Intruder's build and off road pics thread

[Intruder]

Holy hell was it ever windy out today. Just a few pics but headed down to Crowsnest in the morning for some fun.

Tried playing around with the sun in a couple shots for something different.


DSC_2871.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2872.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2877.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2887.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2898.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2906.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2909.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC_2916.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Yeah, kind of the opposite of the other day out out there. -30deg with sunshine and no wind was a gorgeous day. +1 with a killer wind, not so much. Kat and I were out at Lake Minnewanka yesterday trying to do some hiking. Good think I fueled up before hitting the road, that headwind was killer!

 

[Intruder]

So a year ago a group of us went down to Crowsnest Pass for an epic snow day. See this post: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ota-4runner-off-road-pics-31.html#post1305529

Well it looks like it's becoming an annual tradition. We decided to try the same trail, only this time we would start from the other end. We left Calgary at around 6:30am for the 2.5 hour drive and got back around 11:30pm. The really funny part is that we were within view of the trailhead for the entire day...

Beginning of the day. Airing down on the side of the forestry trunk road.


DSC00531.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00529.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Hmm, the wheels look a little chewed up for some reason.


DSC00530.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Ok, still on the highway and we encounter the first obstacle of the day. We have to get over the massive winrow (it's a word, look it up) to get on the trail. The other side of the winrow is a steep drop in. Naturally we send the tractor in to clear the way.


DSC_2930.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Uh oh, this doesn't look good. Seems the tractor is stuck even with front and rear lockers on.


DSC_2937.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Oddly enough, this did not help. Note [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] laughing at them.


DSC_2938.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Yup, that's a good stuck.


DSC_2941.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Ok, so we get him back out (I think [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] had to winch him back, but honestly all the recoveries have blurred together now) and he takes another run at it.


DSC_2945.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

And down he goes.


DSC_2950.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Only to get stuck again. Got sucked into deep snow right next to a tree and every time he tried to move he got closer to it. Pulley winch is in order. In retrospect, this was an omen of how the rest of the day would go.


DSC00543.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

 

[Intruder]

As we were waiting for the recovery I snapped off another poser shot. One of the few pictures I'd take throughout the day...


DSC_2956.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Ok, so now the first Land Cruiser is free and it's time for [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] to go.


DSC_2966.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

I was next to go down, but I don't have any pictures since I was driving and all. Next to go was the 3rd gen 4Runner.


DSC00544.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Followed by the 4th gen. I didn't see him coming down the hill, but he slid a little close to a tree.


DSC00551.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00554.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

So the winches and pulleys come out again and we get him off the tree and down the rest of the hill.


DSC00555.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

And from that point there's a massive gap in my pictures. The rest of the day basically consisted of one recovery after another. The two Land Cruisers were in front of me and at one point they were both stuck. We had a winch daisy chain going from my truck to [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION]'s and from his to the first Land Cruiser. Because I kept sliding forward while winching, we anchored my 4Runner to a tree using a winch extension and a tree saver. Once I got the Land Cruiser free, I realized I couldn't move backwards and the winch extension was taut so we couldn't disconnect it. We ended up having to cut it just so I could move again.

While the three of us were recovering, we had decided to pull the plug so the last three trucks turned around and started the task of getting back up the steep hill and onto the road. Now like I said, it's a forestry trunk road that also services oil rigs and various other things. There were trucks coming down loaded with huge rocks and empty trucks headed up. We ended up having to put our winch lines across the road to connect to a tree to pull ourselves up. We tried anchoring to other trucks, but the road was too slick and the anchor trucks just kept sliding.


DSC00560.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00567.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

So we sent one person down the road in one direction with a radio, and another the other way. Every so often they'd radio that a truck was coming, so we had to let out winch line until the truck passed. My winch burned itself out while it was still connected to the tree on the other side of the road but I was most of the way up. I couldn't let any line out, so we were ready to cut the line if a truck was coming. Finally we hooked up a recovery strap and the 3rd gen was able to pull me the rest of the way up and we unhooked the line before any traffic came through.

 

[-Trev-]

My winch burned itself out while it was still connected to the tree on the other side of the road but I was most of the way up. I couldn't let any line out, so we were ready to cut the line if a truck was coming. Finally we hooked up a recovery strap and the 3rd gen was able to pull me the rest of the way up and we unhooked the line before any traffic came through.

Always enjoy your pics and accompanying details! Glad to hear you didn't have to cut your winch line, but curious about your winch burning out (having just installed the same winch).

 

[Intruder]

Always enjoy your pics and accompanying details! Glad to hear you didn't have to cut your winch line, but curious about your winch burning out (having just installed the same winch).

Burned out is maybe the wrong word as it wasn't hot and I don't think that I pushed it past the duty cycle. I guess failed would be more appropriate. It just plain wouldn't pull any more and I don't think I reached the maximum load rating. At one point if I started winding line in or out it would keep going even after I released the remote. In free spool the line is incredibly difficult to unspool, and right now the winch will not unspool electrically - you can hear the solenoid click but nothing happens. It will wind line in thankfully, so I was able to get it respooled. Oddly enough another friend of mine with a TJM 8000 was out yesterday in a different place and had the same constant spooling/unspooling thing even when releasing the remote. The only way to stop it was to press it in the opposite direction and even then you sometimes had to go back and forth a few times before it stopped. I contacted the shop where I bought it today and they're going to find out what's going on from TJM USA. Right now I'm seriously considering replacing it with a Warn or Superwinch even though it's less than a year old.

 

[TPatt88]

Awesome looking snow run! Wish we had mountains like that a couple of hours away that actually had snow in them (damn SoCal drought!) and were wheeling friendly.

 

[EasylyConfused]

Looks like fun. I thought you guys were headed to waiperous, had I known it was crowsnest I wouldn't have stayed home to study!

That sucks about the winch, I was seriously considering buying that one in the near future. The warranty is no good if it can't get you out when it needs too.

 

[Intruder]

Looks like fun. I thought you guys were headed to waiperous, had I known it was crowsnest I wouldn't have stayed home to study!

Nick and I did Waiparous on Sunday, so maybe that's why you thought we were going back there.

That sucks about the winch, I was seriously considering buying that one in the near future. The warranty is no good if it can't get you out when it needs too.

Yeah exactly. I'm looking into pricing on a Warn 9.5xp-s and XD9000 right now. Apparently TJM has some replacement solenoid that I just heard about yesterday, but this will be the second replacement for something in less than a year. It seems like they still have some kinks to work out in their winches while Warn and Superwinch have years of reliability behind them.

 

[1engineer]

Nick and I did Waiparous on Sunday, so maybe that's why you thought we were going back there.


Yeah exactly. I'm looking into pricing on a Warn 9.5xp-s and XD9000 right now. Apparently TJM has some replacement solenoid that I just heard about yesterday, but this will be the second replacement for something in less than a year. It seems like they still have some kinks to work out in their winches while Warn and Superwinch have years of reliability behind them.

You know, If I had been coming up that road when you guys started over the winrow into 2+ feet of snow I would have parked and watched at what was going to happen lol.

 

[-Trev-]

Burned out is maybe the wrong word as it wasn't hot and I don't think that I pushed it past the duty cycle. I guess failed would be more appropriate. It just plain wouldn't pull any more and I don't think I reached the maximum load rating. At one point if I started winding line in or out it would keep going even after I released the remote. In free spool the line is incredibly difficult to unspool, and right now the winch will not unspool electrically - you can hear the solenoid click but nothing happens. It will wind line in thankfully, so I was able to get it respooled. Oddly enough another friend of mine with a TJM 8000 was out yesterday in a different place and had the same constant spooling/unspooling thing even when releasing the remote. The only way to stop it was to press it in the opposite direction and even then you sometimes had to go back and forth a few times before it stopped. I contacted the shop where I bought it today and they're going to find out what's going on from TJM USA. Right now I'm seriously considering replacing it with a Warn or Superwinch even though it's less than a year old.

Well I'm curious to hear what Nathan finds out from TJM. Is it toast or is working again after "a rest"? Does it continue spooling as you described with both the wired and wireless remotes?
According to TJM (1/4 way down this page: TJM Stealth Winch) their winches "most importantly are designed to fail in the open position so your winch can't run-on".

 

[Intruder]

Well I'm curious to hear what Nathan finds out from TJM. Is it toast or is working again after "a rest"? Does it continue spooling as you described with both the wired and wireless remotes?
According to TJM (1/4 way down this page: TJM Stealth Winch) their winches "most importantly are designed to fail in the open position so your winch can't run-on".

I haven't had a chance to try it again since Monday. I'm not expecting to hear anything back from TJM any time soon really. The problem is that TJM USA has to take the info back to TJM in Australia who will investigate. I kind of suspect that it has something to do with cold weather use and maybe the grease they use in the winch isn't rated for lower temps.

 

[rickashay]

Quite the day indeed.... I really didnt cure my wheeling itch at all.

Oh well, to stay positive though we did do some pretty clever recoveries using all of our gear. Days like this do make us more confident and comfortable with our recovery skills when sh*t hits the fan. Lol, kinda like it did when your winch locked up over the road! Glad we managed that one ok. Like you said [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION], if we were going to be recovering trucks with technical recoveries all day, at least we had a good positive group of people to endure the situation.

I must admit how fascinated I get over the varying trail conditions in the winter. Last year the snow was deeper on this very weekend but we made 1000000x more progress. The snow this year would not pack in any way, despite it being heavy. We just werent able to bite on anything... last year we just had perfect conditions. Oh well, I'll be back again next year!

A couple pics to fill the gaps in [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION]'s story:

37's... stuck

20130216-IMG_2160.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20130216-IMG_2165.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Blizzard anyone?

20130216-IMG_2167.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

The only photo I took of my truck...

20130216-IMG_2172.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Curious how your winch situation turns out. FWIW I'm on my second TJM winch and have yet to have a single problem. Although, I do agree, I want to take my 12K apart and re-grease it. I think it could use more and I'm sure a thinner type would suite our temperatures better. I wonder what kind of shape the contacts are in on your winch? I'd like to see it once you pop the winch out of the ARB.

 

[Intruder]

No wheeling this weekend but we did go out to do some work for the bridge project we started back in August as seen here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...uild-off-road-pics-thread-11.html#post1463668

We had an erosion control consultant come and survey the bridge back in September or October and part of his assessment was that we need to plant willows along the banks. To do that you need to harvest willow cuttings while they're dormant in the winter then cover them with snow, straw, and a tarp until they're ready to be planted in the spring. We ended up collecting 1200 cuttings yesterday in some pretty cold weather.

Despite the weather we had a pretty good turnout.


DSC00575.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00576.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00577.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Sawzall really does saw all. Probably one of the most versatile tools ever.


DSC00570.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Bundling the cuttings.


DSC00573.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Each bundle has 20 cuttings.


DSC00580.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

Ready to be transported to the storage site. Two Tacomas and a Ridgeline completely filled.


DSC00581.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr


DSC00582.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

And a second load for one of the Tacomas.


DSC00583.jpg by BurningChr0me, on Flickr

After this I think everyone went home and got some sleep so they could get up early Sunday and watch Canada win the hockey gold, so all in all a good weekend.

 

[4ShoreRunner]

I was trying to move to Denver but now I think I need to go big or go home and just move to Alberta?

 

[Intruder]

I was trying to move to Denver but now I think I need to go big or go home and just move to Alberta?

Heh, I've been to Denver and it's so similar to Calgary it was like deja vu. And we both have football teams that didn't show up to the last Super Bowl.

 

[skimr]

[MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] you certainly are an inspiration. Good wheeling, but respect for the resource that is a great combination. Thanks for giving back and thanks for sharing.

 

[1engineer]

Good stuff man!

 

[Intruder]

Well I'm curious to hear what Nathan finds out from TJM. Is it toast or is working again after "a rest"? Does it continue spooling as you described with both the wired and wireless remotes?
According to TJM (1/4 way down this page: TJM Stealth Winch) their winches "most importantly are designed to fail in the open position so your winch can't run-on".

Gave it a try last night and it still spools in but not out. All you can hear is the solenoid clicking. Warn 9.5xp-s is on its way and will hopefully be installed before I head out again.

 

[-Trev-]

Gave it a try last night and it still spools in but not out. All you can hear is the solenoid clicking. Warn 9.5xp-s is on its way and will hopefully be installed before I head out again.

Well that's disappointing to hear (that the TJM is toast). I hope you're new Warn winch serves you well for much longer than the TJM held up.