Well, I have just returned from the Red Rock University in Moab, Utah. My lessons in four-wheeling included Fins & Things and Little Lions Back. That's it, as I had my dirt bike to ride Hells Revenge, Golden Spike, Poison Spider and the Slick Rock Bike Trails.

I will have my photos back in 10 days. So, please forgive me not having the photos for now.

I am posting this because I want to share my classroom experience with you. When going up steep climbs all you can see is the sky. When dropping off the steep rocks all I could see was the sand. The lesson being, have a spotter to tell you left or right. I did not understand just how hard it was seeing thru the windshield just where I was going. On a dirt bike everything is right there in front of you. On the slick rock a mistake in tire placement could be fatal. So seeing exactly where your tires are positioned is important. Take a spotter!!!

Should any of you plan on going to Moab; I know have a good feel for how best to do it with the 4Runner.

BTW: There is no friggin way I am going up the real Lion's Back. If you have been there you know why. If not, the photos and video do NOT begin to describe how tall and dangerous it is.

Attached Images

 

hmm, is this the same rock outcropping that had a video of a ford bronco sliding/freewheeling down it (due to failed/overheated brakes) and then crashing on the right side?

it looks about the same.

Yes, but it was a 4Runner as I heard it. What make Lion's Back so difficult is the length and the irregular surface. You can see from the roll of the driveable area that it would be easy to drop off the side.

I drove over Baby Lion's Back (photos coming) and found I was able to easily crawl up the steep bits. I engaged the Low setting, but nothing else. There was not a single slip of a tire that I could hear. For the part of Fins & Things I did, I had everything engaged.

i bet this would be an excellent test of the DAC, if you could get enough nerve to test it down this part.

Even down it would be scary.. Remember DAC only works for about 3 minutes. What if it shut down 2:47 seconds down and you didn't have the foot near the brake.

SCARY!!

Actually both of ya are right.

There was a bronco that had their master cylinder fail on them and went head first down the side of the cliff.

The other was the infamous red 4runner that rolled between the cliffs.

In both cases I vaguely remember everyone surviving the accident. Can't say otherwise for either of their trucks though.

Now that is one trail I will not do.... I'm not that crazy ;)

Looks green to me

Attached Images

 

it works till it overheats. it could be 3 mins could be 1min. it depends.

Overall, Moab is a required visit for anyone interested on off-road. They have rental Jeeps, Hummer tours of Hell's Revenge (the hard stuff is cut-out though), bicycle rentals, and all sorts of water sports. March & April are the best months, with the corresponding fall months being a close second. The summer there is just too hot at the lower elevations. I live 1,000 miles from Moab and thing the 16 hour drive is a fair exchange to get there with my rig and toys.

Anyway, if you are within driving range of Moab make the effort to go there. Over Easter weekend there will be thousands of Jeeps, so avoid that time.

Um...that's gotta ruin your day!

Didn't ya know I was color blind? hehehe....

Doh! :awais:

I posted more pics and info on the crash on another thread..

Another thread...


I also saw the Bronco do a face-plant on Real TV a few years ago. Im sure the video is on the net somewhere.

Till what over heats? The engine, tranny?

brake system, if i remember correctly from what is in the owners manual.

I don't know if overheat is the right description. Toyota says " the system only needs the shortest of rests" before becoming operational again. I wonder now if the severity of the downhill affects the length of time it remains operational??
Anyone wanna test that on some downhills?