Sunday's run

[2xtreme]

Wish I could have kept going, but the family was along for sledding and playing in the snow.

Nice pics up top there. I snapped a couple on the way down that turned out pretty well.

Understood! You have your priorities right. I would have done the same thing if my kids were with me. Mine were very disapointed that they didn't come after they hear all the kids that were there.

I will post my pic's tomorrow. Hope to see yours soon also!!

Michael

 

[ECKSJAY]

Understood! You have your priorities right. I would have done the same thing if my kids were with me. Mine were very disapointed that they didn't come after they hear all the kids that were there.

I will post my pic's tomorrow. Hope to see yours soon also!!

Michael

We were disappointed that more kids weren't there.

My *real* idea was to just park at that staging area and keep the stoves going. Figured we were in for a real quick run up to some better stuff. Hell, my daughter could have dug tunnels through the stuff we were driving in.

 

[Avanteone]

Looks like you guys had fun. I really like that scenic shot.

John

 

[2xtreme]

More proof of deep white stuff.

Han's. Chains are cheating

What a great day!!
Michael

 

[XJCasper]

Why am I not getting my E-mail notifications?

After these pics, I am embarrased. How do I get further. Chains? Playing with tire pressure? Staying on the trail would help. Feels so good to be safe at home.

Hey John, you missed all of the entertainment.

I am just going to post a link to my pics:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=91393853807&page=1&sort_order=0&favorites=true

Nothing we snapped gives my situation justice. Waiting to see Mark's. Until then Hans has the Crown of King Avatar. :jester:

 

[ECKSJAY]

Why am I not getting my E-mail notifications?

Good, I'm not the only one. I thought it was my Thunderbird email settings.

After these pics, I am embarrased. How do I get further. Chains? Playing with tire pressure? Staying on the trail would help. Feels so good to be safe at home.

Don't be embarrassed. We've said it once...and we'll say it again: You need the driving experience without the distractions. Your equipment is fine, you just need to apply what we teach you. That can't be easily done with passengers. Bringing family is fine, but the fundamentals need to be mastered first. Until that's done you have to expect the hang-ups. Just realize that eventually people lose interest in taking along someone who is going to hinder them. Don't get me wrong, we're not to that point yet, and there's always patience for new drivers. It's just about walking before running. We'll have to take you out to someplace like Tahuya so it's not so far fro you...and work with you on a few things. We can meet someplace like that at like 9am and have you home before noon even.

 

[2xtreme]

Jason,
Your link just takes me to the front page? Asking to sign in?

There are a couple of issues in the snow. 1st you need low tire pressure and flotation for the stuff that Marc, Hans and I did in the afternoon. Hans put chains on but I do not think they helped at all (in his stuck case they probably made it worse). My front bumper and skid plates help my front end float on top of the snow. My brothers narrower swampers and fully locked did well, but it did not float quite so well.

The problem we all had before lunch is that as soon as people start to spin tires the snow turns to ice VERY QUICKLY. And nothing does well on it but chains.

The other think we should all learn from this trip is how easy it is to get from stuck to REALLY STUCK. as soon as you come out of the ruts you need to stop and servey the situation. And make sure that what every you do is safe and effective. Lockers and low gears in the icy stuff just make it more difficult, but after some time Marc was able to do pretty well considering how poor of a set up he had for the icy stuff.

Michael

 

[Avanteone]

Biggest thing in soft snow like that is LOW tire pressure. Without beadlocks, you need to go down to around 10psi, I've run 8psi consistently when I had MT/R's and BFG's with no real problems loosing beads. This will most definitely be harder to do /w a 10" wheel and say a 12.50" wide tire. With beadlocks I ran at 6psi our last trip and went damn near everywhere..until the snow got up to my door handles.

John

 

[IXNAYXJ]

DAMN! I wish I could have been there! That being said, I'm glad I didn't try with my current three wheel drive set up....

Last snow run I went on (up through Greenwater to Naches) I broke an axle shaft, and had to limp out with three-tire-fire.... NOT FUN! And to those who said my bumper wasn't attached well, and that my welded-on tow hooks wouldn't hold...EAT ME! I winched myself a dozen times and had a kamakazee CJ and a Samurai (at the same time!) yakning with all their might on my tow hooks. So there.

Anyway, looks like a good time was had by all.

If we want to arrange a remedial wheeling 101 to Tahuya sometime, you can count me in. It's reletively close to me and a fun spot to go wheeling.

-----Matt-----

 

[trainwrexj]

DAMN! I wish I could have been there! That being said, I'm glad I didn't try with my current three wheel drive set up....

Last snow run I went on (up through Greenwater to Naches) I broke an axle shaft, and had to limp out with three-tire-fire.... NOT FUN! And to those who said my bumper wasn't attached well, and that my welded-on tow hooks wouldn't hold...EAT ME! I winched myself a dozen times and had a kamakazee CJ and a Samurai (at the same time!) yakning with all their might on my tow hooks. So there.

Anyway, looks like a good time was had by all.

If we want to arrange a remedial wheeling 101 to Tahuya sometime, you can count me in. It's reletively close to me and a fun spot to go wheeling.

-----Matt-----

not to rain on your towhook parade, but it only takes one yank at the right angle - namely, aligned with the new grain structure of the metal thanks to the welding - to pop the towhook and send a strap or cable into someone's vehicle or FACE. i would say you're lucky at this point that something hasn't happened to them yet. i emphasize YET.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Like I said, EAT ME tofurkey-boy!

 

[XJourney]

Actually I don't like hooks any more thanks to Jason. I prefer Shackles/Clevis'. Almost lost Jason and his rig down a ravine because a recovery strap slipped off his front hook. So no hooks for me, they can't take a side load.

So Matt you coming to supper?

Hans

 

[XJCasper]

Phil,
After this run, Danielle might be a little less likely to go next time.

I will skim through and post pics later

 

[CoolCal]

Linda and I had a very good time despite my less-than-brilliant idea to try the p/u above the staging area. My Thanks to Michael for his help and expertise extracting me from that nasty old ditch and tree. Damage was light , bent mudflap, dented running board and a sliced tire.

After witnessing the extraction of jason i was motivated to order a winch bumper and beef up the rear tow points on my XJ. My new motor mounts are installed. That made a lot of mysterious vibrations disappear.

So, I am ready for the next run. I would also be interested in a "training" run (or 2, or 3, or 4) of short or long duration. So if anyone wants to put on a clinic for us greenie newbies, I would be willing to provide the grilled cheese sandwiches.

Again, it was really a great day and nice to meet you all.

Cal

PS i have a pic of michael greeting the "new guy", but I am not sure if it is appropiate for this thread.

 

[2xtreme]

I want to see this pic. When was it taken? What would not be appropriate about it?

No problem with the hand, all part of the fun.

I am begining to see a trend of Naxja events (Off Road 101, Winching 101, Recovery 101, Equipment 101, Tools 101, How to set up gears, How to ?, etc, etc).

Maybe I will sponser a How to bring your own air source

I want to see the rest of the pic's!!

Michael

 

[Sniggs]

Let me wet your whistles a little... I don't have time tonight to update my website but here's a few of my personal favorites....

Staging area... Let's all air down (BTW, Thanks Michael! Christmas is coming and my kids know what I'm getting. Andy is going to call Phil. Gosh...I wonder what I'm getting???)

I'm checking the margins... more in the next post...

 

[Sniggs]

good enough... Sorry, Dialup users!

Beginning of the run -

I love snow... (I really do! )

Um...oops! Jason gets a little off the beaten path... let the recovery begin.

We'll get Marc up here (he's got lockers) and pull him back... Hmmm slippery, huh Marc?

Hans had to give Marc a yank back out of that hole

Now back to the task...Hans crawls thru the snow and attaches a Come-along to this tree...

Hook this up here and pull Jason sideways a bit then Mark can pull at a better angle.

Tires spun, and the strap came off the front hook.... He 's now sitting at 40 degrees or better...

There's a tree trunk right next to the left rear corner and a gap between the next tree in the front...Just enough to shoot a jeep down a very steep hill...The next obstacle is about 15 feet down. It wouldn't make anyone happy to see him go through that gap... :| Jason's still in the Jeep feeling a bit helpless but willing to try a few more things out...Hans and I re-check on Jason to make sure he's good with all this - we're asking if he wants to get out at this point.

As long as the come-along and Marc's Jeep is attached, he's not going off the edge

 

[Sniggs]

Hang on buddy! The guys with winches finally got unstuck and are on the way!

Davis arrives with a winch we get his rig at a decent angle with the snatch block and start the pull - those of us with the straps are there to try to stop a flop.

That does it!! Here's our hero! Thanks Davis!!

One last laugh - Toyota 4x4. Is that a broken curb feeler?

 

[XJourney]

Nice pictures Mark. It is a shame that pictures don't do Jason's prediciment justice.


Thanks Davis

 

[XJCasper]

Tehuya would be a good place for some beginer runs. Got to get my Rock rails on first.

Cal - Which Winch did you get. I am debating an M8000 vs. biting the bulldt ang gn wid` snmeth`ng in the 9500 ranfe.
*
Mhchado - Why not a wrenching weekend for everyone to install air?

I was looking thxoufh th` pics I dovnlo oed. M`k has all nf t(m same angles as Danielle got.

http://www.geocities.com/jmotorspwt/jpnov55a.jpgz-imf]
zamg]http://www.geocitieã'com/jmotorsprt/jpnov05b.jpg

And I had to post this goofy grin:

Mark - What Hans said.