You are right about the running boards Biff. Brought back good memories of MIllers. I was also following him like I was following you when his flare bit the dust. Word of warning with flared trucks - do not allow me to follow you - unless you want to loose a flare! He, however, was backing up and caught the rear mudflap between a rock and the wheel. It's the beware that Alvaro and I have spoken about often. Saw it happen. I did a good job of coaching him on the running boards tho, but it was him going off on his own that got the rocker panel a little. After this trip, I think I will reconsider Christo's front flare end caps and will trim up very far the rear mudflaps (like Silvercruiser has done)unless Christo has brought rear end caps to the table. All four mudflaps took a minor beating.
We ran Holcomb Creek, up the front rock garden out of Crab Flats and then down the watery rock garden on the back end. It was the second rock garden that got Rayjon's flare. Last little trail we did Saturday afternoon had a couple of good little rock areas and some nice rutted off camber areas.
Day was nice and hot. Only downside was that it was crowded with the Inland Empire 4WD Jeep group. We knew in advance they'd be there from the sleuthing Boston Mangler had done and purposely started late Saturday morning to let them clear Holcomb.
Sunday morning we decided to go out Dishpan Springs to Lake Arrowhead and down the mountain. We were told it was reopen - it is but..... We had a stock Cherokee and stock Jeep with us. I was leading and came to our first BIG boulder obstacle on Dishpan. Got out to take a look and quickly concluded that stock trucks could go no further. A local was there on an ATV and basically said that while Dishpan was open that it was like some of the toughest Rubicon areas at best for verbal comparison. We chose to turn around and exit thru Crab Flats. I took off for home to see Phil Michelson choke off the US Open. The other four in the group that were doing a Sunday run before bugging out went to check out another trail. That group included Slomo and Newps along with two of Newps' friends. They'll have to chime in on that trail.
Did see a stock FJ Cruiser coming down the rock garden we'd hit Saturday morning on Holcomb. He was completely stock, tires, no sliders, no nothing and was doing quite well until his right rear control arm snagged on about the last boulder it could have before exiting the area. We left before he got off, so I don't know how it turned out, but what I saw of the FJ in action over what we'd driven up with lifted cruisers was enough to impress me about it's capabilities.
Biff said:
Ouch!!! sorry about the running boards. I bet Brent, coached you on where to do the optimal damage to sell the slider mod to the wife. "Okay hit the running boards here and then show it to the wife make sure you have a sad face and say these words, See honey this is what happens when you have no sliders, can I please get a set. "
) for getting these pics up quickly. For those of us who did not make, we (I) can't wait to see some pics. I know, I know it is only 5am out there. I hope everyone had a blast without any carnage.
)!!
