My "Swaybar Disconnect" Flexy Pics

The flood waters have subsided around here for the most part, leaving freshly carved washes, rain ruts and wind blown trails. I thought it would be a good time to see what damage had been done and spend some time finding the condition of local water crossings etc.

The truck was already a bit dirty, why not sample some of it's capabilities and hone some skills at the same time. This wasn't meant to be a "trailer queen" and vowed to never shy away from exploration or use due to the possibility of a little custom "desert pin striping" or filling the cab with red blow sand or the underside with the regions red clay. So, off I went for a look around.

Some of you who have watched the Viral "Flash Flood Video" from a few weeks back will recognize this area as the same eblow in the river bed where all of that was shot. I wandered around at dusk, looking for some good light and a few fun natural obstacles set up in the right spot to capture the setting sun off the surrounding hills.

This thing sure flexes up quite nicely, keeping all four wheels on the ground, even absent a load in the bed and with all the tires fully aired up. It crawled all over in 4-HI. When alone I use 4-Lo, the locking diff feature and reduced air pressures as my several stages of back up, in case I have to "self recover" with no one around. Worst case scenario, there is the Warn 12k winch. But, this truck is so capable, I find myself just getting around everywhere without the need of all those great features. I find myself cycling through the various settings more as a matter of maintaining familiarity with the equipment and keeping things "lubricated" than out of actual need. But, it sure is nice to know that mechanical "safety net" is available when you start getting into things way out here in the sticks. It is a long walk to town. And I HATE to walk

The second from the last is awesome!

Great setting and background as well!

A few more. Even at 10k miles of washboard roads, heavy towing and sand hill climbing (along with daily trips to Wal Mart and the PO Box) this truck flexed up without a single pop, tick or complaint.

There is still several inches of compression and droop there, and and the tires are all aired up. It cruised right around in and out of these shots in 4-Hi, never having to Lock a hub or even get a chatter out of the LSD out back. No rubbing, binding or unusual noise at all.

Cruised right out of there and 70 mph all the way home without a single glitch or any discomfort. Other than it firing marble sized gravel from it's BFG A/T's once up to speed as usual.

emjohn4 said:

The second from the last is awesome!

Great setting and background as well!

Click to expand...

Thanks! I agree, that one is very nice. It beats out this one, which shows a little more foreground because I caught the neat bluff in the background in that other.



Hard to capture "it all" while crawling around alone on your hands and knees in a sand wash with a silly SmartPhone Camera. I really do need to get a "real" camera for such moments. ...and to break out the GoPro and get some fun stuff in motion!

The first pic in your second post - my favorite!

Pics like yours is why I'll miss AZ.

In other news; Having a Winch is Awesome!

My son and I also took the Samurai out to inspect the local trails and canyons once this seasons record setting flash flood run off had passed through.

With it's 30x11.50-15 TSL Bias Ply Super Swampers, spring over axle lift, locked rear pumpin gears, reduced transfer case crawl ratios and Power coming from a fresh 1.6L 8-Valve Sidekick transplant spiced up with a long tube header and brand new Holley Progressive carb it should have no problem getting itself out of any potential trouble it might find its sway into. Approach and Departure angles are incredible, and there is enough height and underbody structural protection to keep it going through all but the worst of conditions. Though equipped with a full cage and rocker bar to s sprinkled with more than enough sturdy recovery points, this little bugger hasn't been on receiving end of a tow rope or chain in years.

That was about to change.

While roaming about on one of the many trails near the house, we discovered that what had been rain grooves of a few inches deep, had grown to be 12" to 18" in width and depth. While running one of our regular routes headed West with the setting sun low in our eyes we crossed many such ruts criss crossing the trail. Finally we rolled up to what appeared to be a slightly larger than average rain wash . Not too concerned with what we have yet encountered and being armed with the confidence of skill and our machine, we rolled right into the next one..,
Only to be stopped dead in our tracks quite abruptly when we dropped into a Four foot hole with vertical walls as tall as the Samurai's hood and both too steep and lacking proper traction to attempt self-extrication.

It is always nice to have such trails close to home, a cell phone, and a wife on the other end of the line in possession of a "real" truck, which just also happens to be packing some serious recovery gear, including a wonderful 12k Warn Winch.

In no time help had arrived, and the little Zuk was freed from it's trap and back on it's way. It was nice to get the Ram out in the brush, to lock it up and exercise it's handy Winch. This is it's first real "vehicle recovery", as I have been playing with it pulling over dead trees, cleaning up the yard and generally fooling around to practice and familiarize myself with it. It paid off.. got the job in no time. Didn't even break a sweat! ...and had FUN doing it!


All in all, another good afternoon in the soft moist Utah sand.

The Big Truck got it there, and the Warn Winch did it's job.

Got everyone out, with plenty of time left to go play and enjoy the amazing country around here.

Twenty minutes prior, and this had gone from a decades old dry wash, to a roaring three and a half feet deep flash flood 200 yards wide, full of rolling rocks, tree stumps, weeds and other debris.

It is now dry and packed hard enough that you could walk across without getting your socks wet.

Always good to be cautious... and never to get caught on the "far" side of a "dry" wash in Monsoon season around here.

Awesome.

Awsome thread dude.

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Nice pics guys.