Who rolled their 3rd Gen 4runner on black bear pass this past week.
- Thread starter spartacus
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spartacus
Senior Member
I am extremely surprised with his big tires and suspension setup he should have been able to take that drop off with out teetering too much. Its a big pucker factor spot going down hill on the steps right before the steep decent. If you loose your nerve and slam on the brakes instead of letting it roll and letting the back end drop back down this is what happens. Here is the an fj rolling in the same pridicament just a little ways back.
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It's a diagonal rock ledge, and the dirt bottom varies in height over time. Generally speaking, you're pushing it if you try to drive straight over it. You need to hang to the right a bit, then turn sharply down it.
Black Bear isn't a very technical trail, just loads of scenery, but this is one of the few places you need to pay attention. Along with (ahem) those top two switchbacks.
Black Bear isn't a very technical trail, just loads of scenery, but this is one of the few places you need to pay attention. Along with (ahem) those top two switchbacks.
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BlackCloud
Member
I've got to drive that road just to see how bad it is. More people seem to have wrecked right there that any other offraod spot on the continent.
phattyduck
Elite Member
You know its a popular spot to wreck when I know about it and I've never been offroad in CO... But yeah, diagonal drop off, probably didn't notice how off-camber it is and boom, flop.
-Charlie
I too never offroaded in CO too. Been watching Black Bear Pass vids to see whats the draw, it a dam beautiful trail with awesome scenery.
I know it's a lot more (physics) going on when the FJ was dropping down the steps. You could see the center of gravity of the truck rush to the drivers front corner (even though he was just crawling) then, boom. I'm thinking to the driver, that shift didn't feel right but, he was already committed, has passed the point of correction and was along for the ride after that point.
What would be the better way to have tackled that?
Stay to the right to be more straight 90 degree while entering the step? Let off the brakes and let the truck roll through it?
It's kind of a dilemma though. As you don't want the truck to build momentum letting of the brakes too much given the grade and gravel trail.
I know it's a lot more (physics) going on when the FJ was dropping down the steps. You could see the center of gravity of the truck rush to the drivers front corner (even though he was just crawling) then, boom. I'm thinking to the driver, that shift didn't feel right but, he was already committed, has passed the point of correction and was along for the ride after that point.
What would be the better way to have tackled that?
Stay to the right to be more straight 90 degree while entering the step? Let off the brakes and let the truck roll through it?
It's kind of a dilemma though. As you don't want the truck to build momentum letting of the brakes too much given the grade and gravel trail.
spartacus
Senior Member
Don't loose your nerve. if the fj' driver would have rolled a foot or so forward his back end would have come down. The trail is steep downwards and slants towards the dropoff. You can take the right side line then cut left over the diagnal drop off the truck would shift weight and the passenger back will start coming up just keep moving big lurch and slide to the left, the truck would lean driver big lurch to the right as the passenger rear comes down now you have to take the steep rocky down hill section where you will 'slide on fairly wicked downhill you'will slide'with all 4 wheels locked before you hit the switch back and then the narrow shelf where if you climb the wall to far you will roll. Then the falls' the tire slip and slide towards the dropoff. then another off camber switch back and you are good.
A lot of jeeps take the left side line but with their big tires and long suspension also sway bar disconnects they lean quite heavily driver side but make it down.
4Runners tend to mostly do what the front end is doing. At least in terms of leaning. The rear axles, at least with a good lift, have huge amounts of flex. But the front end just has less. Can't say what works best in a Jeep, but I've done this trail 3 times (4?) and what I've always done is hang to the right, then turn sharply to the left. So you're going straight down the ledge, instead of diagonally. The ledge is nowhere steep enough or tall enough to be an issue when going straight down it. Then when your front wheels are on the dirt below the ledge, tur passenger to continue down the trail.
The lack of technical trail challenges up to that point just sort of lulls people into a false sense of security, and they figure they can just drive straight down the trail there.
The lack of technical trail challenges up to that point just sort of lulls people into a false sense of security, and they figure they can just drive straight down the trail there.
