How are you liking the wheel/tire combo for daily use? Also, any issues fitting the spare?
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'OLE BLUE - 2016 Blue Onyx Mods and Adventures
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- #42
It's still a great combo for us day-to-day. The 200 looks properly capable yet the road noise is not bad at all. Still would like a way to cover the rear axle hub as evoCorse doesn't have a proper center cap. Purely cosmetic (and minor) thing though. No issues with the spare; dropped the oem and rolled this one right back into place.
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- #44
I'm up for that, good thinking.
If they had a cap I’d order a set today. I like those Ridge Grapplers too. I had 35 trails on my Tundra and while they were great tires they were too noisy on long highway trips.
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- #46
@REZolution Same experience here. I'm picking up a new '18 Denali HD tomorrow and trading in a '15 with Trail Graps on it. After my experience with the Ridge's on the 200 that's what I'm having put on this new one also. Granted the GMC might need the extra grip of the trail graps compared to the 200. 
I may just dismount the wheels and rattle can the hubs gunmetal to see how that looks. I even thought about just cutting some thick vinyl like that used on wraps to see how that would work also. Both of those options are Simple/Cheap and no worries about complications from material thickness etc.
I may just dismount the wheels and rattle can the hubs gunmetal to see how that looks. I even thought about just cutting some thick vinyl like that used on wraps to see how that would work also. Both of those options are Simple/Cheap and no worries about complications from material thickness etc.
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- #47
Fuel Mileage Cross-Country and Towing the Turtle
So I scrolled through the thread and didn't see where I followed up on posting this information. Maybe it'll come in handy for some of you guys thinking about upcoming big summer trips. No two situations are the same but this is a good point of reference if nothing else. I tracked my fueling as best I could on the trip so I could come up with a good idea of MPG and how much it varied. Bottom line is it doesn't really vary and was remarkably consistent considering the variables of terrain/grade/speed/elevation/wind etc. Maybe with so many variables something is always going to be kicking your butt bottom line.
2016 w/ 8sp
GCVW:~9260 with Turtleback Trailer included
Premium at every stop.
I didn't get EVERY fuel stop recorded but I did pretty damn good all things considered. Here's the log with a summary:
This is real world not running it down to the last drop but rather a 9 year old or a 5 year old with a bladder about to let loose or whining about lunch etc. We do pretty good all things considered though. Also FYI I combined the first 2 stops in Georgia (just in case anyone was wondering how I got 26 gal on that first fill up!)
Also in case anyone is curious if I take the one 16mpg tank with no turtle out of the log the average MPG only moves to 11.68MPG.
So I scrolled through the thread and didn't see where I followed up on posting this information. Maybe it'll come in handy for some of you guys thinking about upcoming big summer trips. No two situations are the same but this is a good point of reference if nothing else. I tracked my fueling as best I could on the trip so I could come up with a good idea of MPG and how much it varied. Bottom line is it doesn't really vary and was remarkably consistent considering the variables of terrain/grade/speed/elevation/wind etc. Maybe with so many variables something is always going to be kicking your butt bottom line.
2016 w/ 8sp
GCVW:~9260 with Turtleback Trailer included
Premium at every stop.
I didn't get EVERY fuel stop recorded but I did pretty damn good all things considered. Here's the log with a summary:
This is real world not running it down to the last drop but rather a 9 year old or a 5 year old with a bladder about to let loose or whining about lunch etc. We do pretty good all things considered though. Also FYI I combined the first 2 stops in Georgia (just in case anyone was wondering how I got 26 gal on that first fill up!)
Also in case anyone is curious if I take the one 16mpg tank with no turtle out of the log the average MPG only moves to 11.68MPG.
Tad, somehow I missed this thread when you were posting from the beginning so a I’m glad you added this as it brought the thread back to the top. I prefer the threads that show the LC being used for adventures and this is a great one. Inspires me to keep getting out there! I loved not only the images and vids of the area you were going through but also the fact that you were sharing it as a family. Kudos to you and your wife! Great trip. And even though I’ve been to some of these areas, your trip report has added new ones to the list. Thanks again!
@BRob2756 Don't wait too long. Even if they don't remember it they'll enjoy it at the time. My little man turned 1 on Black Bear Pass; one day he'll have a great story to tell the ladies...
Day 4 NM->AZ
We started out early and pushed hard on Day 4. We started out at Acoma, which my parents took me to as a 7YO 33 years ago. That was a cool moment for me getting my kids there. For those unfamiliar with Acoma it is a Pueblo Village situated atop a 350' tall mesa and has been continuously inhabited since 1150AD. (Pic below is not mine.)
One cool thing we did that I didn't do in '84 was take the old trail down. It was a little hariy getting the 4YO down but we did it and were glad we took that line instead of a shuttle.
We took the route to Acoma that went by Enchanted Mesa and that was much more scenic than the signage induced way. Left there and set our sights on Utah by the end of the day. 6hrs later we were staring at Horseshoe Bend. While the iconic view was fantastic I had no idea of the volume of tourists. Wow, was it like being in the middle of a cattle drive! Obligatory Pic was one of the only ones I've pulled from the dSLR and uploaded so far. All of the iPotato pics didn't have a wide enough field of view:
Parking Lot at Horseshoe Bend; you never see this side:
This could be a dumb question but if this habitation is 350ft in the air, how did you get to the top?
And, how does a civilization stay stable with no source of running water for hundreds of years?
Definitely, looks like an exciting visit though.
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- #50
Man you're just over in AZ you are supposed to go ask them! Kidding aside, they have a road that goes up there now LOL. BUT, back in ancient times their supplies were hand carried up there. Water was scarce but was held in some very small cachement ponds/cisterns on top of the mesa. I believe they still carried most of it up from the floor below. Even now all they have is basically a very fancy porta-potty and shower system setup on top. Interestingly many families now live nearby off the mesa and return to Acoma to get back to their roots annually but very few live there full time.
For the tourists you can ride a bus up and down from their visitor/cultural center at the bottom. Alternatively you can elect to hike down a steep ancient access path to return back down. We elected to do that of course which while no big deal for most able bodied outdoors oriented adults was a bit daunting for the short legs and arms of our kids. We'd do that route again in a heartbeat though. That pic of my 5YO looking down is on the way down from Acoma. Our tour group was my family and a 7 person team from the Army that was there as part of a team building exercise. They were impressed with our kids not backing down from a challenge.
Here's their website: Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum
My parents took me in 1984 and there was no fancy cultural center or buses etc. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me to be able to take my children there. Even moreso that the tour guide we had was the grandson of the lady that was our guide in '84!
raincityrider
Go'n Fast and Take'n Chances Since the 70's
Amazing Trip! This is exactly why I bought my vehicle!
raincityrider
Go'n Fast and Take'n Chances Since the 70's
I'm thinking of doing the same wheels and tires.
reddog90
SILVER Star
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- #54
We've done some but not been diligent in our chronicling of them. Need to step that up!
Also been tied up with some other trips lately. Did all 5 great lakes and up into Ontario but that was in our 5th wheel so no 200.
Then we just wrapped up an Alaskan Cruise which I spent the bulk of the trip plotting on a 200 based trip up there.Will be doing the Georgia Traverse in the next month tentatively, but undetermined as to whether we take the 100 or 200. The 100 doesn't get much trail time anymore so I probably will take it since it's a short one close to home. 4.88's+35's in a 100 really make you appreciate the 200!
Really enjoyed reading thru your thread. I'm inspired to hit the road after reading this.
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- #56
Just a quick update. Bought new tires, got about 70k out of the Ridge Grapplers. Still had enough tread for the street but wouldn’t be good off-road. Anyhow I accidentally ordered 285/75 instead of 285/70’s. tire shop did their job and caught it, warned me and I figured it’s just a smidgen bigger right? Bad move. They rub badly up front. Just providing an update as many asked about the 285/70’s rubbing both they worked very well. 75’s? Not so much. 
Took a heat gun to fender liners, mudflats etc and it helped some. Still rubbing too much.
Took a heat gun to fender liners, mudflats etc and it helped some. Still rubbing too much.
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Just a quick update. Bought new tires, got about 70k out of the Ridge Grapplers. Still had enough tread for the street but wouldn’t be good off-road. Anyhow I accidentally ordered 285/75 instead of 285/70’s. tire shop did their job and caught it, warned me and I figured it’s just a smidgen bigger right? Bad move. They run badly up front. Just providing an update as many asked about the 285/70’s rubbing both they worked very well. 75’s? Not so much.
Took a heat gun to fender liners, mudflats etc and it helped some. Still rubbing too much.
Is that on a 17" or 18" wheel? Offset?
If a 17" wheel, that would be a 34, and I think you could make it work.
18", that's over 35"!
Ah, should have looked earlier in the thread. So EC wheels at +40 offset (that's a perfect offset scrub radius geometry wise btw)
Trying to fit a 285/75R17 tire at 33.83"
Where is it rubbing? If at the front and rear of the fender liners, you can use many of the same techniques I used here (for the LX).
forum.ih8mud.com
Trying to fit a 285/75R17 tire at 33.83"
Where is it rubbing? If at the front and rear of the fender liners, you can use many of the same techniques I used here (for the LX).
Fitting Full Fat 35x12.5 on an LX
Join along as I work through making the necessary clearance mods for 35x12.5R20s tires on my LX. These Toyo AT3s spec out to be 34.5" x 12.5". If you have any suggestions, I'm interested in hearing. Note that this fitment is specific to the LX as it's easier to fit larger and wider tires...
forum.ih8mud.com
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- #60
Yup on 17’s. I feel like I could work the wheel wells a little more and be close. Might have to look at spacers though? Thinking about biting the bullet, making an excuse and putting in an icon stage 2 kit.
