Red Cone Recovery 9/21

Ironic that in this age of global communication, sn0wrunner was able to get a hold of multiple folks 70 miles away, but not me just two miles up on the neighboring trail... That communication problem sucks. I like Glen's idea of HAM radios.

When we were heading back home on the dirt road, thinking sn0wrunner had long gone home the day before, and this woman leans out the passing car because she said her son was supposed to be up here with some toyota guys...it took me a moment and my heart sunk when I confirmed who it was and I asked if he didn't come home last night...(thinking the worst of course). Then she says so calm and cheery, oh no, he's okay, a bunch of his friends, Ric and Glen came up last night and brought him parts!! She insisted that he didn't need any help, and I believed it. I felt bad though that I had been just a trail over the whole time and had no idea what happened, that's really the only reason I came up to say hi. But I am glad I did. Turns out 00spork was up there too, and I haven't seen him since early summer. Sorry I was buried away in the mountains that night and not able to help as well.

Sn0wrunner...you really ought to be proud to have friends like these...

If it makes you feel better about the whole thing, here is a thought from the mind of a child. My daughter was asking questions about the event tonight at bedtime. She was bummed that we didn't hang out to see the tow truck. I told her that tomorrow I would show her the pic you posted of your rig on the truck. I said how you said it was a sad sight. Here's the encouraging part...she said:

"why is he sad? now he is going to have all new parts!"

Great advice from a seven year old!!
 
CSL said:
Ironic that in this age of global communication, sn0wrunner was able to get a hold of multiple folks 70 miles away, but not me just two miles up on the neighboring trail... That communication problem sucks. I like Glen's idea of HAM radios.

When we were heading back home on the dirt road, thinking sn0wrunner had long gone home the day before, and this woman leans out the passing car because she said her son was supposed to be up here with some toyota guys...it took me a moment and my heart sunk when I confirmed who it was and I asked if he didn't come home last night...(thinking the worst of course). Then she says so calm and cheery, oh no, he's okay, a bunch of his friends, Ric and Glen came up last night and brought him parts!! She insisted that he didn't need any help, and I believed it. I felt bad though that I had been just a trail over the whole time and had no idea what happened, that's really the only reason I came up to say hi. But I am glad I did. Turns out 00spork was up there too, and I haven't seen him since early summer. Sorry I was buried away in the mountains that night and not able to help as well.

Sn0wrunner...you really ought to be proud to have friends like these...

If it makes you feel better about the whole thing, here is a thought from the mind of a child. My daughter was asking questions about the event tonight at bedtime. She was bummed that we didn't hang out to see the tow truck. I told her that tomorrow I would show her the pic you posted of your rig on the truck. I said how you said it was a sad sight. Here's the encouraging part...she said:

"why is he sad? now he is going to have all new parts!"

Great advice from a seven year old!!
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LOL! Nice girl! I did take him to look for you after we got him off the trail. I couldn't radio you ( no CB), and thought Ron was long gone. I later ran into him on the Websters Pass trail. He was in CB range the whole time. BTW, I got a decent CB at Wally World for $35. Then paid $22 for a magneteic antenna, and $2 for industrial Velcro strips, for mounting it to my glovebox.
 
shawnstcyr said:
How did you guys get the upper ball joint back together? It's pressed. I was thinking your CO2 would run an impact gun. I may try to heat my upper conrol arm and knock it out with a hammer. Then I can heat the arm with a propane torch and freeze the ball joint, they should go back together.
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what we did was just get the upper on, bolted and used the cotter pin, just to get im down the mountain to where a tow truck can get it to a shop..

glenyoshida said:
You must be driving like Ric :D
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"what you talkin bout Willis" lol

CSL said:
"why is he sad? now he is going to have all new parts!"

Great advice from a seven year old!!
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classic, a very smart kid :bravo:
 
sn0wrunner,

So awesome that you got a bunch of guys that have the passion to help each other!!

Like what many members already comment...glad it didn't happen when you were going fast.
 
Awesome to see camaraderie like that between Yota owners. Glad that it seemed like an easy recovery. Man I would :repuke: if I looked at the front of my truck and saw the wheel tucked in like that. Kudos to y'all
 
Glad to see/hear that this recovery went well.

I made a mental note to get those CV joints done before 200k miles thx for the heads up.
 
that is terrible.
the main thought running through my head is yet another reason for a tc or camburg kit. im gonna save my pennies.
 
CSL said:
she said:

"why is he sad? now he is going to have all new parts!"

Great advice from a seven year old!!
Click to expand...
Ha! Thats great!

K.C. said:
Like what many members already comment...glad it didn't happen when you were going fast.
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No doubt. I'd much rather be going 1/2 mile an hour than 70 down the highway. Or even going up or down the summit of red cone would have been horrible. That's a 1700 foot fall to death.

nrgwar said:
Glad to see/hear that this recovery went well.

I made a mental note to get those CV joints done before 200k miles thx for the heads up.
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The cv wasn't the main problem. The cv broke because the ball joints went out. The mental note should be to replace the ball joints at 200K. It will save u a hassal. Trust me lol
 
shawnstcyr said:
LOL! Nice girl! I did take him to look for you after we got him off the trail. I couldn't radio you ( no CB), and thought Ron was long gone. I later ran into him on the Websters Pass trail. He was in CB range the whole time. BTW, I got a decent CB at Wally World for $35. Then paid $22 for a magneteic antenna, and $2 for industrial Velcro strips, for mounting it to my glovebox.
Click to expand...

Yeah...After this, a CB is on the way...even the wife is in agreement! Of course, I am doing a thorough inspection of my front suspension parts first!
 
Wow, that really, really sucks!

But at least that didn't happen in a more dangerous situation like others said before and you had your group of buddies to help ya out.
 
I checked mine this morning. Found some very minor slack in the passenger lower ball joint. Normally not enough that I would recommend anyone change it, but with the trails we run, I'm going to change the lowers anyway. Plus I have 225,000 miles on her. The same mileage Ric and Sn0wrunner had when their's broke. The uppers, tie rods, and axle bearings are all fine.
BTW, if any of you are wondering how you check your ball joints, here you go:

1. With the vehicle in park and the E- brake applied, place a jack under the lower control arm. Jack up the vehicle about 1 to 2 inches.

2. Place a pipe or long wooden board under the front tire.

3. Gently lift up on the board or pipe. Watch the lower and upper ball joint. If you see any upward motion between the lower control arm and the spindle ( the large metal frame that carries the tire and brake assembly) or the nut that holds the ball joint on, you need to replace them.
 
From memory, the max play allowed for the lower ball joints is about 20 thou. Enough to be felt during testing as described above, but also enough to easily think you are in the clear. Ideally this should be checked with a dial indicator.

Soooo.... is anyone else thinking solid axle swap time??? :p
 
what I think is funny, is that with all this crazy wheeling i've seen you guys do...you break a ball joint on fairly flat terrain lol
 
Ok so i got a call from the shop today and they are tryin to RAPE ME.

The total quote came out to be $2238.50. Needless to say I won't be having them touch my car. I havent told them no yet because im still trying to figure out a way to transport my runner.
 
sn0wrunner said:
Ok so i got a call from the shop today and they are tryin to RAPE ME.

The total quote came out to be $2238.50. Needless to say I won't be having them touch my car. I havent told them no yet because im still trying to figure out a way to transport my runner.
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WHAT!!!!!! THAT IS INSANE!!!! KNOCK OF A DECIMAL POINT AND MAYBE. THAT IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGOUS.

I would have been waiting for the punch line if someone told me that. How the heck can they possibly justify that cost?! Was there some kind of frame bend, steering tweak, body damage on the roof? Good grief. Waaiit a minute. Are you pulling my leg?
 
sn0wrunner said:
Ok so i got a call from the shop today and they are tryin to RAPE ME.

The total quote came out to be $2238.50. Needless to say I won't be having them touch my car. I havent told them no yet because im still trying to figure out a way to transport my runner.
Click to expand...

I say we go there with the new section of brake line, parts, and fluid, and fix it right there on the road and drive it to another place or even drive it to my house and we'll get a press and fix it here. Have you by chance called the same place that got you the free tow to see if they will tow again for free?
 
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