Builds Trail Destruction, McGyver repairs, cruiseroutfitters, and expedition build (3 Viewers)

[Crawdad]

Totally agree with @blarsen on that. Rig is fully capable, issues were lack of attention on my part. Never again though . Wheel hard, but play smart. Be prepared .

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Great trail repair. This is a good example that clearly warns others that the 80 was never designed to tackle trails like this. Breakage is imminent. And if nothing breaks, the driveline has been permanently stressed to the limits of its design tolerance. Future reliability of the stressed parts can no longer be trusted.

Totally disagree with this. Breakage is not imminent. When I did it we had 5 80's and 1 60 with 80 axles with no damage, we also had a 70 and another 60 that had 0 problems with their axles. The 80 is totally up to all that trail can throw at it. The u joint was unfortunate and I bet the knuckle was a lack of checking the torque on the knuckle studs before they set off in the morning (correct me if im wrong OP). If they are torqued properly and you check them daily on the trail you will most likely never have a problem.

 

[duggy]

Great trail repair. This is a good example that clearly warns others that the 80 was never designed to tackle trails like this. Breakage is imminent. And if nothing breaks, the driveline has been permanently stressed to the limits of its design tolerance. Future reliability of the stressed parts can no longer be trusted.

Clearly.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Where is this line? I cant believe I dont remeber it of is it pictures (in this cae) make it look worst?

@blarsen Good job on the trail repair. Your jack setting on the control arm is almost as scary as the hill. You need a Jack Adapter for your own safetyfor doing trail repairs in the future.

HITR donation picture ....What line not to take...Not Me

 

[gofast]

wow - looks like a great trip and a good reminder for me to check the studs

 

[jfz80]

Clearly.

Clearly not so in my opinion. You just dont hear about all the trips that go on without issue.... unless you read the fawking mind blowing hitr thread. We had 8 rigs and the worst fate we suffered was a wood screw in the new tires I picked up somewhere on day one....probably from the dangerous tarmac

Where is this line? I cant believe I dont remeber it of is it pictures (in this cae) make it look worst?

Still been wondering the same thing. Dont recall that climb not that there werent many steep ascents but they are all still clearly notable in my mind... and maybe the seat leather

while youre tool is definitely handy (and i followed your example after our trip ) thats the intended jack and location.... while i wouldnt go hanging out in the shade i much prefer that than a high lift.... at least on level ground and then they all suck

 

[jfz80]

Crawdad.... howd that 3rd gen runner do? dis he do the whole trip wth you?

 

[OGBeno]

I like that this trail continues to "boggle" folks.....

And test people. A testament to the folks who left Escalante over 100 years ago.

 

[duggy]

Clearly not so in my opinion. You just dont hear about all the trips that go on without issue.... unless you read the fawking mind blowing hitr thread. We had 8 rigs and the worst fate we suffered was a wood screw in the new tires I picked up somewhere on day one....probably from the dangerous tarmac

Hah, I was being sarcastic

 

[Heckraiser]

Crawdad.... howd that 3rd gen runner do? dis he do the whole trip wth you?

IFS 3rd gen 4Runner with a little aftermarket help can go almost anywhere an 80 can go (even more places where squeezing between trees is necessary). In fact, with the 80's inherent lack of front articulation and abundance of rear articulation, driving both is a pretty similar experience. Just be prepared to change CV axles on the trail

 

[jfz80]

IFS 3rd gen 4Runner with a little aftermarket help can go almost anywhere an 80 can go (even more places where squeezing between trees is necessary). In fact, with the 80's inherent lack of front articulation and abundance of rear articulation, driving both is a pretty similar experience. Just be prepared to change CV axles on the trail

Agree. Just couldnt tell if lifted and assumed a rear locker. Cvs but mostly bumpers were my thoughts. I think we saw one tree in 3 days lol but lots of bumper dragging with 4" and 35s

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

A drivers view of the trail
I filmed this holding the camera with one hand while driving

 

[Crawdad]

Totally disagree with this. Breakage is not imminent. When I did it we had 5 80's and 1 60 with 80 axles with no damage, we also had a 70 and another 60 that had 0 problems with their axles. The 80 is totally up to all that trail can throw at it. The u joint was unfortunate and I bet the knuckle was a lack of checking the torque on the knuckle studs before they set off in the morning (correct me if im wrong OP). If they are torqued properly and you check them daily on the trail you will most likely never have a problem.

I had not checked them (knuckle studs) this trip and take full responsibility for the steering linkage failure. I had found them to be properly torqued and not loose each time I checked over the past 20k miles and got comfortable that they were fine.... Won't leave that to chance again.

 

[Crawdad]

Where is this line? I cant believe I dont remeber it of is it pictures (in this cae) make it look worst?

@blarsen Good job on the trail repair. Your jack setting on the control arm is almost as scary as the hill. You need a Jack Adapter for your own safetyfor doing trail repairs in the future.

HITR donation picture ....What line not to take...Not Me

View attachment 1342927

This line is a few hundred yards after the chute, pictured in post #5 picture #4. you come down the chute, up the nose at the bottom, then a short time later this is the route up from the canyon. I'm told that the trail used to go around this, but a bad washout left this as the primary trail route... it's as steep as it looks from both the bottom and the top.

 

[Crawdad]

Clearly not so in my opinion. You just dont hear about all the trips that go on without issue.... unless you read the fawking mind blowing hitr thread. We had 8 rigs and the worst fate we suffered was a wood screw in the new tires I picked up somewhere on day one....probably from the dangerous tarmac

View attachment 1343114
View attachment 1343115


Still been wondering the same thing. Dont recall that climb not that there werent many steep ascents but they are all still clearly notable in my mind... and maybe the seat leather

while youre tool is definitely handy (and i followed your example after our trip ) thats the intended jack and location.... while i wouldnt go hanging out in the shade i much prefer that than a high lift.... at least on level ground and then they all suck

I definitely wanted the jack tool and was going to build one for this trip, it just didn't get done... It's at the laser shop now getting cut and bent. As a side note, the jack was sketchy on that angle and the tire was placed under the frame with a board across the top in case the jack failed. Which it did and the tire kept it from cutting my legs off as I was under the knuckle sitting indian style at the time.

Not sure which cause more pucker stress, the repair or the jack pop..... preparation and care are the only things keeping us alive.

 

[Crawdad]

Crawdad.... howd that 3rd gen runner do? dis he do the whole trip wth you?

That 4 runner did great. It has about 3 inches lift and a lockrite in it. Good operator, good trail guide @blarsen, some expected wheel lift and it got through it just fine.

On a side note, the failures were in part due to the extra weight of 2 expedition builds which are HEAVY. the 4 runner was empty.

 

[Crawdad]

I will post a few video clips of the ascent and it's doom as well as the perspective from above and below.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I definitely wanted the jack tool and was going to build one for this trip, it just didn't get done... It's at the laser shop now getting cut and bent. As a side note, the jack was sketchy on that angle and the tire was placed under the frame with a board across the top in case the jack failed. Which it did and the tire kept it from cutting my legs off as I was under the knuckle sitting indian style at the time.

Not sure which cause more pucker stress, the repair or the jack pop..... preparation and care are the only things keeping us alive.

Wow laser cut and bent another option LCP Jack Adapter

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

I had not checked them (knuckle studs) this trip and take full responsibility for the steering linkage failure. I had found them to be properly torqued and not loose each time I checked over the past 20k miles and got comfortable that they were fine.... Won't leave that to chance again.

I have never had it happen to me but seen it happen so I always check them now

 

[Crawdad]

Wow laser cut and bent another option LCP Jack Adapter

My wife works at a laser shop, they do my bidding..... I can get you parts on the cheap!!!. Critical Laser. Lindon Ut.