BSJ run report for 9/17/11

[Hoodoo Man]

This weekends’ run had a small but hardy turn out. The town had recently graded the populated end of the access road and kindly left a pile at the end of the road. The road had significantly washed out due to the storm. Ron the owner of the beautiful 41 Ford truck that is two houses down came up on his UTE and talked to us for a few. He mentioned the last hose before the road becomes class IV had 2 feet of sand and it took at least 2 10 wheeler dump trucks to remove the sand from the lawn. The road above was significantly washed out and we aired down at the bottom. Ron mentioned there was a deep ravine that could swallow a Prius a quarter mile up the road. We walked ahead a bit and found a second berm from some road work and decided we would have a go at it.

My good friend Ray was along for the ride and is quite the shutter bug. He took the following pictures.

We easily maneuvered around the fist pile of dity.

Shorter wheel based rigs walked over the next berm but even with 34s Dans JK got hung up.

A better line choice had us underway quicky.

The next obstacle had everyone lifting a tire and putting on a show.
This hole was big and deep but somewhat narrow.


Tony had started off well

Then was swallowed whole.

We got to break out my new snatch block and to use a couple of winches to get him out.

But as ususal tony was in good spirits.

Dan wanted to try a different line but was headed too high.

The longer wheel based Rubi made it through nicely especially with a front and rear locker.

Carol was next

And she can thank Ray for this calendar worthy shot.

I think she had fun…

Rob brought up the rear and made it look easy.




It was toward the end of the day and Rob was tired of my spotting so I ran for it..


We nearly made it out more or less unscathed when Carol brused a widow maker aimed at Rob but gravity was faster and she lost the soft top…

All in all it was a great day and despite the naysayers the class IV road was a thru road. We meet several of the local residents and another jeep was we aired up. Thank god the run was in NH as in MA they would have been calling the cops rather than asking if we were all set..

[ZAEDOCK]

Nice pics. Maybe the road condition will spice up the NEA Class 6 snow run a bit!

[Carl McFly]

awesome pics and write up

[Frank]

Sounds like yall had fun ! Sweet FjR68

[del_TJ]

Argh, found oil leaking out of my rear passenger shock this morning. That's not the first rear shock I've busted this year. I keep flexing my TJ and it keeps crying uncle...

Tony

[midniteryder]

So sorry to hear about Tony's shock and I love Carol's new moon roof!
So glad I was not tailgating as usual or she would have to be driving 2 jeeps now! We had a blast yesterday and such great teamwork and excellent spotting by Jeff C.as always! Also so nice to meet Jeff's shutterbug friend "Chippewa Ray" who was so helpful & knowledgeable. Great to see Dan & his little adventurers made it in his nice looking Rubi. Never did this trail before and it is now one of my favorites!

Thank you for such a great write up and pics Jeff!

[Carl McFly]

Argh, found oil leaking out of my rear passenger shock this morning. That's not the first rear shock I've busted this year. I keep flexing my TJ and it keeps crying uncle...

Tony

Tony - I need to find them but I'm pretty sure I have one or two rear shocks, new in the box. For a 2" lift, they're yours if you want them. If I can find them

[del_TJ]

Tony - I need to find them but I'm pretty sure I have one or two rear shocks, new in the box. For a 2" lift, they're yours if you want them. If I can find them

Thanks Carl, but I actually have an old spare one sitting in my garage. I busted some at Rausch and had Quadratec mail me shocks, but for whatever reason they sent me ones for a 4 - 4.5" lift and not the 3" lift I have. I think the collapsed length may have been wrong. Time to bust out the measuring tape and double check.

Now if you happen to have a spare soft top for Carol, I bet she'll take it!

[Widow Maker]

I had MORE FUN with all you guys! Love this trail as well. Jeff -- you outdid yourself wearing different hats of trail leader and spotter and winch director all at once! Between your writeup and Chippawa Ray's photos - this is worthy of a JP Mag article. All we did was laugh all day long. As for my soft top - well that is the hazards of wheeling - just happy the top and roll bar took the brunt of the impact from that tree instead of my head! I brushed too closely to a branch from a tree that had snapped in half from a previous storm and it brought the broken half down - I thought a house fell on me and suddently when I looked up I had a sunroof where I didn't have one before. And the way you guys all came running when I radio'd ahead "I tore my top" LOL! Thanks to Dan and his chain saw because Rob would still be sitting there in the trail with the tree in his way. I do think my soft top is salvageable - I can stich up the torn parts and perhaps straighten out some of the bent hardware - Ray gave me some ideas to try out as well. Had a bit of a sore neck - kinda like whiplash but feeling better today from gulping Advils all day yesterday. All in all it was a great time! I hope Tony you get your shock issue sorted out.

[schwalby]

What kind of top is it? I have the canvas for a Sun Rider Top.

[Widow Maker]

What kind of top is it? I have the canvas for a Sun Rider Top.

Hi Josh - it is a regular Bestop - purchase about 3 years ago. Nothing fancy but the price was unfortunately - those things are not cheap. Does this answer your question correctly? The hardware/bracket on the passenger side is pretty bent - also the hardware in the back that pushes and locks the top into place is collapsed like a paper towel tube. I'd have to take the whole top off to really see the damage done which is soon I hope!

[schwalby]

Yup that answers it and unfortunutly my canvas won't fit that frame. If you find a Sun Rider frame for sale on CL or something let me know, you can have my canvas for it.

[midniteryder]

thanks Josh

[Widow Maker]

Yup that answers it and unfortunutly my canvas won't fit that frame. If you find a Sun Rider frame for sale on CL or something let me know, you can have my canvas for it.

Many thanks Josh! I will try to scare one up on CL - may take some time though.

[Elwood Blues]

hey all, just wanted to say i had a blast and can't wait to go out again, need to get my xytj going again, and get back out there
just wanted to thank everyone who came, and really thank Jeff for letting me drive a bit, made my day!!
hope to see Y'all again soon

" Chippewa Ray"