends on use. I live in Florida so use is light even on our Fire roads. Different story when I'm overlanding in the mountains. I was and still am, a huge fan of TeraFlex. I think I like the Gold Zinc on the MC just b/c I live in Florida with so much humidity and salt air. They seem to be holding up so far. But then again, I'm washing the undercarriage, regularly. lol
Did you stick with the Teraflex stabilizer mount? I'm about to pull the trigger on new steering setup from MC for their Labor Day sales, but I'm keeping my Falcon TS Stabilizer. I'm a little confused on how to mount this.
Yes, I wanted to keep the TF stabilizer factory, including mount and thankfully, it fit perfectly.
@@thetrailaheadofus good to know, thank you. I have the axle mounted style and purchased the tie rod mount to switch it out. I also got front and rear MC end links, MC track bar, tie rod and drag link. Should make for a busy weekend 👍🏻
@@camaroboi13 def a busy weekend but a good one. They do make the larger mount for the stabilizer as well. MetalCloak that is. Just in case…
@@thetrailaheadofusI saw tyat too but I also heard love of people preferred the TF mount over the MC mount. I got the TF mount on Amazon so if there’s any issues I can return it.
You with your drone this is pretty amazing footage Fun stuff
The real deal, debut album a top 10 of all time debuts. ‘You’ that’s my jam…🤙🤘
They were highly underrated. Amazing to see them in person.
@@thetrailaheadofus Twice, always an energizing show and spot on musically. 👍
@@thetrailaheadofus there's nothing underrated about them they were in fact underappreciated.
@@tamparocks better choice of words.
@@thetrailaheadofus exactly.
Yes you are right. People like this guy should not be making repair videos. He doesn't even know how a ball joint works. Try using an Allen wrench in the top of the ball joint!
Thank you for the comment. Being "this guy" I actually do know what ball joints are for and how they work. As I stated in the video and in previous comments, what I experienced wasn't something I had seen or dealt with and was very honest about not knowing how to resolve it. The shop I work with also mentioned not seeing this before. Oh well, things happen and in every video I post, I make it clear I'm learning these things as I go. It's my experience, my efforts and my mistakes. I'll keep posting videos. Have a great week!
Didn't realize you could use group 34 batteries. I thought it would only work with group 25 series and have been having a different time sourcing the group 25 series batteries locally
Yes. I originally was told the Optima battery I had would fit but it wasn't even close. The Group 34 batteries are not cheap but fit perfectly. I haven't had any issues with these batteries so far.
Group 25 for the JL models.
So how do you like the parts now performing well ?
NO complaints. The only thing I'll say is, I live in Florida and I knew the salt air and humidity would play a factor. The Gold Zinc has faded a bit, but I guess that's to be expected? Not sure, but they've held up well and still look great.
@@thetrailaheadofus So you can adjust them on the jeep with out removing ?
@@dunnoyolo2238 You can adjust the end nuts a bit to make sure your spacing is correct from driver side tire to passenger. And adjust the steering knuckle as needed.
Working with wiring is always intimidating (for me). I have a 2019 Wrangler JL with the Genesis Dual battery kit. I will say, the videos posted by Genesis are 10 out of 10. After the install the system works great. The small issues I have run into since the install were quickly resolved by Mike and Shane. My install was over a year and I am completely happy with it!
I totally agree. I wish I could do more, especially with wiring, but this was a bear of a project and I still feel dumb about the mistakes I made. lol Thanks for sharing, I do love the system and setup. Any time something can be clean and organized, count me in.
Nice job! I will have to look into those.
Thank you. I was mainly worried about slipping while climbing in and out. So far, that hasn’t been an issue. Time will tell. I do need to go back in, on the driver side and rework all the wiring coming through the firewall. It’s been on the list of things to do and this install reminded me, it needs to get done. lol
I will say, from the events I’ve been to, ArmorLite usually shows up and has good deals at the event. If you decide to go this route, maybe catch them at an event?
I have this product and it does absolutely nothing for water. The outside sides don't come up high enough so rain gets underneath the flooring. Wish I would've just did spray on bed liner like I was going to do. Unfortunately I fell for the hype at one of the shows.
@@ScottyP82 Damn, that’s unfortunate. I live in Florida and sadly, off-roading here is fire roads which are all muddy and clay. Which is why I avoid them most of the time, but still. I had hoped the one piece design would allow for easy clean up and water control. Thanks for the info, I’m always interested in what others have to say about these things.
@thetrailaheadofus I too am in Florida so I feel your pain. I am thinking about maybe trying some kind of silicone on the low sides to help with this problem. The flooring does help with noise and heat just wish it did better for water.
this is why anti seize is shouldn't be used. more then likely it got globed on and what happens is too much lube or sealant will stretch the threads as you are tightening. only stuff I recommend is copper tone anti seize but only do half the bolt not all the way around. even half is a lot
@@camarofix thank you for the feedback. I personally am always concerned I don’t use enough when it comes to recommended lubes for the bolts. I don’t feel I over-lubed but at this point who knows. I still feel strongly that Florida humidity and the salt air where I live wreak havoc. I have this issue in several locations on my Jeep. It’s a constant battle. 😒
Good stuff! That water at 5 min mark was begging for me to throw a plastic frog into it. :)
Thank you. Ya, there were a few spots I didn’t video as well. It had rained a few days before. Be curious to see it now, since we are in the start of our rainy season, here.
I sub’d your channel. Looking forward to future content.
Man Florida is brutal on parts, just slather up that anti seize on everything and maybe paint everything else.
Yes indeed it is.. lol
Alignment is easy.
I have the MC track bar, front and rear, and the Rocksport Steering damper (MC), but have Moog tie rod and drag link, which will be “cloaked” when they fail.
How do you like the Moog? I’ve heard mostly good things.
@@thetrailaheadofus the only issue was the drag link adjustment sleeve was faulty, the last 1.5” or so was not threaded properly (burred/flattened), so I could not adjust it (pitman side tie rod end) properly, stopped when I needed another 1” of adjusting my steering wheel. I ended up using the one from the Mopar unit I replaced, and they would not let me send that part back alone for a replacement, all or nothing, so I just said forget it and kept the Mopar sleeve on, works perfectly, just an issue with Moog’s Quality assurance process. It’s literally a $20 part, but they should make it easier to replace a faulty part. Other than that, a decent tie rod and track bar.
@@TheSchmed Ya, I totally understand. It bothers me when an industry that’s skyrocketed recently due to how popular overlanding has become, that companies are still being like this. I’m glad you worked it out though..
I was told by MC you do not need the bracket for stock height vehicles, only for lifted vehicles.
That is also my understanding.
@@thetrailaheadofus yeah, I put the front one in, got my rear one on order.
@@queensapphire7717 Awesome, can’t wait to see the results.
@@thetrailaheadofus yeah, like you by the ocean, a bit north though, Long Island, NY.
It was so fun!
Thank you sir, for all your help. Glad you made it!
I ordered the new track bar bolt kit (Amazon) when I did my front one, not longer uses the flag nut, but their is no play with the bolt in the track bar shaft in the head. The stock bolt had a bit of play, which I did not like. The kit has all zinc plated bolts and nuts.
Thank you, that’s great to know.
A 13/16th wrench will also work for the larger track bar and metal cloaks lower control arms.
Thank you. I really appreciate the feedback. It helps me learn along the way, during my build.
@@thetrailaheadofus good luck along the way! It’s fun to build it out the way you want it. I just got mine all buttoned up this week.
@@msmliars908 Thank you, I really appreciate that. It’s definitely a challenge in wanting to do it the right way, the first time. Add in, learning as I go… lol And that’s awesome. I’d like to see the build.
Great channel! Thanks for the sticker
Thank you!!!
Thanks again, Sub’d your channel.
Nice job buddy! I just dropped my video on the same upgrade on my 2011 JK. I have another video on the way - installing the control arms! Woo Hoo. Come check it out. I think we are similar in our approach and trying to grow the channel. You got yourself a new subscriber here.
Thank you, much appreciated. Learning a little more each time I I get in there. Glad to hear a similar story. And yes, building my channel one great person at a time. I’ll check yours out. Have a great weekend.
Nice intro!!
Thank you. Still working on fine-tuning.
How does it compare to Steer Smarts?
Hello Shane. I haven’t had any experience with the SteerSmarts products. I’ve heard good things, but can’t give an opinion on this. Maybe someone else can. I don’t think any of these brands are bad or not beefy enough. I had liked the TF (and still do with most of their products) and based on some feedback from friends, decided to go with MetalCloak products. And I can’t complain about any MC component that I’ve installed so far. Hopefully, someone can speak to the SteerSmarts. ✌
@@thetrailaheadofus people push the TF stuff, but to me, they are only slight improvements over stock. Would not touch them.
@@shanec.7105 I understand. I do think their Adjustable shocks are great. I’ve loved them since install. But, like I mentioned, I’ve been super happy with all the MetalCloak products I have.
Is it me or isn’t there a spot for an Allen key to use with a wrench? I’m not familiar enough with teraflex😮
Everything was so rusted and corroded. That TeraFlex unit didn’t make it one year here in Florida.
Did you notice any difference when it came to steering with the new drag link? I have a JLUR and I have replaced almost all OEM steering component except for the drag link and even when aligned the steering feels kinda weak at times.
Hello, thanks for reaching out. I've struggled with steering since upgrading to the lift and tire. While I try and do one upgrade at a time so that I can see what differences it makes, in this case, I swapped the drag-link and tie-road out at same time. My JKU didn't pull as much afterward. However with my suspension, springs and rear track bar swap, is when I noticed a huge difference in steering. None of this stuff is cheap and while in my case, the drag-link alone didn't make huge differences, I felt more comfortable knowing I had done that particular upgrade. Hope this helps in some way. Let me know. Have a great day.
Metalcloak drag link requires me to drill the knuckle out to 7/8”. Did you skip that part?
Are you calling the bottom hinge with provided bolt the knuckle? I mentioned in the video about it being drilled out.
@@thetrailaheadofus nope… but I figured it out. The drag link *flip kit* is what requires drilling out the knuckle. Now my link is inserted from the top, not bottom, keeping it more parallel to the track bar after having lifted it 4.5”… with no drop pitman arm. But yeah to flip it you have to drill out the knuckle. Felt like another “point of no return; full commit” step on my all-Metalcloak project, but working out well so far. lol
Sounds like you're figuring it out. I go through the same thing often. Thankfully, you've got it. @@DrJosh2
Did you see much wildlife there
A few boar and deer. Cows don't count, lol. It was relaxing, had a good time. Not much water but a few easy crossings.
"They don't provide any instructions, which is stupid." - Says the guy who didn't see the VERY in depth instructional video on Genesis's UA-cam channel.....
Hence my saying they didn't provide anything within the box. In my opinion, something this expensive should have come with directions inside the box. Thanks for the comment.
I’m addicted to metalcloak products too.. only thing I would add is that I am liking apex autolynx vs other quick disconnects. I want to change my sway links to apex eventually.
Hey there. Ya, I'm still loving all the MC installs. I have the Apex wheel valves and love them. They are so amazing. Thank you for commenting.
You don’t strip threads taking a nut off Either cross threading it or overnighting Put down the impact get a torque wrench
Just for some back-story here, the TeraFlex Drag Link and Tie-rod were installed by a shop.
Thanks for the mention and thanks for running our products! Keep up the good work!
Thank you. Glad to be a part of the MC family. Your customer service is amazing!!
It looks great! It actually helps to have them a little longer in the front, not quite touching the coil housing. It puts the sway bar under a little more pressure, adding downforce on the road, making for a smoother ride. I got the 14.5 adjustable quick disconnects and adjusted them pretty high. You could definitely feel the difference 😀 Great vid!
Thank you for the feedback. I’m learning as I go and I’ve been so impressed with MetalCloak and their customer service, so far.
Yeah, they're a quality company
@@jedwheeler2728 thanks again. Always appreciate interaction on here.
Not a fan of music on any videos. (Except music videos). But your choice of soundtrack on this one wasn’t bad. The video was really nice overall. Thank you for making it.
I appreciate your input. I always struggle with what type of music, how loud and what vibe I’m going for. Also don’t like the sound of my own voice. lol It’s a real struggle. lol 👍🏻
That's awesome!! I would have loved to see that!
It really is amazing. I try and go every year. It's always the week before the Rolex 24. Which I'm also attending this year. Definitely go if you ever get the chance.
I think it’s funny you think that’s rusty, try living up north
I'm sure it's bad there. I wasn't comparing to anywhere else, just sharing what I was experiencing, living near the coast in Florida. I've noticed a huge difference since moving here.
Nice channel here .. !
Thank you. It's definitely a work in progress.
Nice trails!!! Where did you start and where did you finish? Can you share the location please?
This is part of the Ocala National Forest system. After doing the Jeep Badge of Honor: Tread Lightly trail, we decided to go back and explore more of the area. Here is our start point that day. 29.146453, -81.631592
If you still have the Teraflex drag link, there is a way to adjust the ends. May be interesting to you to try this. You need the tool that came with the drag link. It goes on a 3/8" rachet and has 4 prongs sticking out. On the joints you will see four allen heads. Two are set screws so keep track of which is where when you remove them. Then use the tool to gently turn the joint watching thru one of the set screw holes till you see the next hole the set screw can go in. Then put all the allen head screws back in and grease the joints. On mine, I could only go tighter on one. The other would only turn part way to the next hole for the set screw, and you dont want to force these.
Thank you. Much appreciated. I’ll have to take a look and see what you are referring to. Thanks again!!
Was the rust the main reason for the replacement, or was it a performance issue?
Rust was a huge part of each suspension part replacement. Have had issues with rust even on factory parts, like this. Also, having that geometry correction was a good idea. Thoughts?
@@thetrailaheadofus yeah, I haven't had any rust issues... Just not a problem where I am, but I wasn't sure if you were having any geometry issues in the rear. I have a relocation bracket and the stock track bar and was wondering if there was gonna be any problems later down the road without an aftermarket track bar
@@jedwheeler2728 lucky you. haha Ya, the geometry was not causing problems but it was recommended to replace for improvement and stability.
I plan on getting the metalcloack track bar for both the rear and the front eventually, they're just pretty expensive. You know what I really want to get from metalcloack, is their drag link... That thing is awesome
@@jedwheeler2728 so happy I upgraded drag link and tie rod. They are amazing. Sway bar links are next. 👍🏻
Oh damn….seriously ..this is legit
Glad to see you clean your wheels on inside, I do the same at least once yearly, brake dust eats aluminum. Have an '03 4Runner with 4600 Bils and FJ springs. Just received my Dobinson IMS shocks so will be installing these all around come spring, I'm in northern Illinois.
I hear Dobinson is a great product. And yes sir, I’d actually like to keep the wheels clean more often. It’s definitely something I think most people don’t even pay attention to. Thanks for the comment. I’d like to see more on your build. If you have a YT channel or Instagram, let me know.