Funny Rocks/Moon Rocks 7/31 & 8/1/04
 

This was a great trip with plenty of action. See for yourself.

Me trying to find an easier line

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...8_DSCN1485.jpg

Here is Shane finding the tougher lines.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...4_DSCN1492.jpg

Kyle heading straight for the top.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...8_DSCN1496.jpg

Three wanna be posers :pat:

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...1_DSCN1504.jpg

Extreme D-Cab wheelin'. There is video of this that Shane will post soon.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...2_DSCN1513.jpg

Tough break Kyle........ooooouuuuuch! If you look close you can see a piece of the 1'' block laying next to the tire.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...3_DSCN1515.jpg

Yikes, what happened in that last pic? That rear looks tweaked!

Other than that, looks like a lot of fun!

When we was making his climb out of the rocks we hear this loud pop and after further examination we find that mess (Shane has cool video of the whole thing).

We determined that once the 1" block exploded (loosening two U-bolts) it allowed the whole axle to rotate in the remaining two U-bolts. The other block also shattered so we took it out with a crescent wrench, bottle jack and a Hi-Lift.

So this is where you guys took off to Saturday. Looks pretty sweet. That sucks about Kyle's rig.

Nice! That place looks like it could be challenging. I bet you had some hot, dry days. Wish I could have gone. :cry2:

Ouch, did he lose the driveshaft too?!?!

He didn't lose it. As soon as he heard the "POP" he stoped, had he kept his foot in it he would have lost it.


It wasn't hot, thank god. We did miss you.................................and Mark.

Just jacked this picture from Shane

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...MG_2190_01.jpg

Awwwwwwwwwww!

NEXT TIME! It sucks that we missed one of the Clan runs. :)


(bummer kyle!)

Did he snap break lines? how did you guy's piece it back together for a nursing home? my buddy did that while on a local run here in his 1st gen runner. He was all baha'n across a rocky side road when he start bouncing and his rear blocks exploded, twisted the axle, snapped the break lines and d-shaft. Luckily he lived at the base of that mountain and had a spare everything for repairs. But you guys on the other hand are in the middle of nowhere down at FR. Crazy stuff, but looked like sweet fun.

ouch man, that does suck, is that all stock components? (sorry new here so dont know everyone) . other then that, it looks fun as hell :rockon:

Kyle dude.:eeek: Tough break.
Details man. What did you guys have to do to get you runnin' again?

Im really bummed we all couldn't meet up at the end. I don't think it would have been fair leaving the new guys in group3 behind with Eric leading without a tail gunner.
We missed out on some fun adventure.

A large group of Jeeps and Scouts helped out with the recovery as we were winchless. We tried tugging Kyle up the climb with a strap but it was just asking for a flop as he was teetering pretty good already and pulling just lifted him further over. It took a good 3 hours IIRC to get him to flat ground. To trail fix it we simply removed the remaining pieces of the blocks, which included one of the pins that had sheared off and was still in the axle perch. Then we cranked the u-bolts all the way down and drove out, thanks to the help of another wheeler that happened upon us who had a 3/4" deep socket which was the one tool we desperately needed. Ben had headed out to find tools and got back just after we finished fixing it with the borrowed tools :pat: But we weren't going to pass up the opportunity in the off chance that Ben wasn't able to find what we needed. No brake lines or anything else broke, just the blocks.


No, on second thought Kyle did also lose the leaf springs. They're pretty "S" shaped now, especially the driver's side.

Videos!!!

Me
Ben
Kyle
Kyle again
Me again
Kyle breaking stuff

wow..... the lift blocks broke! never heard of that... never seen that either... i am more used t oseeing them get spit out... but never just disintegrating....

More pics

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2179-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2180-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2181-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2185-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2186-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2191-02.jpg

http://4-low.com/pics/7.31.2004/IMG_2207-02.jpg

Oops... http://4-low.com/temp/smilies/rasta.gif

Our theory is the driver's side block turned a bit, with our evidence being some damage to it that appeared to be caused by the spring perch. When it let go the shock load placed on the other side caused it to also fail. They both had signs of stress fractures so they were on their way out, but the torque placed on them in that spot was just too much for them.

One important thing to note, Kyle was caring for them properly by checking the u-bolt torque often so it wasn't neglect that caused the failure. Cast aluminum blocks just don't last. If you have to use a block, make it out of steel and if possible weld it to the axle housing.

Wow... looks like you really needed to have someone screaming during the downhills!

Damn I wish Shannon and I had gone!

I can't believe how loud that block is when it breaks. POW!







Mark, there would have been a whole lot of screaming had you and Shannon made it. It's like a huge playground.

What's all the wood in the back of your truck for? Ballast? Expecting snow? I know it's not for a campfire since there has been a burn ban on since Monday July 12th in that area and having a fire during a burn ban is as bad for the offroad community as going mudding in a closed wetland...

Just wondering :dunno: