Builds I bought a Whale, now I gotta build it and use it (2 Viewers)

[HSTexan]

Haven't been out to Big Bend since I got my Cruiser, these pics are really giving me the itch to get back out there. You're a lot braver than I am doing it in July though

 

[wngrog]

Haven't been out to Big Bend since I got my Cruiser, these pics are really giving me the itch to get back out there. You're a lot braver than I am doing it in July though

I went out there in July SOLO in my 100 in 2017. I was not as prepared for that level heat but I did it and it was magnificent. Mainly because no one is there. I’ve been going to Big Bend now for 33 years and every year it gets more crowded. I’ll jump a bit ahead on my new-to-me 200 shakedown run story to say we did 203 miles off pavement and did not see another living soul. It was magnificent.

 

[wngrog]

Old Ore Road runs the east part of the park on a north/south axis. We popped out on pavement around noon to temps in the low 90s.

We went down to the Boquillas overlook and picked up some trinkets from the good folks in Mexico. Ate a burrito that had been warmed on the 5.7 and then went to Rio Grande Village for some gas and ice.

Normally in cooler weather I would hike into Hot Springs while I was in the area but the low 90s were quickly turning into the high 90s and it was only 1 pm.

We hit East River Road (smooth side) and did some more speed runs. I was really really impressed with the stock 200 suspension. With the Toyos at 25 psi I was tossing it into turns with dips and washes and it was gobbling up everything I gave it.

We turned in at Solis to check out the Rio Grande but the local rain had it a muddy torrent so we grabbed an ice cream bar out of the National Luna and headed back to River Road



We owned the park. Not a soul was seen.

I have a backcountry road guidebook that tells you what to look for and check out along the trail. These rock veins are really cool and can be missed if traveling west to east

 

[wngrog]

We had two days in the park and I wanted to see all the gravel so we turned north just past Mariscal Mine and ran Black Gap south to north. This is my favorite direction

It was zero problem in the stock 200. I just had to work a couple spots in 4Low and mainly tried to keep from getting scratches.

 

[Godwin]

When will the 90-N-Younger sticker be available, and will the colors be bland to project the soullessness of these later models?

 

[wngrog]

When will the 90-N-Younger sticker be available, and will the colors be bland to project the soullessness of these later models?

New site $89Knover

 

[wngrog]

We wrapped up Black Gap in about 45 minutes and turned south again toward Mexico. This section is smooth with some nice whoops and we stretched out the trucks a bit. Temps were hovering at 100 degrees but that’s 20 degrees cooler than my last summer trip to BBNP. Make sure if you go in the summer you are prepared for deadly heat. That’s the reason I added the awning in case we had to do anything outside the vehicles in the afternoon heat. Luckily we did not.

Summertime primitive camping anywhere outside the Chisos Mountains would be a mistake so we booked a spot at the Lodge up in the Basin. These were started by the CCC in the early 40s and then competed by the park service. No AC but our cabin was fully shaded and it cooled to 65 at night so it was great.

Two bolts came out of my skid plate. I robbed a couple of the metal to plastic M8s and got it shored up

 

[SGT0311]

As always, nice photos and write up! Congrats on the 200... I sold my 2013 200 to get a new Tundra last year and have missed the 200 ever since.

I had the BP 51 suspension on the 200 and added mild spacers to dial it in and get it to sit the way I wanted it to be, but really liked the BP 51's.

 

[wngrog]

All this is research and development for what direction I’ll be taking the Whale…….

 

[wngrog]

The next morning we left the Basin at first light. The mountains were beginning to glow and wildlife was trying to beat the coming heat.

We gassed up at Panther Junction and headed to the trail. South to Black Gap to run it North/South then West River Road

This old tree marks a flowing stream that runs year around

wide open desert and diverse geography in Big Bend and the vehicular access makes it such a great destination

Black Gap itself has been stacked/paved for a few years now but we walked the Raptor on the high side and made it a little more fun for Lou

Elephant Tusk

 

[desmocruiser]

Nice trip and well documented as usual!

I am looking forward to the suspension and likely LRA aux or replacement tank additions to see which direction you go!

 

[wngrog]

Nice trip and well documented as usual!

I am looking forward to the suspension and likely LRA aux or replacement tank additions to see which direction you go!

I’ve definitely made some decisions based on this trip to move forward.

One thing I won’t be doing is an auxiliary tank where the spare tire goes because I am sick of swing out tire carriers.

If someone makes a larger tank that goes in the OEM spot I might would consider that though.

 

[desmocruiser]

Yeah, I agree on the swing outs, they are a pain, other than my 40, I only have one on an 80 with 35's and the 28 gallon LRA.

The inconvenience of stopping was enough for me to add the 12.5 gallon to my 200 and keep the spare in the stock location, it is enough to make most fuel stops at my convenience and give a couple hundred mile trail ride enough margin to get me to the next fuel.

Enjoy, they are great Cruisers for the long trips and out to dinner and really only limited by girth off road, but when it comes down to real trails, short trips, general errands etc., I prefer my more vintage rigs, at least that is my excuse to have more than one!

 

[wngrog]

I have not looked at the tank options. I’ll have to see how I end up using the truck.

There are a lot of gas stations where I go 99% of the time

 

[wngrog]

We took it a bit slower on Black Gap until the last stretch and then we aired them out

I let the Raptor go in front and once the dust settled I too dropped the hammer.

Very impressive in stock form. Very.

 

[onemanarmy]

I took off early for Ft Stockton making myself familiar with the adaptive Cruise
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I’d like to say my first stop was Rudy’s BBQ bit the 200 gets just as crappy gas mileage as my other Cruisers so Arlington was my second stop.
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I turned south to traverse the Hill Country on state highways for the second 400 mile leg of the trip View attachment 2721671

There is a new farm in Iraan

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I had a few miles of I10 at the end of the day as I approached Ft Stockton I decided to try to find the speed limiter on this thing.

It’s somewhere north of 118 mph. Never found it

Is this 8th? gear or are you downshifted here?

 

[wngrog]

Oh no. Likely 5th or 6th. I’m used to driving over 100 in other vehicles but this one made me go two handed at 100 and I backed off at 118. I’ll try to find the governor one day without an awning hanging off the roof and no gear in the back.

Is this 8th? gear or are you downshifted here?

 

[wngrog]

Anyone thinking about Big Bend, please don’t base your trip or travel times on this trip. I have 3-4 great trip reports based on more in depth exploring and some east side hikes. For this trip Lou and I were happy being behind the wheel soaking in the desert and mountains.

West River road gave us out first surprise
Of the trip…….mud. Actually deep mud. We had seen a thunderstorm in the distance the night before and we found where it was

The AT3s actually pulled pretty good. I ended up having to search for the traction control turn off button in the middle of the longest hole when I felt the Whale slowing down as I gave it more gas.

But as soon as that section was over we were back in the sand and rock and hammered down. Always love the first view of Mule Ears …..

 

[wngrog]

If you are traveling West River Road always make time to explore down to the Rio at Talley and check out Loop Camp. Great side trips.

We had a mission this day so we finished up and took the pavement up and out of the park. Old Maverick road was the only gravel we missed and usually it’s a pretty miserable wash board.

I’ll say these big dopey chrome strips do a great job keeping mud off the top of the truck

 

[wngrog]

We ate some fajitas that were likely cat meat in Study Butte after airing up and started up FM170…..one of the most beautiful paved drives in the country

From Lajitas to Presidio the road follows the Rio Grande and is simply beautiful. There are many River take outs where you can ease down to the River. You can see how muddy it was from the thunderstorms