Fun in the Desert XVIII

[Roger]

Ok Mitch. We will keep an eye out for you sat, about noon.

Jeff - Sorry but you'll have to put up with me also, I'm tagging along with Mitch.

[SoCal4X]

Jeff - Sorry but you'll have to put up with me also, I'm tagging along with Mitch.

I'm shooting out, I'll be camped with a white lifted excursion and white F250 pulling a toy hauler. Feel free to stop by and have a cold one to say hi.

[MyBrokenJeep]

Folks... please post lots of pictures and reports! Unfortunately, we can't make this event... Next year is a definite!

[Mitch]

I ran out today with Roger. We met in Lucerne and did a side trip for Roger up Rattlesnake Canyon taking some pictures for that new website. We met Curtis at the top near 2N02, did a u-turn and run back to Hwy 247. Curtis was having a front end problem and opted to return home via the asphalt. Roger and I headed towards Boone Road and then to Means Dry Lake. We met up with Jeff and Shirley who were waiting for us. Also bumped into Nick and Kurt. Kurt broke yesterday on one of the Hammer trails. We visited for a little bit and Roger, Jeff and Shirley, and I left to do some exploring. We went about a mile and I hit a big hoopdie and snapped a front leaf spring and inverted the shackle. So I left for home doing 35 mph hoping the the other leafs held and I didn't dump the front end on the asphalt. On the way home I saw Curtis at Camp Rock Rd and he decided that a tow was the best way for him to get home. My blunder will cost me $500.

On a side note, I was dissapointed at the very low turn out for the FITD. The camping area looked like it was not much bigger than a regular busy weekend crowd. Too bad, cause I know a lot of effort goes into this event each year! We never saw a group from FITD in Rattlesnake, so that run must have been canceled. We did see a group from Southbay 4x4 with about 12 Rubicons and a crawler group with 7 or 8 bad ass rigs, all were heading to the special canyon area.

This doesn't look right!





Sorry no pictures from the Hammer area cause I didn't make it that far!

Mitch

[aw12345]

Mitch, see if a spring company like Betts can make you a spring, or have your mechanic arch and use a used leaf out of a stock YJ spring. Will save you a lot of dough

[Mitch]

Art,

Driver side broke and was bent as well. Passenger side is bent and has been beat on rather hard, so I'll have a couple of 4.5" Rubicon Express Extreme Duty springs ordered and in the mail Monday AM. The RE stuff has been great for me and don't mind spending the money on proven name brand stuff. It's nice to have a job and a paycheck again. Thanks for the advice as always.

Mitch

[aw12345]

You are welcome Mitch.
Need to do the boomerang shackle thing unless you really like bending and breaking springs, in my book it's better to built it right and be done with it

[Mitch]

You know Art,

I have a pair of front Currie Boomarang Shackles in my garage that won't clear my steering box. I need to sell them cause they seem to work for everyone but me. Great product and great idea for leaf spring guy's. Paid like $110 dollars and they are un-used.

Mitch

[bullysteve]

ha mitch the turn out was pretty good just not alot of folks camping , there was 86 registered rigs last night and i would guess 20-30 showed up today , i broke a throttle gable this morning and my day was done i never got off the lake bed so came home early

[Mitch]

Steve,

I know you sold the original Barney cause it kept breaking down, So if this one is for sale let me know. I can come up with a couple grand at any time. Just trying to help out!.

Mitch

[bullysteve]

ya i know stay close by it might be soon !!

[Desert Jewel]

Just went out for the raffle and to say Hi to friends. Didn't win anything. I saw Kurt go up there a couple times. Some other guy won everything this year.
Saw Mike & Sharon and then broke something...were heading out. One of the guys from VV4W rolled on Clawhammer. Didn't catch much else.

SteveO I think is his name on MJR went on the new trail and entered into the naming the trail contest & won. The new trail is called "The Big Easy". He won registration & 2 dinners for next years event, plus opportunity to lead the trail.

That's about all I got.

[RAT]

This year's FITD was thin but it ROCKED! THe crowd was smaller than usual but still rowdy.
Andrew and Shari, Stuart and I ran Jack Hammer Friday. It was tough but no major damage. I cut a tire. Saturday we met up with Mike and Sharon, Drew and and went to Sunbonnet but I had a funky rattle that I couldn't pin down so opted to head back to the lake bed. Got some fixing to do. But the Hammers are sweet as ever. Hotter than Hades out there but the wind cooperated for the most part. Another great trip. I have vids and pics but they'll wait till morning.

[guardian7]

A day on Clawhammer

[Matt2001TJ]

Bummer....been there and done that. Same side too.