Weekend in Ocotillo Wells

[devildog0]

Met up with the Southern California Off Road Explorers in Truckhaven camped Friday played at the playground Saturday morning then spent the afternoon heading south to the other side of the OHV area where we camped on Saturday then took the dirt route to Font's Point then to the Metal Sculptures in Borrego Springs. Long weekend dust as hell and a bit hot during the day but we had basically the whole park to ourselves on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. WE had the training area to ourselves the whole time we were there.

Friday I wound up camping with my passenger on our own because everyone who said they were coming out on Friday bailed. So we took off over for the short drive to the Salton Sea. I'd never been there before and I had been meaning to go. It smelled horrible

Woke up the next morning and met everyone on top of the big hill at the training site

Helped a few folks program their Baofeng UV-5Rs.

As soon as our little meeting adjourned one of the people who had not shown up yet got himself buried at the back entrance to the training ground which explains why he hadn't made it to the meeting. (green Bronco) later in the day I'd get to see this Bronco with all four wheels in the air. No pics though.

I'm parked on the hill in the back watching the Shenanigans.

Didn't think it would be a good idea to try this in a mostly stock XJ

Noob Tubes

After lunch we line up to head into the interior of the park

I'm in the middle. Some drove slowish since it was their first time really off any pavement.

 

[devildog0]

Devil's Slide

Only mud in the area some folks couldn't resist playing in it.

Not long after that some folks took off for home and about 7 vehicles stayed behind to camp. I wasn't really interested in camping in a developed campsite so I drove up a nearby hill setup camp then went back down to the developed site to have a few beers before retiring for the night.

Got up the next day and went out to Foote's Point. This is the only picture I really have of that though. The 3/4 Cheby was mid pack and had some severe axle hop and chopped up the top of the smooth sand so much it made for a hell of a rough ride. Going back I choose smoother routes. This is the first time I've driven in Sand that was deepish and soft like this and I found my XJ on the235 tires aired down to 20psi did great in 4-lo and in 3rd or even OD for the longer sections where I could keep my speed up. On the way out of Foote's wash I was crusing along at 25-30mph smoothly.

Onward to the metal sculptures

That's the last of the pictures. After that I just booked it up the S22 though Santa Yasabel and Ramona back to the base.

I need to redo my fender flares as they popped off at some point in time enough to make a knocking sound and I just ordered a replacement track bar as I was getting a knock from the front end had my buddy turn the wheel back and forth and the ball joint end has an 1/8th to a 1/4 inch of play in it. That was the last part other than the springs on the front end that was original. So when the new bar gets here tomorrow the front end will be essentially fully rebuilt. New Springs are next.

 

[peterjford]

Awesome trip report and pictures.

I am going to have to take my son to the metal sculptures soon, he is 18 months old and loves dinosaurs. Unfortunately his mom still thinks he is too young to go off-roading.

 

[devildog0]

non-sense If you look closely at this picture you can see my kiddo in his seat in the back of the XJ going up Daniel trail in Uwharrie National Forrest, which is the most difficult one they had there. Next is in my buddies TJ and then at the camp site that night in his prison lol. He kept trying to escape .we just made sure he was throughly padded and blocked in with pillows and what not when he was strapped into his seat for the ride.

The metal sculptures don't even require any hard off road work. There were cars where we were at.

 

[Xtreme XJ]

Looks like the recent rains had the washes flowing...

Curt