Thanksgiving Weekend Calico Run

[Jerry Bransford]

Drive shafts and hubs, which makes me wonder if they were running OX u joints. I mean why run a super strong u joint a nd break an axle, run a 12 dollar spicer u joint and use it as a fuse

The only problem with that is that it seems to be a pretty rare thing to only break the u-joint in the front axle without also taking out the axleshaft ears that hold the u-joint in place when running factory axleshafts. Usually the ears let the u-joint go which then spins around and breaks up... leaving the whole thing unrepairable without also installing a spare axleshaft or outer stub. That's exactly what happened to me before switching to Warn axleshafts that have hardened u-joint retaining "ears".

[Drewminator]

[QUOTE=blackZZR;68131]his clueless buddy[/QUOTE

You do have a point there, clueless does break things..

[blackZZR]

The only problem with that is that it seems to be a pretty rare thing to only break the u-joint in the front axle without also taking out the axleshaft ears that hold the u-joint in place when running factory axleshafts. Usually the ears let the u-joint go which then spins around and breaks up... leaving the whole thing unrepairable without also installing a spare axleshaft or outer stub. That's exactly what happened to me before switching to Warn axleshafts that have hardened u-joint retaining "ears".

trust me Jerry
these 2 would not have bought a upgraded axle shaft unless it was plated in gold. Like I said, the builds made no sense. They ad pure Hollywood jeeps. they looked like someone had handed them a wish book and said order anything you want, so they bought the shiniest stuff in it.
Look at it this way, how many guys are going run as far as they are, to one of the hardest obsticles they can find, one famos for carnage, and carry no spares or a way to tow broken rigs home?
when we left, they were still calling anyone they knew in Ridgecrest begging for them to come down and give the one jeep a tow. It needed a trailer or a dollie to get out of there.

[Drewminator]

trust me Jerry
these 2 would not have bought a upgraded axle shaft unless it was plated in gold. Like I said, the builds made no sense. They ad pure Hollywood jeeps. they looked like someone had handed them a wish book and said order anything you want, so they bought the shiniest stuff in it.
Look at it this way, how many guys are going run as far as they are, to one of the hardest obsticles they can find, one famos for carnage, and carry no spares or a way to tow broken rigs home?
when we left, they were still calling anyone they knew in Ridgecrest begging for them to come down and give the one jeep a tow. It needed a trailer or a dollie to get out of there.

Indeed it’s a hard obstacle to tackle. It kicked my butt the first time out and bent-up some metal. It always happens the first time through the Gatekeeper. It sure owns up to its reputation. She must have been pissed off that day.

[RAT]

trust me Jerry
these 2 would not have bought a upgraded axle shaft unless it was plated in gold. Like I said, the builds made no sense. They ad pure Hollywood jeeps. they looked like someone had handed them a wish book and said order anything you want, so they bought the shiniest stuff in it.
Look at it this way, how many guys are going run as far as they are, to one of the hardest obsticles they can find, one famos for carnage, and carry no spares or a way to tow broken rigs home?
when we left, they were still calling anyone they knew in Ridgecrest begging for them to come down and give the one jeep a tow. It needed a trailer or a dollie to get out of there.

Juz goes to show that shine is fine, but chrome don't get you home, skill does. That, and alot fo good wheeling buddies...

[Drewminator]

Juz goes to show that shine is fine, but chrome don't get you home, skill does. That, and alot fo good wheeling buddies...

Amen! Father Rat, amen! I couldn’t have said it any better than you my friend.. Two thumbs up!

[Mike]

Jim (BlackZZR) is dead on. These guys had it all. In fact, they had stuff that I didn't even know you could buy. (It gave me some good ideas for future upgrades though). We got there shortly before the remaining "good" Jeep towed the dead Jeep away. The dead Jeep broke a front hub and trashed the rear driveshaft, so he could not move under his own power.

I'm pretty sure that I could have made it to within 14 feet of the Gatekeeper and I only have a 2" lift and a rear locker, these poor guys didn't get that close.

[RAT]

(It gave me some good ideas for future upgrades though).
.

LOL. well, at least the Bling Bling served a purpose.

[STORMTROOPER]

We made it

Dorans as usual was a carnage fest
saw some guys give it some serious tries
and saw 2 guys do one of the most comedic comedy of errors I have ever seen, They had no clue, no ability to choose a line, brand new rigs with every bling item on it, no spares, and no way to tow home after major breakage.
At nightfall, they were still trying to get someone to come down from Ridgecrest to tow them home, all the time doing a dead run to empty a cooler full of beer.

You might have watched us try it on Saturday morning. I made it up the gatekeeper, and my friend came very close to making it but backed down. Following us, two FJs attempted it and I heard later that day they had some carnage.
Here's my trail report
here's my picture gallery

and here's me making it on the doran gatekeeper

[blackZZR]

I guess I missed your passage.
those are some nice pics from the day
we had 3 FJ Cruisers in our group, those things just keep popping up all over the place. My wife loves hers, even lets me take it out and try to bruise it up every once and a while. I will have to admit, their forte is Hills, those things are mountain goats.

[Mtbikbob]

Outstanding pictures Steve. Great run up the gatekeeper!!!
We were coming up Odessa when you were running up Doran I suppose.

Thanks for sharing,
Bob

[Mtbikbob]

Howdy

I guess I missed your passage.
those are some nice pics from the day
we had 3 FJ Cruisers in our group, those things just keep popping up all over the place. My wife loves hers, even lets me take it out and try to bruise it up every once and a while. I will have to admit, their forte is Hills, those things are mountain goats.

Good meeting up with you guys, Jim. Thanks for the sticker.
Those FJ's are something to behold. Different design all together from the TJ. Gotta love the guy with all the gadgets and gauges and geezzz all that stuff on the dash, what was it all, CB, GPS, Scanner, Tuner, Receiver....well I am just making up names here...but it was impressive. Air jack, air bottle with all kinds of air tools in the same bag of tricks. Reminds me of "Felix, the Cat". All kinds of things in his magic bag, that he carries in his FJ.
Anyway, great to meet you finally.
See you out there,
Bob

[FJ Crawlin']

Thanks!

well, after a fun filled weekend meeting and greeting some great folks, I personally want to thank all of those that made it out and those that weren't able to join us. Weather was absolutely wonderful and the trails were all that everyone had hoped for. The wheelin' was incredible in my opinion and the caves were neat'o. I was pleasantly suprised that my Ol' FJ made it through those tunnels. I believe that I shaved a little granite and ended up taking bits and pieces home as a keep sake. Hell, I'd been happy with just the scapes on my cage...and I guess my PIAA lights (ouch) still worked because we used them on the way back to camp after checking out the lookout.

My only complaint was that I really wished that everyone the showed had a chance to do a little wheelin' and campfire gathering together as one group during the two days. Did we stink or was it vehicle segregation?

I really, really, really (you get the point) want to express my most sincere thanks to YOBURG Dave and his lovely wife in their sweet FJ Cruiser for assisting me as my fully loaded tire carrier with hi-lift and 35" MTR snapped off at the spindle and became a major hazard to anyone traveling northbound on I-15 outside of Victorville. This scarred the living poop out of me watching this from my rear view mirror and I can only imagine how Dave and his wife felt watching it rocket towards them. Great heads up and extremely sharp reaction by all involved. I don't think I've ever seen a big rig stop traffic in all four lanes in such an aggressive manner. This rack could have easily ruined someone's holiday family weekend with a fatality. I'm very grateful and give thanks that it worked out as smoothly as it did. I bet we didn't miss more than 15 minutes of down time. Outstanding job, Dave!

I also want to thank Jim and Larry for taking over and leading the Adventure4x4 lads on a fun filled day through various trails. I hope that all that attended made it home safely and there weren't any problems encountered. By the way, Jim mentioned he lost a tire and until I saw the picture, I thought that he lost a bead or sliced a sidewall. NOT! Ooops! Nice recovery Jim and I'm glad it happend on the trail and not on I-15.

Not sure if anyone noticed while in Calico, but there's a crap load of trash and debris along Mule Canyon and on some of the more well transversed trails. I'm going to be planning a Calico clean up/wheelin' trip in February with the contacts we have such as Rose Foster through BLM and the various Land Cruiser and Jeeper clubs that I frequent. Hopefully BLM can supply us with some delivered roll off containers or dump cards for the county landfill. Maybe a raffle around the campfire...?

Great time had by all and I enjoyed the MJR crowd that showed and stayed overnight. Pleasant friendly company. Two thumbs up!

Till next time...addios gang!

Mark

[blackZZR]

Good meeting up with you guys, Jim. Thanks for the sticker.
Those FJ's are something to behold. Different design all together from the TJ. Gotta love the guy with all the gadgets and gauges and geezzz all that stuff on the dash, what was it all, CB, GPS, Scanner, Tuner, Receiver....well I am just making up names here...but it was impressive. Air jack, air bottle with all kinds of air tools in the same bag of tricks. Reminds me of "Felix, the Cat". All kinds of things in his magic bag, that he carries in his FJ.
Anyway, great to meet you finally.
See you out there,
Bob

trust me, Larry owns Dirty Parts, a 4x4 store in Los Angeles, he has every contraption he can fit in there, saved my butt.
And it was good meeting you too. Wish the tire sitch would have been better.\\

FJ Crawlin, I had ripped a sidewall, that opps picture is what happens in sand with a hi lift, it stayed on the jack fine untill I had the new tire 1 inch from the lugs, then I saw movement and jumped back 3 feet with tire in hand as jeep decided to lay on the ground, no damage but the pride.

[RAT]

Not sure if anyone noticed while in Calico, but there's a crap load of trash and debris along Mule Canyon and on some of the more well transversed trails. I'm going to be planning a Calico clean up/wheelin' trip in February with the contacts we have such as Rose Foster through BLM and the various Land Cruiser and Jeeper clubs that I frequent. Hopefully BLM can supply us with some delivered roll off containers or dump cards for the county landfill. Maybe a raffle around the campfire...?


Mark

Mark,
I've been really frustrated by all the trash along all the trails lately. Holcomb is getting pretty bad. We found a hash pipe at the East end by the creek. Anyway, if you get something going at Calico please post up, I'll be there for sure. Jeep might still be on jacks but I'll bring my truck and haul out what ever.
Kurt