Changing times.....

[FINOCJ]

Well...it's official...we are moving to Bozeman. Closed on a home today just south of town a bit. I've got about 4 weeks full-on workload and another 3 of scattered work (possibly becoming full depending on late season weather) here in Montana, so we'll start the physical relocation in May hopefully. We've got two Denver area homes (ours and my father's) to sell and consolidate stuff before then. It's going to a busy (maybe stressful) few months. I still have the May Hole in the Rock run on my calendar with full intentions to go, as well as an early cj5 gathering in Leadville in Aug. May also be able to make an anniversary run in May as well as who knows how long into June we may be around. Guessing there will be ample opportunity for a few trail runs. I am figuring the cj will hang in Denver until the last possible moment! And fall Moab trips would be fun to meet up as well. So it's certainly not goodbye....

Aerial shot of the place in summer....nice to have a little space. Edge of the Gallatin range in the background.


And a prized aspect....a stand alone shop with garage!

[Jim]

Congrats!! Space for that J10...?

Sorry to see ya moving - we'll miss you folks.

[FINOCJ]

That j10 already sold! Expect the 58 will find it's home in the shop garage....

[JandDGreens]

Congratulations James! Hope to get the chance to explore with you before you go.

[The StRanger]

Congratulations dude..
great place to be in the summer and as long as you can do the winters ..

[Tom]

Congrats. Loved it in that area when I lived in Belgrade, MT.

[open_circuit]

Excited for you James. Sorry to see you leave the area since I've enjoyed out time wheeling together. Looks like a pretty awesome place.

[Getaklu]

Congrats James, you and Jen will surely enjoy the new digs and being away from all the crowds and traffic of this area.

[Jim]

FINOCJ previously posted:

[FINOCJ]

Yup...its heated...how warm it would be in dead of winter, not sure. But I don't get much time for shop work in the winter, and it should be equal if not way better than the unheated garage in Denver.

[newracer]

Congrats! Looks like a great place!

[TDash]

congratulations James, also will be sad to see you go but hope we can meet up in Moab some time

[RockyMtRebel]

Congrats James, Montana is amazing somIm a little jealous. Hope to see you in May 🌵

[speedkills]

Nice find, congratulations.

[Java]

That is a GREAT house, congratulations! I hope you'll not be leaving the forum, you're sort of a fixture around here.

[FINOCJ]

Cheers all...I'm sure I'll still be around the forum - I mean someone has to be around to represent the old and antiquated 4wds. Not sure how much wheeling there is in the area here...I know there is some, but Colo is pretty unique in how much public land and high pass trails there are. Certainly won't be making daily trips, but hoping to see some bigger multi-day trips develop in places like western CO or Utah that we could come and join. I am looking forward to using the 58 around here to cruise around in and camp etc....the cj may get reserved more for big trips to places like PNW, Utah and Rubicon etc...I've got some cj connections in eastern WA and Idaho that I want to visit and wheel with, and a bigger trip to western Oregon and the Tillamook 4wd trails. I'll miss having such easy access for day trips in Colo, but excited to see some new trails.

We'll be around in late April till early June, so got some time to wheel, along with the may Utah trip and will be in Leadville in Aug with the cj. Jen and I got JMT permit for late Aug through Sept, so 4 week backpack is the other primary summer goal.

[Steve-O]

Congrats! Wife and I will be traveling through National Parks this summer and stopping through Bozeman the third weekend in July. Maybe we'll see you around!

[FINOCJ]

Steve-O previously posted:

[open_circuit]

I'm anxious to see how James uses a PTO on his new ranch. I bet he'll be digging post holes and pumping fluids with PTO-driven accessories.

[FINOCJ]

Was looking at this PTO with winch for the 58....
https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/d/...446166969.html

but it's often complicated routing the jackshaft up forward through the pedals and exhaust and steering, especially with the V8 swap steering conversion. Plus the jackshaft would be too short as it's for a cj3b. And while it's possible to run the PTO and an external OD, it's much simpler (and needed in my case) to just run an external OD on the PTO like I do on the CJ.

The new property is only 1.5 acres, so not really a ranch with work to do....but seriously keeping an eye out for an old crusty jeep with 4cyl and plow, and would love to have a 4 speed and rear PTO on that! The cost of an ATV or small tractor and plow is more than an old jeep....I'll take the old jeep.