Post by: Art Eatman on June 18, 2005, 06:05:26 PM
It occurred to me that I have a sort of a record: I've crossed the Rio Grande when the water got above the headlights. Some years later, I crossed Terlingua Creek with water above the headlights. My buddy, watching and a tad nervous, said he wasn't sure I'd make it after the taillights went under. But, I did.
Anybody else have the occasional nervous moment?
Art
Post by: Guest on June 18, 2005, 07:14:23 PM
Gee, It was normal to go 4-wheeling for something to do. I mean one can watch TV to see critters and have the phone ring - or do as we did, have the red and blue lights interupt the live animal viewing at night.
I mean I shot moving targets with a shotgun...if'n you want to learn to shoot "moving" targets with a rifle, you gotta shoot stationary targets out of moving vehicle. For "safety reasons" - one needs a 4wd to get back in the woods to shoot guns....that "know target and what behind it" dealie....
Karman Gias are not 4wd. They will float you across the creek that rose a bit quick...the trick is to get a lot of speed, aim up creek and that way you only end up 6 blocks down the city park creek and can leave by driving thru the Pavillion - Well I figured the girl needed to actually understand what 'sealed bottom" meant...
Had a boss once buy a brand new Int'l Scout. He never licensed it or bought tags. It was for his "farm". Now he did immediatly have 4 helmets a 5 pt buckle system put inside, and roll cage built for it. His "farm" was a bit hilly and had some ponds fed by BIG creeks. He made sorghum molasses and some other clear stuff that went into mason jars...
Upon hiring, my first day at work involved keys to the farm, where the fishing gear was, and a tour of the property. Quickest distance b/t two points is a straight line...makes no never mind if there are trees, ditches, creeks...
"BANG" shotgun blast! "Momma is telling us supper is ready" ....we only rolled over once, and cleared some more a path he was working on. That Scout came to town twice a year to get tires, dents hammered out, and whatever else needed fixing...most often the roll cage and brush guards. The hash marks on the dash noted how many times it was rolled...
The mostest fun a fella can have is when a anal / retentive, OCB fella gets a new Ford Bronco that gets the tires Armor-Alled if the grass from the lawnmower blows on them. It is a sin to have a 4 wd that has never been off paved roads.
His wife was a country girl, hubby was told we needed to run down the road and pick up some 'mater. We didn't tell him we were going to the country, onto country roads....much less gravel,dirt and the muddy ones .... I was driving and knew the 'backway".
Picture a vanilla white Bronco arriving back home "finally" with the wifey laughing so hard she peed herself in the driveway, the Bronco was Chocolate Brown, even up on the roof top, huge clods of mud going "plop"..."plop" on this pristine driveway, only thing not muddy was the area on the windshield were the wipers were used....
Hubby didn't smoke, hubby liked fine wines....hubby literally fell out of the Bronco, smoking one of my smokes and drinking a warm Bud....he even kissed the ground.
All I did was go for 'maters...his wife wanted Arkansas Home Grown and I knew a place where to get 'em fresh off the vine....
He has this aversion to 'maters for some reason I hear...
*grin*
Still think the old 70's Broncos were better....
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on June 18, 2005, 11:58:44 PM
My oldest's girlfriend just bought a nice '76 Bronco for a toy. It has a little lift kit on it, the requisite big tires and a new longblock, but it needed 'a little more'. Kid and I stuck headers, a new intake and a 4 barrel on the anemic little 302 last month and made a drastic improvement in it. They're off in the Sabine riverbottoms this weekend with it, so I'll probably have a good report by Monday for you.
Muddin' was one of the only one of the past-times we had in the Bottoms. One of my best friends got tired of breaking his Chevrolet 3/4 ton 4wd's so he bought a Land Cruiser, only to figure out that that big 6 cylinder engine was only good for keeping his wallet emptied out at the gas station and the parts catalogues, not getting across the swamp. After awhile, it was swapped out for a 350 Chevy, then when that proved insufficient, a more drastic transplant took place- 5 ton military axles and transfer case were hung underneath a substantial body and frame lift. When the 350 proved to be too limited, it was swapped for a 454. For seriously deep areas, modified military 5 ton hubs were welded into 72 inch tractor rims with chevron tread tires. It wasn't fast, but it sure was loud.
Late one rainy Easter weekend as the Sabine was rising quickly, he got a call from a guy who had managed to snag his new F250 over a stump along a pipeline right of way just before the water started coming in through the dash vents. The truck was still somewhat visible from the road as the owner had the good sense to leave the high beams on as he swam away and they made a decent navigation hazard beacon that could be seen for about a half mile. The Yota was brought out along with his 10 ton wrecker, the plan being to take the KW wrecker to a spot close enough for the Toyota to crawl the cable out to the now fully-submerged pickup, where the owner would voluntarily drop off into the cold water and attach the winch cable to the frame, which was well-lit by all the refracted headlamps. At that point, the KW winch truck would take up the slack and reel in the F250 like a largemouth bass on a frog lure.
In plan, anyway.
You get 5 guys in an old, loud, tall yet remarkably stable vehicle at 0300, 4 of them soaked to the skin and in coming off their ethanol very quicky and the prospects of going back over and into cold water loses its' appeal pretty soon. The Yota crawled loudly out over the right of way to the drowned Ford easily enough, but it took two of the frogman cowboys to find a suitable attachment point for the cable. Once it was hooked about an hour later, the radios crackled and the slack came out. Took some straining and the KW slid a bit in the mud, but it came out, all right...truck, mud, stump and all. Seems the divers had looped the cable around the stump and front axle as well.
Needless to say, the truck found its' way to the auction shortly. Someone got a heck of a deal on a low-mileage diesel F250 4wd that always had a funny smell to it. The Yota was driven sporadically after that, being only quasi-street legal, and it still exists, but never became 'competitive' on the 'professional mud-bog circuit' as its builder had hoped it would.
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: mtnbkr on June 19, 2005, 03:25:21 AM
Quote
Anybody else have the occasional nervous moment?
The only time was when I drove my dad's 2wd Ford Ranger with street tires across a gravel bottomed and rain swollen creek with enough firewood in the bed to push the suspension down to the bumpstops. The water was above the bottom of the doors. I got stuck halfway across for about half a second, but gunning it got me moving again. Chris
Post by: K Frame on June 19, 2005, 05:07:49 AM
I guess the rental place never looked under the car when I returned it, as I never got a bill for anything. I know there were some interesting under carriage dents that weren't there before.
Post by: Stetson on June 19, 2005, 10:10:45 AM
4 wheeling with Mom, dad, myself, my brother and grandparents. 1976 Scout. We are goung around a tree and there is a 100' drop off the left side. My brother accidentally kicked it out of 4wheel drive and the scout tried to go up the hill to the left. It started to tilt towards the drop off. Brakes were applied, my fingers were peeled off the door handle and I got out to attach the winch cable to a tree, higher up. We just pulled it around the corner and up the hill with the winch. then we all got out and cleaned out our shorts..
Post by: Otherguy Overby on June 19, 2005, 11:14:48 AM
Anyway, this was in Southern California. A friend and I (he had a Dodge 4X4) would head for the mountains in the early spring when a storm would come through, a snow storm in the mountains. We'd drive over Cajon pass (I-5), down the other side (all freeway) and get off and head east into the desert. Then we'd head south and up into the mountains taking the back way (dirt fire road) up to Fawnskin & Big Bear. From Hesperia down in the high desert it was around 3,000 feet elevation. Fawnskin is about 6,000 elevation and Big Bear lake is about 6,700 and everything is uphill from there.
We wouldn't go unless the forecast was for more than a foot of snow, and springtime was the best and muddiest. No one in their right mind would go in one vehicle. Our theory was, if we couldn't make it uphill we could always go back down. I recall pulling several vehicles out of the mud, but only pulled them out on the downhill side. I did get high centered once, you'll remember the reference to the Landcruiser's anchor engine, it just didn't have enough throttle response to bounce over stuff. My friend, after giving me a bunch of sh.. er grief then pulled me off. We rarely encountered anyone going uphill, though. Most everyone else was going downhill, and it sure seemed like most of those people got stuck trying to go downhill.
Now I've an area on my property where I can do some fairly tough rock crawling...
Post by: Jamisjockey on June 19, 2005, 02:28:20 PM
American Fork Canyon (Utah), stuck in the snow:
A rescue I took part in, when this young fella got his Blazer stuck with two wheels hanging off the edge of a 1000' dropoff.
Look close, the back right wheel is not in touch with the dirt (pre-lift photo)
YEEHAAA!
I miss my Jeep! '94 XJ with 4" of lift, 31" Dunlop Mud's, Olympic bumpers and nerf bars, Olympic rack, Hydraulic winch. She was quite capable!
Post by: Art Eatman on June 19, 2005, 06:47:20 PM
I run the 7.00x15 light truck mud&snow tires, six-ply.
Post by: Schuey2002 on June 19, 2005, 08:38:11 PM
Quote from: Art Eatman
Some years later, I crossed Terlingua Creek with water above the headlights. My buddy, watching and a tad nervous, said he wasn't sure I'd make it after the taillights went under. But, I did.
Art
I had a somewhat similiar experience out in the Oregon National Dunes a few years ago. Art
One day a friend and I decided to go wheelin’ out in the dunes after work. After a few hours of playin’ in the sand, and climbing everything in sight, we decided to explore some trails that led off into a small stand of pine and douglas fir trees..
As we are traveling down this overgrown trail, I hear over the CB..
“Dude, there is a lake at the end of this trail. It's not that deep, three feet or so, maybe a bit deeper.. I've been through it before with my old '84. It's easy... Besides, if you get stuck, I'll pull you out." Proclaimed Kent.
Being the guinea pig that I am, and not wanting to look like a chicken, I went first. As I nosed into it (in 4 Lo), and as the headlights started to submerge, I quickly stopped, threw it in reverse and backed out. After quick burst of nerves, and a change to 4 High, I again took the plunge. Keeping my foot on the throttle, I proceded into the small lake. As my hood vanished under the water, and as the noise of gurgling water filled the cab, I somehow managed to make it through. After stopping on the trail on the far side, I got out, popped the hood and took a look-see. After noting the dry air box and filter, I knew that my engine had survived. Then it was my friends turn.
He, and his ‘85, were not so lucky. After creeping into it and then traveling right into the center of the lake, the water got its revenge. His stock intake had sucked in water like a Dyson vacuum cleaner. All manner of rattling noises started emanating from under his hood. After leaning out his window, and giving me this “Oh, Sh*t!” look, he managed to slowly creep through the watery muck to the far side where I was..
Swearing could be heard bouncing off the surrounding pine trees, as we both stared at his blue '85 Toyota. Kent then popped his hood so we could inspect the damage. Water was pouring out of the stock intake and onto the grill. After more swearing by Kent, he turned, walked to the bed of his truck and grabbed his tool box.
In minutes, the valve cover of the 22RE was off. A mix of water and murky motor oil dripped down the block.
More swearing and staring ensued.
After some time had passed, the valve cover was put back on, and the hood was slowly closed.
"Dude, you're going to have to tow me back to my uncle's ATV shop. We'll take a closer look at it once we get over there.."
As I pulled his '85 out of there, I couldn't help but savior the moment. Me, and my "Inferior Tacoma", towing his "Superior and 100% Japanese built" 1985 back to civilization.
The next day I get a phone call from Kent. The watery dunking had bent two rods, #3 and #4. A new (rebuilt) 22RE was on its way from a shop in California as he spoke.
Obtw, his truck hasn't been in anything deeper than a mud puddle since that day out in the dunes..
Post by: SADShooter on June 20, 2005, 07:17:38 AM
Post by: Ray on June 20, 2005, 10:40:41 AM
It's pretty much a "learn by doing" enterprise. But make sure you are doing it with another vehicle along.
Post by: Art Eatman on June 20, 2005, 04:56:00 PM
In my Toy, I've found low range in 2nd and 3rd to be the most useful. 99% of the time, Slower is Better.
I've traversed some pretty big rocks by slowly crawling the tires over them in Grammaw--Low Range, First Gear & Slow. Try to straddle a rock and your eyeball was off and you hear horrible graunching noises.
Tires make a big difference. All-Terrain Radials AIN'T!!! Terlingua tire-repair folks just love to see the 4WDs with great big doughnut A-TRs show up. Lotsa sidewall punctures, where all radials are vulnerable to sharp rocks and greasewood and mesquite. Those tires are fine down on Padre Island...
According to the dealership Toyota mechanics, the old solid-axle trucks don't ever come in for repairs; only seals. The post-'85 double-wishbone designs aren't as strong...
I've picked up parts and pieces from almost ever brand of 4WD known to man in the last 30 years in Terlingua--except Toyota.
What I've found is that gears are more important than gross power. The Toy's litle four-banger started out as a fork-lift motor, and it's pretty much bullet proof. I've got 285,000 on the original crank. And it won't twist the frame...FWIW, Art
Post by: grampster on June 20, 2005, 05:23:59 PM
Smoot, which I could never figger was in Wyoming or Idaho. Had a forrester's handmade map. We never got to Smoot as the snow got too deep and we had to turn back. I had a old 82 Bronco 4 X 4 and we had to back out of one spot as the two track wound up on the side of a mountain and the Bull Dozer was setting and rusting at the end of the trail. I really got to appreciate low range 4 wd that day. I would not trade the vista we were blessed with that day.
We got out before dark and ate, slept and drank in Pinedale, Wyo. that night. A couple of old guys we talked to said we were lucky it didn't snow while we were up there as maybe they would have found our bones in a couple of years.
Couple of Michigan Hillbilly's in Big Country.
Post by: Schuey2002 on June 20, 2005, 05:24:18 PM
Emulating TV is fun! How else are you going know the limits of your 4x4 unless you have several feet of ground clearance under each wheel??
Schuey_wholeapstallsandduneswithasingleboundinhisYota_2k2
Post by: Art Eatman on June 20, 2005, 05:35:54 PM
, Art
Post by: Schuey2002 on June 20, 2005, 05:57:05 PM
And for the most part so do I. Unless I can drag K-man over here (along with his Esab 650 plasma cutter and Miller portable MIG welder) to cut 'n weld 'n wrench on my Yota.
Gawd, the thought of having to take the Yota to the Stealer makes me cringe.
~ Brian
Post by: captain obvious on June 20, 2005, 06:10:36 PM
I was driving my Jeep Wrangler, following my friend's dad's suburban, out checking on some natural gas drilling rigs. As it had just rained (pretty heavily) I was almost sure that we be walking back, and some (what seemed to be) hills in excess of 35 degrees.
Oh, and did I mention that this was the first time I had taken my jeep off roading (with the exception of some poor, but flat, dirt roads)?
When we left there was literally not a square inch of the outside of the jeep that was not coated with mud - I wish we had gotten pictures.
Post by: Guest on June 20, 2005, 06:24:39 PM
Shuey,
I think some more sharing and tidbits might be useful .
Such as should shocks be fore/ aft of axle, tire selection for environment, gear ratios, trannies...etc.
I have to say the old Toyota, and Datsun [ dated myself huh?] with 2 wd , manual tranny and the 4 banger did quite well out on the farms, rances and such...with a little weight in the bed. Good Part is a couple of guys could lift the back end out of a ditch enough to get wood under a tire to get back on ...not a road, path...how about a trail?
Amazing what a '53 Chevy Sedan with that higher ground clearance, 3 on the tree and straight six would do..."okay we made up the hill...now all we gotta do is get down the other side". We made thru the creek and back to safety. Must have been the bias belt tires...*wink*
Post by: Schuey2002 on June 20, 2005, 06:59:00 PM
Here's a shot of my bud's truck sitting in his back yard (which could easily pass for a small salvage yard), awaiting its third engine. The first 22RE (which had over 200K on it, IIRC) let go on a local bridge about a year earlier. It dragged a streak of oil down Cape Arago Highway for well over a mile.. maybe more. The second engine (the one that he hydrolocked) was less than a year old. It was only a pup in Toyota years..
(The mud, dirt, sand and muck had been washed off the day before this pic was taken. I also had a couple of shots of the bent rods laying in his bed, but I can't find them anywhere on this 'puter. I probably zapped 'em. Crap!)
Post by: Paddy on June 21, 2005, 03:25:57 PM
Quote
Where can I learn more (preferably online) about properly handling a 4WD vehicle in off-road situations? Proper braking, acceleration, etc., techniques beyond shifting the transfer case.
There are a few articles here, under "Off Roading", "Safety/First Aid" and "Offroad Recovery". http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.htmNothing beats 'hands on' (as in 'hands on the 'oh $hit' bar'), though. You can hurt/kill yourself before you know it, not to mention really screwing up you truck.
Post by: Guest on June 21, 2005, 04:37:40 PM
They give lessons for this stuff? I didn't get the memo - as usual. Nope we would say "hey, I wonder what that is over there?" Start heading in that direction, now once "there" on had to get back.
Now I have not personally owned a 4wd.
A lot of my needs were farms, ranches and such.
I mean you get a real funny look in July in AR asking if Stinger Sams has any chains for your '65 Buick.
So learned to use chains to get around the mud, hills, thru creeks and such with 2 wd, be it a Pickup truck , Sedan, VW Beetle, Karman Gia or Jesus Bus...( don't ask - but yes as most Jesus Buses came with Annie Green Springs / Boone's Farms, blond or brunette...)
Me being me and all , and knowing the best fishing, hunting, or ...umm Sunsets ...were in remote areas...I went.
There is much truth that 4wd will get you stuck further out ...then again some of us just "had" to "Take it to the Limit one more time..." . It is really quite funny to have a '65 Buick pull a Blazer out of a ditch...
I had a hunting pard that bought a plain jane Chevy P/U 4 wd drive - rubber mats , AM only radio. Daughter finally had a Cassette put in. Now he did have two sets of wheels / tires , One being Co-ops, the biggest Come-a-long I have ever seen, and the HUGE Warn on the front. He knew how to drive and never got stuck. He did pull a lot of folks out. Baby Blue...well it came from the Factory Baby Blue...if it rained it kinda sorta was..." I retired, I hunt, fish, and keep my damn feet out of momma's way when she wants to run that damn vacuum...who has time to wash a truck?" The cab was hosed out from time to time....
Now his son had a old Toyota 2wd. " Too light to get stuck"...he used emergency chains, or snow chains as I did. [ Stinger Sams just had to think folks were coming in off the Group W bench...] , He too had two sets of wheels and tires. He ran the second set , Re-capped Snow with the steel inserts....they finally played out and one is not supposed to use them except from Nov to Feb ( back then) so he went to Re cap mud tires...had a small warn and come- along....Four banger, easing along getting to and fro. Sometimes the bed had two 60 # bales of hay....then again two labs, or just the Dekes was all he needed to keep the bed " steady".
Now I have a '93 S10, Regular Cab, 2wd. Running a 4 speed Overdrive Auto Trannie, and 4.3 L.
I bought it at the time 'cause I needed a truck to commute on the highway and get decent mileage. Fuel pump will quit at 140 mph....On long road trips I get 25- 30 mpg. [ depends on the terrain and speed limit....]
Now my scariest moment was up in PA. Okay we have Hills in AR...in PA them are MOUNTAINS! So I have this Blonde in short shorts riding shotgun to give directions to a remote place to go shooting. Folks up north do not give instructions as we down South do. I mean down here " Head toward the Johnson's ranch, hang a left on the dirt road where Bobby Sue and Bobby Joe got caught , take the first road running parallel to the creek...watch out for the bull....
Up north in PA " Take the Blue route to highway something or another, go 21.8 miles...." I felt a whole lot better once we stopped and bought sweet corn and I met some Amish folks...
Sheep! Where did the Sheep come from? Don't do no good to honk a horn at sheep...in fact seems to attract them...just drive slow, and be patient. Whoever they are following will eventually led them out of the way...
We shoot on a remote private range. Do not ask me where, I was lost after we left the Blue Route and took the Pink Route to the highway...
We finished shooting. " We have great scenery ya?" Well I fixed the "ya" to the proper "huh?" and WHOA! We end up W-A- Y up a mountain. It is a l-o-n-g way down yonder...looked like ants down there. I see this itty bitty road leading from where we are to the ants.
" You said the shortest distance was a straight line...you are Southern Gentleman - Huh?"
"Darlin' I ain't got 4WD"
"You always say improvise, adapt and overcome"
Sigh...
"Are you not supposed to yell "Geronimo".
I used the Southern Expression most used in situations like this...Even Art's Grammaw would have approved in this situation...even Art's Grammaw would have said it....loudly I might add...
I mean we are seemingly going "nose down" this mountain.
"If I roll this sucker, latch onto me and hold tight"
" So one of us will not get thrown?"
" Hell no, I die, it has to look good, I mean going in the arms of a blonde ain't a bad way to go..."
Them "ants" were cows. Great, I can do cows....I hit the horn, here comes Rin-Tin-Tin - BIG German Shepard ...starts showing teeth, and then makes a beeline to get the cows out of the way...Good Doggie.
"Once we hit bottom, now where do I go?"
"See that trail, that will take us to a county road..."
Mirrors pulled in, then make it up the "hill" [ seemed like a small mountain to me - don't care what she said].
We made it. Found a little Mom & Pop store, checked my truck, everything fine, restroom break, sodas, snacks...and off to find the green route, or was it the purple route... I don't know going 75 on pavement felt good for a change....
" You Southern Boys sure know how to show a girl a good time...,
" Aw shucks Ma'am - twern't nuttin'. "
I like your accent"
"Darling - that ain't a "accent" - I speak Southern, not English - there is a difference"
" Keep talking..and I'll buy BBQ at a - how do you say it " a Joint" .
Did you know you can get good BBQ in PA and if you talk Southern you get your Iced tea and Dessert Free? I didnt' either... I mean she did pay for my two racks of ribs...the waitress kept coming around and visiting, hollering for the other waitresses to come over, I mean we had a great time, one Southern Boy surrounded by all these young gals in short shorts , tank tops, iced tea, BBQ.
I was having a great time talking about shooting, and whatever else they wanted to hear. "Oh you Southern Boys really are ...*ahem*..." brave"... yuz guyz went down that mountain?
... sigh...
...Hey if the iced teas and desserts were on the house, what do I care?
Had to stop for smokes....After the day we had....
I think I know why the convienence stores are named Sheetz up there....
Post by: Jamisjockey on June 21, 2005, 06:06:54 PM
Quote from: SADShooter
I have a novice question. Where can I learn more (preferably online) about properly handling a 4WD vehicle in off-road situations? Proper braking, acceleration, etc., techniques beyond shifting the transfer case. I'm not as adventuresome as you folks, but we do have some need to get around on less-than-level terrain. Thanks.
I have a great little video starring Ivan "ironman" Stewart. Nothing beats hands on, but this video has some great tips. If you're willing to pay shipping (about 2 bucks I'd figure) I'll send it to you. Email me or pm me.
Post by: JAlexander on June 22, 2005, 07:10:53 AM
I have a buddy, though, who has the the worst luck ever. He managed to get his Pathfinder stuck in a mudhole on a road. To be fair, it was a deep mudhole, and it was after dark, but still... A week or so ago the same guy threw a rod in his Neon because he tried to go through a low water crossing. It was the rally edition with the cool air intake under the engine, and as soon as that thing hit the water, boom. Or rather,
And last but not least, we have my sister. She managed to get her truck stuck in her driveway and start to slide off to the side and down the hill. She did have an excuse, though. The tires on that truck were nearly bald, and she tried to drive it on the clay that our grandfather used on part of the driveway. Observe.
http://public.fotki.com/JAlexander/truck_pics/
James
Post by: mtnbkr on June 22, 2005, 07:35:20 AM
Never underestimate the slickness of a thin layer of mud and less than optimal tires. I was on the Tuscarora Trail back in April to go turkey hunting. I was traveling up a slightly inclined section of trail that was relatively smooth doubletrack with an inch deep layer of black mud (had been raining for a couple days and was misting at that time). It was so slick, anything other than idle broke the tires loose. At first, I thought my clutch was dead. I had just over 1/4 inch of tread left on those tires, but it wasn't enough.
Here's pics of my 4Runner and another guy's 4Runner on the easier parts of the trail: http://community.webshots.com/album/81954443uLphtz
Mine's the silver one.
Chris
Post by: SADShooter on June 22, 2005, 09:00:43 AM
Post by: Art Eatman on June 22, 2005, 09:34:46 AM
Wheelspin in rocky country eats tires.
If I figure to maybe "fight" rough country, I carry a Hi-Lift jack along with tow chains and the old pick and shovel.
If you get stuck, and have a very long tow chain, you can tie off to a tree and then pull sideways on the middle of the chain. That gives an incredible multiplication in leverage and you can pull a 4,000-pound vehicle a foot or two at a time...I prefer a winch, of course.
Art
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on June 22, 2005, 10:20:12 AM
We used to hunt early deer season in August at Lily Lake, on the north side of Mt. Blanca. The lake is above timberline, we hunted about 1/4 mile below it (Steve, you ain't never SEEN mountains). From the turnoff at Mosca Pass, it is 17 miles to our camp, the first 4-5 miles were road, and the rest, we just drove up the middle of the Cuchara River. Then to get up to camp, turn and drive up a 45 degree slope of nothing but huge rocks. Lots of lurching around, but dad's '55 Jeep pickup was up to the task. About halfway up, we blew a heater hose. We carved down a branch and hammered it into the block and then had to find a stream under the rocks. We finally got the radiator re-filled using a Coke can. It was a 2.5 hour trip (the 17 miles) including getting high centered at the bog halfway (twice, once on the way in, again on the way out). This was in 1963.
About 1965, in the same area, dad turned the Jeep over to me (I was 15). "Bout time you learned to drive off-road".
I got a bunch more.
Post by: Jamisjockey on June 22, 2005, 10:41:25 AM
Quote from: JamisJockey
Quote from: SADShooter
I have a novice question. Where can I learn more (preferably online) about properly handling a 4WD vehicle in off-road situations? Proper braking, acceleration, etc., techniques beyond shifting the transfer case. I'm not as adventuresome as you folks, but we do have some need to get around on less-than-level terrain. Thanks.
I have a great little video starring Ivan "ironman" Stewart. Nothing beats hands on, but this video has some great tips. If you're willing to pay shipping (about 2 bucks I'd figure) I'll send it to you. Email me or pm me.Post by: Tallpine on June 22, 2005, 01:19:17 PM
1) Full size 3/4 ton Chevy pickup on a "road" in Colorado that was originally meant to be wide enough for 2 mules to pass. Sidewalls eating rocks on the uphill side, tread hanging out over a 1000+ foot drop on the other. Does that count?
2) A VW bug will plane on water if you get it going fast enough, which is better than not going fast enough and water blocks the exhaust. The latter requires one to wade in the icy creek to push the bug back far enough to clear the tailpipes. Makes a nice, but shortlived, double barrel water gun when you start it back up.
3) My fiance rolled her VW bug, so I took off the doors and remaining glass and we used it as a dune buggy / jeep in the mountains. It was sorta off-center too. It did great but didn't have the power to climb the steepest hills. Got lots of strange looks from city folks in their fancy 4x4's
4) Log truck buried to the axles in mud, does that count?
5) I knew several places in the hi-country where there was a fork in the road up on a really steep hill. So if you were showing a flatlander around, they always had a heart attack when you turned and drove off the cliff - before they could see that there were actually a set of tracks going down there.
6) Montana Gumbo: not off road but it might as well be, or you soon will be anyway. Best thing is just to stay home. Just one of the hazards now of going to town.
Post by: grampster on June 22, 2005, 04:48:09 PM
You mentioned a '53 Chev, 3 ona tree, in line 6. Mine was light blue, 2dr sedan, royal blue painted dash with a lot of chrome too, mohair seats. Ole gal would go anywhere. My pal Gary and his ole' fece dog Spunky and I used to take her hunting ringnecks, rabbits, squirrel and partridge. If ole blue got us there, Spunky would run us some game. I think I drove her though more fields than roads in those days. I had my dad's Ranger .20 ga in the trunk at all times. Still have the gun, wish I still had the car. sigh......
What color was yours. She was my first car. Did you have to pop the hood every now and again and wiggle the shift linkage to free it up?
Dick
Post by: Guest on June 22, 2005, 07:56:33 PM
grampster-
Hello sir!
The '53 Chevy was gray in color.
I am a '55 model. My earliest "four-wheeling" was in cloth diapers in a top drawer of a dresser on the back seat.
[ I warned you folks didn't I ?]
My glass bottle was warmed via the defrost I am told. I was afraid to ask what all occurred when I got older and told I was breast fed as a baby . My mind had all sorts of images...
Momma didn't know how to drive. Then one day I saw mommy behind the wheel of the '53 Chevy , daddy had coffee cans ( we didnt' know they were evil back then) on the gravel road parallel to the ditch in front of the house. Momma was crushing coffee cans, I thought it pretty interesting. Daddy kept yelling something about "parallel parking" - she yelled at him to quit yelling everytime she went into the ditch. I thought she was doing a fine job of hitting the ditch. Then I had the definiton of parallel parking explained to me by my neighbor- took him awhile as he was laughing the whole time.
I then learned the fine art of changing out of my jammies ( the ones with the football that glowed in the dark on the chest)into my play clothes, while in the back of that '53 Chevy so momma could take daddy to work so we could have the car to go shopping ususally just on Fridays. I don't know what this "we " part was all about. I kinda like taking the Bus ride or the trolley. I mean the '53 Chevy didn't have a cord that went "ding" or a bell to clang. My head went "bump" the way momma found the curbs, potholes, and for some reason the brakes worked different for mom than daddy. Daddy did not have the brakes make screeching sounds, leave black marks,stink, or toss me from the back seat to up front.
I can't help but feel learning how to change clothes in the back of a '53 Chevy gave me a heads up on some skills for when I got older and took a date to the drive-in picture show...
As we know , but for the sake of others , one didn't need to have a key to turn on ignition or open the trunk. Just leave them in the "on" position or unlocked.
My first personal "four wheeling" all myself was in the driveway. Daddy was at drill and momma next door. My Johnny Unitas football was under the Chevy. So I moved the car to get my football. Okay rolling it back was easy, not being tall enough to see and reach pedals at the same time...I just aimed at a overhanging branch to get my bearings. I got my football, I made it over the tree root in the dirt driveway, I pulled it up just fine, straight and everything. Mom freaked when she caught me, my smile went to frown " get a switch and if aint' big enough - I'll pick one" I hate hedges to this day.
"Wait until your daddy gets home young man! " Always hated that part too...
Daddy looked at me kinda funny. I started in " I didnt' crush any coffee cans" - that is when momma stormed out of the room. " I got the football, I parked it straighter than mom and didn't mess anything up." Of course he refused the notion I go out and show him how I did this.
He later did test me by letting me pull the car up while sitting on his lap, with another evil coffee can " Just pull up to where the coffee can is even with left front bumper. Momma stormed into the house - guess she got mad because daddy was grinning - or maybe I didn't crush the coffee can.
Now we got all high dollar and got a second car, a '58 Dodge , two tone green with wings and push button transmission . Buttons on the left of dash - what idiot thought the rear view was supposed to go on the dash. That is where the burgers go from Tasty Freeze or Dairy Queen...I mean glove box pulls down and holds the drinks if the car hop forgets to leave the tray on the window...sometimes real busy and needed all the trays.
Now a fella at church had a '53 Chevy too, a blue one. My expereinces in the one we had, and his, they would go anywhere ' cause we did. The only cool thing about the '58 Dodge was when you backed out of the drive , and hit "D" the tires would spin chat. [ We thought chat was high cotton compared to dirt and gravel.
'53 Chevy's went everywhere, lot of room for fishing poles, guns , dogs, all sorts of stuff to take way out in the backwoods.
We later got a Station wagon, with power brakes ,power steering, and again auto transmission . Had more kids too, good thing too. Momma took turns slinging kids all over the back from side to side, from back to back seat- and on a good day she could toss a kid from back glass all the way up front where she was. A kid would crawl all the way back to back glass...she would do this again.
I was about Ten when all my "four wheeling" and "driving experience came in handy. We went to the S&H Stamp redemption center. Momma and I were almost to the door and momma forgot a couple of books and my catalog with the toy circled I wanted. Momma went in, I was in the parking lot when I hear this kid about 2 just a wailing...and the car was rolling with him in it down the parking lot. I took off in a dead run, head first I climbed into the window, got settled and we went over the curb into the street. This was some kind of Desota I think. Anyway I knew if I started it - I could steer a bit better , so I did, and made sure the tree was in first gear. I eased into the street, using the building and all as I really couldn't see over that hood and eased in first gear to around back of store and back around front.
There was this momma really frantic running toward me as I was tugging on that hand brake. Then the Cop that walked the beat, who was with the momma came over.
So I here I go - finally - into this S&H center with a nickel coke , the stamp books, my catalog with toy circled, and BIG Cop..."Ma'am is this your son?"
Momma's do weird stuff when a Cop twirling a baton asks them that...
"What did he do this time, and where did you get a coke...and...and..."
Cop told her. I thought mom was gonna faint before I got my toy.
Yeah I got to hear " wait until your daddy hears about this young man" Only this time there was no swithches or belts involved.
See, I kept telling them a kid is not to young to learn stuff , I mean "4 wheeling" in the driveway came in handy...all them other times in fields and stuff too...
My toy...I finally had enough to get my bone handled hunting knife with a leather sheath...it was so neat!
Kinda explains why folks said I would not make it past my 21st, 30th, 40th, or to my 50th B-day. Still time on whether I make it to 60 though if folks still wanna place bets....*grin*
steve