I've decided to take the money I'd spend going on this trip & spend it getting the front axle fixed on the beater XJ.
The entire reason I got "red" was for offroading. I need to fix it & stop abusing my DD. My DD has 275K on it & it's just a matter of when, not if, something will fail. I don't want that to happen 2 hours from home.
Catch ya'll next ride.