Episode 904 – BLM Closes Trails?
BLM closed vehicle trails
Climate advocates won environmental protections along the Green River, while motorists lost access to popular trails.
The Bureau of Land Management released a new plan for the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Area. The update closed 317.2 miles of routes that were previously open to off-highway and passenger vehicles though over 800 miles of routes are still accessible for motorized use.
The Labyrinth Rims Gemini Bridges Travel Management Area spans over 300,000 acres in Grand County. Hell Roaring Canyon and Ten Mile Canyon — both home to popular OHV trails — lie within its boundaries, as well as a 40-mile flatwater stretch of the Green River.
The BLM cited several reasons for closing roads previously open to motorists. These include reducing impacts on wildlife like bighorn sheep and golden eagles, minimizing damage to watersheds and vegetation, and preserving riparian habitats. The agency also closed roads to protect cultural sites.
The BLM preserved roads that have seen heavy and frequent use, like the Hell Roaring Rim Jeep Safari route. But the agency closed roads in Ten Mile Wash, a popular and scenic area for motorists, stating that “the impacts to cultural, wildlife, and riparian resources within the wash outweigh the recreation experience, which can be obtained elsewhere.”
Ben Burr, president of the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a recreation group, told The Tribune that the road closures were “largely unnecessary,” especially since tensions between river recreators and motorists also contributed to road closures along the east bank of the Green River. The BLM cited “known conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users” as a reason for closing a road within Ten Mile Wash.
SEMA 2023
The SEMA Show takes place October 31 – November 3, 2023, at the Las Vegas Convention Center
JTS team members, Larry, Wendy, Julieanne, Chris, Bill
The four-day event consistently attracts more than 161,000 individuals, including:
71,000 quality buyer companies seeking the hottest products to sell in their shops – 3,300 media representatives from both trade and consumer outlets – 2,400 exhibiting companies – representatives from more than 140 countries outside the United States
- 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space and an additional 1 million square feet of features and attractions throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, outside areas, and neighboring Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino – More than 3,000 products in the New Products Showcase – 1,500 feature vehicles in both exhibitors’ booths and throughout the convention center
Fabrication Freezy, with Larry, JeepingMo
So you want to do some fabrication, now that’s a very broad statement Jeeper. But what if I told you it won’t take many tools to build most things for your Jeep or do modifications on your Jeep?
Let’s go over some tools that will help you do basic metal work, like making sliders or possibly putting in that 14 bolt in your rig.
First is an angle grinder, one of the most underrated tools that can do many things.
With some cut-off and flap wheels, you can remove all of the old axle control arm mounts, smooth it out, and prep it for new brackets.
You can even cut out the new brackets with it.
A good 1/2 chuck drill, now I would rather have a drill press. But with a good strong drill, you can drill most holes you will need to drill. And the ½ chuck will let you drill most larger holes. Start with step drills.
Next is a digital level, now that seems like an odd one. Here is what it’s used for.
Unless you have a flat fixture table to work on. You can set your axle on jack stands, once you zero it you can rotate the pinion to the angle you want before you start attaching brackets. There are many uses for a little tool like a digital projector.
Then you need your welder, assuming you going to mig weld, you can get into a welder fairly inexpensively. If you’re going to weld axles, I would suggest a 220-volt unit for penetration into the tubes. But if you’re making sliders or doing lighter work a 110v will get you started. you can always borrow a welder if you know someone. I wouldn’t discount a stick welder, you can do a lot with a stick. And things you can’t do with a mig welder.
https://bakersgas.com/collections/all/products/hobart-500554
With all these tools you can cut tubes or plates, and notch your parts to fit any shape. Drill any mounting holes and locate them before welding them. It doesn’t take much to do good work in your shop. We have several videos showing how to do all of these things on our YouTube channel Jeepingmo, you can always reach out to me on our discord channel if you have any questions. Now go build something.
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
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