CaptainMorgan_SOS
Need Bigger Tires
- Location
- Alamogordo, NM
Hey, so I finally got another wheeling trip in out here in NM. This time it was up in an area called Rattlesnake Canyon near La Luz, NM (Southern NM). This was the first time I really got to test out the SAS and what it could do and it performed VERY well! I had a few hiccups but they are easily solved. The RLC bumper rubbed on the front tires when the front was flexed out, A LOT. so that needs to be trimmed immediately. The rear inner fender well rubs and was bent up a bit by the tires when the rear flexed, so that has to be trimmed. And finally, the rear is just an open diff right now since the air locker is not fully hooked up yet, so I need to do that ASAP; had a couple issues going up some huge ledges, but a locker would make it climb right over. So, not a lot of issues, but a couple.
Ok, so on to the trail. It consists of traversing through canyons and creek beds, going up some really big hills (or small mountains), going over big rocks, squeezing though tight spaces surrounded by even bigger rocks, going by mesquite trees as they give you some serious pin striping (my have some irreparable paint damage; we'll see after I wash her), and all throughout there are many articulation points and ledges. The Xterra took on everything thrown at it. It spent more time parked on a flat spot on the trail than it did actually driving. It easily got through obstacles and then I had to put here in park, walk back to the obstacle and guide others through it or tell them to take the bypass because they wouldn't make it.
So we had A LOT of rigs out there... that's what you get for putting out an open invitation on Facebook. Food for thought for next time. There was everything out there from bone stock TJs to serious buggies running blown 454s, portal axles and 49"+ tires and everything in between. Everyone had a good time and we had 3 groups that ended up going their own way; the big boy buggies, the crawlers and medium modified rigs(the group I was in, 35-39" tires; we had one guy who should not have been with us and really beat up his rig), and then the lightly modified and stock rigs.
TL;DR Southern NM wheeling with MANY different rigs. Had a blast!
On to the pics:
Airing down:
Waiting for others to catch up (Again, there were a lot of rigs):
First set of obstacles (easy-medium, depending on your line):
"Sleeper Jeep" Crawler Gears, front & rear air lockers, lots of motor work; VERY capable rig
FJ had a little troubles throughout the day.
Simple, well built and could crawl over anything; Yota truggy.
Jeep on 40s.
Oh. My. Goodness. Blown 454 and 49s
Here, we all pulled over to watch the big boys play:
1st up:
Ok, so on to the trail. It consists of traversing through canyons and creek beds, going up some really big hills (or small mountains), going over big rocks, squeezing though tight spaces surrounded by even bigger rocks, going by mesquite trees as they give you some serious pin striping (my have some irreparable paint damage; we'll see after I wash her), and all throughout there are many articulation points and ledges. The Xterra took on everything thrown at it. It spent more time parked on a flat spot on the trail than it did actually driving. It easily got through obstacles and then I had to put here in park, walk back to the obstacle and guide others through it or tell them to take the bypass because they wouldn't make it.
So we had A LOT of rigs out there... that's what you get for putting out an open invitation on Facebook. Food for thought for next time. There was everything out there from bone stock TJs to serious buggies running blown 454s, portal axles and 49"+ tires and everything in between. Everyone had a good time and we had 3 groups that ended up going their own way; the big boy buggies, the crawlers and medium modified rigs(the group I was in, 35-39" tires; we had one guy who should not have been with us and really beat up his rig), and then the lightly modified and stock rigs.
TL;DR Southern NM wheeling with MANY different rigs. Had a blast!
On to the pics:
Airing down:
Waiting for others to catch up (Again, there were a lot of rigs):
First set of obstacles (easy-medium, depending on your line):
"Sleeper Jeep" Crawler Gears, front & rear air lockers, lots of motor work; VERY capable rig
FJ had a little troubles throughout the day.
Simple, well built and could crawl over anything; Yota truggy.
Jeep on 40s.
Oh. My. Goodness. Blown 454 and 49s
Here, we all pulled over to watch the big boys play:
1st up: