Saturday's Jeep Run

lupinsea · 09-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Took the Jeep out again this saturday for some mountain trail riding at one of my favorite local ORV areas. This run had more of a mix of vehicles than I normally run with and included:

TJ Wrangler (mine)
XJ (Cherokee, regular non-GC)
Comanche (Cherokee-based pick-up truck, rare)
Land Rover Defender 90

To this mix we added two more vehicles....

CJ5 rock buggy
TJ Wrangler

The CJ5 we met at the trailhead. Through a miscommunication he showed up at the wrong trail area so asked if he could tag along with us. And the second Wrangler we picked up along the trail.... it was a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 kids) stuffed into a Wrangler and just out enjoying the trails.

The weather was great this Saturday with cloudless blue skies and temps in the mid-to upper 70's. Just a great time to be outdoors and out in a Jeep with the top down. My son, Nathan, joined me on this adventure.

The trails we ran weren't something I'd normally consider difficult but we had some difficulty along the way. First up was the Comanche and it's crank position sensor. Not far into the first trail the engine cut out. It took us some time to figure out what was going on and that it was the CPS. Eventuatlly the engine restarted and we pressed on. A short time later on one of the hill climbs it cut out again. It turns out the CPS was getting too hot and going on the fritz. At the end of that trail segment we towed the Comanche in to the picnic / camp area and left it for later. The driver and his passenger piling into a couple of the other rigs.

Then, on the next trail segment, a steep up hill climb, the Defender kept lifting tires off the ground. When this happened the open diffs would spin a tire and the rig would lose all traction. On a number of sections I hooked up a tow strap and hauled it up the hill.

Then, on the last turn at the very top of the hill the Defender flipped over on its side. Nobody was hurt and the damage wasn't "too" bad: a crushed front fender. The rest of the body and back 3/4 of the vehicle and top were spared.

In short order we got the Land Rover back on its feet and we were off to the next trail. From here out there weren't any other problem as we came back down the mountain, picked up the Comanche, and headed for civilization.

.

3LOU5 · 09-13-2011, 01:47 PM

Good heavens, does that look like a lot of fun !

I did some minor 'wheeling with my 1/2-ton last Saturday as well in order to get a good vantage point at this event.

(Man, I LOVE this time of year. Reno Air Races next Saturday and Street Vibrations Motorcycle Rally to follow !)

bren · 09-13-2011, 02:09 PM

This terrain is crazy, it looks man made.

kognito · 09-13-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

This terrain is crazy, it looks man made.

Looks like glacier deposits to me

lupinsea · 09-14-2011, 01:11 PM

I think it some crumbled basalt or something. Not entirely sure. Over in the Manastash area, about 40 miles away there is a lot of similar crumbled rock.... vast fields of it.

3LOU5 · 09-14-2011, 02:35 PM

If I didn't have a 2,400 pound boat to tow, I can see myself riding around in a Wrangler similar to yours.

Fun rigs !

lupinsea · 09-15-2011, 02:36 PM

Hm....

You know...

The LJ Wranglers have a 3500 lb. tow rating due to their slightly longer wheel base. And If I were to by a TJ-era Wrangler all over again those would be the ones I'd get. 10" long wheel base, 15" long body and about 50% more cargo volume than my SWB Jeep. Plus, with the longer wheelbase they have a better ride.

Just saying . . .

bren · 09-15-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupinsea

The LJ Wranglers

I'd have a hard time not doing a scrambler conversion if I had one of those.

kognito · 09-15-2011, 05:07 PM

I had a friend who owned a scrambler

He took it out to 401ci. It could bring up the front tires in 1st or 2nd gear, and break the rear tires loose shifting into 3rd

bren · 09-15-2011, 07:43 PM

Yeah, not that scrambler.

This:

09-13-2011, 12:39 PM	#1
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	Saturday's Jeep Run Took the Jeep out again this saturday for some mountain trail riding at one of my favorite local ORV areas. This run had more of a mix of vehicles than I normally run with and included: TJ Wrangler (mine) XJ (Cherokee, regular non-GC) Comanche (Cherokee-based pick-up truck, rare) Land Rover Defender 90 To this mix we added two more vehicles.... CJ5 rock buggy TJ Wrangler The CJ5 we met at the trailhead. Through a miscommunication he showed up at the wrong trail area so asked if he could tag along with us. And the second Wrangler we picked up along the trail.... it was a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 kids) stuffed into a Wrangler and just out enjoying the trails. The weather was great this Saturday with cloudless blue skies and temps in the mid-to upper 70's. Just a great time to be outdoors and out in a Jeep with the top down. My son, Nathan, joined me on this adventure. The trails we ran weren't something I'd normally consider difficult but we had some difficulty along the way. First up was the Comanche and it's crank position sensor. Not far into the first trail the engine cut out. It took us some time to figure out what was going on and that it was the CPS. Eventuatlly the engine restarted and we pressed on. A short time later on one of the hill climbs it cut out again. It turns out the CPS was getting too hot and going on the fritz. At the end of that trail segment we towed the Comanche in to the picnic / camp area and left it for later. The driver and his passenger piling into a couple of the other rigs. Then, on the next trail segment, a steep up hill climb, the Defender kept lifting tires off the ground. When this happened the open diffs would spin a tire and the rig would lose all traction. On a number of sections I hooked up a tow strap and hauled it up the hill. Then, on the last turn at the very top of the hill the Defender flipped over on its side. Nobody was hurt and the damage wasn't "too" bad: a crushed front fender. The rest of the body and back 3/4 of the vehicle and top were spared. In short order we got the Land Rover back on its feet and we were off to the next trail. From here out there weren't any other problem as we came back down the mountain, picked up the Comanche, and headed for civilization. . __________________ . My website "Jeep is the only true American sports car" - Enzo Ferrari Or something to that effect.

09-13-2011, 01:47 PM	#2
3LOU5 Slacker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,722	Good heavens, does that look like a lot of fun ! I did some minor 'wheeling with my 1/2-ton last Saturday as well in order to get a good vantage point at this event. (Man, I LOVE this time of year. Reno Air Races next Saturday and Street Vibrations Motorcycle Rally to follow !) __________________ 2016 Toyota Sienna SE - hers 2002 BMW 325i - his 1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his 2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20) 2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop 2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's 1995 Fleetwood Flair 27R - EVERYBODY'S ! Last edited by 3LOU5; 09-13-2011 at 01:49 PM. Reason: edit

09-14-2011, 01:11 PM	#5
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	I think it some crumbled basalt or something. Not entirely sure. Over in the Manastash area, about 40 miles away there is a lot of similar crumbled rock.... vast fields of it. __________________ . My website "Jeep is the only true American sports car" - Enzo Ferrari Or something to that effect.

09-14-2011, 02:35 PM	#6
3LOU5 Slacker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,722	If I didn't have a 2,400 pound boat to tow, I can see myself riding around in a Wrangler similar to yours. Fun rigs ! __________________ 2016 Toyota Sienna SE - hers 2002 BMW 325i - his 1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his 2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20) 2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop 2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's 1995 Fleetwood Flair 27R - EVERYBODY'S !

09-15-2011, 02:36 PM	#7
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	Hm.... You know... The LJ Wranglers have a 3500 lb. tow rating due to their slightly longer wheel base. And If I were to by a TJ-era Wrangler all over again those would be the ones I'd get. 10" long wheel base, 15" long body and about 50% more cargo volume than my SWB Jeep. Plus, with the longer wheelbase they have a better ride. Just saying . . . __________________ . My website "Jeep is the only true American sports car" - Enzo Ferrari Or something to that effect.

09-13-2011, 02:09 PM	#3
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	This terrain is crazy, it looks man made.

09-15-2011, 05:07 PM	#9
kognito older fart than ZBB Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On the road again Posts: 8,900	I had a friend who owned a scrambler He took it out to 401ci. It could bring up the front tires in 1st or 2nd gear, and break the rear tires loose shifting into 3rd __________________ 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium

09-15-2011, 07:43 PM	#10
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	Yeah, not that scrambler. This:

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