Adios fellas...

[2nd 392]

I think his odds of survival were better.

I’m grateful to have lived when the state was open and free. It was an amazing place.

Lots of my hunting and fishing buddies are grumpy. I’m not happy about the loss of our state, and I despair for my grandkids who will never know traffic-free wilderness and great hunting and fishing — but I’m so grateful to have had so many wonderful years of enjoying it all with friends and family. I have lots to say grace over. Heck, I could have been born in Bangladesh. Or Newark.

Damn— I could say that virtually word for word, yet I am a native of where most of your occupying forces came from. Just older, we were occupied first. My son saw the last remainders when he was taught to hunt, uh, he will be 50 next year, as for the grandkids,
it’s sad. ?

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[smokeythecat]

That's a good looking GMC. Great choice!

Wow, our definitions of "good looking" are quite disparate.

 

[DHW]

You, sir…..have some testicles the size of grapefruits.

Why would I say something like this?

Well……most folks that have come and gone on this forum, and subsequently created a thread just as you did, are often lambasted and roasted until they’re well done…..or crispier.

The replies to your thread have basically been so calm, supportive, and respectful in nature; I’m quite impressed.

It may even give me the courage to start my own thread; or I may just toss mine in along with your thread.

As reality was setting in that the wonderful 5.7L, 6.2L, and 6.4L engines were going by the wayside, along with some of the finest packaging to ever house said engines, I caved…..and now have this new 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392 A8.

I have to agree those are some great engines. Sometime around 2015, I had a Charger 392 which was fantastic. Only problem is now, at least here in Atlanta, you'd be lucky to make it a week without the car being stolen.

When I was looking at this truck, the only other vehicle I was really considering was the new Lexus GX. One of the negatives to me on the Lexus was that the only engine choice is a twin turbo V6. Then my gf bought a new IS500 with the 5.0 V8 and after driving it, I decided I wanted the 6.2 in the truck.

 

[Whaler27]

There’s nothing like the rumble of a V8. No amount of social engineering will change that.

I have a 2018 Ford Raptor I’m about to sell after six years of happy ownership. It’s been great, but it’s not much use for pickup truck duties. No moderate to heavy towing, but gobs of power and it’s the most comfortable interstate travel vehicle I’ve ever owned (and that includes a bunch of nice sport-sedans). Sadly, the twin-turbo-six doesn’t sound great, and there’s no fix for that. It reminds me of the little rice-burners with megaphone exhaust. They’re plenty loud, but they don’t make your belly jiggle. They sound like angry little bees. The GM 6.2 is a great motor, as is the Hemi. Sadly, I think the day will come when those options are impossible to find. If I had the money and some youth, I’d buy a 392 Rubicon and a few other V8 toys. I think they will eventually appreciate.

 

[Riverjeep]

Well, the time has come for me to say goodbye. I traded my Jeep over the weekend, and still have some mild, lingering regret. I have to say this forum has been great during the time I had my Jeep. I saved so much money on service and installation related costs from things I learned here. And there were so many members here always willing to offer advice and direction. I'll miss you guys.

And now, a retrospective...

Here she is the day I got her, 18 miles on the clock:

And here she is on our last day, 47k miles later:

And here’s the newest family member:

I feel you there, that is why I have an F-150 as well as my Rubicon. Even though I love the Wrangler no way I would be happy if it was my only vehicle, once you drive a full size pickup today there is no turning back. Oh, and it doesn't hurt it has a 400 hp V-8 that is a thrill to drive for sure!

 

[TheRaven]

These "trail" full sized trucks are really no more capable than any 4x4 full sized truck as clearance and manueverability are still the limiting factor in my opinion. If you need a full size for the capacity and comfort there's nothing wrong with it, but I'd rather wheel a base model sport with no lockers than a full sized truck with them and I'd bet the base sport is still the much better off road rig.

Trucks like the Tremor, AT4, and Trail Boss have significantly improved approach, departure, and breakover angles over base models. They also come with better tires and underbody protection. The front locker is debatable but remember that while they may not be necessary, lockers are useful for things other than rock crawling.

There is a guy on the Trail Boss forum with a level and 35's that takes great pride in joining excursions with his Jeep buddies and clearing challenges every bit as well as their similarly-equipped Wranglers do. He's got a near perfect record.

So yeah, the full sizers are limited by their large size, but they can do MOST of what a Wrangler can do, mod for mod...and due to their weight and power, some things that Wranglers can't.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Trucks like the Tremor, AT4, and Trail Boss have significantly improved approach, departure, and breakover angles over base models. They also come with better tires and underbody protection. The front locker is debatable but remember that while they may not be necessary, lockers are useful for things other than rock crawling.

There is a guy on the Trail Boss forum with a level and 35's that takes great pride in joining excursions with his Jeep buddies and clearing challenges every bit as well as their similarly-equipped Wranglers do. He's got a near perfect record.

So yeah, the full sizers are limited by their large size, but they can do MOST of what a Wrangler can do, mod for mod...and due to their weight and power, some things that Wranglers can't.

I agree, too a point. I wheeled a full sized ram rebel on 35s for years. Add in the fact that what most perceive as "challenging obstacles" simply aren't. The telluride area trails are a perfect example. Black bear pass is rated a 7 in most guides. Even with some snow on the ground and the muddy spots that come with it we never touched 4 wheel drive. The only thing close to an obstacle up near the top is down hill. How is that a 7? (Although those switchbacks might have a full size locking like Austin powers). There's a reason you don't see many full size rigs on the Rubicon or John Bull or damn near anywhere I've ever run both lockers. Even in the mud and snow I don't use them as the rear makes the truck plow when trying to turn and the front causes wheel hop. Again not arguing that you can't get out and wheel a full size, but personally I don't see the need for front and rear lockers. I'm my experience you'd be better off with quality limited slips in both difs.

 

[Wulfgott]

I had a 2015 Silverado with all the trimmings. LOVED that truck (only wished it was a 2500 and not a 1500). That being said, I absolutely miss my Silverado. I do NOT regret getting the JLUR. If I had a way to keep the Silverado and get the Jeep I would have. It was a great truck.

So congrats!

The AT4 is the only truck I love looking at every day and will stop at dealers just to admire.

 

[TheRaven]

Again not arguing that you can't get out and wheel a full size, but personally I don't see the need for front and rear lockers. I'm my experience you'd be better off with quality limited slips in both difs.

Yeah I agree you don't NEED them...but they can be useful. A lot of the fuss over lockers is just for coolness bragging rights. Really that applies to pretty much everything a truck like the ZR2 has over the Trail Boss, and it's a huge part of why, after going out looking to buy a ZR2, I came home with a Trail Boss. The TB already has the lift, suspension, underbody protection, rear locker, and off-road tires. The ZR2 gives you slightly bigger tires (why they aren't 35's no one can explain), an exorbitantly overkill magnetic suspension, and a front locker. GM wants you to pay $15k more for that.

 

[2nd 392]

There’s nothing like the rumble of a V8. No amount of social engineering will change that.

I have a 2018 Ford Raptor I’m about to sell after six years of happy ownership. It’s been great, but it’s not much use for pickup truck duties. No moderate to heavy towing, but gobs of power and it’s the most comfortable interstate travel vehicle I’ve ever owned (and that includes a bunch of nice sport-sedans). Sadly, the twin-turbo-six doesn’t sound great, and there’s no fix for that. It reminds me of the little rice-burners with megaphone exhaust. They’re plenty loud, but they don’t make your belly jiggle. They sound like angry little bees. The GM 6.2 is a great motor, as is the Hemi. Sadly, I think the day will come when those options are impossible to find. If I had the money and some youth, I’d buy a 392 Rubicon and a few other V8 toys. I think they will eventually appreciate.

I still have my ancient V10 Dodge PU. Many performance enhancements, including headers and exhaust, It’s a torque monster,
Still Sounds Like Sh!t ! The only better than a V8 sounding engine possibility would be a
45 degree V8- think 4 Harleys-
Not all, but Yes- special V8 models will be future collectible/collectors, as the classic muscle cars are today.

 

[MayThe4x4BWU]

I had a 2016 Sierra AT-X. I drove it back and forth from Chicago to Las Vegas and Idaho over a dozen times when I lived out that way in 2018. One of the best ON-road trucks I've driven. Off road, not so much. I think GMC just threw parts at it to make it into a cosmetically "off-road" rig.

Hopefully they've made improvements so you can enjoy both worlds, unless you plan to make it a pavement princess ?

 

[Whaler27]

I had a 2016 Sierra AT-X. I drove it back and forth from Chicago to Las Vegas and Idaho over a dozen times when I lived out that way in 2018. One of the best ON-road trucks I've driven. Off road, not so much. I think GMC just threw parts at it to make it into a cosmetically "off-road" rig.

Hopefully they've made improvements so you can enjoy both worlds, unless you plan to make it a pavement princess ?

My AT4X AEV Duramax weighs just over 8600 pounds as equipped. It’s a capable truck, but it’s not a trail-runner. It’s too friggin big. It’s a niche vehicle. Too much height and suspension for really heavy towing, but a 10,000 pound trailer is easy, and it can manage a 14,000 backhoe in a pinch. The lift, 35s, and extensive belly armor are insurance when we’re carrying heavy loads on the crappy, greasy, two-track into elk camp, and it will be an ice animal with studded Duratracs in the winter, but you couldn’t pay me enough to take it on Black Bear Pass.

Jeeps and trucks are like boat hulls. They can be optimized for one thing or another, but not all things. The trick, I think, is figuring out the best compromises for your uses. I’ve never been very good at that so, for me, the solution is to keep a jeep for trail fun, and a truck for hunting, hauling, and towing.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

SHANE!

 

[Whaler27]

SHANE!

…may have to be over 60 to get this reference.

 

[Beachcomber]

I don’t care when a new owner joins the forum, you think I’m going to give two squirts when a “Seven Slot Traitor” leaves them…

I guess we need to add a “Check out” sticky under the “Check in” sticky.

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