What other stops are you guys planning on hitting up while you're out here? I hear Yosemite CA is really beautiful. I would like to go there some day.

 

Mesa Verde tomorrow then off to Moab.

Anyone in the Moab area want to go wheeling between Nov 28th and the 30th?

 

Bah, Yosemite is just a huge hippy commune that's half blackened now from the Rim fire. Forget about that place Richard.

Just kidding, even after the fire that place is pretty awesome.

Red, I hope you get someone to wheel with you in Moab, and get pics. I'm just a week too late in my funding, headed to Big Bear tomorrow with my 4wd reinstalled in my Runner with 2 brand new cv axles. Probably won't actually end up wheeling much, but I do probably need the 4wd for the snow that's forecasted(I think) for up there. Happy trails man, maybe I'll make a trip to Canada and have a real beer with you someday!

 

Aww com'on johnny your about 2 weeks too late. You could have came along with us. I've never been to Yosemite. But I've seen pictures of it and I would still like to go. However I don't know what it looks like now that a lot of it has burnt due to the fire they recently had.

 

Yeah, seriously 2 weeks too late. There was just no way I was gonna make it, though. Not even to ride shotgun. As far as the damage from the fire, it looks worse than it really is. The National Park Service is much more proactive in their prescribed burning program, so the forest wasn't as dense and didn't actually burn as hot as it did on the National Forest land right next to it. Definitely make Yosemite a bucket list item, but not just El Capitan and all that touristy crap. Go for the nature. Same with Big Bear, though. I'm really glad you guys also took time to take and show some vistas from the lake and trail.

Yes, I am a bit of a hippy/nature lover at heart, but don't tell my employer or my chainsaw that!

 

Mesa Verde is awesome!

I booked a guide to take me wheeling. On Saturday ill just head out and see if I can tag along. Today I need to replace my power steering belt. Its getting bad.

Thanks Jonny, I hope to cattch up for a beer as well. This will not be my last America road trip anyway.

 

That's awesome news Andrew. Glad u were able to get a guide. How much does one of those guys run you?

Are u going to come through California again on the way back home?

 

Went to Dan Mick and it was epic. Hardest day wheeling I've ever done. I pushed her past its limit. Overheated my winch but it got me to the top of Devils Gate.

I now also know the limits of IFS for hard wheeling. IFS falls short for steep hill climbs even long travel. It makes it SUPER hard to steer in tight spots when unloaded weight. The tires toe in and can face different directions.

I'm glad I installed the Blazeland kit but down the road for the wheeling I've been doing an SAS will be necessary.

I have some good photos of wheeling Moab. At Devils Gate I had both front wheels in the air and resting the rear passenger side quarter on the wall. Winch line had to come out. Due to the IFS I could not steer properly. Also having the rear more narrow it would slip off the line it had to be on. Dan Mick was happy when I dropped into a hole. It kept me from going over. I nearly laid her down twice. Freaky stuff.

Im glad I have that FJ62 axle set now.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ouWJa6FC7-Ea


Its steep.

 

Hey I think the link is broken. It won't open on my phone.

 

Try that one. It's a roll over.

I went up that and it showed me the limits of IFS. I won't be doing an axle swap soon but it's either in my future or I'll be searchingg for a Landcruiser.

I quite like the FJ62. Its so ugly it's cool.

 

Suweeeeeet! Ur a madman...... AND I LOVE IT! Cant wait for pics of your stuff in Moab! Did that in an 83 PU about 12 years ago. HAIRY! YOU DA MANNNNN, ANDREW!

 

Sarah screamed and ran away. Gave the camera to Dan Micks daughter and split. She could not watch.

I love Moab.

Oh and more on that turd rear bumper. The welds are cracking at the pivot point of my swing away. I also came down hard off a ledge which flexed it crunching some metal.

That bumper is such a pos.....

 

Bumper fixed. TAG used cast iron for the hub. Its brittle and hard to weld. Crap choice in material for an off road bumper.

TAG produces sub par gear. Stay away.

 

I grew up going to Mesa Verde, grew up there in Cortez. Lots of cool stuff to see in that area

 

Man, that's disheartening to find out that kind of stuff. Seems like any halfways decent fabricator should know better, considering even a guy like me knows better and my welding skills come from reading the recommended settings on the inside of the door of the welder! Though I have heard it's not impossible to get decent welds on cast metals, just takes care.

Sorry to hear about that part anyway, and looking forward to your photo/video dump when you get to internet again! Hope you're enjoying the rest of your trip still.

 

Your crazy to go up where that jeep rolled. Shows even a SA can roll

If you keep the ifs. Your gonna need to beef up the steering. Look into total chaos idler arm. You will need to drill out your relay rod for it. Unsure on how much wheeling experience you have with an IFS but i do all my steering when rolling. Never do any dead stop steering. If I have to back up than go forward to steering in the direction I need I will. It's not a race and I try to take it easy on steering as some components need to be upgraded.

Hope u got tons of pix from Moab. That place is on my list

 

That spotter messed up big time...... And the driver had too much lead in his foot

 

Blue, you grew up in a very pretty spot.

Jonny, annoying for sure but I'll fix it myself when I get into my own place. The missus bought me welding for dummies.

Toyo I have a trail gear power steering pump and FJ80 idler arm. Its doing well so far. I did that hill with a roof top tent on as well.

Thanks for stopping in Yotaworx. That hill is tough and easy to get into trouble.

 

Red Wagon (w/ yellow skid plate),

I finally got to reading the entire 26 pages. Well I browsed them all at least. Such beautiful scenery on your trips and nice photography. I'm sorry to hear you may be going SAS. On your write up you passed over the front suspension upgrade to LT. Installing the Blazeland was a days break from your road trip schedule? It was just done and you never skipped a beat. Looks like such a fun Road trip. Gonna miss the yellow IFS skid plate; its your identifier. Any thoughts of keeping it some how on the SAS :-)

Curious as the the Idler Arm upgrades you made. Can you post some pics?