Best place to camp is Mahogany Flat at 8200 ft. 35-40 degrees cooler than the valley, gateway to Telescope peak at over 11,000 ft. only 5 campsites there. The other cool place is the geologists cabins in Stripped Butte valley.
Need advice for kitting up for a Death Valley 6 day run
- Thread starter Nardulli
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Nardulli
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #22
I truly appreciate the shared wisdom and the willingness of everyone here to share. I’ve been on vacation on the big island Kona coast for the last two weeks and made sport out of sitting at the pool bar researching and buying a rather alarming pile of parts, accessories and general stuff. The parts cannon was engaged. There’s a s*** ton of what I don’t know about the Cruiser addiction, but I’m learning fast.
I am not new to wrenching and have a fairly complete commercial shop which we use to maintain our fleet of service trucks, at least that’s the rather thin rationalization I use to justify it all, so the work is a lot easier than sliding under the rig on a creeper. (Which frankly hurts too much getting up from anyway)
I’ll post up some photos as I get things completed.
My plan is to have the truck shipped out to a 4x4 shop in Las Vegas, fly out there and pick it up and head to DV. I might have to pay them something or at least promise to let them fix whatever breaks. Wouldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes check the rig out - I’m thorough but nobody’s perfect.
Thanks again for all the good advice.
I am not new to wrenching and have a fairly complete commercial shop which we use to maintain our fleet of service trucks, at least that’s the rather thin rationalization I use to justify it all, so the work is a lot easier than sliding under the rig on a creeper. (Which frankly hurts too much getting up from anyway)
I’ll post up some photos as I get things completed.
My plan is to have the truck shipped out to a 4x4 shop in Las Vegas, fly out there and pick it up and head to DV. I might have to pay them something or at least promise to let them fix whatever breaks. Wouldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes check the rig out - I’m thorough but nobody’s perfect.
Thanks again for all the good advice.
Perhaps you find someone in the community where you can have the vehicle shipped 
Nardulli
GOLD Star
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2003
- Threads
- 97
- Messages
- 1,004
- Location
- Mission Viejo, Ca
- Website
- www.socallandcruisers.com
I have been using a Jackery Explorer 300. It is very small/portable and will easily run a fridge for two nights and charge devices without a recharge. Plug the fridge into a hardwire on the truck when driving and also recharge the Jackery at the same time so you are always at 100% when rolling into camp. I have been doing this for a few years now and don't have to worry about adding a dual battery system or killing the truck battery overnight. I only use the solar panel if I camp for more than one night at the same location. I also have a larger Jackery that will run an electric blanket overnight that my wife uses when cold.
Last edited:
I have an EcoFlow Delta 3 (1kwh), solar, Wave 2 (AC/ Heater) and the alternator charger.
So you have multiple ways to charge:
- regular power outlet
- solar
- plug in alternator charger
So you have multiple ways to charge:
- regular power outlet
- solar
- plug in alternator charger
If you are not doing anything crazy, go out and have fun. your rig is good enough. just bring necessity.
we are doing DV trips often and going through funeral range, mengel pass, steelpass, and graded roads. all you need to make sure is slow down and have a good spotter when needed.
we are doing DV trips often and going through funeral range, mengel pass, steelpass, and graded roads. all you need to make sure is slow down and have a good spotter when needed.
Our trip to DV next week is pending do to road closures. With the Gov shut down, we aren’t sure if they will be repaired.
Good tires in good condition, flat repair kit, compressor, spare in good condition. Air down once you hit dirt. Watch the road, lots of flats from dudes not paying attention. Water and warm clothes/bag. Have fun and don't over think it, there maybe a lot of people out there.
Panamint SPrings turns gas pumps off a night, be advised.
Panamint SPrings turns gas pumps off a night, be advised.
I see shocks on the ground, what else did you replace or upgrade?
You have pics of the suspension after? Just curious what 3'' look from underneath, any extender for the track bar?
Nardulli
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #36
I’ll get some pics tomorrow. Just picked it up at a shop here in Vegas. Nice folks. They took delivery from the transport, did a thorough check, re torqued all the new suspension parts (everything was torqued properly and paint marked but I appreciate the thoroughness. ) charged me $100. Company called Rogue Offroad in N
Nardulli
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #37
I’m back from my trip to Death Valley and thanks to you fine folks on this forum it was an unqualified success. It was me in my 24 year old 100 together with 4 nearly new Rubicons. I learned a great deal about off roading and the various suspension setups. The only limitation of my 100 was a boneheaded design I came up with for my spare tire / jerry can carrier. I basically created a tail dragger which limited my rock crawling angle. See photo.. Other than that my 100 kept pace with the Rubicons even with their lockers, sway bar disconnects, and solid axles. There were two V6 versions, a 392 and one diesel Rubicon. Advantage for me was no tent to set up and tear down. Slept in the truck on a 4” memory foam cot. The only casualty was my rear viewing mirror came loose from all the washboard road. Those Rubicons were ruining the washboard at 40 MPH - I kept up but it was brutal.
You have the best rig out of all of them. Running washboards at 40 mph smoked their shocks, even if comfortable for them. Looks like a great trip!
Which trails did you hit? Did you guys stay at the springs?
Nardulli
GOLD Star
- Thread starter
- #40
Met up in Lone Pine, CA. Checked out the Manzanar site then up to the Reward Mine. I made it about halfway down the mine before my mild case of claustrophobia turned into a hot mess. From there up to Mazouka Canyon. Camped up near Mazouka peak (9,500 ft) and froze our arses off. Then down to Saline Valley , traversed to the very funky hot springs where we camped. The 'shower' is very out in the open. But, f it, I needed a shower. Whereupon a group of two guys and three women decided to congregate around me. Really? So, I turned to face them and joined in the convo. Too weird but hey, if standing around naked watching a dude shower is your thing...
Did Lippencott pass (very cool) Ubehebe , then Racetrack via hunter mountain. From there it was Panamint. The 'resort' there is funky indeed. Went on next day to Ballarat ghost town. From there the plan was to hit Goler canyon, but we turned too soon and ended up in Coyote canyon. Some extreme obstacles forced us to turn around, and then hit up Goler all the way to Barker Ranch. (Of Charles Manson infamy) Had a nice afternoon lunch and siesta at Barker, played around on some steep, off camber trails. From there it was off to Stovepipe Wells for gas and supplies. Made camp up Mosaic Canyon. Checked out Amargosa dunes. Finally it was off to Beatty for an actual motel bed and restaurant meal. In all, I recorded 481 miles off road on On-x. My 100 is still at Rogue Offraod in Las Vegas. Bent left side lower C-arm. Both CVs spewing grease. I have to say, that I am fully hooked. The cruiser just needs a rear locker to be ablt to go anywhere those rubicons go.