Aurora Sandman

How gone are your treads?

Flygtenstein

We are back safely.

Brent and Heather rode back with me and are getting the G in the morning.

I am sorry if you were still in radio contact when the front end went. It was one of the scariest things I have ever seen. Getting him over and off the road involved luck and some naughty words.

Albuquerque Jim

My spider sense tells me something interesting happened today...

Flygtenstein

You are right on Jim. The best part is Brown has videos of some of it.

jx94148

Between this teaser and the Moab report, i'm beginning to thing some of these trucks are just plain worn out. Who in the hard group at Moab didn't break some critical front driveline part? (Mike, be prepared) Who in the hard group has broken the same critical front part several times? I'll probably regret saying this but we might be getting to the point where we might as well be driving early Ford Broncos.

Mike, Yep i'm on a 22 year old Honda Motorcycle every day now. 250cc 4 stroke dirt bike with turn signals and a nice big brake light. If it wasn't so cold Sat morn, and for the pictures of 4" of fresh snow on the CO4x4 trip report i'd have tried to ride up and see what a one wheel drive can do amongst all the lockers and winches and CV axles and heated leather seats and cup holders. I've got winter riding gear and experience riding on ice and snow. My 6 inch footprint offers lots more line options than a truck's 6 foot stance so if I can't go over its easy to find a way around. What held me back was not sleeping Friday, working 10pm Friday to 8am Saturday and having to work at 10 pm again last night.

I hope everyone is OK. Breaking sux and seems to be happening a lot more frequently amongst the newer big modified 4Runners.

Flygtenstein

There was only a little snow up there, enough to dissuade us from a couple descents.

The G just exposed it's weak spots.

We are finding the limiting factor in these rigs. Moab was a prime example of that. They are not worn out, just temporarily limited.

Aurora Sandman

We hit the trail about 11:00 and were off by 4:00.

The biggest surprise on Red Elephant Hill is that the major, tippy obstatcle is no longer an obstable. The major boulder is gone! It's absolutely nothing now.

The weather was clear and beautiful, in the 40's and 50's. Red Elephant had no snow on it except a dusting at the top. We didn't make it completely to Bill Moore because a steep part of the trail was snowed over and we were concerned we'd never be able to make it back up.


This was the first time I'd seen Brent's truck, and it's quite a vehicle! However, the pan hard mount on his front axle came loose on Red Elephant, but not completely off, but that really screwed up his steering. He slipped off the trail at one point (video below). His gearing is too high, too.

Brent tried to drive home, but evidently the steering problem was too significant. He pulled over a mile out of Idaho Springs after we had dinner at Beau Jo's.

Video of Brent's trouble

Does anyone know is Brent's truck is back home yet?

Flygtenstein

Brent and Heather got it this morning. He remounted the panhard and drove it back at 55. There are big plans. Mostly less lift, more tire, wheelbase and gearing.

The panhard ripped all the way off which meant there were only two links locating the axle. Steering was active on the road to begin with. Wheeling without the panhard appeared quite challenging.

I really enjoyed the trail. Fun enough, but not challenging. Heck, I drove some of the hill backwards.

bwillie

Thanks again for all the help! Sorry for holding up things. It at least showed what needed to be done and that is why we did the trail. Diesel is coming.

Brown, I love the video. Good stuff.