Lol. I didn't think I wheeled hard enough but then again I was following behind @Markuson a few days in a row.
Events/Trails LCDC9
- Thread starter kcjaz
- Start date
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Heck yeah!! My "future" project board has a Taco or Tundra built up and outfitted with a flat bed on it.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Ouchy:
Heh… Those are some serious chunks missing under there.
Gotta love when armor earns its keep. We came out unscathed (Cole & I shared driving duties in his truck throughout), and there was only ONE hard use of armor fir us. It was one particular hit that surprised both Cole and I while I was driving. No damage, thanks to sliders, but was completely unseen by either of us. It happens… - I just paused, and we were both basically saying “What the bleep was that??!!??” But meh. It happens. Slider hits feel so abrupt when dropping hard onto their inner mount points. But I’ll take a loud, brief bang over a slow crunch any day. 
-Twas basically a hidden and abrupt front passenger drop, and I wonder if it was what carved the chunk out on your rig ( @Bullgump ).
FC Trails:
We found these trails deceptively capable of damage in sneaky ways that we simply didn’t see last go round in FC. Was really interesting to observe the extent of condition changes on trails that I consider pretty mild. Totally drivable without damage, but far more opportunities for boo-boos this year…and unfortunately, there were quite a few for some.
Fun Trails:
I love trails that make you solve little puzzles throughout, even if not famously epic or renowned. They were chewed up enough to be fun.
Dual Driver Madness:
I found it super interesting to swap between driving/shotgun with another experienced driver. Never had an opportunity for that before, and appreciated the trust in such a gorgeous 200. It was a rare opportunity to peek inside minds and the strategies we each use to approach the zillion little trail choices that keep everyone paying attention. So many little variables that can work.
Sharing duties with a driver I’ve wheeled with more than any other on here (but in separate trucks) filled in the details on how and WHY we see each other choose choose this or that on trails.
Finally, since I was driving someone else’s truck, I found myself especially focussed in avoiding damage, even while not shying away from potential oopsies.
Physics Brain-Teasers:
Even through milder stuff, there’s something uniquely gratifying in knowing *exactly* your tires are at all times & as each trail element hits all four in the sequence you anticipate (or perhaps miss by an inch or two). When all tires hit perfectly on cue, its sort of like hitting an unusually satisfying chord on a guitar. -Everything hits as expected and its beautious.
Its fun to feel essentially in full control of each driving dynamic as you avoid that tree or potential unnecessary hit.On that dual driver note—I highly recommend trying the dual driver thing, as I found it surprisingly enlightening, whether driving or shot-gunning.
THANK YOU, @indycole , for the opportunity.
=
Markuson
SILVER Star
Hey BG, it was great wheeling with you the last couple days. Since we were in back, it left chances to chat while waiting & I enjoyed it. Love your huuuuge German Shepherd dowgy too… Guessing your shedding vacuum cleaner may get run into the ground this week.
it was great my friend. And picking your brain on lines, terrain, and how great these rigs are and can be was a bonus for me. I look forward to more trails and insight.Hey BG, it was great wheeling with you the last couple days. Since we were in back, it left chances to chat while waiting & I enjoyed it. Love your huuuuge German Shepherd dowgy too… Guessing your shedding vacuum cleaner may get run into the ground this week.
And the task of defurring the interior begins tomorrow but well worth it as he loved meeting everyone and seeing the mountains.
TheGrrrrr
GOLD Star
Heh…
Contrary to what some may guess…I have never suffered ANY body damage on any trail over all these years & I don’t think @indycole has, either.
*****League officials buzz in and referee check's the replay*****
"The ruling on the field is confirmed. Jerry can baskets are, by rule, part of the rear bumper and therefore damages resulting from shenanigans on Wipeout Hill do not count as body damage."
indycole
GOLD Star
Markuson
SILVER Star
*****League officials buzz in and referee check's the replay*****
"The ruling on the field is confirmed. Jerry can baskets are, by rule, part of the rear bumper and therefore damages resulting from shenanigans on Wipeout Hill do not count as body damage."
HA!! Awesome! So weird, Matt… -Just a minute ago Before peeking here again I was LITERALLY just now thinking of adding: “Only exception being @TheGrrrrr witnessing me juuuuuust snagging my Slee jerry can basket on a tall boulder as I butt-hopped toward driver a wee bit while hopping UP the entrance to the main fun on Wipe-out Hill trail in moab!”
Annoying, bc I haven’t figured out how to bend it back…as it also tweaked my left swingout ladder… but meh.
It was on that same wipe-out hill where my truck got nervous and pooped itself…
(Maybe you remember my goofy little hillbilly Markuson video post…)
Markuson
SILVER Star
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kcjaz
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #312
Dual Driver Madness:
I found it super interesting to swap between driving/shotgun with another experienced driver. Never had an opportunity for that before, and appreciated the trust in such a gorgeous 200. It was a rare opportunity to peek inside minds and the strategies we each use to approach the zillion little trail choices that keep everyone paying attention. So many little variables that can work.
Sharing duties with a driver I’ve wheeled with more than any other on here (but in separate trucks) filled in the details on how and WHY we see each other choose choose this or that on trails.
Finally, since I was driving someone else’s truck, I found myself especially focussed in avoiding damage, even while not shying away from potential oopsies.
Physics Brain-Teasers:
Even through milder stuff, there’s something uniquely gratifying in knowing *exactly* your tires are at all times & as each trail element hits all four in the sequence you anticipate (or perhaps miss by an inch or two). When all tires hit perfectly on cue, its sort of like hitting an unusually satisfying chord on a guitar. -Everything hits as expected and its beautious.
On that dual driver note—I highly recommend trying the dual driver thing, as I found it surprisingly enlightening, whether driving or shot-gunning.
Agree! While I didn't drive anyone's truck, I did do a lot of riding along in different rigs (I didn't want to take too much risk with the stock Taco). I also did more spotting and just watching of others than in years past. It was a great experience to see how other drivers pick lines and make adjustments as well as opportunity to get to know some folks I had not met before.
While I missed driving my 200, the overall event experience was still awesome. The 200s are all cool, but, IMO, its really more the people that participate in LCDC that make the event!
Was some Miller Rock, but more Kelly flats. Hit the shocks hard climbing heart attack Hill.
On street tires no less!
I think the Defenders proved their metal. They are so ugly though. Loving the MPG on these long trips.
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My rear shock guards are not BudBuilt (BB).
After LCDC IX, when my OME BP-51 rear shocks were being removed so they could be sent to ARB to rebuilt, damage to a rear shock mount was discovered.
Could a damaged rear shock mount be heated and straightened? Maybe...but the heat would weaken the rear shock mount. Would the straightened mount fail when on a trail like Fins & Things in Moab, UT? on Poughkeepsie Gulch in the San Juans, CO? on Black Bear Pass?
I do not run trails like 'Metal Masher' or 'Poison Spider' in Moab, but I am not willing to accept the risk that a straightened shock mount will fail on any off-road trail.
Unfortunately the shock mount is part of the rear axel housing assembly (42110-60A52).
I’d heat and straighten but I think worst case a decent shop could grind off the old mount and weld a coupling nut inside there as a replacement.
I’ve also seen a few people weld a bolt higher up to get more shock travel, so you could cut out the old one and do that and then your shock would mount up with a washer and a nut instead of a bolt.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #320
Hey @elkeye, just pulled my driver rear BP51 shock off and found this:
A slight bend. I was able to temporarily put my OEM shock back on. Not sure what I’ll do to fix it. Probably heat and bend it back. Tempted to just ignore and keep rolling but I do think the bend doesn’t make the bushing very happy.