- Location
- Foresthill, CA
Well, I officially finished off my rig on Fordyce this weekend. Wifey and I made it all the way to mile 10 or so, and it was no picnic getting there. I think we went farther than anyone has gone thus far. The winch hills, which are usually paved over, were truly winch hills. On winch hill two, I landed sort of funny while trying to throttle up an undercut face, and on impact, the motor mount(s) broke and pushed the alterantor into the frame, cracking it's case. It was making horrendous noises, and the voltage was showing low. I was afraid I was on battery only, so I played Ivan Stewart, and tried to make it out the top side before I ran out of juice. This was at mile 8.0 or so.
The snow got deep around mile 9.0, and I soft rolled my junk into a tree trying to get past a snow drift at mile 9.5. We turned around, because there was no getting through that way, and headed for the bypass to Fordyce Lake. Got stopped by snow that way as well. Headed back for the entrance.
Made good time all the way back to winch hill #1, where I took a nice solid hit on the rear bumper that finally cracked my rear hatch in two, ejecting the glass, but not shattering it. After strapping it together so it would hold, we continued on.
Made it back to the first water crossing yesterday at about 6:00 pm, and the water was AWN. Gulped a tiny bit of water, but kept it running until we crossed. The motor started running like crap, and there was a bit of water in the oil, but I just wanted to get it to the highway at this point. Well, coming down driveline hill, I broke the steering gear in two, and pulled what was left of it off of the frame. It still had pressure, and wasn't leaking badly, so I used the winch cable to hold it to the frame. Limped it back to the highway and called AAA (thank God for 100 mile tow service).
Anyway, my junk is truly junk, and there is no good way that I can see to repair the frame, it is oficially done. Not sure about the motor yet, but I have a feeling that the main bearings are junkified, and need changing.
I'll be starting to switch all the good stuff (whats left of it) over to the new rig in a couple of weeks. We did have a fine time, though, and the trail was the toughest I've ever seen it, with creeks running down the winch hills, and soupy mud everywhere else.
CRASH
The snow got deep around mile 9.0, and I soft rolled my junk into a tree trying to get past a snow drift at mile 9.5. We turned around, because there was no getting through that way, and headed for the bypass to Fordyce Lake. Got stopped by snow that way as well. Headed back for the entrance.
Made good time all the way back to winch hill #1, where I took a nice solid hit on the rear bumper that finally cracked my rear hatch in two, ejecting the glass, but not shattering it. After strapping it together so it would hold, we continued on.
Made it back to the first water crossing yesterday at about 6:00 pm, and the water was AWN. Gulped a tiny bit of water, but kept it running until we crossed. The motor started running like crap, and there was a bit of water in the oil, but I just wanted to get it to the highway at this point. Well, coming down driveline hill, I broke the steering gear in two, and pulled what was left of it off of the frame. It still had pressure, and wasn't leaking badly, so I used the winch cable to hold it to the frame. Limped it back to the highway and called AAA (thank God for 100 mile tow service).
Anyway, my junk is truly junk, and there is no good way that I can see to repair the frame, it is oficially done. Not sure about the motor yet, but I have a feeling that the main bearings are junkified, and need changing.
I'll be starting to switch all the good stuff (whats left of it) over to the new rig in a couple of weeks. We did have a fine time, though, and the trail was the toughest I've ever seen it, with creeks running down the winch hills, and soupy mud everywhere else.
CRASH
.
