dreamr
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- October 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,636
- Reaction score
- 13
- City, State
- Lynnwood WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 99 XL / 4x4 / 4.0 ohv
Before I even get started.
I know I should avoid playing alone, but I am always alone so shhhh.....
My daughter and I found ourselves very bored on a Saturday morning and couldn't think of anything entertaining to do around the house. When I asked her what she wanted to do she goes..." ohhhhhhhhhh...I wish we could go offroading....."
That's my girl!
She knows that we have no 4 low right now because I keep griping about it, and she is also well aware of what dials and buttons need pushing or turning before we can "play". In short she has been sad for my truck, cause she can't take her the places Zaira likes to play...
Well I haven't had a chance to test the locker out yet, and I figure locked in 4-hi is likely more capable than I was in 4-low with open difs, so off we go.
I found a small little road last season that connects two of my favorite lake trailheads. It is a bit nasty with a few moderate obstacles and access to a couple challenging hill climbs. To sum up my description, it was the perfect road to stretch the truck out on and test the locker a bit. What made it perfect, was the fact that I knew that short of major breakage we would see the end. After all it was an easy if slightly technical road, and we were within a mile as the crow flies of the main FS roads.
We started out taking pictures but once I got involved in driving there were no more photo ops She performed like she always does which made me smile. A couple observations though.
I have been concerned about my higher center of gravity, but we took a couple lines to feel it out and I was very surprised that overall she really isn't that much more tippy when seriously off camber
My second observation I have stated before, but I am continually astounded by the ease with which these M/t's grip the terrain. In places where I previously had to have a bit of momentum I am able to crawl through with just a little tire slippin.
And lastly the locker. There is a hill that I have tested my truck on ever since I got her. I was too focused and distracted to take any pics, but.................
On my 30"A/T's with 1.5" of lift I was able to make it maybe a car length up before I was hung up on the frame and spinning away.
With 33" M/t's and 5" of lift I made it about 2 car length's up before the holes, open difs, and loose dirt stopped me cold.
Today I pulled up to it and there were a couple kids one in a blazer and one in a full size dodge. Both were on 35's and trying like hell to make it up. I was grinning and my daughter being her typical self was making fun of them. See they were not even making it up 2 full car lengths. The younger of the two was kinda rude and made fun of our ford a couple times. My little one is usually shy but she looks at him and says ," My daddy's truck can climb everything, and yours can't.
He glares at me, so what can I do. I joked around saying I would be lucky to make it as far as they did, believing that I really would only do a little better. I haver no 4-low right now, so I put it in High and pushed the secret orange button. I started to climb slow and steady. They were laughing telling me I would never make it without some speed. I realized a long time ago that speed breaks stuff and throws you off line.
I was utterly shocked as she just kept climbing with only a couple occasional slips of the tires. Soon enough I sat at the top. I carefully eased back down and enjoyed the shocked looks on their faces. Of course they had to try a couple more times and never made it.
This thing ROCKS! there were a couple other places I just had to try with it, and again and again it amazed me! If you have yet to lock the rear. DO IT
Below are a few pics. Most of them of course are pretty tame, cause of course I was busy driving in the rough spots. But my cute little munchkin is in there, so enjoy.
Now to get that 4-low fixed
I know I should avoid playing alone, but I am always alone so shhhh.....
My daughter and I found ourselves very bored on a Saturday morning and couldn't think of anything entertaining to do around the house. When I asked her what she wanted to do she goes..." ohhhhhhhhhh...I wish we could go offroading....."
That's my girl!
She knows that we have no 4 low right now because I keep griping about it, and she is also well aware of what dials and buttons need pushing or turning before we can "play". In short she has been sad for my truck, cause she can't take her the places Zaira likes to play...
Well I haven't had a chance to test the locker out yet, and I figure locked in 4-hi is likely more capable than I was in 4-low with open difs, so off we go.
I found a small little road last season that connects two of my favorite lake trailheads. It is a bit nasty with a few moderate obstacles and access to a couple challenging hill climbs. To sum up my description, it was the perfect road to stretch the truck out on and test the locker a bit. What made it perfect, was the fact that I knew that short of major breakage we would see the end. After all it was an easy if slightly technical road, and we were within a mile as the crow flies of the main FS roads.
We started out taking pictures but once I got involved in driving there were no more photo ops She performed like she always does which made me smile. A couple observations though.
I have been concerned about my higher center of gravity, but we took a couple lines to feel it out and I was very surprised that overall she really isn't that much more tippy when seriously off camber
My second observation I have stated before, but I am continually astounded by the ease with which these M/t's grip the terrain. In places where I previously had to have a bit of momentum I am able to crawl through with just a little tire slippin.
And lastly the locker. There is a hill that I have tested my truck on ever since I got her. I was too focused and distracted to take any pics, but.................
On my 30"A/T's with 1.5" of lift I was able to make it maybe a car length up before I was hung up on the frame and spinning away.
With 33" M/t's and 5" of lift I made it about 2 car length's up before the holes, open difs, and loose dirt stopped me cold.
Today I pulled up to it and there were a couple kids one in a blazer and one in a full size dodge. Both were on 35's and trying like hell to make it up. I was grinning and my daughter being her typical self was making fun of them. See they were not even making it up 2 full car lengths. The younger of the two was kinda rude and made fun of our ford a couple times. My little one is usually shy but she looks at him and says ," My daddy's truck can climb everything, and yours can't.
He glares at me, so what can I do. I joked around saying I would be lucky to make it as far as they did, believing that I really would only do a little better. I haver no 4-low right now, so I put it in High and pushed the secret orange button. I started to climb slow and steady. They were laughing telling me I would never make it without some speed. I realized a long time ago that speed breaks stuff and throws you off line.
I was utterly shocked as she just kept climbing with only a couple occasional slips of the tires. Soon enough I sat at the top. I carefully eased back down and enjoyed the shocked looks on their faces. Of course they had to try a couple more times and never made it.
This thing ROCKS! there were a couple other places I just had to try with it, and again and again it amazed me! If you have yet to lock the rear. DO IT
Below are a few pics. Most of them of course are pretty tame, cause of course I was busy driving in the rough spots. But my cute little munchkin is in there, so enjoy.
Now to get that 4-low fixed