Spooky Night Run 2009

[RedCreeper]

I got home around 12 but want to say thanks also to Tim for putting on a great event. Thanks Robbie for the fire. Kept us all warm in the bursts of snow and wind we got. I was part of the group that got turned around and my SPOOKY run did not start till i started back down to the camp spot. As i was going along and sliding downhill towards trees i realized i was alone. The group that turned around was already half way back down and since i was on CB i slowly lost them. I know i was no alone out there but at the time i was. After the second or third slide towards trees going downhill the SPOOKY part came to life. I took my time to make sure i did not do anything stupid and had to get out and look at the one hole and i think a few other spots to take a look but never being on this trail and pitch dark with it getting colder made me think a bit. I got a hold of Tim finnally coming down the other side when i was about half way down. At the bottom i talked to Marco and thanks for waiting there. I know OCR was further down and we went back together. That helped since things look different at night and i had no clue where i was and how to get back. Nerves aside was a good time and good to see folks again. Glad to hear everyone made it home safely. RS rules! See everyone on the trails.

Kenny

 

[CardinalFJ60]

good to hear...

...about all the excitement! and I'm glad the "ghosts of chevy's past" didn't jump out and grab anyone amidst the sliding around.

Would have loved to been there...Due date is tomorrow for #2, so being out wheelin' was out of the question. Glad everyone is safe and has some great stories too!

 

[nakman]

Yes thanks again for the sure took the edge off. And thanks to everyone who came out for the good food and great attitudes. The trail condition was a lot crazier than it was 2 weeks ago, and looking outside I'm afraid that could have been the last loop of the year up there.. I sure like that area though I have a feeling we'll be back

Chris I've got your handheld CB... you going to be at the next meeting? Or let me know if you want to hook up sooner.

 

[jettaglxdriver]

Looking at those photos make me sad I missed the run.

Also looking at those photos makes me thing a canvas tarp might be a good idea to lay on in snowy/wet weather.

 

[Shark Bait]

Jeanette and I had a great time. It was nice to meet a lot of new people. Thanks to Tim for organizing and thanks to Robbie for setting up the fire.

 

[subzali]

Here are some more pictures:
Staging Area:

Unveiling of Mendocino's FJ40!:

My dad and my old boss Gary yakking it up:

Wes and fam:

Driver meeting:

Marco and his new-to-him FJ40:

Driving up to the cookout site:

Night fell over the trucks while we were eating:

A smaller group headed up into the trees as the snow started to lightly fall:

My dad had a great time driving the 40! He was really impressed with the traction and how capable it was of crawling up the mountainside!

The bottom of the ill-fated hill!

Airing down minutes before the carnage!

Three wonderfully patient ladies (one is inside the FJC) while we were fixing what was broken!

Anchor, tool supplier, it has many different uses!

All is quiet on the western front...

Patiently awaiting the outcome...

 

[Uncle Ben]

My my sir, what a nice strap you have! The rear anchor point is also impressive!

 

[subzali]

I know I know, well it's worked ok for the past several years but it is quickly coming to the top of the to-do list. Just need an extra $1000-$1200 burning a hole in my wallet...or learn how to welder one up...

 

[Hulk]

Matt, I don't think I've ever noticed your chopped ambulance doors. Those are pretty cool!

 

[Jacket]

Since I had to shuttle a sleeping boy home and couldn't stick around for the repair, what was the final fix to allow him to limp home? I gather that you pulled the rear driveshaft and ran in FWD, but what did you remove and how did you secure the axles in the diff? Just interested in what works for if/when it ever happens to me.

 

[Air Randy]

I think they just popped the pinion gear out so it wouldn't bind up, then put everything else back together to hold the axles in. Then you duct tape up the hole in front where the pinion was to keep from slinging all of the oil out.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Since I had to shuttle a sleeping boy home and couldn't stick around for the repair, what was the final fix to allow him to limp home? I gather that you pulled the rear driveshaft and ran in FWD, but what did you remove and how did you secure the axles in the diff? Just interested in what works for if/when it ever happens to me.

Broken pinions will not allow movement in one direction because the ring gear will pull them into the carrier. We pulled the rear driveshaft and the carrier, took out the broken pinion then reinstalled the criier so the axles could be retained and supported. Then he limped out on front drive. If he would have had to travel a long way home we would have had to swap thirds front to rear.

 

[subzali]

If I were to do it again I would do it just like Uncle Ben said but, like stated earlier, I would just pull the whole 3rd member out and disassemble/reassemble it while it is not under the truck. Getting the bearing races, adjusting nuts and bearing caps aligned and bolts threaded is not easy underneath the truck! Especially when gravity is not helping you hold stuff in place!

I would definitely do this again if I only had a short distance to get home!

If I had a long distance to drive I would definitely do as I did in Moab a couple years ago where I pulled the front 3rd, axle shafts and drive shaft, pulled the rear 3rd, and plugged the front 3rd into the rear and drive home in rear-wheel drive...threw the front axle shafts, broken rear diff, front drive shaft, and locker components inside the truck (I carry spare spider gears with me so I can run an open diff if my Lockright breaks).

 

[Uncle Ben]

If I were to do it again I would do it just like Uncle Ben said but, like stated earlier, I would just pull the whole 3rd member out and disassemble/reassemble it while it is not under the truck. Getting the bearing races, adjusting nuts and bearing caps aligned and bolts threaded is not easy underneath the truck! Especially when gravity is not helping you hold stuff in place!

I would definitely do this again if I only had a short distance to get home!

If I had a long distance to drive I would definitely do as I did in Moab a couple years ago where I pulled the front 3rd, axle shafts and drive shaft, pulled the rear 3rd, and plugged the front 3rd into the rear and drive home in rear-wheel drive...threw the front axle shafts, broken rear diff, front drive shaft, and locker components inside the truck (I carry spare spider gears with me so I can run an open diff if my Lockright breaks).

What made this such a PITA was gravity! Having the truck at such a steep angle and having a spring over setup with the pinion rotated up made putting it back together tough as nothing would stay in place so the caps could get put back in. I made a bad call by saying "Lets fix it right here." Just too many negative factors to deal with made it time consuming trail fix ending in lousy repair. Hey, I'm still learning!

 

[subzali]

It was a GREAT learning experience for just about everybody I would say!

 

[treerootCO]

I wish I had brought the Prius Nak said could make it because it only got worse from here. When your spotter says to stop posing and drive out out it....then comes running down the hill to grab the bumper.... that's funny

 

[RedCreeper]

WOW wish i had a shot of mine when i did it. All i remember was the passenger fender reaching the sky.

 

[Uncle Ben]

I wish I had brought the Prius Nak said could make it because it only got worse from here. When your spotter says to stop posing and drive out out it....then comes running down the hill to grab the bumper.... that's funny

Nice IFS flex!

 

[subzali]

By the way my dad counted somewhere around 31 trucks at the cookout.

And even though Dave was broken we had lots of laughs - think he was in a little bit of shock that 5-6 guys dove under his truck to get everything fixed, I think the only tool he got a chance to pick up was his Hi-Lift jack...

:

 

[LXBRADY]

think he was in a little bit of shock that 5-6 guys dove under his truck to get everything fixed

:

That was pretty cool.....

(that 5-6 guys dove under his truck) the only other place you would see that is Bagdad!