Back From Cinders!

[Rick]

Return from Cinders

We had a great time on the Cinders run, the turnout was pretty darn good! From California we had: Rockranger, Ray and Debbi Hutchinson, and, RangerX. From Arizona we had ExplorGM, Ryan Campbell, Shipwreck, arsoul, and a friend of Shipwreck's in a Jeep whose name slips my memeory right now. We called him bumble bee on the CB due to his yellow and black paint job.

 

[arsoul]

I had a fun time in the high country, it was nice to meet everyone, and especially nice to get out of the Phoenix heat!
Sorry I missed the BBQ, how was it? I didn't leave Flagstaff until after 7pm.

Hows the diff Matt? I managed to widen the hole on the top of my diff after catching air on the cinders lake.

 

[RockRanger]

I had a blast out there and thanks for the BBQ Rick. I didn't end up getting home till 2:30 am. I am just starting to tear the front end apart. I should know how much damage I did later tonight when I get it all apart.

Matt

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

We rolled in to Dana Point about 5PM today! Great trip, great run. We arrived about 11:15 AM, Friday at the designated meeting spot under the "Golden Arches", and hooked up with Rick and Char for an afternoon of "Area Orientation" to back country Flagstaff. Ran some fairly easy trails, but they had some excellent scenery, and interesting spots we now plan to visit in the future.

Saturday we were joined by Ryan (rsoule) amd Matt (Rockranger). We "preran" the Cinders area, with lots of fun, including the "Bowl" a crater with lots of ways in, but, as it turns out, only one way out. Only a couple of minor equipment failures, including unfortunately a nasty little front diff incident that Rockranger experienced, but he sure got some serious air



Sunday, the ranks swelled to 8 vehicles: 7 EX's/ Rangers and one brand X. Bill (RangerX), rolled in about 10 PM, and ExplorerGM, Shipreck, Campbell & Amanda, Cody, and several other friends (Sorry I'm really bad with names) including "Bumblee" with his Yellow J**P CJ. Led by Rick & Char, We re-ran somne of the areas from the previous day, along with some different ones. Then down to Phoenix for a great BBQ and pool party at Rick and Char's place. We got to see the Serious Explorations "Nerve Center", and Ricks Explorer Parts Warehouse

Some folks had to head home Sunday night, but Deb and I checked into The Hawthorne Suites just down the street from "Explorer Central" (R&C's)... too much of Char's excellent but lethal "Brandy Slush" on board.

Great fun for us, all the way 'round. Good to meet new faces, and hook up with familiar ones again.

Thanks Rick & Char for a planning and hosting a good event, and thanks to all the others that showed up. Everybody being there made for a good time!

 

[Char]

Thank you all for coming. I had a great time! Maybe next time more of you can come.

 

[RockRanger]

Nice write up ray. Got the front end all apart last night and no other damage than the hole in the housing. I took and got it welded closed today and all should be back together tonight or tommorow.

Matt

 

[arsoul]

Matt, have you given any thought as to how you are going to prevent it from happening again? Other than not catching air?
I'm going to try and redesign the drop bracket on mine, trailmaster denies the problem exists.

 

[FROADER]

Well I'm bummed I didn't make it. Looks like you guys had a great time. Next time for sure.

Matt-
I had the same thing happen to me with my TrailMaster 4". I just cut away some of the drop down bracket and now it doesn't touch it. Worked our pretty good.

 

[ExplorGM]

Had fun!

Thanks Rick & Char for a great BBQ! The run was great and I only broke my roof rack, OD indicator light, and front ABS! Looking forward to Crown King! Awsome landscape at the Cinders!
Can't wait to make a big batch of those brandy slushes!
Rick

 

[Campbell]

cinders

Rick and Char,
The cinders were a lot of fun. Thanks for leading the pack. I was glad to see so many cali. people show up. felt like a mini truckheaven with the crowd. Ray, let me clear up the names for you. In the red/orange ranger was cody (aka...shipwreck) with stephan. In the yellow tj was Matt and Dave. Of course myself and Amanda were in the the old black and tan.

ps. I took my exp. into the shop for a tranny fluid change and the guy said it is about to die on me. says that it is burning fluid real bad and that I need to stop driving her. anyone have: advice, an auto trans, 302-t5-atlasII that they can spare???? sounds like I may be on the city bus for a while until I can save up enough for that repair. Does anybody know what this could cost me? I may lose control soon if i can't take her wheelin' again soon!!!

 

[RockRanger]

The truck is back together and runnig again. No I just need some time to do a wheeling trip.
As far as fixing it so it doesn't happen again I am planning on building some type of drop bump stop and possibly shaving a little metal off the drop bracket. My permenent fix will be a solid axle swap eventually.

Ryan, A fix you may want to look into is swaping in ether a ranger 5 speed or a C5 auto out of the older rangers, They are almost exactly like a c4 but have some form of lock up torque converter on them. You will loose overdrive but they are alot cheaper to rebuild then an A4LD.

Matt

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Burned Fluid>

Campbell,

Thanks for setting me straight on names. At my age I do pretty good to remember my own!

As for your tranny, I'd get a second opinion, as my trans performs well, but has always burned fluid when worked hard in the heat and at altitude. This is one reason I usually get the tranny completely flushed after every seriuos run... as you probably know, dropping the pan and changing the filter only gets about 1/3 of the fluid; 2/3 stays in the torque converter. Are you experiencing any unusual shifting or slipping?

Your trans shop might be right, if your trans. is original, but, as I said. I'd still get another opinion from a different shop! The first mechanic may be planning a trip to Tahiti on your dime!

Glad you guys made the trip too!

 

[Rick]

Ryan C. I do have an auto tranny you could have for real cheap. Trouble is it has a delayed engagement into reverse. It could be because of screwed up shift linkages though since the truck was in an accident. It's my parts truck that's over at FST in their parking lot. It shifted fine all the way form Fountain Hills to my house when I picked up the truck.

It may get you going until you could have yours rebuilt.

Let me know.

Rick

 

[Rick]

Anyone have any digital photos from the Cinders??

 

[Campbell]

Rick

Hey Rick,
Is that white explorer at FST yours? that things has seen some better days. If you could, email me you phone number so we can talk prices. (I lost my old cell phone in mexico which had your number in it) Ray, thanks for the advice, i will definately get another opinion before I drop too much cash. Perhaps it is time that I stop making the explorer my daily driver and just go nutty with her!!!!

-ryan

 

[Char]

Ryan,

Yes, what's left of that white Explorer is ours. It's obviously a parts vehicle. Our home number is 602-896-8813.

 

[RockRanger]

I will have some pictures eventually. I need to finish the roll in my high quality disposipal first I will hopefully have them in the next few weeks as well as the pictures from los coyates in april that I still haven't scaned.

Matt