Builds GCRad1's 1992 ADV80 LAND CRUISER (3 Viewers)

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ADV80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Falken High Country Tire Update

Thank you ctrj for inquiring about the Falken tires!

OK, I just went out to the ADV80 and looked on the odometer and since I put the tires on I now have 14,340 miles on the tires. Still love the tires! Still think these are great "dual sport" "overland adventure" style tires!

But I am still looking to get them out on a big long trip! Basically work has been crazy this summer, so no play! Plus, my A/C is still out and summer has been WAY HOT in So-Cal! so, the ADV80 has just seen the old boring slab to and from work. Yea, the nannygoat ADV80 has just been shurpa-duty to non-exotic/cool/exciting locations... unless you count XGAMES Los Angeles and exciting... such as this adventure to the underground parking cavern:
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So all in all - LOVE THE TIRES based on my previous outing adventures. And looking to get more adventures in soon as the weather is turning for the moment in SoCal. Next ADV80 Duty - LUCAS OFF ROAD EXPO in Pomona this weekend. Might have to take the long route over Saddleback Mountain.


On the XGAMES LA tip and from a ADV'er perspective - here are some images that caught my eye at the games:

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All my images of XG16LA - click the link in the yellow bar: Xgames sixteen los angeles 2010 - a set on Flickr
 
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Thanks for your reply. I'm getting ready to buy a set for my newly acquired 86 Toyota 4x4 pickup. They fit the budget perfectly and will do well with my own commute to Orange County (90 miles every day!).
 
Falken High Country's

WHOOOA CTRJ - NINTY MILES!!!!
These Falken High Country's should work really good for that. Lots of rubber contact so plenty grippy for the emergency so-cal freeway stops and not loud and obnoxious with overly large lug spacing like mud terrain's.

They are different than the typical all-terrain's that looks a bit more like a rally tire [noisy]. The Falken High Country's have a good rubber contact divided with wide sipping running with the road instead of across which makes for more noise for that freeway rolling.. The cross sipping runs in curved patterns which provides grip laterally and the shape [curved] help with the noise reduction, instead of "pockets" that you get with other all terrain's. I hope you like them now that I have talked them all up!!! hehehe I like them for what I am doing...

Let me know what you think when you get yours!

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Thanks for your reply. I'm getting ready to buy a set for my newly acquired 86 Toyota 4x4 pickup. They fit the budget perfectly and will do well with my own commute to Orange County (90 miles every day!).
 
Just read this whole thread very informative!! If you need inside work space shoot me a pm. I'm in torrance and have space..
 
My ADV80 doing WORK! Not even play...

OK, time to get my thread up to speed as I have been slacking due to work and surrounding issues...

So, my ADV80 has been doing nothing but work and daily commute duty.
Here it is in action at OffRoad EXPO. Yes, just dropping off catalogs in the morning prior to the show and then relegated to the parking lot:
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Lots of adventure supplies and overland enthusiasum seems to be growing!


Met a couple of Land Cruiser owners with rigs on display too:
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AOE American Overland Expedition crew was fun to hang out with!

All my images from the OR-EXPO - click the link in the yellow bar:
Not sure why Flickr is doing this now as it did not before and it would be cool if you could see a preview of the images in the window...
Off Road EXPO 2010 Pomona Fairplex, CA - a set on Flickr
 
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What's cool about an 80?


No bike rack needed! Just toss up the back seat and slide the bike inside!;)
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I've loaded three bikes, three people and gear like this before. Everything is "inside."


But once again, the ADV80 is getting no adventure love of it's own... just teased:crybaby::
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The ADV80 sat while I pedaled Blackstar Canyon.
 
Thanks for posting up. This is a fun thread- I lived in SoCAL (San Clemente) for a dozen years, been to those places you posted, really enjoyed the Pomona Off-Road show and might schedule a trip to CA next year just to catch the show.
 
We all have dreams...

I vowed not to go back to SEMA for a 5-year break. I've been going since the early '90's. This year was my 5-year mark to return.

Top of the show for me:
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WOAH you say... what's with the rear bed panel all swung out like that?

This is a project between Toyota and Bass Pro Shops:
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And I don't even hunt or fish any more...


It was built by these guys:
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from B.A.D. Company - the Big American Dream Company from Sun Valley, CA.
B.A.D. Company is the premier cars-for-film prep company in the world!

Rob a bank - blame it on BAD Company. Makes me want to do "BAD" thinks to my ADV80!!!

 
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Addition Rear Bumper Requirement: Haul Motorcycle

Also, my bumper is going to need some versatility. I want to haul my motorcycle!

I'm not afraid to haul a trailer as I have driven the dually and 40ft goose-neck all over... currently, my living situation in a townhouse is just not allowing for various vehicles, trailers and the such... so, life has been downsizing the vehicle count.

So, over on my other favorite forum specific for motorcycles, I found this thread for bumper style motorcycle haulers:

Trailer hitch mounted bike carrier (merged) threadfest. - ADVrider
 
Snow Day in Big Bear, CA - Feb 15th, 2010

Thanks for the note! Links are now LINKED!!!!
Your links don't link to anything


To keep my time-line in sequence, I am dropping in this Feb 15, 2010 Trip Report:
2010 - Snow Day in Big Bear, CA - Feb 15th

While it's hitting 80-degree days in Orange County, we thought it would be a good idea to go up to the snow in Big Bear where it's only 55-degree during the day.

The local moutains of Big Bear, CA are over/under - about and hour away for the beach city dwellers of Orange County. And it seems like we always have these cold snaps and then back to warm days, so while it is back on the warm side by the beach and since did not make it up to the snow with the kids much this winter, we thought we would get out to the local mountains before all the snow melted. We had good snow, but temps are rising!
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Driving up Hwy-38 Backside to Big Bear and we can see plenty of snow! You can also see that I drive a 3FE "under-powered TLC... notice my lane choice... complete with sub-45mph and 4-ways blinking... just like the big rigs.

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Our dog Kona hanging out the window - she must be able to smell the snow!

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Middle Control Road, off the HWY-38 is SNOW COVERED!
My first time driving the ADV80 in the snow!!!:steer::bounce:

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The Falken High Country A/T tires doing quite all right in the snow. These tires have been great and you never know how a tire will react in a totally different enviornment, but agian, these tires have been great!!!

So, once we get off the Middle Control Rd., we are off onto another road cutting through the bottom of the canyon in search of a fun place for the kids to play in the snow. I found a litle road that looked like some fun and pushed through a non-tracked snow covered road. We got out and let the kids and dog out to play.
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Kona giving me the stair down when I asked her to get back in the truck.

Time to scout another location. Back onto the road and in search of another dirt road. Off onto another road and this would quickly became snow covered but this time I saw tracks and set out to follow. It was sketcher than the last little road and went further off from the paved road and out of view. We had not seen another vehicle for at least a hour. While the tracks in the road looked a couple of days old, we pushed on. It was a bit of a challenge when the tracks did not exactly follow the road due to various road conditions such as downed trees and massive frozen over mud holes, but we pushed on. As long as I was making good traction, I was mentally OK. With family in tow and no other vehicles with us, I was pushing the envelope.

Pushing through snow was like a leap frog process where I would see a little rise or mound or maybe a section that was under a tree and the snow cover was thin. It's sorta'like driving in the sand - don't stop on the inclines and keep moving when all possible. You regroup your thoughts when you reach the little stopping points. You scan the area ahead... and ahead looked so exciting! You se the tracks ahead of you and they call you, "follow us!" and follow I did. Then, you get that feeling... the feeling of, "OK, this might be enough!" I was at that point, mentally and literally as I was sitting under a big tree that blocked enough ground cover that dirt was exposed. It has a nice ramp/pirtch to lanch off of though... and the view ahead was a wide clearing that swooped a couple of hundred yards! It looked awesome and I wanted to span the gap! I started in and realized I needed to "steam-up!" so I backed up to my safe pirtch again and got into the trottle good this time, "WE ARE GOING FOR IT!"


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wa WAA WAAAAAAA:
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BURIED!!!! stuck stuck stuck.... !!!


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I should have not gone past this spot... MY LITTLE PIRTCH OF DIRT CONTACT... but I was feeling confident after traversing snow for a few of miles... we where out far enough to make a "not-so-good-situation" out of this!

SNOW IMPACTED!
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It was buried up to the axles...

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The stuck spot - with an AWESOME VIEW!

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Ten minutes after "stuck time" - ten minutes into dig time...

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I tried putting sticks and brush behind the tires and tried to rock up onto the debre to gain traction, but that was a half-arsed attempt. I knew I needed to dig out! It was buried to the axles! I did it good!!!

After several attempts this methood, I told the wife that we would try one more round and if this didn't work I would stop, make a fire for her and the kids as it could "be a while." We had food for a day and warm clothes, but it's more of a mental game... relax, think through it and nothing hasty... calmly explain with no over-excitment...

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Yes, that is a rock on top of my bottle jack! I needed more "push" to get the wheel up out of the whole. Luckly I had this little piece of plywood I've carrying around, so that made a good base to set the bottle jack onto. Desperate times call for creative measures!

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Toss in some floor mats for traction once wheels are in the air... Jacking process was needed on all four corners... time consuming!!!!

BUT WORTH IT!!!!
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The mess of a hole we had to dig out of. This is when you need LOCKERS!!! You can see the tracks going forward... I'm no longer going this way, I'm out and more to retreat from to be fully out and on solid ground...

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Finish time on digging out - three hours total.

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The TLC coming out of the snow - it was a hard three hours fought to get unstuck but fun trip! Now I feel more confident about digging out a 5,000lb object from the snow...

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ADV80 Reporting back for daily duty.
 
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Also representing CM!!!!!!

Hey!!! What up!!!!! Just bought my 91 TLC back in June. Noticed you in CM. My TLC is just like yours. Yours is betta now. My is bone stock. Also looking to modify. Always cruising around CM for other cruisers.
 
Johnson Valley, CA ADV-Quicky Tent Test

You know what happens when you get a new piece of camping gear... you want to go use it!!!! Got this Wenzel 2 person tent on the cheap, but can it withstand the desert abuse or is it a backyard special? It does have the Wenzel name on it...
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But before we dash off into the wild, better give it a quick test run in the comfort of home... just as the instructions ask to do.
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Top of the fluids and visual inspection is given to the needy ADV80.

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The old school original! The Crosman Power Master 760. This little pellet/BB gun is good for about 300ft.
Got some BB's and some little targets and this is a great way to teach the kids about gun safety.

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Kona likes her isle-window seat.

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Getting out of "Dodge" AKA: OC!

Going up the Cajone Pass / 15FWY:
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Remnants of snow remain on the ground..

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Once up and over the hill, you can see the results of the Easterly winds blowing in the clouds up and over the hill. One minute you can see blue sky and in creeps the clouds...

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Next minute you see no blue sky and dark menacing clouds are ever present...

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Lets try this road. I've never camped off this road.
We drive out the road a ways, account which way the wind/clouds are moving and head up a wash off the road. We want to find a hillside to break the wind.
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Camp spot for the night. Did a quick tent pad leveling / excavation up closer to the rock for a flat bed to sleep on for comfort, finished off with a water drain trench... just in case those clouds get snagged on a peak and spill open!

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Dark set in QUICK!

And when it is dark, you will want light... with candle power.
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While it took a while for me to discover, the PETZL Headlamp is you DO-IT-ALL Friend!

Tent is set - fire ablaze:
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It was chilly! We hugged the fire for warmth and even the dog figured out that the fire was her friend too. Took a little while, but she figured it out.


Time to start the other fire, the FOOD FIRE!:
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The fast/light/simple JetBoil Backpacking stove:
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I've recently tested this dehydarated foods for backpacking. They pack small and light and taste rather good... but will the daughter like it? That is the REAL TEST!
I made her the Mountain House Rice and Chicken and I had the Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai.

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The Rice & Chicken past the daughter test!!!
I'm stoked and my Pad Thai was good too! Now I can stock up and try some more!

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The desert moonscape... We saw some stars peaking in and out around the clouds and the thought of getting into the sleeping bag and getting both side of the body warm and once seemed like a great idea!
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Part 2: Johnson Valley Tent Test

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My daughter and dog get in the tent and I'm about to extenguish the fire, but just one more warm up!

WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!
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Did I forget to post some images and accidently rewind forward to the next night or something?....
Any of you have kids?
You know you will do just about anything for your kids, right?
Yea, so... we are in the tent...
I'm fully warmed up in my REI Goose Down mummybag...

Daughter is tossing...
tossing and complaining...
And she said those words...
the ones you do not want to hear if you are the type that can just sleep anywhere... like I can.

I know...
I noticed the tent was a scratch on the small side...
It said nothing about 2+1...
two persons and one dog....

I can sleep anywhere...
It's a bit cramped, I know it...
but I can sleep anywhere, any condition!

I've been trained!
I have two daughters!
Even my dog is a girl!
I CAN SLEEP ANYWHERE!!! HEHEHEHE
But, she can not...

She said those words...
"Dad" she said, "let's just throw everything in the truck and go home!"

Give me a minute I asked...
I was hoping the situation would pass and I could get on with the sleep...

"Dad" she said, "let's just throw everything in the truck and go home!"
"Dad" she said, "let's just throw everything in the truck and go home!"
"Dad" she said, "let's just throw everything in the truck and go home!"

OK! OK ALREADY!!! BUT I AM DRIVING OUT!
Yes, she now has her drivers permit!
But I am driving if we are pulling up tent stakes and hitting the road...


So, as soon as we hit pavement....
The FLUFFY STUFF IS FALLING!
All the way from Johnson Valley - Bear Valley Road to the 15FWY, the FLUFF IS FALLING!!!! Its cool at first! We are chatty... but it sinks in...

We have to get over the Cajon Pass!
I know a dirt way, but that will add more time if the freeway shuts down.

So we make our way over the mountain, so we have to stop:
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My ADV80 - Toyota Land Cruiser 3FE likes to pose:
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Testing out my Falken High Country Tires in the snow on the little dirt side road next to the freeway:
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That was the fun I needed and running up this road... in the snow...
I can not resist...

I had flashbacks:
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Flashbacks of days behind the wheel at speed!:steer:
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:cheers: Can't wait to take our little one camping again. She can't quite talk now, so I wont hear "those" words :lol:
 
Palomar Mountain Snow Covered Mini-Adventure 2/26/2011

NOAA Special Weather Statement:
"...A VERY COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...

A VERY COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ORIGINATING FROM CANADA WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD ALONG THE WEST COAST ON THURSDAY...THEN IMPACTING SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY."
http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigw...ther+Statement

Yes, it delivered!
My buddy Recce01 called and said snow was on the mountain and LOW! I live in Costa Mesa and he lives at the base of Palomar Mountain of HWY76, right next to Nate Harris Road. This is a dirt road that will take you up to the top of Palomar mountain and we intended to see how low the snow fell.

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The latest ADV-Remote-Field-Charger priced at $500!

JUST KIDDING! It is the Triton2 R/C Battery Charger. Yes, we have the R/C rigs in tow for this trip today, as we may be into some snow for some epic footage for an upcoming new product!

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R/C vehicles bring dreams to reality a lot faster and cheaper...

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Picked up a quick bite at Jilburto's Taco Shop. Which is right before Nate Harris..
On the road HWY76 for just a minute:
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Nate Harrison Rd. I've always heard it called Nate Harris, but the sign is offical...

It's not long on this road:
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and it turns to this:
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of which turned to this:
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We come to a stop as we run up on a Mountain Side TRAFFIC JAM!!! We walk up to access the situation.

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We are at the very back, so with our rigs off to the side, we keep moving on foot up to where the action is. Or, at least the lack of forward motion.

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ADVRider.com Member: "The Other Kris" KTM 640 Adventure

The situation:
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This was the hold up.

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Next in the stuck line was this Mistu with snow packed tires. Mud/snow packed tires makes for slip'n'slide time!
 
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Palomar Mountain Snow Covered Mini-Adventure 2/26/2011

So, back to the stuck Nissan:
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He's all jacked up, in the ditch. The Jeep above has a wench and cable going around the tree and over to the Nissan. Previously they had the Jeep tied directly to the Nissan and that was not working out so well as the Nissan would have needed dragging 50yards to get up out of the ditch and back on the road. There was a lot of impatience going on, so this was the quickest route to getting the Nissan back on the road.

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1200lbs wench was having a bit of a hard time.

Or maybe it was just the impatience and guys just want to help:
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Then, after they got it up and out of the ditch, they direct-lined it again and tried pulling it up the hill more:
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After sliding back down a couple more times, they finally got it up the hill. Through this whole process of making a mess of the road, I begain to wonder if we would be able to make it up ourselves. But, we decided to hang out, see how these other rigs make it, and if they can, we for sure can.

This is "The Other Kris" Member screen name of ADVrider.com:
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The Other Kris giving us the ADVrider.com "offical salute"

ADVrider.com is the MOST AWESOME forum for the adventure minded motorcycle enthusiast. The ADVrider.com forum is actually where I spent most of my time before I got a Land Cruiser. I actaully asked members there where I could find a forum like ADVrider for 4X4's of the adventurious types. They sent me here and to Ih8mud.com

Here are my two main threads there:
Honda XR400 [1997] The DirtDawg Chronicles - GCRad1
Honda XR400 [1997] The DirtDawg Chronicles - ADVrider

GCRad1's ATK 605 The ADV-Rotaxerie [1998 Model]
GCRad1's ATK 605 The ADV-Rotaxerie [1998 Model] - ADVrider

Sorry to side-track, but ADVrider members are a brotherhood...

Back to story:
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More strapping...
Mitsu Montaro + snow packed tires = slip'n'slide!

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Self cleaning snow packed tires! Just add throttle.
There was lots of throttle jocking going on up here today...

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Yes, Mitsu is making reverse headway, sliding back down the hill.

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He finally gets back to where he was stuck before and gets it over to the side to let traffic go through. Not sure, but I think they will wench him up once everyone else goes through.

NEXT UP:
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And away "The Other Kris" goes...

Time for some more trucks to slop through what now looks like a pig pen.
 
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