Laborday '99 Trip to Independence Trail, CO - Page 2
Independence Trail Photos - Page 2
Here are a few pictures of a Cherokee WAY out of it's league. This guy dropped in right before us, but on about
the second obstacle he broke a tie-rod, bummer but it happens. Luckily someone at the trailhead had brought two
extra, so he snagged one of those and then let us pass. This Cherokee wasn't perfect before he dropped in, but
it looked nothing like this. Most of the dents on the side were from a early GLORY line, which involved letting
a rock scrape the passenger side, all 4 corners of the vehicle are shorter now, after smashing in pretty much
everything that could be smashed in, he was not having a good day. However, the actual drivetrain held up very
good, he had lockers front and rear but only 33's, and no winch (sign says you MUST have winch, believe it!).
His driving skill was quite good, considering I don't think anyone helped him spot either, and he made it all
the way to the end. These are two pictures of him in the A-Hole, well one he is coming out, but...
These next shots are of the TJ that made my line look slick, the line he picked wasn't bad, just more of a
glory line, and he got on some film in this one.
This next pictures is a shot of looking up at the end of the trail, you have to go to the right of that dead
tree, then left, then a hard right, and all the rocks are huge. Most people got hungup on a rock right before
where this Jeep is, however I stayed far left and walked over all this, once again thanks to my good pals from
the Rock Hoppers... :)
Here is me on the last part of the trail, I got all the way up no problem, and twice almost climbed the two
large rocks to get out, but never could quite make it. I was told that a few people have made it over this
without winching, by getting close and bouncing over it, but I was not into that, I made it this far without
breaking anything and was to close to risk it now, so I used my old, bought from friend, winch for the first
time, worked great. It feels very good to get over that last rock and realize you just finished the whole
trail, now time to go home...
Here are a few generic trail shots, showing the trail...
Well we were finally done...ahhh...the guy in the Cherokee got to the exact place I got, and he couldn't climb
over the rocks either, I first tried to winch him over from where I was, but that was pulling him directly to
the right, into a huge rock. I had to move over in the trees and this guy from the Rock Hoppers, Glenn I think,
was nice enough to winch on behind me, since we were just pulling with our brakes, and I don't think my brakes
are that good...
The President of the Rock Hoppers Bill Dixon, he said they will have some more
of the area open down there very shortly, a few more challenging parts (great, just what we need), and a longer
trail.
This trail was alot of fun, but something you'd want several people with you on, and you'd be a moron to not
have a support vehicle to driveout if you couldn't get your 4-wheel out.
If anyone wants to run it again, just let me know...or want exact directions...
UPDATE!!
Last Saturday (9/11/99) a friend and I went down to check out the part that will be opened soon, the new section
cuts left off the original trail, right after the first nasty drop (notice after, not before), anyway, it looks
very hard, much longer, probably around 2 miles, just guessing, but alot longer, and there are a few places
that even with a winch aren't a sure thing...should be fun... :)
The trail is mostly all done, the sign is even up at the other end already, just a few rocks to move I hear,
one rock overhang is getting cut off, since now it's about impossible in one section.
E-mail me is anyone wants to tackle this, I have a buddy who wants to hit it sometime (You sure about this Ted?)
So if anyone out there wants to set a date to go down there, just let me know...
UPDATE!! As of a few days ago (9/16/99) I found several more things
that this trail did to my Cruiser. First is that I now have a very
violent shaking at slow speeds, after some work I figured out my motor
mount was ripped in two (driver's side), whether this was causing the
shaking or it was caused by the shaking I don't know, but it was a
pain to change, but is now done. I also have a very bent steering arm
luckily not my tie-rod, but the position of the wheel has moved alot.
I also noticed I have a twisted rear driveshaft, only about 20 degrees
or so, but definetly twisted, it twisted in the only 3" of tube I have
in the driveshaft, so that'll have to be fixed. The vehicle no longer
runs well, it will sometimes sputter and cough and die very quickly,
this probably isn't all from the trail but it's all showed up since
the trail run. Nothing to serious but enough to be a pain...
Later...
Mark Brodis
mabrodis@scream.com
My Vehicle Specs:
Stock 2F Engine w/137,000 miles
SM420 tranny out of 1949 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup (7.05:1 1st gear)
Advanced Adapters adapter to stock '81 Toyota transfercase (2.34:1 lowrange)
Custom CV jointed driveshafts (both off front of '84 FJ60)
3.73:1 Diff gear ratio
Lockright lockers front and rear (yes noisy but they WORK!)
Lift:
Spring Over Axle suspension relocation
Shackle Reversal, also moved front axle 4" forward, great approach angle!
Custom steering arm (Aqualu Industries)
Custom raised shock mounts (5" spacers)
Rancho 9000 #9012 shocks (14" travel)
Rollcage, front piece added to stock piece
All flexible brake lines are now braided steel
Overall crawl ratio: 61:1, low, but on trails like this...argh...slower is ALWAYS better!
