Plan to run Rubicon but trans is starting to slip...

Believe it or not, my wife has decided that she wants to conquer the Rubicon trail for our anniversary. Yes that's right folks, I'll say it again...for our ANIVERSARY! I know I couldn't beleive it myself. Ya see, she thinks that since its in California it will be fun and cool, like maybe Monterray bay or something like that. If course it will be way fun and cool, just not anything like a beach and more like 10,000 feet above sea level in the high Sierras. I no doubt will be on cloud nine and giddy as a scool boy. I hope she doesn't do any reasearch about the famous trail and find out what she's really in store for. So that's the good news. Now for the bad. Not only am I still trying to fix the Tacoma and build a serious trail bumper on the front...now the Blazer, which has been my current daily driver for that last 2-months, transmission is starting to slip. Tonight as a matter of fact, it didn't shift into third gear...it just revved like it was in nuetral. It eventually slipped in but I know its only going to get worse. So probably about $1000 and another two months later that will be fixed and maybe...just maybe we'll be able to hit the Rubicon and tell of our eventful adventure!

I have recently been bombarded with many vehicular problems with both of my main, daily drivers. The Blazer is still OK, but using 4WD without the previous stated problem repaired could be disastrous. Someday I'll get around to fixing it once my Tacoma is repaired so my wife can let me start using the car to drive so the Blazer can start getting worked on. The Tacoma was in an accident not long ago and has required a complete front-end repairs. This included frame-straightening, grill and headlight replacements, fender rectified, a/c condenser/radiator repair. Most of that is now done, but the custom built bumper was crushed in the process and now the long process of design, bending, cutting and welding is started to happen in the garage to somehow recreate yet better the previous tube protection from before. I'll post pictures as soon as the truck nears completion and my garage returns to normal along with my car returning to me.

Broken Engine Mount...

The last off-road adventure to Lake Mountain in the Blazer had resulted in an unknown clunking noise coming from underneath the front-end of the truck. It has been in vain lately trying to locate and pin-down the source of the racket. Plus the noise only occurred while in four-wheel-drive and then only in low-range under acceleration. I thought it was the front axle or the transfer-case itself. After many crawls underneath, inspecting every bolt, joint and component I finally had the idea to check the front drive-line yet again. Upon inspection I found it to be intact, the u-joints tight with no play and the slip-yoke to be in good condition. The thought to check the crossmember just underneath the driveline came to me, so I grabbed a flashlight and wouldn't you know it, the driveline under load was being forced down towards the crossmember, grinding a concave grove into it, thus causing the noise. I then also determined the root cause of the driveline contact was a broken passenger side engine mount allowing the engine to sag downwards, tilting the transmission and transfer-case to the right. Since the driveline is on the right side of the transfer-case, the driveline was moved down in excess of more than an inch, impacting the crossmember. A six dollar part was causing a noise that I had thought was going to be very, very expensive. Next time I'll know to check all of the smallest incidentals before condemning the big ones. 

In the middle of nowhere...

I had the chance last week to try out a new area to go shooting. My friend and I had decided to go way out past an old cemetery near Camp Floyd. There was an old dirt road out there which to say the least was very dusty, long and flat. (what dirt road isn't right?) This road, which crosses acres and acres of private property, was actually dustier and longer than most that I have been on. After near twenty miles of driving, we finally get off of the county road and crossing the private properties to reach the BLM land. Finally after more than an hour of driving in constant wind and dust, we pulled out the guns. .44 Special Taurus snub was the first to get shot while the AK47 and the 9mm Beretta Storm were the most memorable ones. The wind made for terrible accuracy when aiming at the targets, but emptying 32 round clips, one after another was invigorating. I was definitely relaxed and stress free from the prior week. I can't wait to go again and hopefully next time it will be a nicer day and maybe a little closer to home.

Rumors of possible trail closures...

There has been certain rumors floating around a few discussion boards and local 4wd Internet sites about possible legislation that would change the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land that includes the Five Mile Recreation area to a non-open designation status which would eliminate practically all off-highway vehicle access. The rumors have stated that may be many powerful environmental groups, including the Sierra club, that are backing this legislation initiative. From the research that I have done, including looking at current BLM and the U4WDA (Utah Four Wheel Drive Association) sites, so far, I have found them to be untrue. Although there are many who would like this change to take place, I feel that it would take away one more of the few places left for families and friends alike to be able to explore this area with such ease. As I do not condone such acts as driving off the trail, littering or causing damage to shrubbery or vegetation, I think that existing trails and paths should be left open to the public so long as we're responsible for our actions, good or bad. I hope that both the o.h.v. riders and non-o.h.v. supporters alike can hopefully find some common ground so as to not incur or start similar legislation to the Five Mile Area as the rumor had so implied. I'll post any new information that I may find regaurding any of these land issues.

Next early spring adventure...

After nearing almost a month since I have gone out at all four-wheeling and almost four months since an actual trail-ride, rock crawling adventure, I have decided that it's time to plan the first 2009 trail-ride for the spring. Obviously the Moab trip will be planned and is something that I always look forward to but, I'm thinking about going somewhere exploring, someplace new that I've never been to before. A few places come to mind as I ponder on what terrain I will encounter and what kind of gear I will need to bring. Some of the places I've thought of are: Simpson Springs down the old Pony Express trail (which would consist of exploring spurs roads & canyons), Lookout Pass area outside of Vernon and Fairview, Temple Mountain outside of Goblin Valley State Park, or a little known hard-core four-wheel drive trail near Delta that's sometimes referred to as Cat Canyon. Anyone one of these places can be fun and exciting as long as we're well prepared. Lookout Pass and Simpson Springs require less winch/recovery gear but more survival, gas and water supplies because of the remoteness of the trails. The other two trails (especially Cat Canyon) are almost just the opposite with a winch, tow-straps and tools for mechanical breakdowns being the required items to take with you. As I research which of these areas I'll be planning for our excursion I will keep posts on any updates or changes about the areas and the trails.

Aftermath from trip...

Well, after driving my truck for a few days I have began to notice a creeking noise from the front-end. It's only on acceleration in four-wheel-drive and it doesn't matter whether the transfer-case is in low range or high, it still makes the noise. I'm thinking that it may be the u-bolts loosened up and they are allowing the front axle to shift slightly on the axle perches or it could be the soft transfer-case mount that has maybe sagged enought to allow the double-cardan joint of the front driveline contact the transmission crossmember under torque. Either way its got to be fixed and I will this week find the root of the problem and try to correct it.