Mr.BlueSky

It's time to start planning another Dusy run. Due to small places to camp  .will be limited to 6 trucks total.   1. Lutz 110 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.           DIFFICULTY RATING: MOST DIFFICULT - expect body damage       Date : 9/5 TO 9/9     Agenda/Itinerary:   Thursday :  Meet up in Shaver Lake at gas station for last fuel up. All trucks must top off. After refueling Head to Voyager Rock campground 34 miles.   Friday :  Pack up camp and hit trail.Voyager Rock to top of Thompson hill campground   Saturday : Thompson to Ershim Lake campground    Sunday : Ershim Lake to Lakecamp Lake campground   Monday : Finnish trail head home     Overview:  A very scenic trail that climbs to 10,000 feet at Thompson Lake, then rarely drops below 9,000 feet after that. You'll pass several excellent lakes offering good camping and fishing. Almost the entire trail passes through wilderness, which is just 300 feet on each side of the trail. Stay on designated routes at all times. Do not camp within 100 feet of lakes and streams. Carry a fire permit and fishing license if applicable. No target shooting anywhere along route. Pack out your trash. Trail is for summer use only and is approved for ATVs and dirt bikes. Make sure you have plenty of mosquito repellent in the warm summer months. Located in Sierra National Forest.    Over ninety percent of this 30-mile trail is slow-speed rock crawling. The most difficult part of the trail is Thompson Hill (when driven uphill). It starts gradually and gets worse as you climb higher. Also very difficult are the last two miles of the trail, going south to north, as described here. Many other challenges await. The forest service recommends the trail be driven in a short-wheel-base vehicle with at least 32-inch tires and one locker. The fact is, even better equipped vehicles are seriously tested. Be prepared for breakdowns because help is a long way off. Never drive this trail by yourself. The trail can also be driven from the north starting at White Bark Vista.    DIRECTION TO THE DUSY-ERSHIM ROUTE   Take Dinkey Creek Rd. from Hwy 168. Then take Mckinley Grove Rd. to Courtright Rd. and turn left to Courtright Reservoir. Cross the dam on the east side of the lake and stay on the road to the Dusy-Ershim OHV Route sign.     Quick List of vehicle mod req (and given your vehicle is in mechanical tip-top shape): 1) Solid recovery points both front and back, 2) Enough lift to run 33s/aggressive tires, 3) Sliders and Diff Guards, 4)Front and rear lockers, HD axles 5) Upgrade rear trailer arms (D90s/D1/RRC) if applicable 6) HD bumpers 7) Winch. optional be recommended 8)Ham operator a plus. 9) 5 gal spare fuel can. you may run out without it. 10)spare parts (will discuss this as trip planning)

This weekend was a maintenance weekend for Snowflake. 
After the Mojave trip I root caused a few things and concluded that there likely was a leaky injector on the right bank due to measured catalytic converter temps over several cycles of varying lengths etc. Thankfully I had written down temp readings of both Tyler's and Gabriel's 3.9L powered range rover classics to keep as a baseline. This was very useful : ).
This weekend:
Installed new injectors Replaced the failed vacuum advance Vacuumed / washed the truck Dropped the front driveshaft and greased the centering ball.  Grease was a bit cooked from the hot cats.. .but overall not too bad. Hopefully this week Snowflake will find its way into the exhaust shop to have the fractured and broken exhaust system replaced. There may not be a single rattle left after this job : 0
 

 

This weekend was a maintenance weekend for Snowflake. 
After the Mojave trip I root caused a few things and concluded that there likely was a leaky injector on the right bank due to measured catalytic converter temps over several cycles of varying lengths etc. Thankfully I had written down temp readings of both Tyler's and Gabriel's 3.9L powered range rover classics to keep as a baseline. This was very useful : ).
This weekend:
Installed new injectors Replaced the failed vacuum advance Vacuumed / washed the truck Dropped the front driveshaft and greased the centering ball.  Grease was a bit cooked from the hot cats.. .but overall not too bad. Hopefully this week Snowflake will find its way into the exhaust shop to have the fractured and broken exhaust system replaced. There may not be a single rattle left after this job : 0
 

 

This weekend was a maintenance weekend for Snowflake. 
After the Mojave trip I root caused a few things and concluded that there likely was a leaky injector on the right bank due to measured catalytic converter temps over several cycles of varying lengths etc. Thankfully I had written down temp readings of both Tyler's and Gabriel's 3.9L powered range rover classics to keep as a baseline. This was very useful : ).
This weekend:
Installed new injectors Replaced the failed vacuum advance Vacuumed / washed the truck Dropped the front driveshaft and greased the centering ball.  Grease was a bit cooked from the hot cats.. .but overall not too bad. Hopefully this week Snowflake will find its way into the exhaust shop to have the fractured and broken exhaust system replaced. There may not be a single rattle left after this job : 0
 

 

Bought this rear storage shelf for the D2 from Golden Rovers and installed it today. Easy install, about 30-60 minutes I’d estimate. Storage is always tight since I typically have dog crates and tools/parts with me when I go wheeling. So this unutilized portion of the inside space was a great spot to add a shelf. Will be nice for the tent, sleeping bags, duffels, etc. 

I like the look of the Tactical 4x4, I think if I were to start over I'd go this route. 

Snowflake has a weld on cover, but this does not provide protection to the diff snout and flange. The welded on cover has taken a beating as well, but never lost shape.

I like the look of the Tactical 4x4, I think if I were to start over I'd go this route. 

Snowflake has a weld on cover, but this does not provide protection to the diff snout and flange. The welded on cover has taken a beating as well, but never lost shape.

Super nice 90 spotted by my work in the dogpatch neighborhood of SF

Wow! I wish I stopped to smell the roses...

You can either go for a weld on front cover or a bolt on front and bottom cover that still needs tabs welded into the diff for mounting. 
 
I started with a TF diff cover which lasted just two trails before bending and cracking. It was still providing protection but I’ve seen them rip off on other vehicles.
 
I decided to upgrade to a Tactical 4x4 cover that requires a welded pair of tabs to mount at the front. It protects the underside (at the expense of 1/4” loss of clearance) and extends back to protect the diff snout and flange. I’d buy it again. 

the photos show them after some fresh paint. They look quite beaten up now but have held their shape. 

Was hanging out in Fishcamp and made a last minute decision to head out to the fire tower today.     
 
Great trail but was stymied at the granite ledges just past the winter time locked gate.   My trail spotter and rock stacker - Bird the Dog - was unable to get me through.    
 
Beautiful vistas.  
 

 

Trial by fire always! Henry didn’t like car rides. Until he did. 😂
We made it to Bishop though not without “Rover fun.”
Upon leaving yesterday at 4, I made it down the driveway before realizing the AC was not putting out cold air. Backed it up, compressor clicked over, fans blew, sensors were reading correctly.
The original plan was to pick up Theresa from Fremont and shave off an hour. Instead, she picked up a couple cans of R134a, came home, we charged the system and were off. Made it to the East side of Yosemite to camp by 1:45 am 

Made it back without incident. 

Huge thanks to Mike and Leigh Anne for leading a stellar trip. The scenery, multiple environments traversed, and great folks made this trip absolutely fantastic. The White Mountains were a cool oasis - a perfect place to weather out this heat!
Also - here is the club photos album:
LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb3gFVaaCCBRWfJZ8
Upload away!

Brian (wood) and Dana and Bird the dog had a tremendous time and adventure.   Mike and Leanne led an epic adventure - even with 109 degree temperatures down in Bishop.   All trucks ran hot 🥵 but made it up to 10,000’.     Add a little rain to balance out the July heat ?!?  
 
On our re-do list -  👍 
 


 
We hit the Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls on our way up Hwy 395.   Would recommend!

 

Made it back without incident. 

Huge thanks to Mike and Leigh Anne for leading a stellar trip. The scenery, multiple environments traversed, and great folks made this trip absolutely fantastic. The White Mountains were a cool oasis - a perfect place to weather out this heat!
Also - here is the club photos album:
LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb3gFVaaCCBRWfJZ8
Upload away!

This was an epic trip thanks to the members that came along - Miles, Theresa and Henry, Brian and Dana, Chris and Sebastian and Stefano and Lisa.  Henry and Sebastian did great on the hikes and at camp, and the dogs that came along were even well behaved!  If we head up to the area again there are a bunch of possible roads/trails we can explore in addition to Silver Canyon and Wyman Canyon.  I would encourage people to head up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest whenever there's a chance, the trees (and general scenery above 10,000 ft) are awe inspiring!

Made it back without incident. 

Huge thanks to Mike and Leigh Anne for leading a stellar trip. The scenery, multiple environments traversed, and great folks made this trip absolutely fantastic. The White Mountains were a cool oasis - a perfect place to weather out this heat!
Also - here is the club photos album:
LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb3gFVaaCCBRWfJZ8
Upload away!

Unfortunately I have to bow out at the last moment. A test drive with the 12 week old puppy showed that he is not ready for an 8 hour drive. Anna and I will have to seat this one out.
Hope everyone have fun with the ancients trees!🌲 

Made it back without incident. 

Huge thanks to Mike and Leigh Anne for leading a stellar trip. The scenery, multiple environments traversed, and great folks made this trip absolutely fantastic. The White Mountains were a cool oasis - a perfect place to weather out this heat!
Also - here is the club photos album:
LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb3gFVaaCCBRWfJZ8
Upload away!

Made it back without incident. 

Huge thanks to Mike and Leigh Anne for leading a stellar trip. The scenery, multiple environments traversed, and great folks made this trip absolutely fantastic. The White Mountains were a cool oasis - a perfect place to weather out this heat!
Also - here is the club photos album:
LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb3gFVaaCCBRWfJZ8
Upload away!

Some more progress...see if I can finish this install this weekend...




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Two bundles of firewood packed!

To give a little time window for the people arriving in Bishop on Friday we’ll meet at The Mountain Rambler Brewery between Noon and 12:30.  After lunch we’ll head up Silver Canyon Road then go right at the top to the Grandview Campground.  We’ll try to get enough sites for anybody arriving later on Friday afternoon/evening.  If anyone is heading up late to Bishop from the south on 395 you can turn right on 168 in Big Pine and take paved roads to the campground.  Should have mentioned that we should bring firewood, there probably isn’t much laying around up there.  I think we can have a fire in the campground at least.

My phone number again is 775-501-2991.  Looking forward to the weekend!
 

Unfortunately I am out. Too much happening with work right now. 
 
looking forward to the pictures and stories. 

I think that might be Josh,  lives in SC area and has many vintage rovers.

I think he brought that one to the annual we held at bear valley in 2018/19.