Slade 11/7 and 11/8

[blazerbrad]

Thought I would copy a quick summary our trip to Slade/Natural Bridge this past weekend (different group than mentioned on another post).

6 vehicles on Friday, a 7th ran with us Saturday.
- my fullsize Blazer on 39.5 TSL, 60/14 bolt locked, 6.2 diesel/auto
- fullsize '78 F-250, 42 TSL, 60/70 locked, "moderate" 460/auto
- YJ, 37 Bogger, Dynatrac 60's spools, 4.0, NV4500, 4-speed atlas
- Samurai, 35 TSL/Bogger combo, 8" Toy's locked, built 302/C6, very stretched
- Early Bronco, 36 Irok, D44/9" locked, 351/4 speed
- Samurai, 31 SX, SOA, 6.5 t-case, locked

Stayed at Lil' Abner's (the little one off Rt. 11).

Friday:
- Slider before the rain and it was dusty and everybody walked right up it (little Sami didn't try). First time I've been up it as all the other times it's been very wet.
- Last Chance, started raining. First ledge was easy but nobody could get up the second ledge (the one that tilted towards the tree). A couple rigs, including myself, winched over the top because we couldn't back down.
- Little Widowaker, nothing exciting but a fun little trail. Rain was now steady but light
- Widowmaker, got all 6 vehicles up the waterfall (we call it Granny's Hatbox) in about 15 minutes. I got lucky and was able to crawl right up the middle in one continous motion, no stopping or backing. Everybody took a few tries at various parts on the trail but nothing major. Rain was hard enough at times to keep you in your vehicle or under an overhang....wet rocks are more interesting.
- Rattlesnake (heard it called different things, but the big v-notch on the way to Carb). Nice and greasy by now. Most people tried the "Y" to the right of the tree but nobody was close. The longbed F-250 on 42's hit it hard several times but couldn't even get the front tires up...would hit the wall at 5,000 rpm, jump up, and slide backwards with the tire still spinning. Everybody went up the left Y with no issues.
- The ledge you go up and make a hard left to go to Carb caused some minor issues because of the rain and mud caked tires.
- Carb - super slick with the rain and 2" of chocolate pudding at the base of it. Nobody could get up the normal middle line. Took the far right side rubbing the tree and myself, YJ, stretched Sami, and F-250 made it past that section with lot's of throttle. The last little ledge before the top required a light bump. The early Bronco didn't want to tear up the body (he had the hard top) against the tree and winched up along with the little Sami.

Went out the top trail and headed back to the hotel as it was cold, rainy, and getting dark.

Saturday a guy in a TJ (D30/D44 with ARB's, 34" LTBs) showed up.

- Devil's Brew first (I'd never seen it before) and fortunately was mostly dried out. The F-250 put on quite the show on the first ledge as he's not known for patience or trying to find that perfect line to crawl. After a few attempts he got the nose up on the far right side, then nailed the throttle (5 grand in a big-block with a 19:1 ratio and 42's = lot's of wheel speed). He basically slid/spun from the far right to the far left (rear tires rubbed the tree). The top ledge wasn't as exciting but still required lot's of throttle.

The YJ was next and after finding the right line was literally able to craw up the first ledge, I followed his lead and went right up with no wheel spin at all.

Neither of us could get up the second ledge, mainly because after trying to bump it we got sideways in a bad position and risked rolling if we tried to back up. We both winched up.

The little TJ made a few attempts but after almost rolling on the first ledge winched up.

After this two of the vehicles were injured. The F-250 had the fan get into the radiator when bouncing around a full throttle, and the V-8 Samurai was making some bad clicking noises from the front locker so they were done with anything hard for the day.

Went back down and ran Little Widowmaker both ways, and were heading to Widowmaker again (mainly to show the TJ guy since he missed the day before) but decided to turn around as there was group in front of us that had spent at least 30 minutes getting two of the 10 vehicles up the waterfall (and I hate to offend anyone, but at least I know where the four-wheeling stereotype comes from).

Tried to find Holiday Hill but gave up, and then decided to head back to the motel.

[boomhauer]

holiday is off limits without prior permission

[yellowjacket]

reading your post makes me satisfied, knowing that i know where all those trails are, exept holiday. took me forever to learn all those locations!!!
im with jon sullivan's group (ugly offroad). ive seen jon spank everything on the list exept last chance. but im pretty sure he's redesigning his rig to conquer that one, too.

[blazerbrad]

Originally Posted by boomhauer

holiday is off limits without prior permission

Is it on Booth's land? We were under the impression it was "public" land (obviously, or we wouldn't of tried to find it). A cousin of one of the guy's in our group said he had property right at the top of Holiday so the original plan was to take the trailers there and unload them at the guy's place, but something came up at the last minute and he couldn't come. We drove around the area (gravel roads) but didn't turn down any signed paths.

The F-250 (he puts stuff on the for sale board here periodically) can do everything except Last Chance, and I think that's mainly because his approach angle is really bad and simply can't get his front axle up on the ledge.....generally if he get the front axle up it's no problem because 1) 500+ ft-lbs. of torque 2) 42" tires 3) long wheelbase 4) rear axle is very light (no bed or anything)

[KargoMaster]

I believe Holiday is on Mr. Booth's property... as is Upper and Lower Staircase, Lover's Leap, and more.... trying to remember which one took a bite out of my driver's side cage... been so long, it's getting fuzzy.

I dig the diversity of your group...

[fabricator]

Originally Posted by KargoMaster

........................ it's getting fuzzy.

...

LOL.....

[yotaholic]

Looking forward to Thanksgiving weekend, got ants in me pants just from that report!!!! LOL....

[78Buford]

Originally Posted by blazerbrad

The F-250 (he puts stuff on the for sale board here periodically) can do everything except Last Chance, and I think that's mainly because his approach angle is really bad and simply can't get his front axle up on the ledge.....generally if he get the front axle up it's no problem because 1) 500+ ft-lbs. of torque 2) 42" tires 3) long wheelbase 4) rear axle is very light (no bed or anything)

Poor approach angle: The front bumper was installed when I still had a full grille and 38's...in 2004. I'm in the process of changing this, as it is nearly always my limiting factor on the trail:








I've wheeled this truck for over five years, and the nose and cab are coming off in the next couple weeks...I have replacements. The bumper will be chopped off on both sides at the frame rails and new material will be added to protect the corners....much higher up than the existing bumper.

Light rear end:



Yes, I know that it's ugly. Just don't hate me because I have gold wheels...

Roy

[KargoMaster]

I dig it... form follows function. It's beautiful.


I thoroughly enjoyed both accounts of the events... fantastically written.

I can recall quite vividly the two sets of tcase gears that Devil's Brew has taken from me (Dana20... hence no more 20) and VanWort (edit: make that Celina) Joey in the rockwell axled CJ that rolled in that exact spot and black EB (Michigan guy?) that also rolled there.


Drive it on the street much? Ohio po-po give you any problems?


What's up with the Dana70 passenger side caliper...? You buy two of the same side calipers or something? Just looks like a rock catcher... IMO.

[78Buford]

Originally Posted by KargoMaster

I dig it... form follows function. It's beautiful.


I thoroughly enjoyed both accounts of the events... fantastically written. Thanks dude, I'm currently in the process of writing this year's report.

I can recall quite vividly the two sets of tcase gears that Devil's Brew has taken from me (Dana20... hence no more 20) and VanWort Joey in the rockwell axled CJ that rolled in that exact spot and black EB (Michigan guy?) that also rolled there.


Drive it on the street much? Not any more. I drove it to/from every ride until February 2006 when I bought a trailer. In March of 2005, I drove it to Slade, wheeled it hard, and drove it home....it was a 700+ mile round trip. It had a bed on it until the spring of 2007. Ohio po-po give you any problems? Earlier this year, my tow rig suffered a failed idler pulley, I lost the serpentine belt and had to have it (tow rig and trailer towed home). I unloaded the Ford off the trailer and drove it roughly 60 miles on the interstate home + 15 miles of backroads. While I was on the interstate, someone that I work with had a friend who saw it on the interstate that day (they had no idea that this person knew me)...they took pictures of it....simply because they were laughing at what it looks like. If I can find the pictures of Buford pimping down the interstate, I'll post them later.


What's up with the 14 bolt passenger side caliper...? You buy two of the same side calipers or something? Just looks like a rock catcher... IMO.

Good eye. The original right side Dana 70 rear wheel hub had broken studs in it for years and always leaked. I finally got around to replacing it this year, and good old Ford's habit of changing parts for no apparent reason bit me. The Ford Dana 70 wheel hub that I bought bolted on, but it had a different offset. I had to use a different brake rotor, add spacers, and move the caliper to it's current crappy location (it would not clear the leaf spring/U-bolt plate). The caliper itself is a regular Chevy front item....but I had to mount it way down low. It's not ideal and I do want to get the correct hub...one of these days.

[blazerbrad]

He drove it on the roads to and from the trails for years before finally getting a trailer. I guess he did have a bed (looked kinda' like crumpled aluminum foil) on it during those times, including several trips down into Kentucky. I guess there's really nothing illegal about it as it sits......unless ugly is a crime.

[mckeddie]

Originally Posted by KargoMaster

and VanWort Joey in the rockwell axled CJ that rolled in that exact spot .

correction, that was celina joey. that to this day is still the slowest roll i've seen. i vividally remember how perfectly you could read his sidewall imprint in the mud the next da still. that weekend was probably my favorite weekend on the trails to date.

greg

[78Buford]

Originally Posted by blazerbrad

- Devil's Brew first (I'd never seen it before) and fortunately was mostly dried out. The F-250 put on quite the show on the first ledge as he's not known for patience or trying to find that perfect line to crawl. After a few attempts he got the nose up on the far right side, then nailed the throttle (5 grand in a big-block with a 19:1 ratio and 42's = lot's of wheel speed). He basically slid/spun from the far right to the far left (rear tires rubbed the tree).

Are you suggesting that I'm not patient?

Part of my approach was based on last year's trip to Devil's Brew. Here is a cut/paste from last year's trail report that I wrote...this would have been late October of 2007:

The four of us met up on a connector trail and headed to Devil's Brew via the route that Howard discovered. Howard was first, Freelin second, yours truly third, and Jim brought up the rear. We drove up the trail until approximately 30' from the first nasty section. Louanne took pictures of this trail, so hopefully Tyler can load them in the future. The trail goes up a ravine with a rock wall/hill on the right. On the left is a large drop off. The center of the trail is recessed quite a bit, and it was muddy. The buggy guys said that they had seen several roll-overs on this trail, but had not observed anyone fall off of the ledge (on the left). With the center being recessed, you can pick the left side with the passenger side down in the center, the right side with the driver side down in the rut, or drive up the middle. The first large rock is convex/crowned….if you are in it in the center and start sliding either way, the rock will assist in keeping that slide going. While others were discussing possible lines, I asked Freelin if he could move out of the way so I could try it. Freelin parked behind Howard, off to the right.

I glanced at the wheel & was almost laughing nervously as I started the Ford. I flipped the trans cooling fan on, as I knew this was not going to be gentle on any part of the truck. I pushed the throttle slightly, and Buford grunted forwards. The torque was reassuring as I knew I would be needing it. Without over analyzing the situation, I simply drove up the center and pointed the driver front tire beside the tree on the ledge. Howard was standing behind the tree. I goosed the throttle, and all it did was spin. I backed up a couple feet, and hollered at Howard to get out of the way…in case I did start making progress. Howard walked in front of the truck and got out of the way. I backed up, hit the throttle hard, and the 42's were throwing all kinds of stuff down the hill behind me, Buford's frame was flexing, tires were bouncing, and the driver side door flew open, but I did not get any further. I made sure that the door was shut "good-n-tight" before I proceeded any further.

I backed up, and thought I'd point it to the right side. While backing up, even with 133" of wheelbase, I can see how people end up rolling over on this trail. With the tires spinning in the recessed center of the trail, I could feel it start to sink. Howard later advised that with my pervious line, I had three tires in the mud, and only one (passenger side front) on the rock, and that is why I wasn't moving.

After I made it backwards a truck length or so, I pointed the nose towards the right side, and started up the rock with "throttle level 5-ish." The front was making progress, but started sliding left in a hurry. I backed off. If I would have kept on it, the front could have slid all the way off the rock at an angle, and I had the distinct possibility of laying Buford onto it's driver side in the middle of the trail.

I backed up to roughly the same spot as the last time. Fear of committing 100% to an obstacle stops many rigs from conquering said obstacle. I was stopped, looking at Devil's Brew. Right foot on still on the brake, trans still in reverse. The engine was running smoothly, the tach resting peacefully at 800 rpm. Right hand dropped the C6 into 1st gear. Right hand grabbed top of blue vinyl bench seat. Left hand grabbed top of steering wheel. Right foot off the brake. Left foot braced on the floor. I could feel Buford sneer, "Say hello to my little friend…..fawker." Right foot hit the throttle. Throttle level 10. Front on rock. Front bounced in air. Right foot stayed planted. Front landed & slid left. Rear hit the rock, everything bounced & slid left again. Right foot stayed planted. 5,000 rpm on the tach. Truck headed toward the drop off on the left. Left hand turned steering wheel to right. Right foot stayed planted. We made it. Buford landed, I lifted & threw it into park. Louanne was trying to take pictures, but took off running in one direction or another. She was saying something as I looked out the window & advised, "I was tired of fawking around." Crawler gears have their place in this sport, and much of the time, are far superior to my setup. On this trail, on this date, there wasn't going to be any crawling over those rocks. Period.

Back to the present: Later that evening (last Saturday) at the motel, I joked with the guys that when I write the trail report for this year, that I could basically cut/paste the Devil's Brew section from last year.

Roy