7-30-11 Trail Run: Deer Valley

[Krusty Krab]

Ok so we have two white whales going(Will, hope you got your bearings in) a muddygirl with tight lug nuts, Jeeps4play(hope your in) Me and who ever else shows. Possibly 2 others?

I will be going down about six(pm) tomorrow and camping at the camping site right at the trail head off of Hwy 4. So don't wait for me at the store. (Unless I'm there which means I didn't go camping.) But I probably will.
If I'm not awake just kick my feet I'll air down the night before. I'm ready for some fire and star time. Weird year! We would have had a couple of trips under our tires by now. Oh well can't wait!

If anyone else wants to camp just holler at the red crusier when you get down there. I'll bring the firewood.

 

[rusty_tlc]

A huge thanks to Chicago who took precious time out from his FJ40 build to install sliders on my FJ60. I hope we don't need them but it's nice to have them.

 

[WILLD420]

Things are looking good. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Seems everything under my rig got full of water this winter. I can't imagine why.......

 

[spressomon]

Hey everybody: Have fun and be safe! And take and post pics!

Dan

 

[rusty_tlc]

While I was re-installing the skid plate today I fixed a couple of broken off bolts. Typical Land cruiser stuff, drill out the busted off rusted bolt, clean up the threads with a tap. When I pulled the drill out of one of the bolts a wad of hair came out with it.

When Chicago was welding the scab plate in that area, he asked me if someone was cooking dinner. I hope what ever was burning in there was just left over nesting material. But it sure did smell like a steak on the grill.


On a more positive note, the 60 is loaded up and ready to go. See you all in the A of M.

 

[locrwln1]

Pics? Story? Alive? Donner Party?

Jack

 

[WILLD420]

Tired....

The trail is beat pretty good for whatever reason. Nobody got stuck, nobody had to winch or be tugged off a rock, but there was some rock stacking in a few of the bigger holes that have been dug.

I think the carnage is limited to a fender kiss and a sidewall cut. I haven't had a chance to climb under and see what I drug off today, so I'll let you know if I find anything exciting under the truck. Otherwise, no damage that I can find on the painted surfaces. Got some pieces of tree stuck in the rear bumper end and some tree sap on a wing window where a downed tree tried to spear me in the face, but otherwise I think I am unscathed.

For the people who think this is a stocker type trail. Maybe the end closest to Blue Lakes, but definitely not the way we ran it. Dan's 60 is nowhere near stock and it played hell on quite a few spots today. Without lockers, or good tight L/S diffs, you'd better have big tires, decent articulation and some decent armor. I think the only thing that saves the Ramcharger is that the majority of the holes are made by short wheelbase rigs. I can walk over the majority of their holes strictly because my wheelbase is longer and my track is wide with those 15.50 swampers on there.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I beat the hell out of Dr. Smash's bumper and my new sliders. I even have a few new scratches on the Big Bull bar up front. We have a s*** ton of pictures but I'm to beat to post them tonight.

Will is spot on, his longer wheel base and wider axles helped him a lot, but at the end of the day his superior driving was the deciding factor. Anybody who can get a full size truck through that trail with no damage has chops.

 

[WILLD420]

"Anybody who can get a full size truck through that trail with no damage has chops." Aww, shucks. You say the nicest things.....

I think Shawn(?) thought I was crazy for a split second, at the gatekeeper, when he told me I had to steer right or kiss that rock and I drove straight and let the bumper guide me where I needed to go...

Pics are here. I didn't get many. Besides bringing up the tail end, I was too busy trying to find a line to drive to get many.

 

[chicago]

UN FREAKING BELIEVABLE that there is STILL snow up there!?!?!?!
That just blows my mind!

Can NOT WAIT to get my 40 running!!!!!!

Glad it was a good day!
I was thinking about you guyz, wishing I was wheeling with ya!!!

K

 

[WILLD420]

You should see how much snow is still on the peaks. If I was a firewood guy, I'd be up there every weekend in the cutting areas. There is so much dead and down it's not even funny. I could have loaded 3 cords of good wood in the first half of the trail.

BTW, I was so tired last night that I forgot to thank all those who spotted for me yesterday. Good spotters make driving easy.

Thanks a bunch guys, couldn't have gotten the whale through without you.

 

[chicago]

A huge thanks to Chicago who took precious time out from his FJ40 build to install sliders on my FJ60. I hope we don't need them but it's nice to have them.

How'd they hold up???
Thanks for the booze, loom wrap, blue stuff, alcohol, welding wire etc....
Sorry we had so many complications with equipment....Never had those kind of issues before!!!

 

[locrwln1]

Pics look good. Glad to hear everyone had a good trip.

Jack

 

[rusty_tlc]

How'd they hold up???
Thanks for the booze, loom wrap, blue stuff, alcohol, welding wire etc....
Sorry we had so many complications with equipment....Never had those kind of issues before!!!

They were awesome, I landed the truck on them more than a couple of times. The sliders and Dr Smashes bumper saved the 60, it would be thrashed otherwise.

The complications are just a normal part life for me, it's my curse. Things will get back to normal for you now.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Finally got some pictures uploaded
Here is the Pod of whales

My truck in the gatekeeper

Threading the needle

More random pictures

 

[spressomon]

Looks like fun guys! Glad I decided not to leave any paint there

 

[WILLD420]

Those pictures just don't do the trail justice, but they do show the whale in a kind light. Somehow, when all I could see was sky, that boulder seemed a lot bigger at the time.

I think it's time for more lift and more armor if I'm going to keep doing things like this.

 

[chicago]

IMO, that trail is really under rated!!
Not that it's super tough, but it sure isn't a walk in the park either. It'll bite ya if you don't give it respect.

 

[chicago]

They were awesome, I landed the truck on them more than a couple of times. The sliders and Dr Smashes bumper saved the 60, it would be thrashed otherwise.

The complications are just a normal part life for me, it's my curse. Things will get back to normal for you now.

Nice!!!
Glad that they held up well. Glad I could help!

 

[CV Kurt]

Sounds like you all had great time on a great trail. Hope to be able to run it myself one day (need some 33" and some steel .

-- Kurt