Octotello Wells, Southern Cal Desert

[SanDiegoCruiser]

Ocotillo Wells, Southern Cal Desert

This was the first trip off-road in the Land Cruiser. Took my wife and two dogs (Shiba Inu's). Cruiser did great, and I didn't even have to deflat tires. Just locked center diff. I also used Low and Rear diff lockers a few times going over some San Dunes.

The only minor problem was it sounded like my full size 285/75/16 spare draged a few times. I guess I will look into doing the mod to give me more clearance.

 

[CappyKD]

Awesome. Nice pics.

 

[e9999]

glad it went well.



(I'll pretend that the scraping bit and the need for mod is the Tech part... )

 

[pfran42]

Nice to see someone buy a 100 and then quickly get out there and use it! It's also good to exercise the diffs for probably the 1st time in the Cruiser's lifetime .

- Sent from a very small supercomputer.

 

[no-pistons]

Nice pics. I'm sure what you're hearing is the hitch scraping. I hit mine all the time. I've never scraped the spare, but it wont hurt to get it tucked up as high as you can.

 

[Mxndrnks]

I too bet it is the hitch. Looks like you had fun!

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

I too bet it is the hitch. Looks like you had fun!

I think you guys are right. I noticed the rubber Toyota hitch cap is missing after this trip. Seems like the hitch dragged and tore off the end cap.

One thing I did notice was it took about 2 minutes for the rear lockers light to stop blinking and turn solid when I locked the rear wheels. Is this normal? I turned it on when I was in sand, about to go up and over a large sand dune.

 

[mechanixhorseman]

There's a familiar desert, assuming you meant Ocotillo Wells ;p

I scrape my hitch all the time. I've even managed to gum up my rear tail light connector, despite it being located higher than the hitch.

Time for a new rear bumper I guess.

We all need to do a socal ride one of these days soon.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

There's a familiar desert, assuming you meant Ocotillo Wells ;p

I scrape my hitch all the time. I've even managed to gum up my rear tail light connector, despite it being located higher than the hitch.

Time for a new rear bumper I guess.

We all need to do a socal ride one of these days soon.

Yep, you are right. I spelled it incorrectly. Octotello vs Octollio. I think I will look into Truck Trail _ Santiago Peak - Santa Ana Mountains as the next trip. Hopefully my stock LC will make it up there.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trails-events-expeditions/128478-santiago-peak-west-socal-pics.html

 

[CappyKD]

Yep, you are right. I spelled it incorrectly. Octotello vs Octollio. I think I will look into Truck Trail _ Santiago Peak - Santa Ana Mountains as the next trip. Hopefully my stock LC will make it up there.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trails-events-expeditions/128478-santiago-peak-west-socal-pics.html

Santiago peak is no problem for a stock LC. When are you thinking about going? We should get a group of us SoCalers together and do the run. There were a few others on another thread who recently expressed interest in heading up there.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

Santiago peak is no problem for a stock LC. When are you thinking about going? We should get a group of us SoCalers together and do the run. There were a few others on another thread who recently expressed interest in heading up there.

Not exactly sure when. If we plan it out for a few weeks in advance, maybe we can get a group of us together. Whatever date works for the most people makes sense.

 

[CappyKD]

I know Eric (no-pistons) wanted to head up there, i will have to find the thread where everybody chimed in and set something up.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

OK, Cool. Create a new thread and put a link on this one to it...

 

[Mxndrnks]

I want to head out with you guys... But it is really about timing for me. I need a job first so I can get my trans fixed. I have been having some real withdrawal.....

 

[no-pistons]

I want to head out with you guys... But it is really about timing for me. I need a job first so I can get my trans fixed. I have been having some real withdrawal.....

What's wrong with the trans? And ditto on finding a job. It sucks...

 

[Mxndrnks]

What's wrong with the trans? And ditto on finding a job. It sucks...

From the trouble shooting I have done, I "think" the torque converter is going out on it. But not 100 % sure yet. Since it is an unknown expense at this point, I have been holding out until I am working since neither my wife or I have worked since last June when we moved here.

Being an architect in a down economy isnt fun. Especially here in Socal. Up in San Francisco work was booming. I thought I was going to have something lined up by now.... If push comes to shove I will go put my EMT license or other skills to work. I am a jack of all trades....

 

[Skidoo]

Mxndrnks, what symptoms do you have? You might get lucky, as I did with my 2000.
I was having issues, so took it to a dealer before and their diagnostics said it needed a new transmission. So I unplugged all the transmission electrical connectors and hit them with contact cleaner. 20K miles after cleaning contacts it is still working great.

 

[Mxndrnks]

The noise I get is not consistent. In the couple of months I have started getting a noise when sitting at a red light. It is not the standard thunk/thud in all the other threads. Best I can describe is more of a moan and sequel. It seems to have a rotational sound to it. If I shift into neutral it immediately goes away. Light changes, I shift back into drive and it doesnt make any other sounds. It also seems to shift just fine. This only happens when sitting at a red light and it doesnt happen all the time. Started right after towing a trailer from San Francisco to San Diego. First and only time I have ever towed and I pushed pretty hard.... SO I am guessing I did this.

I hope it ends up being an inexpensive fix!!!!

 

[Skidoo]

I wasn't getting any noises, just shifting issues and codes. Good luck.