Wasatch Cruisers took a trip out to the west Desert of Utah on Saturday and ran a great trail called Cat Canyon. We've run it a few times already with varying results. This first time in good weather with about 7 trucks took about 4 hours to cover the 2 miles of trail. The next time with 8 trucks and 8" of snow covering the trail took us 12 hours!:eek: This time we had about 7 trucks again and we came out after 6 hours on the trail. It's probably a 4+ overall but most of the trail is probably a 3+ with several 4+ obstacles. It's a blast for sure.

We had a bit of carnage too. A busted t-case, busted driveline, busted pitman arm, busted tie rod and a good bit of body damage pretty much covers the list.

I'll post more pictures when I get them ready.

This is my "moneypit" on Craig's Chute.

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/chute_sm.jpg

Right awn,
More pics please..

Where is this in Western Utah?

Cat Canyon is located about 50 miles west of Delta, Utah. I did an article in Toyota Trails about Cat Canyon about 2 years ago and included some GPS coordinates.

If you have older issues of Toyota Trails, it is the issue with Henry Cubillan's FJ62 in Moab on the cover.

Adam, sweet picture! Man, that truck's come a LONG way since a then-unknown Venezuelan was spotting you over the Wedgie on Poison Spider! :)

I haven't wheeling in so long that I think I've forgotten how to do it...

here's a few more shots of my truck from the trip

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/chute2_sm.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/chute3_sm.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end2.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end3.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end4.jpg

http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end5.jpg

Last one.


http://user.netomia.com/Box%20Rocket/end6.jpg

Originally posted by 60seriesguy
I haven't wheeling in so long that I think I've forgotten how to do it...

Come awn, Henry! It's in your blood!:rolleyes:

Adam - great pics - the location and the rig:cool:

Andy

Nice Camera Work

Let me guess, the busted tcase was a 3-speed case?

Originally posted by 60seriesguy
I haven't wheeling in so long that I think I've forgotten how to do it...

Henry, come to Gilmer this weekend and we'll remind you! ;)

For those of us who are snickering back channel that Adam only posts picts of his own truck :flipoff2:

More pictures @
http://www.cartogra.com/rs/58BA9320-DED0-11D6-B42C-0090277A760E

The T-case was a three speed but it wasn't the t-case's fault. It's mated behind a SM420 and the owner's (Ryan Davis) adapter turned out to be an el-cheapo with the wrong bolts and poor drilling location. I guess the whole setup was just put together and this was it's maiden voyage. It made it about 15 feet off the trailer before we noticed a steady stream of gear old pouring out of it. One of the bolts got loose and got crunched between a gear and the t-case wall, and t-case go pop. It's only a small hole, about the size of a 9mm bullet, easy to patch, probably no damage to the actually case so I think it should be a quick weld slag patch.

The pitman arm break was actually one of those incredebly lucky situations where noone was seriously hurt. It was a Mepco Jeep part (Kurt says "the only Jeep part on the truck." After we pulled it off, there was rust through the cracks which meant it was cracked before it broke and could have even broken on the road before we got to the trail head (only 2 miles or so). Luckily the truck was trailered down too. For a trail fix we took about 3" off the end of a highlift handle with files and a "emergency saw" that you'd find in the handle of a survival knife. We used that, some 12,000 lb parachuse cord wrapped very tightly around both ends of the arm and the high lift handle, and a TON of ducktape to keep it all together. For the first 30 minutes out there was only minimal play but coming down some of the obstacles we went up loosened it up quite a bit and by the end of the trail it was about 3/4s turn on the wheel before the tires turned. I can't believe a pitman arm broke, it must have been damn poor aftermarket Jeep manufacturing (common I think)....

And last but not least was a broken tie rod arm. I wasn't there for that but it was jimmied and made it all the way home too.

I wish I could have driven my truck. But broken leaf spring (still), poorly running carb (still), and no lockers. Was forced to ride shotgun in several trucks but it was still a lot of fun.

Bummer.

bummer..

That really sucks...

Adam,

I LOVE seeing pretty Cruiser in the rough.

Moneypit looks fantastic!

I'm feeling guilty here.... I sold Ryan that adapter plate (new) that I purchased from "Spaceghost" ...Mike Smythe.
Somebody should pass on the info if these adapters are machined wrong. I know there was a bucnh of us that bought them early on. I read some threads that were positive of the plate. I sold him the adapter and index ring only, no fasteners.
Like to know what the problem was.

bennett

Before we totally bag on SpaceGhost, I need to get the final word from Ryan about whether or not it was the adapter that was actually at fault. Upon first inspection, it seems that way but not for certain. Bottom line is that one of the fasteners DID come loose and get stuck between the case wall and one of the gears and punched a hole in the case.

Andre: the only reason I only posted pics of my truck was because that's what Dave sent me before he sent us all the link the his album.:flipoff2: Besides, would you rather look at my truck or Dave's?;)

Thanks Nolen. At the rate I'm going, it may not be so pretty for too much longer. Hopefully I can keep it nice for a little while.

Even if the adapter's holes aren't drilled in the perfect location, as long as it sits flat I sure there are other things (like using heat-proof locktite) that could have been done to keep it together. I don't think either Ryan or Spaceghost (or Bennett :flipoff2:) are to blame here at all, luckily it was minimal damage that can be fixed easily and I'm sure when Ryan puts it back together he'll make sure it doesn't happen again.

Besides, would you rather look at my truck or Dave's?

Thanks Nolen. At the rate I'm going, it may not be so pretty for too much longer. Hopefully I can keep it nice for a little while.

Oh, definetely yours! :p

PS Adam, I'm just giving you shit for no particular reason. ;) It was a fun weekend though, funner than I've had in a while.

:beer: