Off-Roading - Laurel Mtn...12-28-03

I hate to say it, but I was the first one "hung up" today. I tried going over a steep, short hill. (the kind that Loves short-wheelbase vehicles...and Hates long-wheelbase vehicles!!!) and got "high-centered" on my frame/skids!!! Luckily....a couple tugs from the rear got me unstuck!

This steep hill looks like nothing, but is actually pretty STEEP! The white one's Scott's kick-ass Cherokee w/ ARBs Front & Rear!!

Gotta 'lil CRAZY!!! (Actually, my friends conned me into doing it!) I almost ingested WATER!!!!! A little chunk of ice came up from underneath the chassis when I broke through the ice, and hit my Flex-a-Lite Electric Fan...breaking 3 of the 8 blades off of the fan!!!! It vibrated badly...and then all of a sudden the mounting bolts sheared (from the vibration, I assume), the fan stopped, and it (the whole electric motor / fan blade) plummeted to rest on the skidplate underneath!!!! I got a new replacement blade and a whole NEW electric motor w/ mounting studs for $30!!!! (It was covered undere warranty...just S&H!!!) Since you're probably wondering..."NO...I didn't have a manual switch to turn it OFF!" BUT...NOW I do have a switch....Lesson LEARNED!!!!)

While Lee (in the middle of the pic) was "spotting"...Eric in his Samurai & Jarad in his black XJ went thru this rock garden. Since I don't have a rear locker (YET)...I didn't attempt it...it was pretty crazy in that rock garden!!! Since Eric runs his psi. anywhere between 2 lbs. & 4 lbs. he blew a bead. It was a lot of fun to "reseat" the bead!!!! (Can you say....Starter Fluid & a match?!?!?!?)

Just some more FLEX pics! I think it's crazy how it pretty much looks like something's broken or SOMETHING!!! (It doesn't look like the axle is connected.)

Lee getting "all flexed out"!!!! (my truck looks so small in the background!)

I feel blessed with Laurel Mountain right in my own backyard!!! It has a great variety of tight tree trails, rock gardens, dirt roads, and of course....the occasional MUD PITS!!!! And boy is it FUN when there's anywhere from 6-18 inches of fresh powder!!!! (talk about CHALLENGING!!!! - NOT in these pix)

Scott & Jarad's Cherokees

If you look closely...you can see that Lee ripped off the plastic cladding on his driver's side rear door - hence all the folks pushing his rig AWAY from the rock that's jutting out. In the 2nd pic you can see the sharp-ass rock that "F-ed" is door all up!!!!

And here you can see WHY he was rewarded with that body damage. That CRAZY mofo was trying to crawl up a 4-5 ft. tall rock ledge!! (he didn't try...he DID make it - with the use of his winch!)

Eric in his Sami going through the same BIG MUD HOLE that I couldn't get through! The 1st pic is upon entering the hole. The 2nd pic is half-way through it. (see his tires?...well they're only 33's....Why do we see the tops of his tires then?!?....well at this point...his light little watertight rig was just floating along!!!) Gotta give him props....He MADE it UNASSISTED - NO Winch, No Strap!!!! Good Job Wheeling, Eric!!!! (Well...he IS locked, Front & Rear...and has 5.13's in the diffs!)