Dirtco's Adventure Thread

[m88tow]

Looks like an awesome adventure. I was stationed at Ft Carson back around 2000-2001 and me and some friends had some good times wheeling out there. Someday I would love to move back out there, nothing like living somewhere people go to vacation.


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[Dirtco]

Just got back from the Colorado Toyota Jamboree, and as usual it was quite the weekend! This year the event was being held in Montrose, so there were some new trails in the area to explore. We decided to head down to Ouray and run Black Bear over to Telluride on Thursday, followed by Imogene Pass.
[MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] and I before the summit

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Just past the summit, [MENTION=63986]Volcom[/MENTION] in the distance

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[Dirtco]

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[Dirtco]

Dropping into Telluride

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[Dirtco]

Tunnel on Imogene

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Everyone at the summit

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[Dirtco]

At the end of Imogene the group split up. Aaron and a couple of his friends headed back to the main camp in Montrose, while the rest of us looked for camp. We drove up into the Yankee Boy/Governor basin area and found a spot for the night, there wasn't much to choose from but we found a place that had a little protection from the wind. In the morning we woke to snow on the surrounding peaks, along with a little blowing through camp.

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We packed up and continued our journey up the trail. The snow was getting more intense as we gained elevation, by the time we arrived to the top of Governor Basin the snow was really coming down.

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Just as we were starting to head back down the clouds cleared, and we were greeted to some amazing scenery. It was truly breathtaking at times, and we were all left in a sense of awe about our surroundings!

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[Dirtco]

We continued down the trail and headed up to Yankee Basin where we were greeted with more snow, after taking in the views we continued back down the trail and into Ouray. It was still early, so we headed over to Poughkeepsie Gulch.

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Just like earlier in the day, as we gained elevation the snow set in. We climbed up to Hurricane Pass and started back down Corkscrew where we got another break in the weather.

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Eric’s “Token” Jeep and myself at the mine

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[Dirtco]

We completed the trail and headed back to the main camp site, where we hung out around the fire for a while. Half way through the night it started raining, and it didn’t stop. That morning the main camp site was super muddy and the tow rigs/trailers were having issues getting out of camp, the weather forecast called for rain all day. I made the decision to leave a day early, and hit a trail or two on the way home.

I settled on Pearl Pass, which is between Crested Butte and Aspen. It’s a trail that’s been on my list for a while but it’s always just a little too far away to run. As I got to the trailhead the storm was starting to catch back up with me, but it was just a light rain. As I started up the trail the fall colors were amazing!

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As I climbed in elevation the snow got closer…

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[Dirtco]

And shortly thereafter I ran into my first issue of the day, I lost front wheel drive. I’ve been having odd issue’s with what I though was my front ARB locker for a while now, but it turns out that it’s actually my ADD actuator or my 4WD computer. Luckily I had my front locker, which meant I had the driver side front wheel when it was locked.

I continued on, the snow got heavier and the trail narrower.

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At the summit!

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The topography and weather conditions made the area feel very desolate.

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I drove for a while, taking in the scenery and the snow. I got out to take some more pictures and to my absolute disbelief the spare tire was missing, along with the carrier!!!

I never heard a thing, and it never touched or hit the rear hatch. I removed the interior rear view mirror a while back, so I couldn’t see the spare unless I totally turned around in my seat. I ended up driving almost a mile back up the trail to find it!

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[Dirtco]

Whats left of the spindle that holds my spare tire carrier!

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[Road Bull]

Whats left of the spindle that holds my spare tire carrier!

I could be wrong, but just judging by that picture, and that rust, it appears that the spindle might have suffered a crack some time ago and had been corroding with just that last little bit holding the line till it too failed. That sucks, what a PITA.

But hey... WAY better to happen on a trail than on the highway. Imagine what a CF that might have created. :faint2:

I can't believe I am already seeing snow pics, but, Winter is coming!

 

[Black798]

I could be wrong, but just judging by that picture, and that rust, it appears that the spindle might have suffered a crack some time ago and had been corroding with just that last little bit holding the line till it too failed. That sucks, what a PITA.

I agree it looks like there had been a crack there for awhile and it finally gave out. Looking back on your Moab trip video it looks like it was moving around a good deal so I wonder if it was cracked then. The only way I could see it cracking like that though is if you really tagged the rear tire coming down a rock face

 

[Dirtco]

I could be wrong, but just judging by that picture, and that rust, it appears that the spindle might have suffered a crack some time ago and had been corroding with just that last little bit holding the line till it too failed. That sucks, what a PITA.

But hey... WAY better to happen on a trail than on the highway. Imagine what a CF that might have created. :faint2:

I can't believe I am already seeing snow pics, but, Winter is coming!

The rust was from the snow on the drive home, it wasn't rusty when it broke. But I do agree with you, I think the smooth crack was a stress fracture and the rough break was from the carrier flexing back and forth afterwards (like bending a paper clip back and forth).

Yeah, there could have been far worse places to have it break!

I agree it looks like there had been a crack there for awhile and it finally gave out. Looking back on your Moab trip video it looks like it was moving around a good deal so I wonder if it was cracked then. The only way I could see it cracking like that though is if you really tagged the rear tire coming down a rock face

It's always moved around a little bit, but that's mainly the rear frame flexing independently of the body (I really need to get some HD rear body mounts). I've never hit the carrier on a rock, so it would have to be some kind of a stress fracture. I was getting on it pretty good out at the sand dunes, so it's possible that started it? I guess at this point it really doesn't matter...

 

[Dropzone]

i wonder if adding the water jug, granted only about another 17 lbs was the proverbial straw.. glad you found it.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with to fix it..something double shear?

 

[Kotrin]

We completed the trail and headed back to the main ......

I was there 15-16th, it was supposed to be till 23rd, is that Toyota event every year? We are planning to do it again next year along with MOAB before my time is gone. Unfortunately due to stress of toy hauler and such we have to re-analyzer how we go (aka going to cost more). It was really neat to experience it even for just two days and we ran into a lighting/hail/snow storm also up outside of Silverton. Super scary going down from 12,700 feet with the conditions and road being white out. Very cool to see how it changes in seconds.

I can relate 100% about the swing away, though mine was different. Currently rebuilding my entire rear end cause I slid off on a narrow trail, caught a 8" diameter branch it slid off my back rack area and got caught inbetween the end of the 4Runner and my swing away. I couldn't move except forward than I heard the strain and CRACK as I broke the branch. Further along my trail I could finally stop and access the damage...My swing away was almost laying down, almost bent a complete 90Degree's. My dad drove up behind me and as I pushed up on it he used his truck to push it forward. Once we had it almost back to 75 Degree's, a few ratchet straps and some more pushing, worked till I got home 7 days later.

I look forward to the new design/setup you do

 

[Chuckles89]

Dang!

 

[Dirtco]

i wonder if adding the water jug, granted only about another 17 lbs was the proverbial straw.. glad you found it.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with to fix it..something double shear?

Honestly, it was just a matter of time. When I built that spare tire carrier I had 35" tires, and a 255 spare on an aluminum wheel. Fast forward a couple years and I have a 36" Irok on a steel wheel that weights probably twice as much. Add a couple years of hard wheeling, the Rotopax, some sand dunes and boom!

Yes, I'm looking at a larger spindle and double shear. Unfortunately I'm going to have to rebuild the entire carrier too. I need the latch side to engage the bumper better and by the time I change both of those I'm better off starting from scratch.

 

[fourfive]

Yes, I'm looking at a larger spindle and double shear. Unfortunately I'm going to have to rebuild the entire carrier too. I need the latch side to engage the bumper better and by the time I change both of those I'm better off starting from scratch.

No pressure but I have a feeling your new carrier is going to turn out pretty cool. :snacker:

 

[Kotrin]

Honestly, it was just a matter of time. When I built that spare tire carrier I had 35" tires, and a 255 spare on an aluminum wheel. Fast forward a couple years and I have a 36" Irok on a steel wheel that weights probably twice as much. Add a couple years of hard wheeling, the Rotopax, some sand dunes and boom!

Yes, I'm looking at a larger spindle and double shear. Unfortunately I'm going to have to rebuild the entire carrier too. I need the latch side to engage the bumper better and by the time I change both of those I'm better off starting from scratch.

Sounds also what i've been doing for the last 5 day's..


Are you going to post the build or just finished product?

 

[EatonKyleH]

Better have a margarita tap on that new swing out.