*Rickashay's 97' LX450* - "Tom Cruiser"

[Cruiserdrew]

Thanks @Cruiserdrew for supplying me with a spare Master Cylinder at a random coffee shop in Moab. It would have killed half my trip if fate did not provide me with an immediate master cylinder. Hope your trip went well Andrew!

No problem - I got my new one already from Cruiserdan. That was a pretty chance encounter. I recognize the alcove camp from HitR trail-we camped there one night as well. Awesome mind boggling spot. We also did the hike down to water from the end of the trail-one of the more interesting parts of the trip. Our 2 week adventure was amazing as well, and I can't wait to return.

 

[rickashay]

I have been neglecting my build threads a little bit lately. I little late to the party but here are a few more photos from my trip to the US.

Coming up Hells Gate:

DSC_0763.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130513-IMG_2636.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

The "Stairs" on Slick Rock Trail, NorCal:

20130513-IMG_2629.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130513-IMG_2622.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

[/u20130513-IMG_2588.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

/u20130512-IMG_2545.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

The Loneliest Highway in the US:

20130511-IMG_2507.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130508-IMG_2462.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130506-IMG_2384.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130506-IMG_2329.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr


I haven't been wheeling since getting home which really sucks but I've been waiting for parts to mend the truck and close to 100%. In the next two weeks:
- New power steering pump
- high pressure lines
- rear e-brake shoes
- new belts

Already done:
- oil change
- trans drain and fill

Upcoming Mods:
- FINALLY getting the roof rack installed/painted
- FINALLY ordering the parts for my projector retrofit: OEM LS460 Bi-Xenon Projectors

 

[balkanboy]

Those projectors will be sweet, I already have LS430 projectors waiting to be retrofited thinking of adding LS460 Bi-Xenon for High beam.
By the way how do you like your IS300 steering wheel for offroad driving, compared to stock wheel

 

[IanB]

Was that your Dad's green Taco in Moab? Great pics as always!

 

[rickashay]

Those projectors will be sweet, I already have LS430 projectors waiting to be retrofited thinking of adding LS460 Bi-Xenon for High beam.
By the way how do you like your IS300 steering wheel for offroad driving, compared to stock wheel

Yah I had LS460's in my 4Runner before this. I just love the unique shroud and the output is very good. I do projector retrofits on the side so I've worked with a lot of projectors and the LS460 is one of my favorites. LS430 is super badass for low beams BTW. I've got yellow halogen bulbs in my high beam slots and I want to keep that functionality (except have them wired to a switch instead of high beam trigger).

The IS300 wheel is deadly. I love the feel of it and I prefer it by far over the stock wheel in that regard. Still need to get those damn matching bucket seats in too!

Was that your Dad's green Taco in Moab? Great pics as always!

Hey thanks Ian! You must be getting stoked, if I recall July/August was the arrival for your new rig? Yah that's my Dad's green Tacoma.

 

[SFROMAN]

Sir,
Do you know where if there is a build thread for the white LX u have in your pictures? can you post up a link?


Very nice pictures by the way

 

[IanB]

Hey thanks Ian! You must be getting stoked, if I recall July/August was the arrival for your new rig? Yah that's my Dad's green Tacoma.

Stoked would be an understatement! Last week in August I fly to Vancouver to pick it up, then spend the next week meandering back to Calgary for a wedding, and then home. I'll hit you up closer to the date and see if you're around, we're not sure which route we'll take but I want to see some cool stuff in the mountains.

 

[balkanboy]

Yah I had LS460's in my 4Runner before this. I just love the unique shroud and the output is very good. I do projector retrofits on the side so I've worked with a lot of projectors and the LS460 is one of my favorites. LS430 is super badass for low beams BTW. I've got yellow halogen bulbs in my high beam slots and I want to keep that functionality (except have them wired to a switch instead of high beam trigger).

The IS300 wheel is deadly. I love the feel of it and I prefer it by far over the stock wheel in that regard. Still need to get those damn matching bucket seats in too!

Nice, I am totally planing to steal your idea for the steering wheel. Loved it first time I saw it in your build tread. Also I am looking to replace seats with Corbeau Baja XRS, I think that would be the right match for the steering wheel

 

[rickashay]

A couple photos from the weekend. Had a chance to get out to the mountains and do some camping and hit one of my favorite trails. I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story:

20130626-IMG_2912.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2947.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2940.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130626-IMG_2906.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2919.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2923.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2926.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2933.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130627-IMG_2957.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130628-IMG_2975.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

20130628-IMG_2978.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

 

[NLXTACY]

^ that's where I want to be next. Damn that looks like fun.

 

[AKers]

^ that's where I want to be next. Damn that looks like fun.

It is definitely an awesome place to wheel. I really wish I would've/could've went.

 

[NLXTACY]

It is definitely an awesome place to wheel. I really wish I would've/could've went.

Can I safely assume this is in BC? My son is talking about going into Canada this year now that we drive all the way to PoleBridge, MT and we were close enough to piss and have the overspray land in Canada

 

[AKers]

Nope, not BC. It's in southern Alberta, a location called Crowsnest Pass. Not far from the Montana/Alberta border though.

 

[rickashay]

Can I safely assume this is in BC? My son is talking about going into Canada this year now that we drive all the way to PoleBridge, MT and we were close enough to piss and have the overspray land in Canada

Haha don't get any overspray on us, just come up and use our toilets! haha Seriously though, I'd love to show you around/check out your vehicle if your in the area. I know some excellent areas in South Western Alberta as well as in BC. Let me know and I'd be happy to set something up.

Addison

Nope, not BC. It's in southern Alberta, a location called Crowsnest Pass. Not far from the Montana/Alberta border though.

Nailed it. Too bad you werent there to join us Alex. We'll get you down here another time for sure!

 

[rickashay]

Not much work on the truck lately. I've been using it more than turning wrenches, so I guess that's not a bad problem to have!

I was able to head out to the Crowsnest again this weekend with some good friends. One of our local CT4WD members is moving to Ontario and asked is I (and a few others) would take him to the Crowsnest Pass before he makes the move out East. He had never been down here before surprisingly and I felt I would oblige. A fairly large group, much larger than I typically like to wheel with, but the company was exceptional and we made progress on the trail like there was only 3 trucks. A testament to good drivers with well built vehicles.

Photos gallore:

Friday at 4:00pm we were destined to meet at Safeway on the south end of Calgary. A few of us rolled in late, as work is not always easy to shake on time. ARB fridges packed with delicious ingrediants and a full supply of "hydrational beverages" and we were set for a good time. A short blast to the hills had us roll into Crowsnest Fas Gas @ 7:00pm. We made good time and rushed into one of my favorite campsites near the old mining town of Lille. After setting up camp for the night and filling our stomachs, we decided to do a short night run up the Powerline Trail.

Not too many turned out but you get the idea:


20130717-IMG_2993.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr



20130717-IMG_3001.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Some large and loose rock provided some entertainment as we scaled the mountain to it's peak. Unfortunately due to the forest fires, the haze prohibited us from any really good views that night of the surrounding towns. You will see this as a continuing theme throughout the rest of the phtotos.


20130717-IMG_3002.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

We rolled back into camp at 1:00 am and despite the fire ban in place, socialized around an empty fire pit with our headlamps in toe. After catching up and a few pops later, I was ready to curl up into the back of the Cruiser.

After hastily making up camp due to hitting the snooze a few too many times, we rushed back to town to meet up with the rest of our group who could not join the night before. We set a plan in place and headed for the trail head.

Nate playing in the rocks in his 81' while we were airing down our tires:


20130718-IMG_3021.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

I was positioned to break trail for the day. Tires ballooned to 10 psi and off up the trail. Around one of the first bends in this magical trail, we were greeted with the first insights of the days epic scenery:


20130718-IMG_3028.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

This gem of a trail zig-zags back and forth over a crystal clear creek fed by ice fields. At every crossing I was reminded why I built a truck like this - to get out and explore and see things normally out of reach of the average persons reach.


20130718-IMG_3033.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Marc's 5th Gen looking way too good:


20130718-IMG_3038.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Tyler scoping his line:


20130718-IMG_3045.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

After climbing through the valley's bottom, the trail climbs up and out of the treeline. This is our first of many vistas along the way, looking back down the valley:


20130718-IMG_3064.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

I just couldnt help myself:


20130718-IMG_3081.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Looking UP:


20130718-IMG_3085.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Chris making the next rocky climb with his new Maxxis Tires - this thing is a monster!


20130718-IMG_3091.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

The 81':


20130718-IMG_3106.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

We made it to the top of the dead-end trail in good time, stopping for lunch along the way. Once at the top we explored a few off chute trails to no avail. I had my inclinometer at 35+ degrees and things were getting worse so I made the call to turn around. We did however find a good log to pose on:


20130718-IMG_3111.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr



20130718-IMG_3113.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

And so began our decent back down and one of my favorite shots of the weekend:


20130718-IMG_3118.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

We reached the bottom and broke for camp for the second night. We climbed an old mine to the top of a mountain, giving us a decent backdrop for our shenanigans later that night:


20130718-IMG_3130.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

I must admit, this was pretty cool. I was preparing some good on the tailgate of my Cruiser and while reflecting on the days adventure. I look up and everyone has disappeared. I short walk around the corner and this is what I find:


20130718-IMG_3140.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

I am truly blessed to have such awesome friends to share adventures like this with. It appears they all got side tracked by the scenery and decided to line up for some laughs.

 

[rickashay]

After waking, we rolled into position for a group shot:


20130719-IMG_3152.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

We rolled around the idea of a few trails for Sunday's run. OUr trip had just been so scenic up to this point we thought we would keep it going. From our camp site we could see a road winding up the next mountain to even higher elevations. We decided to explore until we found this road, sitting us on top of the world.

On the up and up:


20130719-IMG_3154.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Perspective.


20130719-IMG_3156.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Getting close:


20130719-IMG_3166.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

The summit, looking South near the backside of Waterton Lakes National Park:


20130719-IMG_3184.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Nate catching up on emails, haha


20130719-IMG_3188.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

On top of the world @ 2150m


20130719-IMG_3190.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

One final pose before heading down:


20130719-IMG_3200.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

All in all, very uneventful in terms of technical trails and recoveries. However, sometimes it's nice to get out and enjoy the scenery. I think we accomplished that and this trip has me drooling for more.

Until next time.

 

[Gorilla]

Amazing pics and well documented man! Love it.

 

[NLXTACY]

It's official, I need more friends

 

[UnderDawg]

It's official, I need more friends

You and me both.
Seeing these pics makes me look forward to the days when I have my Cruiser trail ready. I've got a couple buddies with rigs and their always bragging and bagging on me about going. Great shots man, looks like a really great time.

 

[IanB]

I want to go to there! Are you working the last week of August Addison? That's when I'll be rolling through with the new Cruiser, I have a wedding in Calgary on the weekend though.