Return from Rausch Creek

[Paraphoe]

Alrighty, got my photos all loaded up.

Just wanted to say quickly thanks to all who showed. It was really kick-ass to finally meet you guys. It was a great two days of wheeling with some good people. Thanks for the spotting, especially - I might have died up on top of the comp course alone.

And Jeff, I will be in contact about those sliders. Right after I get a roof rack so my roof doesn't cave in from the spare anymore.

Anyway, here they are!

http://community.webshots.com/album/560893687GcXQIH

I don't want to embed any of them because I didn't bother to re-size, and they're huge.


Enjoy.

I'll see you guys again soon.

 

[Stic-o]

Look like you were try'n pretty hard there to join us With a passenger you would have :roll:

 

[IZwack]

Pucker moment for sure. When I yanked you and your right front tire lifted I nearly crapped myself.

Ahah yeah it definitely was .. this shot I guess sums up you're perspective :

 

[sn0border88]

Damn, sorry I couldnt of been there. Though im sure I would of been right infront or behind you, probably in a worse situation.

Looks like you busted a taillight? Howd that happen? And I saw something about needed a new shaft?

 

[Paraphoe]

Ahah yeah it definitely was .. this shot I guess sums up you're perspective :

It wasn't even that bad at that point because I was pulling straight in that photo! When I was pulling you sideways is when it was super scary and you almost tipped. The picture in SNJ's album of your front drivers side tire lifting is the moment it was really scary.

 

[Paraphoe]

Damn, sorry I couldnt of been there. Though im sure I would of been right infront or behind you, probably in a worse situation.

Looks like you busted a taillight? Howd that happen? And I saw something about needed a new shaft?

He smacked his tail light against the tree by the rock hill climb that I've been told was the same tree that took out Skunk's window a few years back.

And he busted a U joint on the way down the hill which, as Jeff mentioned, sheared off, shot out like a bullet and nearly hit him.

 

[IZwack]

Looks like you busted a taillight? Howd that happen? And I saw something about needed a new shaft?

Yeah going up this black trail:

Apparently thats the same tree there that took out part of Skunk's Explorer too?

Yeah the axle shaft didnt really break but the u-joint broke which then elongiated the axle shaft's yoke. But that was on the way down on a rock trail to the right (from camera's perspective) of the rock face in the pic above. I was reversing a few inches to get a better line with pretty much 90% of the Explorer's weight on the front left tire and snap came shooting the u-joint's cap towards my spotter.

When I was pulling you sideways is when it was super scary and you almost tipped. The picture in SNJ's album of your front drivers side tire lifting is the moment it was really scary.

LOL funny thing is, I didnt know half of what was going on because it was all hidden under the Explorer. I had to go through everyone's album to finally see the rest of the story.

 

[hunterdan]

I Should have stopped by just to watch. Just watching some of these rigs go up these trails is incredible. I know the 2 that went up the trail where IZ snapped the ujoint, they made it look so easy, a little too easy.

Dan

 

[Spas]

Iz, you're not allowed to imitate me! And here I thought Parli was just being his usual melodramatic self when he told me how you almost rolled

Draper, were you stuck or just goofing around? Cuz that's what Shelby's interior looked like after I sunk

 

[Paraphoe]

Draper, were you stuck or just goofing around? Cuz that's what Shelby's interior looked like after I sunk

He was quite stuck. Did you see my pictures? There's a few shots of him sitting in the Milkshake stuck.

By the way, congrats Jeff, you managed to get stuck 3 times in one day.

 

[Version0069]

Ha, looks like alot of fun you guys had out there good job and great pics all around!!

IZ, I was waiting for a rollover pic, but never got it damn that was a little risky but an awesome pic!!!

 

[Spas]

Oh, and that's not the tree where Skunk lost her glass. The trail that that happened on was the same one where Wolf and Dave got stuck really really bad and Draper had to use a pretty creative solution using two high Lifts and come alongs to get them out. I would've watched, but I was busy breaking Tank's tail light I can't remember the name of the trail, but here's a pic of it:

 

[hunterdan]

After reviewing some of the pictures, and my experience from swapping leaf springs the other day, I think I need a locker, longer shocks in the rear and a set of sliders. I think my rear shocks are limiting my droop by about 3 inches or so. So whens the next run? Hopefully before my membership runs out...

Dan

 

[JDraper]

Oh, and that's not the tree where Skunk lost her glass.

Actually, it is the exact same tree that wiped out the right rear glass on Skunk (which we duct taped into a checkerboard later). I was spotting Chris up the rock face, and he leaned towards the tree. I yelled "Chris..STOP"..he went "what?" and kept coming forward..window went kabooom..I said "Nevermind, keep coming forward..." I know there's a pix of it somewhere that I'll have to dig up.

 

[Spas]

Oops. I guess the tree in the pic I posted was the one that wiped out his mirror

 

[Paraphoe]

After reviewing some of the pictures, and my experience from swapping leaf springs the other day, I think I need a locker, longer shocks in the rear and a set of sliders. I think my rear shocks are limiting my droop by about 3 inches or so. So whens the next run? Hopefully before my membership runs out...

Dan

Don't worry about the membership. It was $30 to ride on Sunday even with the card.

 

[Paraphoe]

Oh and by the way IZ, remember those loud clunk/bang/pops I heard from the front end? I think they were my front swaybars blowing off the end-links. Both are busted.

 

[JDraper]

My truck has finally recovered from the mud! Got the whole interior back in, repacked the front wheel bearings, pulled the rear brake drums and powerwashed the brakes off (they were packed full with mud), checked all fluids and amazingly they were all good. I lucked out on the front axle (hose was clogged shut) and the transfer case (previous owner had sealed off the tube). The rear axle vent hose was high enough that it stayed out of the mud, and the tranny just got dang lucky! I now have fully extended breather hoses everywhere.

On a side note, all my interior rattles are now gone! I guess disassembling and reassembling it cured it!!

 

[IZwack]

Oh and by the way IZ, remember those loud clunk/bang/pops I heard from the front end? I think they were my front swaybars blowing off the end-links. Both are busted.

Well do you notice any difference in highway driving? Cauz if you dont, just remove them.

 

[Paraphoe]

Well do you notice any difference in highway driving? Cauz if you dont, just remove them.

Not at all, actually. However, I've had a brush before with the "death sway" on the highway, and I'd like to keep them on. I'd rather not reach the split-second thought of "hmmm...maybe I should have left the front swaybar on" right before I roll over and die. Not to mention that if my father found out I popped off any sway bars, he'd probably hang me.