Grand Junction and then on to Moab - Page 2

PPFJ60 · 05-22-09, 11:03 PM

I decided that if I needed to drag a trailer to Grand Junction that I wasn't packing correctly so the trailer is staying home.

I talked to Wayne and he and I will be meeting up between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday to hit a trail some place. Still sounds like 21 road will be 8:30am to 9:00am on Sunday.

My cell is 719-649-9180 if anyone wants to join us for the Saturday run. I have off road 4x4 gear, fishing gear, hiking gear and camping gear with me so I am open to explore all sorts of stuff.

minisrule · 05-22-09, 11:55 PM

I am trying to get out of here early, but I am not sure I will be there in time to do anything Saturday, If not I will see you Sunday morning.

Also, Chuck, I will have extra space if there is somthing you want/need me to haul over and back.

PPFJ60 · 05-25-09, 05:50 PM

Well I am back home. I ended up with brakes that only work when the pedal is pushed all the way to the floor. Moad would not be a place to be with marginal brakes! I went to Montrose and home on hwy 50. I managed to get behind someone pulling a trailer with some junk on it so if I needed to crash into them to stop I figured they wouldn't care. See pictures to see the junk on the trailer and see if you recognize the junk.

http://s336.photobucket.com/albums/n...oad/?start=all

PPFJ60 · 05-25-09, 06:11 PM

Well Darryl told me that 21 road is normaly a dry river bed but I will have to take his word for it until I get a chance to go back and run it again. The trail I ran had lots of water running in it! This made it impossible to know when you were going to hit a hidden rock or hole. I ended up with dents on three out of four quarter panels. The left front fender took the worst if it. First I smashed my left front fender and then shortly after that Darrly was hung up on a rock that couldn't be seen and needed to be pulled off it. Darrly asked me if I would rather get stuck or get body damage. I smarted off and said I don't get stuck and guess what happened about 15 minutes after I said that............. I don't have pictures of me getting stuck or of where I smashed my left front fender but I know cameras were out at those times so I hope Darryl or Hugh post up those pictures.

I know Darryl hit his top on the over hanging rock, Andy hit his cab on a rock in one of the many tight spots, Wayne bent front and rear bumpers as well as a rear quarter panel and trimmed his fan when the motor mount flexed enough to cause the fan to hit the shroud on a steep mud hill climb, Hugh bent a rocker panel and fender and I damaged three quarter panels. Very awsome trail!

I think the water level dropped at least 3" on the way down from what it was on the way up. The spot I needed a pull to get off of had water flowing over it on the way up but was dry on the way down?

PPFJ60 · 05-25-09, 06:19 PM

One other thing about driving up a river is that if you stop in the river your truck does not. Many times we could see trucks sinking when stopped because the water was washing the soil away from under the tires. Leaving a truck in the river for any length of time would not be be a good idea.

MountainRam · 05-26-09, 12:05 AM

As you have noted from Chuck's input on CLC's 21 Road run, Hunter Wash was running, and running quite well when we started up it about 10:30am on the 24th of May. This was a first for me. I have crossed creeks at various times, but have never run up a running wash. And yes, the sky was dark grey as it had been raining off and on for a couple days, but it did look like it might clear off. And yes we all did know what the "wise ones" would say about going up a running wash in a desert area - its about the same as going up a dry wash when its not raining so we figured we had our bases covered.

You truly had to be there to understand what it was like. I have never been in the area when the sound of running water was so very distinct. It was strange. We had 4 going up at the start, Chuck, Wayne of GJ now Andy and me. We were joind later by Hugh of Safari Ltd in GJ in his FJ45 shorty PU, running a 3FE (gotta love a 6!). Running a running wash was a 1st for all on this run. And yes I'd rather get high centered that bash a quarter panel any day! Not really sure how I managed to ka-dink the top of my '40, but it really made a loud noise, unlike sheet metal - a little like being inside a big drum.

I'm over in CS this evening with all the pictures on my laptop in GJ. I do have a few on my phone though, so I'll try to upload them. The sequence should be Andy, Chuck and Hugh. I post more as time allows, when I return to GJ.

Not too bad for a phone camera!

Darryl
21 Road River Rat

deafswat · 05-26-09, 12:07 AM

look like you guys had fun. I know Darryl (my dad) wish that I was there. It would be cool, but im about 2000 miles away.

PPFJ60 · 05-26-09, 08:41 AM

When I first arrived in GJ I was supposed to look for Wayne's place of employment to meet up with Wayne and the president of the GJ Land Cruiser club called Bookcliff Cruisers. I ended up taking a tour down the road a bit even though I figured I missed the turn but I wanted to see what was a little farther down the road. When I decided I should turn around and go find Wayne I noticed a GJ police officer behind me so I pulled over eventhough he didn't have his lights on. I was wondering what I did wrong when the officer walked up the truck and said my name. For a few seconds I was shocked that the GJ police force knew who I was. The officer turned out the Bill Baker the president of the Bookcliff Cruisers. Bill lead me back to Wayne's place of employment for a meet and greet. Bill had to work Saturday and Sunday so he couldn't make the run with us. Nice to meet you Bill!

benw4x4 · 05-26-09, 09:34 AM

It was a good run. The weather definitely made it alot more challenging. I have a few pictures I took with my phone. Everyone got a little bumped and bruised. I got home and found that I bent the front bracket from my frame to the slider on the left side. Pulled them off and today I am going to get some heavier tubing for mounts.

billb596 · 05-26-09, 10:36 AM

Holly Raging River BatMan!!!!

I hate that I had to miss this run and avoid damage to my 80

emmm mabey not. It was nice to meet Ben and Chuck, I would like to have had a picture of Chuck's face when I met him for the 1st time however

Thanks for posting the shots and I look forward to meeting you all again.

Bill Baker
www.bookcliffcruisers.com

Isotel · 05-26-09, 04:46 PM

wow, looks like a good trip guys.. i think Tim (Tan 4runner) was down in montrose hitting the hard Core trails. Looks like a fun trip with all the water!

Glad to see Book Cliff is doing well.

Trevor

Isotel · 05-27-09, 09:11 AM

did you guys here about this.. - Flooding near Moab - Rising Sun Member Forums