March in Moab 2011, Part 1

[Haku]

Hey guys, I got some time to do some photo and video editing, so figured I would post up. I joined Aaron (Volcom) and his Brother in Law Blake for a couple days before the Front Range trip.

The drive out started great. I used some smaller street tires, and it makes the truck actually driveable on the highway. 20mpg and being able to cruise at 75 with ease is nice. I did get some death wobble at medium speeds, but its was manageable and looked scarier then it actually was. Can't wait to get rid of the leaf springs in the front. We rolled into Moab around 12:45 at night, after leaving around 5 or 6pm. We had planned on staying at Sand Flats, but it was completely full due to the Half Marathon going on, which had 5000 people attending. We headed out to BFE since it was a known quantity and we were pretty sure that it would have some space to camp. Ended up staying there all week.

The first day we did Behind the Rocks. On the way out there I had some major trouble with my truck, where welds on my new frenched hangers broke and the whole frame bent. Luckily it only happened enough to bend it and not break it. We parked it off the road and I rode along with Aaron the rest of the day. We came back later in the day with Aaron's tow rig and picked my rig up, and Marty (Rocktaxi) hooked me up with a local fabricator to get it fixed up. I missed two days of wheeling, but its now fixed and I thrashed it around pretty well.



http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pkMjqBaU0YARemUqJAEIgKQZIjT-teh9we8T8HBemunKW4RxNDnHfVxykNDkoyN1KVXhXbeK9MiI6i JPb4BwZ4g/IMG_1050.jpg?psid=1

It was really windy that day, but still a lot of fun. Behind the Rocks is a quite interesting trail, and has a huge variation of terrain. The main obstacle is White Knuckle Hill, and is aptly named. There are also some cool hot tub like obstacles, loose sand roads that you can bomb down, and lots of rough but not particularly challenging boogy rock crawling.

Here are some pictures....

Hummer Hill...Probably the steepest uphill slickrock climb of the week...
http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1prKjJ6QJBKbtfQZRvGuu4iltBig2th1be0DVHNxPWvQmAHqw t4rqLB80kKmqSiHV_k4YqfoX7cvny6dGGK1nerUutT0A0_gMG/2.jpg?psid=1

Some boogy crawling pics
http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pz5nAxEvCWfZKazNKiIB7b8n8wHoV1jUx4sxFhPk5DoSp6HH 0nWGDxnV-EjQTq2h9BbeEr2IMQ2Zq6QdN7R9qGT_ovYcGLuNX/4.jpg?psid=1

http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pfOGTmlNM9o5rrNZI0hSdWzxj0sI-l62-LYcfCVPsdHWx1Cqe5-mXLM0PGUlMMvdVNDnUBsijLNvrj8hqL-9sZjC5xNKe2gc9/5.jpg?psid=1

http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pjpH3d5Mn9ngOz2AxaF1g8KBTA0uXBAtFNer_q8QByS46Duv dhgnhWWaT5DZwChnRyoSbYyEKM0ePZiOWgNqMv7gs6YK9lbkh/6.jpg?psid=1

http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pIppE9t7Y4mXqI2Hiil9IRm7LwRhQYVdn98KYqCDWUEj1KOm ohaF_hesE6LxhnijM6FbkTKz7005VReR9Ud2QzeqoI9hS8BZN/7.jpg?psid=1

http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pDVPe0jMoCUucQ4jd1oJ50txMbwMXRzq9XIS-U6zgDv_4ZtVZXxdot1BLEeAhzBI3UjimOV2VhAvRgdTa6V5ek9 1h9keULCg6/8.jpg?psid=1

http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pDVo-5TkQvRzPmSiecm0Rm_TiWzkkktRf-cO7IkWL8Wc5aWxF0KdxZjRpl7H4lRXaxVd2rx9MbSRm1EC1p0Y grINNnJQaaLgh/9.jpg?psid=1

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pXB7mPFbTts4FYlqF7zLJAwTGSI66AQTpbSrpf72k6TcLg8q jTv-1U5oK4MEU44FJGuYIxlOV3IcNbQTr7-4A0Q/34.jpg?psid=1

A fun tippy spot
http://4hqhoa.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pstn8wu04v2PcwPaTtHh4Xl1U0RsaLsdSZV_KU_XVrsMK1S2 VDKuc2VaCCSh9JD7_B-NCt7B4TG0qXigxmVjHiOUivqlZdPoe/10.jpg?psid=1

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pk4Bjq9qv8-xRNQh2zO_IcVSwrCZHcA_TPerbpcLudCXAp69xhd1SMYgMvXNG DQm3K7OWv7fBHdy2p7s8CHewUg/35.jpg?psid=1

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pVE0wZY0aCMQOVVzk3qTlTv7wbEQeGqJelLnDkx5Di63_N-O6A4dNBUGvT3b9flWHeYZyjfDaLf6rYX9AdJbu7A/36.jpg?psid=1

I'll have a bunch more pics and I have a video uploading for the White Knuckle Hill part of the day.

Josh

[Haku]

Here is the video...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Vk7lcats8&hd=1

THe very beggining is just above White Knuckle and is called Roller Coaster, the second part is the lead up to it, and White Knuckle is the big drop at the end. Blake took a huge hit on his XJ's bumper after nearly doing an endo (straps are your friend). It bend his bumper, pushed it into the body, which bent the hinges on the hatch and even buckled the body about halfway up. Aaron was a bit more controlled, but its still a really scary obstacle (probably the sketchiest of the week). I did find it interesting that we chose that as the first trail to run. I'll end with some scenic pictures...

http://r6s5qg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1ppY0Fs6VaIhI_xwygtGtkCcpN9yiTqb9VdrPE7iOnhcLyKYZ 5pZ_cKvQxVQP-IsUjW8GurODaLzfjugje3CAuy1xRFZibIXNA/1.jpg?psid=1

http://r6s5qg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1ppiLbtn2LOA66Nh1mhr8aqorDwl9eBOAOloWPoZjsuIRSwb1 0h9HKuiYpe45R2czAoOqHu0lFjUe3dEPLi--npRqbvvt8jZ5s/2.jpg?psid=1

I'll do the writeup of the other days and the rest of the pictures eventually, but can't promise it will be before I get back from Moab for the second part of the trip.

[RockyMtnHigh]

That's cool, sorry to hear about your frame, guess better there than on the trail though.

[Haku]

It sucked, but turned out alright in the end. Luckily there was a very cool dude who let me use his tools and did some welding for me. I thrashed the crap out of it the next day on the Poison Spider trio and then again on Hells Revenge the next day. So far no sign of impending failure, so I'm happy. Here is a picture of it after it was fixed...

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1ppA0ewKcsknOxCoghLahle7BsjshXhufFmJCiPtiKR23MnbS TK-_x_59P6Lbm4Y6SC20POA2ITUsqBkZUd68d8w/1.jpg?psid=1

I don't have any pictures of the fixed frame, but here is one of the actual breakage...

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pA75lYyQwhrpGw__kpQR3E-gAq9beIFlxcfF2vD_tjw8zjQrakQEQX9BsXAMANsA9a_xTvzp9 pGdTbhHEweLjtg/IMG_1051.jpg?psid=1

We bent it back up, welded it back to together, and added a bunch of gusseting. It was actually harder to get it on the trailer without doing further damage to it then it was to fix it. We used jack stands and my floor jack to prop up the frame, and it came off a few times.

Good times. I'll take a fairly easily fixable problem over having my engine blow up like last year. Finally got to wheel my rig in Moab, so that is definitely a good thing.

Josh

[RockyMtnHigh]

So with all the welds in that general location, do you think it may gotten too hot and fatigued the metal in the spot it broke?



I don't have any pictures of the fixed frame, but here is one of the actual breakage...

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pA75lYyQwhrpGw__kpQR3E-gAq9beIFlxcfF2vD_tjw8zjQrakQEQX9BsXAMANsA9a_xTvzp9 pGdTbhHEweLjtg/IMG_1051.jpg?psid=1

[Haku]

So with all the welds in that general location, do you think it may gotten too hot and fatigued the metal in the spot it broke?

No, the problem was more that I made a bad fabricating decision and ground the welds down to make it look smooth and nice. Here is a picture of the bracket before the break...

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pRb6cX3meEpKk5oOkkcsRJ3I5fZ7-B-N4w6hPTr5etmPRxBuTqdTUccmo7thc2hCAnTJk9_4FLxj0DZct g91IwA/30.jpg?psid=1

It broke right down the weld on both sides of the frame. If I had the flatbed installed or had added some gusseting or such, it wouldn't have been an issue at all. As it sat, all the stress of the frame was dependent on that weld holding and I shouldn't have ground it down at all. 20/20 hindsight now I guess, but if I do it again I'll change a few things. I have some things to do to it after I get back from Moab after trying it out. I was literally working on the truck till about half an hour before I left for Moab, so testing didn't happen till after I got here.

Good times. Thanks a bunch to Jeff Stevens here in Moab. He is the guy who helped me out. He has some sweet Samurai's in his stable and is a heck of a fabber. He is a long time local Moab resident, and has been involved with wheeling and advocacy for a very long time here. He might join us for a trip later in the week if he doesn't have work.

Josh

[Mporter]

At least you got it fixed, but you sure do seem to have a lot of trouble once you finally get to Moab haha.

[Haku]

Noticed that too did you? One of these days I'll just get here and not have any issues. At least my engine is happy and running fine and did great on the drive here. A few small leaks, but nothing serious.

[Mporter]

True. At least it wasn't like last year and you still have a rig that's driveable.

[Cr33p3r]

Good to see you got it repaired Josh, from looking at the pics I couldn't see if you beveled the plates before welding them up, doing so allows more weld penetration and a smoother weld that is stronger, just a hint for everyone welding thicker plate.

[4finger]

looks like a you guys had a real fun time!!

[mushmouth]

bummer about your frame how are you liking the rest of your new mods?

post more pics!!

[Volcom]

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[Volcom]

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[Volcom]

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[Volcom]

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[Volcom]

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[Chris]

Update from the crew in Moab now. Most of us here arrived Saturday afternoon, Aaron & Brad the previous day. Sunday's plan was Fins & Things which I missed due to asthma issues that brought me to the ER while everyone else went off. Steve had some problems which took his truck out for a few days which he can provide details on later. After F&T was Hell's Revenge where myself and a couple 4Runner guys caught up to the Fr4x4 crew to finish out the dsy.Today we an Poison Spider, tomorrow Steve will get even with Top of the World for last years carnage then we move on to Elephant Hill the next day. Plenty of pics to follow when we all return as folks trickle homeward.

Summary - having a great time, wish you all could be here!

[Jackie]

Thanks for the pics and posts everyone! Be safe and have fun!

[Rmart74]

Looks like everyone is having great fun! ;) keep the pictures coming!!!!

[Brad]

We are having a great time, sent Aaron and his brood home this morning. We spent Saturday on Schafer trail, Sunday fins and things, tuesday on top of the world and arches. Jenn Neil and I are taking a day off to relax and continuing on tomorrow with whomever is left. Sounds like elephant hill which sounds good.

We are thinking of taking the only trail in arches on Thursday and some moderate fun trail on Friday. Back on sat.

I will say it is too quiet at BFE when noone is around. May tinker on those trails later this afternoon.
Really wish more could be here. Weather is beautiful!!!

[Chris]

Top of the World for us today - Steve kicked it back. Also had Rob, John, Josh, Steve, and Keith. Looks like Steve & Keith are heading home so the rest will wheel Elephant Hill tomorrow. I think some folks are hitting the Rose Garden now but w
Barb & I are resting up for a long day tomorrow.

[Jackie]

:pics:

[Chris]

One teaser until I get to some later.

Proof Top of the World is off Scout Man's Revenge list.

[Jackie]

:clap:

[Chris]

Some more....

[Chris]

more...

[Roo]

Awesome! Looks like you guys are having fun! Can't wait to see all the pics.

[Aaron]

Josh! I stole your chicken!

[scout man]

We figured you were eating it as you drove away, while doing your best "grinch" laugh

[Haku]

Josh! I stole your chicken!

THAT WAS MY DINNER YOU FIEND!!!!

Hahahaa.....I thought you were leaving on the 30th (as you said in your RSVP) so I was planning on picking it up that evening. No biggy though, its probably still good to eat and you are welcome to it.

Great trip though. I just got to my Mom's house (in Edwards) but I'll be doing pictures and video from the first part of the trip in this thread still. Lots of processing and editing to do yet.

Josh

[Haku]

I have another video to put up. This time it was Moab Rim.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8yiYBuhKvo&hd=1

More to come from this trip and the official Front Range one.

Josh

[Brad]

Nice Video Josh! :thumb:

[Brody]

Really nicely done video, Josh! Looks really good!