New to Town (well soon)

Hey all,
I recently purchased a house in Maricopa and will be moving down this summer. (great timing right) Currently me and my family live in NJ and we have family in town which made the choice to move back to the south west. I am currently in the final stages of my build. I have been building a 199? YJ. It has been cut and tubed out with 60's and 37's. I just need to put in the 94 LT1 Corvette power plant and test it out. I am psyched to get out to AZ and be around some of the best terrain there is. Since the rig is full hydro steering I will be towing it around. (I hope that isn't a problem) I'm looking forward to meeting you all this summer and start wheeling in the fall. I'll get some pictures up soon.
Damon

Welcome to the site. Looking forward to your build pics

When the 7 day period is up I'll post the link to the pics.

Welcome to the site and to town once you get out here. Have you wheeled out here before or is it all new to ya?

Welcome, and (soon to be) welcome to the Copa.

Welcome!

If you want me to post the links for you email me and I'll post them. vinny@binksfab.com

Thanks for the Welcome guys. The only wheeling I have done outside of the north east was a trip to Moab a few years back, GREAT trip but that was with my 03' Wrangler I had. I can't wait to get into that kind of terrain again!

Hot damn that's a nice rig you have built there!! Lots of hardcore trails around Phoenix for you to try it out on that's for sure.

Well it's been a while but I will finally be in AZ for good come September. The family has been there since July 4th and I have been up here taking care of selling the house. Almost done with that thankfully, I tell ya' selling and buying a house in Jersey SUCKS!!! Any way I was able to get the rig running. I tossed the 305 with projection for a 94 LT1 Vette motor and it's running finally. I now have a hydro steering issue to fix and I should be good to go. Three days of driving gets me to AZ. I can't wait. Oh who has the white Cherokee on Knauss in the Villages? I'm right around the corner from you who ever you are.
See ya soon

Glad to hear you got the jeep running. Good luck with the move! See you soon.

I don't think that Xj is from the club, Vinny has a white xj like mine but he moved up to Chandler a few months ago (not sure when you seen it) and I live on Colby in Rancho.have a safe trip out here!

Finally I'm heading out! I start the drive from NJ to Maricopa on Monday. I hope to pull into town on Wednesday evening if not Thursday afternoon. I will be coming down off 40 from Hollbrook, down 377, 277, 260 then 87 into Phoenix. Anyone done this route before? Any tips, what are the grades like. I have a 07' Dodge Mega Cab with the 6.7 Cummins pulling the rig so the exhaust brake will be a help I'm sure. I hear there are some pretty nasty turns on that route.
Thanks in advance,
Damon

Yeah, I've done that route before. It's not bad at all. Watch for deer and elk between Heber-Overgaard and Payson. The elevation starts to drop more quickly after you leave Payson, and the road gets more curvy at that point too. Have a safe journey, see you soon!

I kinda did this route a few weeks ago. I was on the 260 from ShowLow back in to Phx. Its not that bad of a trip the only thing is on you way in to Phx after you leave Payson you will go through Rye then there is a pretty nice pull coming out of that valley that seems like it is forever and nice and steep then its pretty curvey as you go through Sunflower down to around the 4 peaks area but nothing bad. Have a safe trip

Thanks guys, see you soon! I'm looking forward to taking the rig for it's shake down run! I haven't had the time to get out wheeling with the move taking priority.

Oh, and watch your speed through Star Valley, just before Payson. The speed limit drops to 35 (i think), and there's a speed trap/camera right there on Hwy 260. And if your bored and want to be entertained, stop in to Pete's Place in Star Valley.

Well I finally made it!!! I took my time and made a 3 day trip to get here. Day one was about 950 miles, Day 2 was about 980 and the third day was around 460. The truck and trailer did great, I greased the bearing on the trailer every day just to be safe. It feels good to be HOME, after being away from the family for 7.5 weeks. Now I need to get settled into work and life here in Maricopa. When's the next meet and greet?
Talk to you all soon,
Damon

Welcome to the 'Copa! Glad everything worked out. We don't have anything planned any time soon, but I can always be convinced to meet at O'Shay's in town for a beer! I'm off work until Thursday, feel free to give me a call. 602-690-2014 Jon

Beers for lunch at O'shay's tomorrow (Monday) sounds great.

Sounds like a plan. Let me know whenever your ready.

Glad u made it!! Enjoy the beers. We will get alittle more active once it gets a bit cooler.