hmm, mental note that I need to wheel with friends like yours, or with other 80 owners that I am bigger than
Don't be overly impressed by these yahoos. A couple years ago we took a much "smaller" 80 Series, IIRC 33s, 2.5 OME, no special bumpers, etc., through with less drama. No offense to Jeff, actually a it's compliment, he was a "less experinced driver." Not that the the Dusy is an easy trail, 'cause it isn't and the penalty for mistakes or mechanicals is very BAD due to the remoteness of this TOUGH trail.
Anyway, don't be too impressed by these BIG boys. Yes they play hard and play often (I'm jealous). And yes, they break stuff in the worse possibly situations. They wheel the crap out of their rigs.
So what's my point?
Bring what you got.
Wheel what you bring.
Get off the interweb and get your butt into the bush. You'll have a blast for a couple years, then you'll start breaking your sector shaft, you'll fix it, wheel a couple more years and break it again or get hydro assist or ??. Isn't it funny how causal Alvaro and Mike talk about carrying spares for changing their steering box as a preventative maintenance? (By the way waht the hell is Alvaro talking about prophylactics??? Rubbers??? Must be a Venezuelan translation thing?)
For the record, I'm not writing this to Dan, just anyone who might think they need another "mod" before they attempt a "tough" trail with the "big" boys. You don't, just ...
Bring what you got.
Wheel what you bring.
OK "big" boys, flame on, bring it (pack a lunch) I'm waiting....
Got my prophylactic on...
P.S. Bummed I missed the trip.
"Not so Big" Jeff gettin it on the Dusy in 2004:
Check out those "hard core" BFG ATs...