(11/19/2000)
We gathered a few mile from the path head to air down, swap tales, and see who had put in one thing new on their Jeep. It was a small group at the moment, with two TJs and two YJs making up the gathering. Several of the opposite guys I’ve wheeled with have been catching up on issues round the home or had organized to hit one other path. As 9:20 AM rolled round, we headed down the gravel highway to the path head.
There had been sporadic rain within the Phoenix space over the previous few weeks. Some of Raw Deal is on uncovered bedrock with small swimming pools that gather the water run off. With the temps being solely within the mid-60s for the previous week, these swimming pools weren’t evaporating off in a short time. So, we have been capable of get our tires moist and truly discover an impediment or two that truly had somewhat little bit of mud (or was that simply filth blended with moist sand) round it.
We dropped off the highway into the wash that indicators the beginning of the path. Steve was main the run in his YJ and I used to be within the #2 slot with my TJ. Larry was in his TJ too, and Dion and Paola have been doing tail gunner responsibility of their YJ.
I paused on the path simply as Steve rounded a flip. My espresso cup was empty and I needed to fill it earlier than we bought to the primary impediment. After messing with my thermos, the cup was stuffed and I slipped it into 4LO and headed off. What I missed was Steve taking a straightforward line round a rock ledge. (OK…so this was solely my 2nd time on the path and I didn’t bear in mind all the particulars). I edged my TJ as much as the ledge and let the entrance tires ease down the rock. I knew proper then I used to be going to hit the rear coming off the ledge. TJs have the curse of a low hanging fuel tank. Hard as I attempted, the passenger nook nonetheless landed fairly onerous on the Tomken skid. Ouch!
After some boulders and stray rock cabinets, we bought to the primary main impediment, the “Great Divide” as Steve calls it. We took turns recognizing one another via this impediment. It takes a few instances to be taught the very best spot for tire placement, and we needed to cease a few times and thoroughly again the driving force up a number of ft for a shot at higher placement. A slipped tire whereas crawling over this broad and jagged rock crack and can give your sheet steel a extremely dangerous rash. The moist tires don’t assist both, however the aggressive tread on the BFG MTs and the Goodyear MT/Rs held stable and stored everybody in place.
Next was the “air gap”. As the identify implies, it offers those that attempt it an off-camber alternative to check their low altitude air grabbing talents. I had opted round this impediment the final time however determined to attempt it this time. Steve bought good air via gap and gave me an concept of the mandatory line I wanted. After a few pictures at getting lined up excellent, I used to be capable of get what was to be the very best air of the day. Everyone was a bit nervous that my TJ was going over, however she held in there and we made a very good exhibiting.
After a number of extra rock out croppings and boulders, we got here to a different rock ledge. This one offers a wide range of completely different traces, starting from a 1′ bump to the unattainable. Dion and I mentioned a line that Steve stated he was keen to attempt. It was a particularly off-camber crawl over the best part of the ledge. He made it however not with out first giving everybody there cash’s value for a formidable show of rock crawling.
Dion and Larry each took onerous traces additionally and managed to recover from with only a rocker panel or t-case skid making their presence identified. Me….properly, I opted for what appeared like a better one and nearly bought myself hi-centered.
Raw Deal Carnage
(11/19/2000)
Speaking of hi-centered, Steve did mange to get himself caught straddling a rock. The current rains had modified the wash a bit and stored his entrance tires from getting the mandatory traction to drag him over the rocks. I attempted strapping him off from the entrance and solely succeeded in digging 4 good holes within the wash. Dion bought into the motion and was capable of get Steve strapped off the rock pile backwards. Like they are saying, “Sometimes you get the rocks and generally they get you!”
With solely two extra main obstacles forward of us, we gathered up the tow straps and headed off for Raw Deal’s model of the “Golden Crack”. Now the crack, prefer it’s harder Moab cousin, is supposed to be navigated at a roughly perpendicular trend…give or take a bit primarily based on the driving force’s discretion. Steve, being reasonably adventuresome, determined to attempt operating the impediment alongside its size, which is fairly important.
He was concerning the size of his YJ into it after we heard what appeared like a rifle shot. I clutched within the my TJ, killed the engine, and left it up on the bedrock whereas I headed down in the direction of Steve. Sure sufficient, the passenger axle u-joint has exploded. Although he had a spare u-joint and axle stub, his present place didn’t permit for a path restore. He determined to attempt transferring forward a bit and see if he might get into a greater spot for the restore. BANG….the u-joint on the different finish of the axle went and it took the ball joint with it.
Steve was in a nasty approach, to say the least. His driver’s aspect entrance tire was laying nearly flat on the bottom. His YJ was not wanting good. After some dialogue and inspection, the hi-lift was introduced out and the remaining good entrance tire was lifted excessive into the air. Unless we might get a pile of rocks beneath it so it might extra simply roll over the bedrock ledge, we weren’t getting the YJ out. Going ahead was unattainable and going again was nearly that dangerous.
The jack held and we bought a very good load of rocks beneath the tire, sufficient anyway to present the YJ a preventing likelihood of being pulled backwards out of the impediment. We grabbed a tow strap and hooked it to the rear of the YJ. With simple throttle on the tow Jeep, Steve assisted with 2WD and reverse gear. It was not fairly, however the YJ got here out dragging the entrance axle tube within the wash like a poorly designed plow share.
Steve referred to as an in depth good friend (you bought to have shut buddies if you do this stuff to your Jeep) who might present help within the type of a flat mattress trailer. About an hour or so later, Jimmy confirmed up with the trailer. With assist from Dion, he was capable of piece again a piece of the ball joint and truly bought the YJs hub to remain in place lengthy sufficient for Steve to get out of the wash. Luckily, the part that leads as much as the Golden Crack has an “choose out” path and Steve was capable of get the YJ up it in simply 2WD. From there, Jimmy bought the YJ loaded onto the trailer and headed again in the direction of Phoenix.
Through all of this, Steve was just about smiling (particularly as soon as he noticed that the YJ was coming residence that day). He has a D44 entrance axle that has been ready to switch the D30 and it appears to be like like now’s nearly as good a time as any to do exactly that. We’ll see if the D60 that Steve has been making rumblings about will find yourself moving into on the identical time.
For now, Steve and Jimmy will likely be spending a while on the YJ. When it’s finished, you’ll be able to guess we’ll be again on Raw Deal and Steve will drive his rig down the Golden Crack (or take out one other axle making an attempt!). Once once more, Raw Deal has lived as much as its identify. This time, Steve bought the uncooked deal. Next time….who is aware of who it is going to be?
