The Carson National Forest - 3 night solo overlanding trip

[Poupon]

I decided to explore the Carson National Forest last weekend. With the help of a few club members, I was able to find some very nice forest roads to explore. Here are a few pix and a link to additional photos.

Link to Google Photo Album

I ended up starting from the CO/NM boarder outside of Antonito CO. I decided to use the NMBDR route as my base and then take spur roads/loops as I headed south. Except for a few easily accessible areas, I was completely alone, seeing very few people during my travels. What a beautiful NF. There is so much to explore here with a variety of trails - all doable with high clearance stock SUV.

Please see the attached .gpx. Please let me know if someone is able to down load this and see my route and various way points.


Cheers!

GPX viewer

 

[Poupon]

I had Walt's guys replaced the originally modified Toyota sway bar couplings with Total Chaos couplings, since the TC couplings had not be developed when I did my stage 2 with Walt. Unfortunately the driver side coupling failed as soon as I hit dirt and I had to remove the KDSS control arm and proceed without KDSS for the rest of the trip.

 

[Dumpolina]

Excellent Larry!! (except for the coupling FUBAR) Solo is so very good for the soul, especially up there

 

[BionicCruiser]

My elk hunt last year was in and around the Cruces Basin wilderness. lots of elk, deer and antelope there! we loved it.

 

[mesa man]

Are you sure you weren't thrashing on your beautiful twohundy Larry!

 

[NMBruce]

Great area, I did the north part of the NMBDR a few weeks ago with a few friends that needed to get away

 

[NyNomad]

I like Carson NF.

 

[Poupon]

Are you sure you weren't thrashing on your beautiful twohundy Larry!

Well, that could be a factor, my 4-in-a-40 friend! The gravel roads from CO17 to the 1st camp spot were a bit washed out and I was moving at a good pace. Even though I had run the OEM couplings for years on harsh roads, I guess there is always a chance that I just hit it hard at the right angle etc.

Because it happened so quickly, I am leaning towards one of two reasons for the failure. Either there was a defect in the casting or the "non-OEM" set up is simply inferior. Walt at TAV is going to study the replacement couplings, now on order, over a few days and then I will have a chance to run the replacement linkage over several runs next week at the LCDC near FT Collins and then our HDC runs out of Ouray the following weekend.

That should reveal any further issues if the application is the cause.

 

[mesa man]

Sounds like a plan, hope it goes smooth, see ya up in Ouray.

 

[Pyro-boy]

I had Walt's guys replaced the originally modified Toyota sway bar couplings with Total Chaos couplings, since the TC couplings had not be developed when I did my stage 2 with Walt. Unfortunately the driver side coupling failed as soon as I hit dirt and I had to remove the KDSS control arm and proceed without KDSS for the rest of the trip.


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Would a stock Tundra link work?

Vince

 

[Poupon]

Would a stock Tundra link work?

good question - I will ask.

 

[empty80]

good question - I will ask.

There’s a few 200s running the Tundra links to reduce the deflection of the KDSS relocation bracket. I think they can even be flipped for non-KDSS relo applications. I’d be inclined to give this a try before letting Walt have another crack at it.

 

[2manycruisers]

Thanks for sharing Larry! Looks like you had a great trip. I really want to get back up to that country soon.

 

[Poupon]

There’s a few 200s running the Tundra links to reduce the deflection of the KDSS relocation bracket. I think they can even be flipped for non-KDSS relo applications. I’d be inclined to give this a try before letting Walt have another crack at it.

Thanks Brandon. I am not completely sure I understand what you are describing but will explore with Walt and let you know.