Solid Axle Summit 2017 - Ouray, CO

[Mr Cimarron]

 

[Mr Cimarron]

If anyone is worried about bringing a stock vehicle to the Ouray area, DON'T!!! @4Cruisers 40 went up and over everything including Black Bear. I also have no power steering and had no issues with any of the terrain. Some of the Black Bear switchbacks took some muscling but not a big deal.
Also we had zero breakdowns. All vehicles drove to Ouray, wheeled, then drove home. Many are continuing their journeys before heading home.

 

[4Cruisers]

If anyone is worried about bringing a stock vehicle to the Ouray area, DON'T!!! @4Cruisers 40 went up and over everything including Black Bear. I also have no power steering and had no issues with any of the terrain. Some of the Black Bear switchbacks took some muscling but not a big deal.
Also we had zero breakdowns. All vehicles drove to Ouray, wheeled, then drove home. Many are continuing their journeys before heading home.

I agree completely. A stock, well-tuned and maintained Land Cruiser will handle most any terrain. For years we drove our bone stock '84 FJ60 all around the deserts and mountains of NM, CO, UT, and NV, including a lot of rough terrain and difficult 4WD tracks. On this trip I decided to skip the run up Poughkeepsie Gulch and The Wall due to my '76 FJ40's limited ground clearance and stock size tires. For the next SAS I'll have 70-Series 16" wheels (the same wheels as @Mr Cimarron) with BFG LT235/85R16 ATs, and will do that run.

 

[Yackster]

I agree completely. A stock, well-tuned and maintained Land Cruiser will handle most any terrain. For years we drove our bone stock '84 FJ60 all around the deserts and mountains of NM, CO, UT, and NV, including a lot of rough terrain and difficult 4WD tracks. On this trip I decided to skip the run up Poughkeepsie Gulch and The Wall due to my '76 FJ40's limited ground clearance and stock size tires. For the next SAS I'll have 70-Series 16" wheels (the same wheels as @Mr Cimarron) with BFG LT235/85R16 ATs, and will do that run.

I was amazed at how well a stock 40 did!
Thank you to everyone that put this on. very excited for next year now that I know what to expect.
hope that all 30 re-turn. HA the (dirty 30)

 

[Mr Cimarron]

I agree completely. A stock, well-tuned and maintained Land Cruiser will handle most any terrain. For years we drove our bone stock '84 FJ60 all around the deserts and mountains of NM, CO, UT, and NV, including a lot of rough terrain and difficult 4WD tracks. On this trip I decided to skip the run up Poughkeepsie Gulch and The Wall due to my '76 FJ40's limited ground clearance and stock size tires. For the next SAS I'll have 70-Series 16" wheels (the same wheels as @Mr Cimarron) with BFG LT235/85R16 ATs, and will do that run.

I'm running next year as well. Just need to move my exhaust routing up a bit.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

@Mr Cimarron I am wowed by those snow walls. I think yours is the first photo of them. Awesome!
What was the average temp while you guys were there? And what was the elevation of camp?

 

[Mr Cimarron]

@Mr Cimarron I am wowed by those snow walls. I think yours is the first photo of them. Awesome!
What was the average temp while you guys were there? And what was the elevation of camp?

Ouray sits at 7,XXX. Don't remember the exact elevation. Camping in town made it real easy. We were lazy campers that walked into town for dinner most nights. It got down in the 50's at night and on the top it was in the 40's I would guess. Hailed everyday on top and was pretty cloudy as well. I was in shorts and t shirt most of the time and would put on jacket when it got cloudy and cool.

 

[meatloaf]

Great pics Cim & all, seems like a great time. I see a lot of Texas plates so it looks like our state was well represented. Hopefully I can get one of my trucks running by next year and join you all.

 

[fl4031003]

I got a few pictures to share.

 

[fl4031003]

A few more

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Ouray sits at 7,XXX. Don't remember the exact elevation. Camping in town made it real easy. We were lazy campers that walked into town for dinner most nights. It got down in the 50's at night and on the top it was in the 40's I would guess. Hailed everyday on top and was pretty cloudy as well. I was in shorts and t shirt most of the time and would put on jacket when it got cloudy and cool.

Cool. So 7k to 12k about. No chance you know what the gain was? Prob more than the peaks in NH huh, cuz the geography is more spread out in CO.
Regardless it's all very awesome. Someday I'd love to see it w/ my own eyes.

 

[4Cruisers]

I'm running next year as well. Just need to move my exhaust routing up a bit.

Same here, mine hangs as low as yours.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

Cool. So 7k to 12k about. No chance you know what the gain was? Prob more than the peaks in NH huh, cuz the geography is more spread out in CO.
Regardless it's all very awesome. Someday I'd love to see it w/ my own eyes.

Up to over 13,000 and it goes up real quick. Enough to test your seatbelt locks which mine pinned me in my seats like they should.

 

[Skniper]

OMG it's so sweltering hot and humid here right now. WhyTF do I live here?!?!

This would be a really cool trip to plan for next time. Great pics all.

 

[houstonfj40]

Great pics everyone, looks and sound like all had fun and returned safe. Was just out there, running 12k passes also, how did you guys keep the rads cool? I had some boiling when shutting off at the altitudes after a tough climb, running stock cap... did you guys run higher pressure caps? All coolant, no water? Thanks.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

Great pics everyone, looks and sound like all had fun and returned safe. Was just out there, running 12k passes also, how did you guys keep the rads cool? I had some boiling when shutting off at the altitudes after a tough climb, running stock cap... did you guys run higher pressure caps? All coolant, no water? Thanks.

I left the diesel running most of the time. Going up on Imogene from Telluride we stopped midway to let our group (3 diesels, 2 gassers) cool down by idling for a bit. That was the only time I personally had issues.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

OMG it's so sweltering hot and humid here right now. WhyTF do I live here?!?!

This would be a really cool trip to plan for next time. Great pics all.

I wondered the same thing driving back. Got into Texas and it felt like a blow dryer pointed at me with the windows down.

 

[houstonfj40]

I left the diesel running most of the time. Going up on Imogene from Telluride we stopped midway to let our group (3 diesels, 2 gassers) cool down by idling for a bit. That was the only time I personally had issues.

I ended up doing the same thing, letting her run a little before shutting off, drop it down 10-20 degrees. Was amazing to me how much easier the coolant got hot at the altitude and pressure. Thinking about getting a different cap for my future trips out west.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

I wondered the same thing driving back. Got into Texas and it felt like a blow dryer pointed at me with the windows down.

Between Springer and Clayton NM yesterday the blow dryer effect hit us. 90 deg wasn't unbearable but compaired to 70 and clouds it was a shock to the system.

 

[cornboy]

Kinda off topic but any major loss of power issues at altitude ?? I've hesitated taking the 60 out there thinking it would be a real dog at that altitude

No one with a stock 60/62 had any power issues based on altitude. I know I didn't.