Some big rocks you found.

What do you feel needs to be changed to conquer it next time out?

 

What I wrote on irate4x4. I don't think I need to modify the rig, but just take a different approach.

Takeaways in hindsight, we should have wheeled easy day 1 and got checked in and shaken down the rigs. That way we could have grabbed the key and been on the rocks as early as possible. We checked in and BS'd with staff and got instructions so we put first tire on Mammoth at 11am; which only left 5 hours before you should be off rocks and headed back.

The other thing would be to move to having spotters more quickly. I banged my way through junkyard and wasted time getting stuck, calling someone over, pulling cable to get unturtled, and then moving along. When whiterhino was outside helping to spot lines and adjust as it didn't work out, I made more progress later in the day than when treating it like the Rausch rock creek. I think 2 rigs spotting back and forth through sections would keep it moving. There's area you can just drive, but some it's pick your poison for what you have to get through.

 

You will notice John did not post a pic of my rig. Well that’s cuz it was already broke. 😢

 

Great to hear the rig is working as planned. Do you feel not having a ton of seat time is a big factor as well? I know every time that I go out, I push it harder and harder as I learn more of the capabilities my rig has and to be less afraid lol.



What the heck happened now!? Hopefully not a trans issue this time.

 

14B axle shaft. Got it fixed later in the day.
John’s got enough seat time after being in CO and UT. It’s just a super tough trail.

 

I'm feeling pretty comfortable in the seat of the buggy. It's a lot lower COG than anything I've wheeled, so that helps a ton. As Jim said, it's just a tough trail and I don't think we took it seriously enough to be able to make it through.

I believe 2 single seaters have completed, one without winching and one winched. Both had dedicated spotters. So it ain't no joke. A 2-seater rock bouncer made it about 1/2 way and then cooked his transmission. I made it just short of the 1000' mark and drove off the trail, was just out of time for the day.

 

How many times did you winch in that1000 ft?

 

winching is wheeling, wrenching ain't. oke:

I'd guess 5 or 6 times. I think 3 in 10' section.

 

Nothing wrong with pulling cable when you need to.

 

Oh for sure. Just putting it into perspective for the guys.

 

Started working on panels.

 

I like it! Looks complete with the panels and really sharpens it up. Nice work!

 

It dawned on me that If I rotated the door panel I could fit it on my plasma table. Now to tab out these panels.

 

Looking good! Plans to paint the chassis and panels?

 

Plan for now is chassis will be Rustoleum satin black, get hood and grille professionally wrapped in same color as grille, and leave the aluminum as is.

 

oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh "professionally" wrapped. Sweet!

Honestly John it's looking good. 🍻

 

as opposed to my work, which is not even semi-pro

 

Been getting random shop time lately, and I've been a bit scattered. I'm hoping to get back on track with the break I have from work.

Exterior panels are tabbed out. Still have to do the footwells, that is what I am working on today.

The remote hydroboost showed up. I have a spot I hope to put it between the seat and fuel cell, but first I'll make the firewall and figure out if I can fit it there.

 

Yours is a little different then mine. Same idea and about the same length though.

 

Toe panel. What a pain but should keep some dirt off me on climbs. I think I’ll add a few more fasteners and call if good.

 

Back on panels.

 

Long night, but it’s ready to head to the sand blaster in the morning.

 

Gonna be sweet once it is done!!!!

 

Oh man that is the build stage that I'm dreading. Can't imagine how much work its going to be to tear things all done and them put it all back together.

 

I'm glad to be on the paint and put it back together side of it. It's been a ton of work to get here.

 

....and it's done and back in the shop. Dropped it off at 8am at Master Blaster, got a call that it was done by 11am. Cost $600, which doesn't seem bad knowing how many stupid nooks and crannies it has.

 

Is it a roller yet?

 

What a miserable job. Painting tube sucks.

I told the sandblaster I was just going to hit it with rustoleum from a cheap HF spray gun. He recommended I hit it with rusty metal primer and then top coat. He also recommended to have a couple of spray cans available so that after I cleaned the gun and found spots I missed that I could easily cover it up. Was a great tip, because as I blew it off and tacked it this morning I hit any spots I missed. There were maybe a half dozen that needed some help. I'll do the same with the semi-gloss black.