Who's up for some wheeling in South East MA?

[DeRocha]

Welcome again to our little group.. We have members from all over and try to get together as often as our schedules allow. In terms of required equipment for trail runs it all depends on the trail. In the runs I host the trails can be slick/muddy in several spots that could hang up your rig; As such Tow points allow for a safe & fast recovery without having to damage your vehicle or the strap (wrapping a strap around metal is a fast way to destroy it). If you want to wheel without a tow point then you will need to bring your own strap (20K lbs+). As for communication gear a cb is great for keeping everyone informed and aware of whats up ahead and how best to tackle an obstacle etc.. If you don't have a CB then we could use some motorolla hand held walk abouts and just relay info via a CB...

 

[wangmauler]

yeah i'm saving for some new tires too. I got fire ext. and cb radio hooked up and installed, but still gotta get some tow hooks. probably gonna do that this weekend. i'd be up for some wheelin sometime in sept. sometime...

 

[Grrlwronged]

speaking of spending $ on trucks John remember that noise I was hearing in VT after I got off the trails? Yeah I need strut bushings
Oh well hafta get those on & my power steering pump before I hit anymore trails but would love to be a passenger anyday till then!!!

 

[DeRocha]

speaking of spending $ on trucks John remember that noise I was hearing in VT after I got off the trails? Yeah I need strut bushings
Oh well hafta get those on & my power steering pump before I hit anymore trails but would love to be a passenger anyday till then!!!

Strut bushings Do you mean radius arm bushings? I replaced mine a few years back.. Kind of a pita to do unless you have access to decent shop equipment (lucky thing you do ) If you let the bushings go too long then the constant banging can crack and or ovate the Radius arm mounting bracket(s).

 

[Grrlwronged]

Strut bushings Do you mean radius arm bushings? I replaced mine a few years back.. Kind of a pita to do unless you have access to decent shop equipment (lucky thing you do ) If you let the bushings go too long then the constant banging can crack and or ovate the Radius arm mounting bracket(s).

Dunno was told they are strut...oh well I can be blonde!! Yeah I have the kit already in the shop just gotta do it ASAP. Did the powersteering pump & pressure hose today. As soon as those are in it's time for an alignment & hee hee a new muffler

 

[Rusty]

2" higher ...or so...

well its been about a week or so now but last Sunday evening i decided i would put on the cheapo shackle lift and do the TT cuz i really was itching to see how it turned out. Well everything was going well until i got to the very last bolt on the drivers side leaf spring. The other 3 bolts came right out but this one got lodged inside the spring eye. Now for most people i guess the choice would have been to torch it out and put in a whole new bushing and all but for me living in a rental in a very small driveway and with minimal tools i just pounded on this bolt for a day and half soaking it in pb blaster and....nothing!
Here is the funny part... i decided i would take off the whole leaf.. it a mono leaf so it is kind of lighter... and i would turn it on its side to pound it out... still to no avail! I thought i remembered my neighbor boiling a bolt once to put in his dirt bike for something where it was tight.... this is where it gets funny.... i decided i would boil my leaf spring and the still attached stock shackle in some water to see if it loosens up. (in my kitchen!) (note: don't tell your wife you are doing this or at least don't use one of her nice nonstick pots!)
After 20 minutes of holding my leaf spring in boiling water and then another amazing 10 minutes of pounding on this thing it finally came out ! To my surprise!
Then another 45 minutes to put all back together and do the TT and now it sits a bit higher!
Whilst i was putting all back together .... the cops pull up... the thought in my mind is i was making too much noise in the neighberhood for the past few days pounding on this one bolt... so i politely dealt with the authority but luckily they were not after me (the noise culprit) but just doing a home check on someone close by! "whew"

Anyways i thought you guys..and gals.. would like the entertaining story of my first real mod to my Ex... still to come... much more..
I need some tires, cb,fire ext and a few little things then i am ready wheel. I am looking for a 2"BL as well...but wifey is holding me back for now!

off to do my brown wire mod!
Take care... hope to meet up with you all sometime soon!

 

[DeRocha]

Hey Rusty, glad to hear you have installed your shackles.. Those shackle bolts can be a huge PITA.. I had to cut my front leaf spring bolts off and then air hammer them out of the bushing.. When you re-install them you should use plenty of anti-seize on the bolt to prevent it from fusing with the metal sleeve inside the bushing (makes future removal a snap).

 

[DeRocha]

Where are all our members ready to wheel? I haven't gotten any messages or seen any post with people ready to wheel. To alleviate any confusion you should post in this thread when your ready to wheel. I take my rig out wheeling EVERY WEEK.. Right now its covered in MUD up to the roof from a 3 hr trail ride So don't wait for an official wheeling thread.. If you want to wheel then post on up..

 

[Rusty]

Where do you normally wheel at? I know your in Brockton but is that where you wheel or? I may be able open this Saturday at least for a while. I don't have some of the recommended stuff like fire ext and cb and my tires are street/bald! but i am up for some wheeling... need to have some fun!
I would like to connect with you sometime.. If this weekend works... cool if not then thats cool too...some other time!
O and i am up in Methuen.. i think Brockton is like 1 hr or so depending on traffic?

 

[DeRocha]

Where do you normally wheel at? I know your in Brockton but is that where you wheel or? I may be able open this Saturday at least for a while. I don't have some of the recommended stuff like fire ext and cb and my tires are street/bald! but i am up for some wheeling... need to have some fun!
I would like to connect with you sometime.. If this weekend works... cool if not then thats cool too...some other time!
O and i am up in Methuen.. i think Brockton is like 1 hr or so depending on traffic?

There are several areas within 15min-25min of Brockton that offer various off-road action. I will def be wheeling this weekend, but the when/where is the variable.. On Sat I think a night run 8pm+ will be in the cards, but won't know for sure until Friday.. I have a B-day party during the day as well as a softball came starting late afternoon. On Sunday I will be attending a trail ride with another club in Western MA. Do you have any tow points? If not you will need to bring a tow strap. The other equipment is highly recommended, but currently not mandatory. I will try and upload some video of the types of wheeling you can expect.

 

[Rusty]

umm.. as of right now i don't have any tow points.. but i think i have an extra one in the tool box i may be able to try and put on maybe..
Saturday night... might work.. i am a Pastor so i obviously work on Sundays so i try not to stay out too late Saturday nights.. but keep me posted either way.. I do want to go with you sometime though...

 

[DeRocha]

We went out for a night trail run and then hit some mud bog action on Sunday..
Saturday's run was through a wooded area with some tight trails (side mirrors folded in) and only a few areas that may have given a stock vehicle trouble.. We spent about 2.5hrs on the trail and as always a night run is def unique..

Sunday's run was around a local river, (no tight trails) with a mud bog area. Jim and I met up with some friends (Mike and Jimmy) who where running quads.. Unfortunately Mike bent his tie rod into a pretzel which caused his left wheel to perpetually turn to the right.. We found a dry flat area and lifted his 4x4 quad with a highlift Jack and removed the tie rod.. We slipped a length of pipe (I always carry pipe when wheeling ) over the tie rod and was able to bend it 95% back into shape We kept a short length of pipe over the tie rod to help maintain some structural integrity. We then dialed in the alignment and Mike was back wheeling again.. 80% of the bog had mud about a foot deep, but other 20% ran 1-2 feet deep of very thick and sticky mud... My BFG AT KO tires are new, but looked like they were bald because of how sticky the mud was.. It takes serious ponies to clear the treads.. Everyone spent quality time at the end of a yank strap. If your not stuck then your not trying hard enough

I have some video and pics and will try and post them tonight..

 

[Rusty]

I'm jealous ... sounds like you guys had some serious fun... cant wait to see the pics and video!

 

[DeRocha]

Jim and Andy checking out the mud.. It was very sticky..

Angelia's Friend Jen on her 1st Offroad outing. She gave it a thumbs up

The next pics are of my rig.. It always seams to catch more than its fair share of the mud

These pics of my rig where after going through a muddy water hole off in the woods. I almost got stuck and had to reverse several times to break free, this resulted in my tires throwing mud several feet above the roof of my explorer. Luckily no one was behind me or they would have been equally covered.

Mike's 4x4 Quad needed the strap to get out.. L - R (Jimmy, Jim, Angelia, Mike)

 

[Rusty]

looks like you all had alot of fun! Looks like a good place to wheel too! That mud looks pretty deep at certain parts. Do you drive your ex to work? If so did you leave the mud on for the next day at work?

 

[DeRocha]

looks like you all had alot of fun! Looks like a good place to wheel too! That mud looks pretty deep at certain parts. Do you drive your ex to work? If so did you leave the mud on for the next day at work?

Everyone had fun.. This area is more wide open and isn't as technical as the other trails we hit. Jim's Cherokee has a much higher ground clearance than my Explorer so he can easily go through much deeper mud than I can. My truck isn't really setup for deep Mud running (the TTB axle sits low and tends to become a big plow when going through mud ). The pictures don't do justice to the mud.. It is really deep in certain areas and very sticky.

My X is my Daily driver and I take it to work 20 miles round trip each day. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to clean my truck other than a quick hood and windshield rinse with the hose (people @ work are used to seeing my Redneck truck :bdrunk: ).. They can always tell which parking space I was in.

I have a 3000psi pressure washer @ home and we usually clean our rigs at my house.. I will hopefully get to clean my rig tonight.. One of my windshield washer nozzles busted (Right/Passenger side) so I need to get a replacement at the bone yard.

 

[Grrlwronged]

K people like I was telling John I am in the process of getting a parts vehicle so I will have my other truck on the road soon & that is the one I'm gonna hit the trails with. Yeah I know, I'm sure we all wanna smell my burnt clutch again!!!! lmfao
So I hope, in less than a month, I will be trail ready.....

 

[DeRocha]

I've created a new thread which contains a video sample of one of the trails.. Its 16min long... Enjoy!

Wheeling pics and video thread

 

[Scormunch]

John, the video looks like some good fun... are these trails in the Brockton/Raynham/Bridgewater area?

I'm finally getting to have some time in the afternoons/nights that I'd love to spend doing some trailriding, assuming I'm not running the risk of pissing off the neighbors or getting ticketed.

 

[DeRocha]

John, the video looks like some good fun... are these trails in the Brockton/Raynham/Bridgewater area?

I'm finally getting to have some time in the afternoons/nights that I'd love to spend doing some trailriding, assuming I'm not running the risk of pissing off the neighbors or getting ticketed.

The trails are local in a primarily commercial area with houses 1/2+ mile away. Specific location details are purposely omitted from this thread to preserve the area from irresponsible members of the Off Roading community. Detailed information will be provided to club members who sign up for a run.