Az Chapter Inaugural Run Trip Report

[azdesertrhino]

The Arizona Chapter had it's Inaugural Run on Saturday, 01-20-07 and it was a huge success. Folks turned out from as far south as Sierra Vista and as far north as Flagstaff to join in the fun.

We started the run with 16 XJ's, a J-20 truck and a Toyota. Gavin's Toyota, (Fergie), showed us where the tough spots were. :patriot:

The run was from the Florence area and encompassed Box Canyon, a really beautiful area and Lower Ajax, a boulder strewn wash area that presented some excellent obstacles and challenged even some of the most prepared rigs on the run.

Although there was minimal carnage, just yards short of the official end of Lower Ajax, a rig based out of Flagstaff busted the drag link. Everyone pitched in to get the rig on the road again and with members stepping up to help with temporary repairs and supply replacement parts after the fact, all went well.

There were some new screen names suggested for some of the folks, including Duct Tape and Wounded XJ.

Although we started off with some rain sprinkles, the weather cooperated nicely. Especially since I just looked out the back patio door and the are SNOW FLURRIES IN TUCSON!!

I'd like to think everyone that attended had a great time. I think we all took a little more knowledge away with us.

Myself, I met some more of the Arizona NAXJA family and walked away with an excellent feeling for the future of this chapter!! I'm really looking forward to our next run and hope to see a huge, successful chapter in Arizona.

D10shun started a link with some pictures in it so I think our best bet is to post all out picture links here:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=904631

Some more carnage we won't talk about, stereos quit working, scuffed paint etc. OH, what a bother!! :patriot:

[XJ20]

Thanks for setting up and organizing the event, jim.

That was a great run with a whole lot of jeeps. 16 xj’s from wild to mild and one az style rig showed up with a strap already attached. With the large group and some trail traffic in the beginning it was nice to get to our destination trail to find we were the only ones running it. I hope there were enough boulders and ledges in lower ajax for everyone’s enjoyment. That trail was in really good shape and not stacked to death. I think we left it even better than it was. It is a true 3.5 rated trail and possibly a 4.0 considering some wet rock and sand conditions we had that day. That and the numerous obstacles made for some interesting conditions. Box canyon was its usual scenic pleasure ride.

I think we were about an hour behind schedule for most of the day but that didn’t prevent anyone from attempting any obstacle they wanted to do. We would have made it out before dark if the tie rod hadn’t broke on the last obstacle of the trail. Can You Believe It!!!

I had fun leading us out after dark. I hope everyone else had fun, too.http://www.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/tipshades.gif

[bigazxj]

was an awsome day even with no heater in my rig....
and im glad the flag guys made it home and they were able to find parts in the phx. area and didnt have to come all the way to tucson to the wherehome and pick up a greasy spare from me

justin

[Fergie]

I'd like to point out that the only vehicles that broke, or were strapped, were Jeeps.

My Yot may have needed help from the hi-lift, and rocks, but it made it.....now, time for some skids that don't hang 5" below the frame rail!

[AZRockRunner]

BTW, Radio fixed!!!..

Dame Dome light fuse somehow controls the radio working even though it had 12 volts from the factory harness.

DAMN JEEPS ANYWAY :bs:

Still love it though.

Later

[FLAGXJ]

[QUOTE=XJ20]Thanks for setting up and organizing the event, jim.

X2. I thought it went very well. It was an AWESOME time! It was great getting to meet everyone.

[XJSROCK]

I'd like to point out that the only vehicles that broke, or were strapped, were Jeeps.

My Yot may have needed help from the hi-lift, and rocks, but it made it.....now, time for some skids that don't hang 5" below the frame rail!

Can you say "By-Passes?" :D

[Fergie]

Can you say "By-Passes?" :D
I'm sorry, did I hear "Jeep Trails"?

:gee:

[rockwerks]

.now, time for some skids that don't hang 5" below the frame rail!

gonna take rotation of the TC also, not just s skid... I love yotas but the TC hanging down 4" below the Frame rails sucks

[Fergie]

gonna take rotation of the TC also, not just s skid... I love yotas but the TC hanging down 4" below the Frame rails sucks
Yeah, I may clock it up a bit, or just go with a bud built skid.

I'm alos buying this:
http://sonoransteel.com/Early_IFS_Brace.html

So I can make a nice skid that ties into that as well.

I'm drooling over some of the long travel Total Chaos kits too.