: XJ's in Johnson Valley


XtremeJ
11-25-2002, 08:44 AM
A quick trip report

After about three weeks of thrashing to get ready, the Jeep was ready for the trip to JV. Mod's for the trip included D44 front, D60 rear ( I had been told I would not be allowed into CA unless I ditched the D35), complete re-design of the front suspension, and a bunch of other stuff. Many thanks to Jon Jacobs for all the help getting ready.

Left CO early Thurs. am and drove 16 hours straight to JV. Arrived about 8pm.

Friday's trail was Jackhammer, about ten rigs, Goatman, GRNT, Kevin, Farmer Matt, Rick, Jes, MJDan, Sean P and a couple others. A real kick ass trail. Sean P destroyed a rear axle shaft, a few hundred yards into the trail. Brett and Sean spent the rest of the day repairing the damage and getting off the trail, including a hillside re-assembly of a Detroit. MJ Dan broke a u-joint. Lots of body damage.

The new suspension performed beautifully, although I would not recommend Jackhammer as a trail test for any new mods ever. Goatman experienced some trouble during the descent, and a badly placed rock lead to a bunch of damage to his beautiful rig. Good teamwork saw Richard's rig back on it's wheels and on it's way to camp.

My damage for the day - destroyed door handle, t/c case skid plate ripped off cross member, and a lost tie rod nut (fortunately on the way back to camp, not on the trail), as well as a constantly leaking D60 cover - a bad shaving job being the culprit.

Saturday we ran Wrecking Ball, the other group ran Outer Limits. Must have been a great trail, I had to winch three times, and I pretzelled a driveshaft (quite proud of that accomplishment). Fortunately I was able to replace the shaft with a spare (thanks again David) and complete the trail.

Loaded the trailer and got into Utah Sat night. Drove back to CO Sunday, and got stuck two miles from home in the snow. The truck and trailer and XJ can wait until the weather clears before I get them up the road to the house.

A great trip out west for some fantastic wheelin. So nice to see our Jeep buddies and meet new ones. Our friends from San Diego were very impressed with the capabilities of our grocery getters, although they still think we are all CRAZY.

Now I need to spend the next few weeks repairing the damage and fine tuning the suspension.

You can check out the photos on our site, just click on the link and then click the photo link, check out the JV folder.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebarclays/

Later

XtremeEngineering
11-25-2002, 08:59 AM
Sounds like a great trip Grant. I always miss the good ones.
Glad to here all the mods worked and all the parts held together.

Nick

JS-Economos
11-25-2002, 09:22 AM
Great pics, too bad Goat destroyed his rig :(, but glad the carnage was to his rig and not him.

XtremeJ
11-25-2002, 09:45 AM
Yup, sheetmetal can always be repaired.

Goatman was just very unlucky. Most times you would roll over and take out the glass, but that large rock was just in the wrong spot and it contacted the passenger roof line as it rolled. He still wheeled it the rest of the weekend.

Nick, you gotta make the effort for the next JV run, you will love it.

Even with 38's I think I hit every rock in the valley with that 60. Still was much better than running that POS 35 and waiting for the sound of snapping shafts. Nice to be able to get some without fear of breaking axles. Now if I can just do something about the driveshaft staying in one piece.

The suspension worked fine, but I bet I killed a couple heims, will check that this weekend.

Mike Beach
11-25-2002, 10:16 AM
Hey Grant,
This is the kid with the white TJ. It was awesome meeting you, and wheeling with you. Great pics, you missed an interesting Outer Limits run:eek::D Glad you made it home safley. See you around
Mike

Tuffjarhed
11-25-2002, 11:00 AM
Sounds like a hellova good time. I'm originally from Palisade, CO. Take my advice, DON'T MOVE!! Flat land sucks:mad: :(

XtremeJ
11-25-2002, 01:13 PM
Hey Mike,
Heard that you guys had a great time on Outer Limits. Well except for Rick :D

I had a blast, we will certainly go back when (eventually) I get the 2door done.

See you on the trail

XtremeJ
11-25-2002, 01:15 PM
I agree on that one TuffJarhead. But look at the bright side at least you get the 100% hummidty all summer long :D

SeanP
11-25-2002, 06:07 PM
Cool pics Grant! Nice wheeling with you, if only for a few hundred yards ;) . I found out that Dutchman has been sourcing axle blanks from overseas and it is very likely that is what I have gotten. I started a thread on Gen4x4 discussing my options. I am thinking ditch the 9", buy a 14 bolt and D60RR and be done with it. I might not even narrow them if they will fit on my trailer.

We'll see you on Best of the West in the springtime.

Best,
SeanP

Jes
11-25-2002, 08:12 PM
Richard's wreck...
http://home.earthlink.net/~jdrios/Richard%20flop2.jpg
...quite unfortunate. As they say, shit happens. I'm glad he wasn't hurt.
A great trip nonetheless, now I gotta fix all the stuff I bent.


Jes

David Taylor
11-25-2002, 09:28 PM
Grant, glad I had the shaft to lend you. Next time I will keep it in the jeep and not in camp. This is a link to some more photo's
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?UV=331557767451_97875858603&collid=79863248603

TheBadXJ
11-26-2002, 05:18 PM
Damn that sucks. Goatmans rig was pretty clean too.

David Taylor
11-26-2002, 09:43 PM
If you havn't seen to many already here you go
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?UV=854064834559_52625968603&collid=20292768603

AZFJ
11-26-2002, 11:36 PM
Originally posted by TheBadXJ
Damn that sucks. Goatmans rig was pretty clean too.

..We ran with Rich a couple of weeks ago in Parker..DAMN..That sucks..Nice guy..Glad to here he's alright!

Jes
11-27-2002, 06:47 AM
Repost of Richard's lay over(cause my earthlink site was shut down do to excessive bandwidth use. :rolleyes: ) on Jackhammer.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={6A0E5E9A-CEB5-4D2F-9620-1B4936028344}


Jes

Jes
11-27-2002, 07:02 AM
Kevin on Outer Limits.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={4652EF18-FE86-4AB7-802F-583D85AC687D}
Matt on Big Johnson.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={97727A40-E4E4-414C-8C01-09D52C0F28D1}
Dan on Jackhammer
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={69FF77C8-9257-4EC7-A72B-3BE978087AD9}
Myself on Outer Limits.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={84826258-6F3B-4987-A434-E55C472F17AD}
Grant on Jackhammer.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={73BE173D-AF6A-4F9C-AE5E-3F74E32C7C34}


Jes