DHappel

In other news, it's been discussed before and it's come up again - if we have a few late-model trucks like LR3/4/RR/Defender that would like to dip a toe in and 'test the waters' a bit, I can do an over-night run for them perhaps out to Spider and back or even to Buck if things move well. We'd need to work out logistics and review your truck specs, but it is possible to rock crawl these rigs too with the right mental attitude, armor (lots of armor), and some mods.

I don't really have any photos this year - I got lazy and rarely pulled out the camera plus I was always the first one out so not many others got photos of me either! We had a better turn out than I expected with a number of last minute folks jumping in. Made some of the logistics difficult but still great to have them decide to come. This year we didn't really stick to our previous run group schedule so much. Things got scrambled pretty quickly each day. I started out leading group one and by the granite bowl had to turn back to assist somebody back to the trail-head for repairs so I sent the rest of my group on expecting it would be no trouble for me to catch back up to them. But then at the bottom of the bowl I found Mike F replacing a broken rear axle and stopped to help, then just fell in with that group. Similar story on day 2 - started first but while I was playing in Little Sluice some of the guys that took the bypass got ahead of me, then just at the bottom of Indian Trail I heard a call over the radio for asking Don to come back and help with a roll. I couldn't get them to respond so again I sent my guys ahead w/o me following Mike (?) and got half way back to Arnold's Rock before I got back in touch on the radio. Turns out it was a group of Jeeps coming down Cadillac Hill and they were looking for a different Don so again, reversed direction and caught back up to my group while making repairs to a holed front dif at the V-notch before Buck Island. And then on Sunday....well, after Donnie made a strong showing Saturday night I wasn't exactly up for leading a group out early. In fact, Mike and I were the last ones to leave camp at 11. Over all I thought the trail was a little more chewed up than the last couple years which is good as it seemed to be getting easier and I'm glad to see some challenge come back. Little Sluice and the squeeze rock after Buck Island in particular are getting tougher. I did think Cadillac was easier; possibly this was from the work RTF put in earlier this year or maybe it was just that Mike and I were able to drive up w/o a lot of stop and go to wait for people. I had wanted to run the RTF loop before Buck Island but with things moving at a slow pace that day (possibly the longest I've ever taken to get to Rubicon Springs) that was a no-go; so still need to check that box as well as Old Sluice - gonna have to find somebody who's willing to run that one with me some day! I did give Soup Bowl a try, but with a lot of standing water and the only spotter around just some random guy who had probably never seen a Rover on the trail before, I gave up before doing something stupid and breaking an axle. When I've made it up it's always been with very careful pin-point tire placement and low-drama crawling. This time I was on different lines and was starting to get aggressive with the throttle before I caught myself and waived off. Pretty sure I could have still gotten up in the wet with a couple more psi (I was at 5 and was catching the rear dif; moved up to 7 later) and better line choice but again...I have to drive this junk home! There was perhaps a bit more carnage than in past years, but really not anything crazy. Nobody rolled, though there was some body damage. Ted's Santana 110 broke a rear spring on the way into Winter Camp and that cause the rear tire to roll back/up into the fender. Some of the kids spotting their dads made questionable calls (but hey, still great to see them out there learning!) and one put a D90 door into a tree root. Serge got to play winch-man and pull him sideways off the root w/o any more damage. Of course Eric killed a rear dif; likely because he did a quick and dirty rebuild just before heading out and didn't really have time to test it. We had a D2 kill a front dif or maybe it was both front axles? Not sure which. Big Burt, Steve's new 110 Defender on 37s which made it through w/o breaking last year took it a little harder this year. He broke a front driveshaft U-joint on day one and a rear half shaft on day 3, then while replacing the half shaft the air suspension went active and inflated the airbag with the suspension still disassembled until it blew it out. That was one part Steve didn't have with him so he ended up limping out the rest of the way (he was already past the lookout point anyway) on the bumpstops. We had a couple of broken motor mounts on a D1 and Lutz's 110 HiCap - not exactly a surprising turn of events there. Greg made multiple attempts to throw his borrowed D1 on it's side but never quite pulled it off ( ). I replaced a failing front track rod bushing with a spare from Gustav at Winter Camp... Probably a few others I can't think of or didn't see but again, nothing too serious and everybody drove out so that's a win. And yes, Donnie did come out to play Saturday night. Since Don is now into his 50s, he doesn't so much appreciate when Donnie appears but it seems like maybe once a year he still manages to sneak out. I blame the whiskey. And beer. And Tequila. And probably some other things. While I'm all about the seat time, a big part of the enjoyment to me is seeing people making their first trip and really getting a first taste of rock crawling. It's always great to sort of 're-see' things with fresh eyes again and hopefully we'll get some stories from those first time attendees. And just maybe that will encourage a few more to give it a try. That's really what this event was created for - so many Rover owners never get into rock crawling because it seem daunting or just not their thing or they want to but don't know how/where/with who - this is the perfect way to dive in with maximum support from people who know Rovers and how to make them work in the rocks. And hey, we have free beer!

so yeah.... Looks like I'm heading up in the morning now. I'll see you guys at the trailhead

I'm running behind - may end up just rolling up to trailhead in the morning. I'll keep things updated later this afternoon

BTW, if by chance we get those cards made up, or we have a handful of extra club stickers (Miles....) I'd like to collect some to take with me to Wales at the end of the month if you could bring them with you.

Starlink???? I smell an ....... OVERLANDER!!!

I'm hoping to get away mid-day Friday but that's not for sure by any means at this point. Stumpy it is! I've never actually been down into the campground there; usually just pass on by or maybe drop into the launch ramp parking area to meet up with people.

Just booked site 28. Only one more left it looks like

Hmmmm.....haven't been on track since maybe 2010; haven't been in a cart since.....mid 90s? I suspect the reflexes have dulled with lack of use (certainly not from age!) but I might be up for a go.

That is how she joined me in Moab a couple times!

Likely I'm out; was going to have to make it a 1-day run as Michele is basically flying home, doing the trip, then flying away again. This one is a little too far for a 1-day though it would be a good shake-down for the RR I suppose.

OK, rated 7700 lbs. A bit light for my needs unless I can drop a lot of weight as I'm about 8500 in my current setup. Gasser is rated at 282hp/332tq - also a bit lighter than my current trok. But maybe if I build that fantasy rat-rod Series 1 and get an aluminum trailer. 😁

I like most of what I'm hearing. I'm not going to jump after one any time soon but will keep an eye on them. At the moment it doesn't fit any needs I have but who knows what I'll want in 5 years. Might be ready to swap the L322 for a more overlandy vehicle. BTW, do you know what it can tow? I should look at the website and get some basic info I guess.

And yeah, that front bumper isn't great looking. Nor is the grill. But both of those are easy enough to deal with.

Any info on axle and TC gearing? I believe it's set up like a Rover or G-class with 3 manually locking difs?

BTW, Timm Cooper may also come out for the day.

Michele and I plan to be there, but not camping as she basically gets in from one flight and leaves on another the next day. I'm counting on maximum snow so I can do my 3psi thing again! 😁

So what was the over-all impression? I think these are expected to be around $90K US? Interior/dash looks a little plasticky but can't really tell. Looking at the underside I'm surprised there are no skids or guards I can see. And that trans crossmember appears to hang pretty low. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to make something but I wonder if there will be any support? I know they aren't positioning this as a hard core off-roader but more of a back country utility vehicle. Of course that's where most off-roaders start. It's then a matter of how hard/easy it is for the owner to modify for their needs.

I do really like how tight that rack is to the roof though! And the cargo area looks great. Not sure I dig the rear doors.

The "well groomed trails" are exactly why I figured there was little point in going to something like this. Or any press intro for that matter. And it sounds like they had a driver haul you around instead of you driving? Or at least had a "handler" in the seat next to you? Were they not confident in the vehicle? Actually there is one big reason I'm not especially interested in the vehicle over-all and that's aftermarket. If it WERE a Rover the aftermarket would jump in quickly to offer upgrades. Given it's a low volume vehicle like it is I expect it will be very difficult to modify without doing everything custom. What do you do if you want different gearing, better axle shafts, a lift, etc?

Michele and I will be there, though we are staying at a cabin in town. Will bring the D1 as I expect the snow to be deep this year. Hopefully I'll have the new tires for maximum floaty-ness. I was told if we take the open truck we have to have a cabin, so that was the trade-off. Planning to head up on Friday around noon-ish.

Just as a reminder, we'll be LEAVING the trailhead at 10:00 AM tomorrow morning so best to be there by 9:30 so you can air down, hit the bathroom (there's one at the trailhead), BS with everybody, etc. I will have my phone 510.825.5056 and radio 146.460 on. I'm planning to take the LR3 and will lead the Signal Peak side. We may or may not reach the top depending on snow and/or mud from run-off but we'll go as far as we can! If Mike/Andrew/etc want to run the first bit of Fordyce down to the the first water crossing that's great but I'll have to stick to the easier stuff. I have done that in the 3, but I'm trying not to do silly things with it these days. See everybody there!

I'm gonna try! Hope to make up for my lack of wheeling over the winter!

Since I'm working the weekend prior I won't be able to make Hell Hole so I'm going to try for this one. May be tight with work but fingers crossed.

Yes, the snow is worrying. Until this last storm I was pretty sure this would be a cakewalk but now....IDK