Best of the West....some pics

[Goatman]

Well, I got my pics up. Unfortunately, I lost my digital camera and had to use some of those disposable cameras, so I don't have any pics of 21 Road or Scratch and Dent, and the quality of some of the pics isn't real good. I found my digital camera in a side pocket as I was packing up to leave Avalanche Ranch for the trip home.......bummer! :(

There will be many more good pics as the other guys get them up, but here you go for starters. Keep in mind that pics never do a trail justice. Here's the link:

http://fototime.com/inv/8657D7EA3F74313

[4ward]

Brings a tear to my eye that I missed it :( Oh well, gonna go break something on Fri to make it all better :D Looks like a heck of a lot of fun you guys had, even without the CO guys on DT.

Sean

[ACE]

Wow, great pictures Richard.

[Ghost]

So, what was the average tire size on these xj's? 35's?

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Ghost
So, what was the average tire size on these xj's? 35's?

Yeah, I guess average would be 35's. There were 4 with 33's, 4 with 35's, 1 with 37's, and 3 with 38's.

[ROCKWGN]

I'm jealous as usual. Is there a main write-up of the run. What was the damage report? Looks like beautiful country...
Sean M.

[David Taylor]

Richard,did the big 37and 38 tires seem to help any? Do you so
bigger meats in your future, or are 35's still big enough? Dave Taylor

[Handlebars]

Sorry I didn't make it out there! You probably could have used another trailside photographer and I could have used the sunshine and fresh air. :)

[Porch Puppy]

Here are the pictures we took on 21 Road:
http://community.webshots.com/album/74790217eAODMA

Here are the pictures we took on Die Trying:
http://community.webshots.com/album/74798686dAOoZI

It was definetly a great time!!

I apologize to Bill, Mike, Eric, and Jeff -- we didn't get many pictures of the rigs towards the back of the line.

We'll post the pictures of Avalanche Ranch tomorrow evening.

Andy

[Goatman]

Originally posted by David Taylor
Richard,did the big 37and 38 tires seem to help any? Do you so
bigger meats in your future, or are 35's still big enough? Dave Taylor

Nah, I'm sticking with the 35's. I rub the 35's even with lots of trimming and 8+ inches of lift, and I don't want to give up any compression to run bigger tires or have to add any more lift. I like the stability of completely stuffing the tires, so I'd have to figure out how to clearance the wheel wells more to run a larger tire......not something that would be easy in the front. Plus, I'm happy with how the 35's work.

I didn't see any advantage that the bigger tires had over the 35's on the trail, but you can get additional opinions on that. Everyone got hung up about the same amount, and even the guys with 33's made all of the climbs. There was one obstacle on Sidewinder that Led was the only one who was able to run it without winching, and it was all a matter of breakover angle. Led had 38's with the tallest lift in the group, and he was the only one with enough breakover angle to make that obstacle. The others with 37" and 38" tires still couldn't make it because they didn't have enough lift. Also, my shaved front D44 and Tera60, and Paul's D30 and shaved HP9" had at least as much clearance under the pumpkin as the D44 and D60/14 bolt that Grant and Led were running with the 38's.

I know that bigger is usually better, but when you account for reliability, stability, and performance, it all has to be a package, and just going to bigger tires does not guarentee better trail performance. Long answer to a short question..... :)

[Paul S]

Originally posted by David Taylor
Richard,did the big 37and 38 tires seem to help any? Do you so
bigger meats in your future, or are 35's still big enough? Dave Taylor
Dave, as Richard said, there was no clear advantage to any particular setup. I'd say that tire size was the least determining factor. The guys with 33's did every bit as well as the guys with 35" +. The major difference was in height. There were some pretty extreme obsatcles at Avalanche Ranch, & from one to another you could see the advantage/disadvantage of tall verse short. I'm sticking with 35's on a short lift & putting all my energy into weight savings. I've got my rig to under 4,000lbs fully loaded & it's much more stable than it use to be, I'm hoping to shed another 50 - 100 lbs.
Paul

[ROCKWGN]

Hey Paul,
I like your idea. How did you get to below 4,000 pounds? My rig loaded with gas and no tools weighs 4,500 pounds. Thats a big difference. Sounds like a fun trip, AHHH some year I will go.
Sean M.

[Paul S]

Originally posted by ROCKWGN
Hey Paul,
I like your idea. How did you get to below 4,000 pounds? My rig loaded with gas and no tools weighs 4,500 pounds. Thats a big difference. Sounds like a fun trip, AHHH some year I will go.
Sean M.
The short answer is I cut the back off. Really I was very selective about the metals I used to put it back together, avoiding anything that would add any noticable weight. I believe the carpet weighs over 100lbs, so that's coming out this weekend.
Paul

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

As for tire size, I believe my little 33x10.5's and good turning ability helped me squeeze between things that others had trouble on. I was way more maneuverable than some others. I was not that impressed with the bigger tires. I think 35" small lugged tires worked nicely out there. It's a different story here in the midwest though where you need some LUGS! What I want to know is why all those California boys bailed so early? I went to the Rock Garden my Aztec NM as well as Chokecherry Canyon by Farmington. I even found a pile of MUD on a mountain south of Chama NM. It was SO MUDDY I filled my MJ trailer (with ATV, chairs, spare parts, etc.) with mud flying off the Jeep's rear tires! Cost me $20 at the car wash to get MOST of it cleaned off! I think I'll take the dust instead of that mud. :) Jeff

[XJJPR]

Originally posted by Paul S
The short answer is I cut the back off. Really I was very selective about the metals I used to put it back together, avoiding anything that would add any noticable weight. I believe the carpet weighs over 100lbs, so that's coming out this weekend.
Paul


Ask him what it is called!

mark
orgs mfg

[Grant]

Led and I both run 38's, he has a little over 10" of lift and I am probably just under 8". I was jealous on two obstacles of his ground clearance, but was thankful for my lower CofG in a couple spots.

I am only able to fit 38's on such a "low" lift due to the full width axles.

I know I would lose a huge amount of weight dumping the roofrack and the 38" spare from the roof but where would we sleep in summer?

[Led]

"I am only able to fit 38's on such a "low" lift due to the full width axles. "
And alot of help from Mr. Plasma cutter
Led

[wrk24wheel]

Here are some more pics from the trip. I did not have a chance to go through them yet. Just uploaded them from my camera. I will try and clean them up tonight.

In the mean time here is the link.

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=5459273203.79207600903&n=895238896

[Porch Puppy]

Originally posted by wrk24wheel
Here are some more pics from the trip. I did not have a chance to go through them yet. Just uploaded them from my camera. I will try and clean them up tonight.

In the mean time here is the link.

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=5459273203.79207600903&n=895238896

Kevin -
Great pictures.....

Here are the pictures we took on Sidewinder:
http://community.webshots.com/album/74884471DORjMg

and the pictures we took on Alien/Aliens (one roll of film is still in the camera):
http://community.webshots.com/album/74899596avbbuS

Andy

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Kevin, how do I view your pics without joining Ofoto? Jeff

[wrk24wheel]

You did not used to have to sign up. I just signed up a bogus account.

Use this...

login: naxjaguest@yahoo.com
password: naxja

To sign up they only want you to pick a user name and password.

Kevin

[Jes]

Great pics guys!
I just got back from AZ today and I have an insane amount of pics to upload, should take a week or so on my dial-up. :D
Awesome trip, can't wait to get out again.

Jes

[Chark]

:) Wow..great pics and truely a fun looking adventure. A question for the guys on 38's. What rear spring set-up are each of you using? My rig "GroovyGreen" is running a cut and shaved rear 60 with 12.50x38 SX's with Rusty's extreme duty leaves with the mil wrap. It sits a little low in the rear and I'm starting to think os switching to something else....maybe coils and a tri-4-link????

[woody]

"Groovy Green" :rolleyes: who would come up with a name like that ;)
<edit:> Citroen Metallic...probably the coolest OEM Jeep color I have ever seen. Not 'one of a kind' but rare for sure...one year only. Pix don't do it justice!<edit>

OTOH mine is sometimes called "the Tank" (or the Tub depending on my mood) unclear yet if it's a Tank-Tank or a Septic Tank LOL anyways it's up off the ground now and I love You Man!

Macgyvr seems to love his coils... check him out on 38x12.50 for some feedback.

Doesn't that west-coast stuff remind ya of those old western movies...LOL finding skeletons laying next to empty canteens and fuel cans, sidewinders in the sleeping bag, buzzards circlin, Wiley Coyote and all that ;) Looks like some fun wheelin if ya could make it all muddy...

[Chark]

Hey Woody...glad to hear it's up....those parts are going to get some use, and I'm glad they're in good hands. I know for sure....they're on no mall cruiser.

[Jes]

Here are the pics I took...
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/home?userid={0641A5A9-DB40-46BE-9569-B61D5BC8B151}&tio=0
There's also pics from my Lower Terminator run on Memorial Day with Rick Norman and Joe Daro.
Lots of fun!
http://www.fototime.com/{45DFDCD3-0779-4808-B427-26E1A7DFB725}/picture.JPG

Jes

[Goatman]

Jes, a great series of pics. Glad you were able to get in another day of wheeling on the way home. You got some good shots on Die Trying. We have to plan another trip out there, I really liked those Montrose trails. Maybe next time we can actually get some of the CO guys to join us. :)

[Jason A-33]

Richard, if it's OK with you I would love to join you guys this time. I will even take time off work so I can join you. Let me know when we can expect you.

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Jason A-33
Richard, if it's OK with you I would love to join you guys this time. I will even take time off work so I can join you. Let me know when we can expect you.

Jason, I think we're due for another NAXJA event in CO next summer, centered around the San Juans. I think a couple days on the Montrose trails would work nicely. We're talking about next years Best of the West being back in CA, depending on what happens with Surprise Canyon. The hope is that we can work the next BOTW around Surprise, doing Panamint Valley, Stoddard Valley, and Johnson Valley. We'll see how it works out.

I definitely want to spend three or more days running trails in Montrose again.....great trails!

[FarmerMatt]

Great Pics Jess. Looks like you had fun in Arizona.

Matt

[Scott Mac.]

I have got move west.

Awesome pics Jes.:thumbup:

[Jes]

Thanks guys.
Yes, AZ was fun too even though I cut another tire and finally killed that axle shaft(it was inevitable). A big thanks goes to Rick Norman for letting me use his spare for a couple of days and hooking me up with two new MT/Rs w/road hazard, mounted, ballanced, and out the door for a really good price. That saved me a lot of money.
Also had a little drama when I was driving back to CA on Friday. I stopped for gas in Needles and when I tried to restart the Jeep it wouldn't start. So after checking all the electrical and making sure it was getting gas I acted on a hunch and replaced the one engine control component that I hadn't replaced yet, the coil(I had bought one a couple of days before I left for BOTW, just in case). After that it fired right up and I haven't had any problems since. That could have been a really bad situation.
Montrose, yes, I'd really like to go back there and run the rest of the trails. I also want to run Die Tryin' again, that was pure rock crawling bliss!

Jes

[Goatman]

I have carried a spare engine control module (coil) ever since I started wheeling my XJ. The Jeep techs said that is the most common reason that the engine just won't run.

We used it one time on the Rubicon on a friends CJ when his coil went out. One of the XJ guys from San Diego that was with us ran a Jacobs ignition, and he thought he could figure out how to wire my spare module to work as a coil for the CJ, which he was able to do. My 100,00+ volt coil made the CJ V8 run better than it did with the stock 30,000 some volt coil. He has since sold the CJ and built an XJ. :)

Yeah, we have to figure out how to get back to Montrose some time next year.

[Paul S]

Thanks to everyone for taking & posting so many pictures. Leilani was a little disappointed with the 9 pictures I took.
Unless next years BOTW involves Surprise Cyn., I'm pretty sure I'm going back to Montrose for a week.
Paul

[Jes]

I think the heat killed that coil(and the fact that it had 149,000 miles on it). I went down to Phoenix a couple of times while it was over 100 degrees and coming back up I17 she got pretty hot and I was forced to shut off the AC.
I really hope the Surprise Canyon deal works out for next year. It'd be great to center the run around that and would be a new experience for some of us. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Jes

[Goatman]

Yeah, if Surprise isn't doable yet, I'd do Montrose again. We'd also have to include Penrose, those CO guys sure make a big deal about how tough it is. Of course, I don't know what that really means...... :D

[Paul S]

Originally posted by Goatman
Yeah, if Surprise isn't doable yet, I'd do Montrose again. We'd also have to include Penrose, those CO guys sure make a big deal about how tough it is. Of course, I don't know what that really means...... :D
I heard that some of the CO guys got together & read an article on Penrose, I believe they called it "extreme reading":eek:
Paul

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Paul S
I heard that some of the CO guys got together & read an article on Penrose, I believe they called it "extreme reading":eek:
Paul

Good one! :roflmao: :roflmao:

[Led]

Hey now atleast WE know how to read! :rolleyes:
Led

[CRASH]

I heard that some of the CO guys got together & read an article on Penrose, I believe they called it "extreme reading"

Oh my gawd, you're killing me, Paul.

CRASH