Tough Trip (Clayton Lake) Report
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 1997 18:10:46 -0500
From: "Timothy M. Davis"
Subject: long weekend...
To: "'Toy4x4 Digest'"
Quick report on my Memorial Day Weekend 4-wheeling trip to Clayton Lake
and Poteau, OK.
Rick Russell (from Sidekick Off-road Maps) joined our group from Sam's
Off-road on our trip. We decided to run a new 4+ trail in Clayton Lake
called Purgatory on Saturday. The trail starts off as rocks, proceeds
with more rocks and continues with more rocks. Did I mention that the
trail was rocks? Rocks the size of watermelons on up to Buicks.
During this rockfest, I figured out I'm still a little high-geared (33"
BFG's w/4.88's) to do any true rock-crawling. So, after nearly
collapsing my driver's side door, I pick a new line through the rocks.
Don't quite make it, try again, hmmm 4Runner not quite steering
correctly... Seems I managed to completely shear my tie-rod in two on
a big rock! Front tires are each pointing a different way. Thankfully,
the Bronco in front of me had a Premier Power Welder set-up (boy, $800
doesn't sound very expensive after your almost stranded in the middle of
nowhere!!!). After but-welding the tie-rod together, continue on down
the trail of more rocks. After lunch, look at tie-rod again. Seems a
little weak. Someone else has some angle-iron. Use the Premier to run
a grinder/cutter to cut the angle-iron and then overlap the tie-rod and
really lay a good bead on it. Continue on down the trail. Come to the
end of the rock's. Now, 2 quarter-mile long Buick-sized rutted,
snotty-greasy-clay-slick, straight-up-from-hell hills left. (Even the
Hummer with 38.5" Swamper SX's w/Detroit and ARB had to be winched on
the hills). As I'm heroically conquering the first part of the first
hill, I hear metal-to-metal clanking from under my truck. Decide to
continue until somewhat-level spot on first hill. Get out to investigate.
AAARRRGGHHH!!!! It seems the el-cheapo 1" Pep Boy's blocks that I had
on the rear decided to break in two!! The front half of the blocks
disintegrated causing the springs to sit uneven and forcing the pinion
to be at a 90 degree angle with the driveshaft. The truck wouldn't even
move! Decide to remove rear driveshaft and forced to be strapped/winched
home. While being strapped up/down the hills, the rear part of the
broken block disintegrated thereby letting the loose/bent u-bolts move
around as did the springs. It seems I'm now crab-walking sideways down
the trail like a monster truck. Right rear tire decides to ram itself
into the front of the rear wheel-well. ( I also forgot to mention I lost
a shackle-nut from my freshly cut/unbraced front shackles, thereby
letting the front shackle pin work itself out. ) Quick trail repair,
come-along rear-axle to rear bumper so as not to let it work itself
forward again. Finally, after much cursing and throwing of objects
(short temper), we make it back to the highway.
Drive back to camp in front-wheel drive only at 20 mph with rear axle
still come-along to bumper. 14 hours after the start of the trail, just
make it back in time for a cold burger and the raffle, which, of course,
I didn't even come close to winning anything. Back at camp in the pitch
black, can't quite the u-bolt nuts off due to the demolishing of the
threads. Decide to hacksaw the son-of-a-b#$%hes off. Pirate Chris
Reeve's u-bolts and shackle nut so I can drive the thing home. (Chris
has a trailer). Did I also mention my new dent? Did I mention that I
have almost completely ruined/scarred my Progressive aluminum wheels?
Moral: You get what you pay for!! No more cutting corners. I will not
buy something from Pep Boys to save $$ when I knew I shouldn't have.
Long weekend...
Tim Davis
'85 4Runner SR5 EFI
6" lift, 33" BFG's, 4.88's w/LockRights, 8K Ramsey, etc...
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