Topic: Marlin Crawler Crew Report: Tin Bender Jamboree, April 25-27

[BigMike]

This is the Official Marlin Crawler trip report from the Tin Bender's Jamboree / Johnson Valley Cleanup event, April 25-27, 2008


Our organized event was Jack Hammer There were 30 rigs registered and I believe 20 rigs made the drivers meeting.





The driver's meeting went well, John James (Marlin Crawler F-Toy Team Driver) gave some pointers on Jackhammer and reminded everyone that throttle jockies will not be allowed.



Here is a picture from atop CJ's rig. Jon (jon82toy) is in the hoodie in the foreground, Brian (TacoRunner) is with the cowboy hat to the right of Marlin's truck, and CJ (crazywb) is talking to Christine at the passenger's door of Marlin's truck. Also, Bevin (blane525) can be seen in the red hat as well as Rick (BIGBIRD) from Canada with his friend Brian. Always a great time to hang with the Canucks


As you can see in the background, there were a lot of people in attendance this year. Main camp is to the far left with many more campers and trailers out of the camera's range.


EDIT: I forgot to add this pic! Brian from Front Range Off Road made sure to stop by and say hello to Marlin before we took off for Jackhammer! "Ya got coffee in there?"


Off we went to Jackhammer.

Here are some shots from my rig early on heading up to the Canyon..
Chasing Bevin (blane525) and Rick (BIGBIRD)


And leading CJ (crazywb), a Gray 2nd gen, and the crazy Scout boys

[BigMike [OP]]

Here is a quick break down of the rigs near me in the line up:

Behind me is CJ breaking in his new rig on it's virgin run: 1986 Marlin-built 22R-TE Turbo powered ExtraCab, Dual MC08-R10 Ultimate Crawler with total-spline technology behind a Turbo R151F 5spd, with Off Road Solutions 3-link coil over kit, Billet HySteer, rear suspension kit, armor, ARB air lockers F & R with Yukon 4.88s, with 38.5" Swampers. 225:1 Crawl Ratio



Directly in front of me is blane525 in his 2003 3RZ-FE-powered (conversion project thread found here) 1985 Shortbed: Turbo R151F 5spd transmission with 3RZ conversion bellhousing, Dual MC08-R10 Ultimate with Total-Spline technology, Billet HySteer, suspension kit F & R, body armor all around, Front Range Off Road crossmember, Toyota E-Lockers F & R with Yukon 5.29s, and 37" Interco TrXus MT for traction. 244:1 Crawl Ratio


And in front of blane525 is Rick (BIGBIRD) from B.C. Canada in his 1985 4Runner running a 22R-E, Dual MC07 Ultimate with Total-Spline technology, Billet HySteer, Alcan springs all around with Rancho 9000 shocks, and 38.5" Swampers. 224:1 Crawl Ratio


And here is my BEAST with everything mods. 1981 shortbed 3RZ-FE-powered with a Triple MC08-R10 Ultimate Crawler with dual total-spline technology. 511:1 Crawl Ratio

[KYOTA]

what happened to your Pitbull's ?

[MiniSimp]

And here is my BEAST with everything mods. 1981 shortbed 3RZ-FE-powered with a Triple MC08-R10 Ultimate Crawler with dual total-spline technology. 511:1 Crawl Ratio

Nice pics Mike!
How are the new pivot blocks holding up?

[BigMike [OP]]

The first challenging spot was a nice rock climb at the beginning of the canyon. With the proper line, it is a cake walk if you have the proper Crawl ratio Thanks John (desertoy)!









Also running near me was Al from http://runandplaymotorsports.com. In other words, I simply could not have asked to be placed with a nicer bunch of guys. This is definitely one of the best times I've ever had at Johnson Valley.

[Duffil]

[BigMike [OP]]

what happened to your Pitbull's ?

As you know, I've not been active in the Project forum, and a lot has (and is) changing with my rig. The Pitbulls were just too short for my liking. They are rated as a 37" tire but only measure 35" aired up. The MTRs measure 36.5" aired up. The Pits are by far better in wet sand+rocky conditions than the MTRs, and they are both about equal everywhere else, excluding sand (the Pits are HORRIBLE in the sand) and on road (the Pits are HORRIBLE on road). I still recommend Pitbulls, but I recommend 39"+ because the 37" are too small in my opinion, much smaller than other 37" tires.

I know the MTRs are far from exotic like the Pits, but for my needs, they are far more practical.

I had some Aluminum Mag 15x10 wheels on the MTRs last year at MCR6, and I sold them to blane525 (for another rig he has built - 2nd gen 4runner). These white 15x8 steel rims I have on right now are just temporary (will be changed this weekend ) and are being borrowed from blane525, thanks Bevin for letting me borrow your wheels!

Nice pics Mike!
How are the new pivot blocks holding up?

Thanks! They are doing so great! I have switched out my rear end (I am now running a 2003 Tacoma rear end with Chromoly axle shafts) (again, I've been busy with my rig ), and I transfered the pivots to the new axle and they were in perfect condition. I added some fresh anti-seize and tightened em up My tool-less lock out system is working great also!

[88_Pathy]

More pics Mikey!!! I know there is more.

[BigMike [OP]]

You might be wondering just where Marlin is this whole time, and as always, Marlin requested to take up the caboose -- make sure everyone makes it out ok and to be there when someone breaks down

We love you Marlin!

Here is the man himself coming up the first tough rock section of the trail.

Here he is before he got out:


Here he is out of the truck. I know we cannot see it, but Marlin is out of his truck in this picture doing his famous "Walking the Crawler" routine


And here he is getting back into the drivers seat at the top of the climb


Making it look allllllll too easy is what Marlin Crawler is all about

Jaime has a lot of video footage including this Walking the Crawler. I plan on editing and making a video soon!

EDIT: [37 secs] Here is Marlin Walking the Crawler! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/nzk5IMZ11zY&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/nzk5IMZ11zY&amp;hl=en</a>

Here is the original Walking the Crawler video from Big Bear: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/JFk9yVwVLrE&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/JFk9yVwVLrE&amp;hl=en</a>

[KYOTA]

I hear ya Mike, if the 40" MTRs werent so expensive I would have bought another set. Great tire IMO 

[BigMike [OP]]

It was a beautiful day, the weather could not have been any better. A light breeze to help cope with the mildly hot sun, clear sky, great times.

Here is a shot looking up the canyon, with the F-Toys leading the way.


I would say the difficulty of this trail, considering the type of rigs we have, was not that bad. There was a couple sections where many people took body damage. These aren't called the "Hammers" for nothing!

A common thing I noticed was how 37" tires get sucked up everywhere I went. I would just be driving along talking to my copilot and wham! hit my diff, or wham! hit my axle housing. If you let your attention wonder for just a minute, then you are sure to drag something. I would say 39" tires are a minimum if you want to avoid dragging your diffs every where. I remember when we used to run 35" tires out here, a lot has changed. Now you have buggies with 44" tires which open up holes ample enough to make the easiest sections challenging with 37" tires.

Here Bevin navigates a deceptively easy section.


The problem is that if you take the corner wide, you run your front axle into an axle grabber:


And if you try to cut the corner sharp, you get your drivers rear stuck trying to climb an undercut rock that is taller than the center line of the tire:


If you put 42" tires on these rigs, I am certain you could have driven that blind folded.
I believe this is what makes the Hammers so much fun: The extra challenge required in rigs with 37" or smaller tires. That is when you really learn how your rig works and what is required to get the best traction possible

Nice line Al!

[BigMike [OP]]

This is when we found out Bevin's rear E-Locker stopped working (he later found out it had just become unplugged! )


And not 20 feet later, he somehow managed to break two of his steering box mount bolts! Fortunately for Bevin, I always carry spare box bolts! I just added it to his bill hahahaha j/k

[BigMike [OP]]

It wasn't too long into the morning when we looked back...


And found the ROCK BRAWLERS behind us hot on our trail


And we did our best to bunch up to stay as far away from the ROCK BRAWLERS as possible 

[BigMike [OP]]

Rick (BIGBIRD) and his good friend Brian traveled 1,367 miles down from B.C. Canada because he has "never ever missed a single Jamboree event". The Canadians are glad that the America's are finally having to pay more for their gasoline just like the rest of the world. They are paying well over $6 per gallon for fuel up in Canada

[BigMike [OP]]

Here I am climbing up under the guidance of Marlin






CJ solos the high side route...


...and makes it look easy 8)

[BigMike [OP]]

Slowly but surely, the canyon begins to steepen and the rocks begin to grow larger. It's gotta be true because I don't drink alcohol! lol









Here Jon (jon82toy) gets extremely nervous and trys to bail, but what he didn't realize is that I have rigged my passenger seat belt with a pull cable that automatically engages the seat belt lock mechanism. The problem is that Jon owns a square headlight first gen Hilux and failed to realize that round headlight first gens are by far superior

[jonathan82toy]

 :bull crap:   I was getting out to take all the nice pictures that you are taking credit for..    

[BigMike [OP]]

Never a dull moment when wheeling with the Canucks eh?

[BigMike [OP]]

Here CJ examines the canyon




Higher up Jackhammer we find more awesome rock sections









Looking good CJ 8)

[BigMike [OP]]

Here is our best attempt at an aerial shot of Al




And then...





In a couple more seconds...




Whoops!

[BigMike [OP]]

Everyone was safe including his two kids in the back seat who were safely seated in child seats

It wasn't too long until they got the Scout back up rubber side down and get the oil out of the cylinders And all was well again

[BigMike [OP]]

Apparently even the critters were scared from the rollover as they needed comfort and care

[Tool Pimp]

Everyone was safe including his two kids in the back seat who were safely seated in child seats

It wasn't too long until they got the Scout back up rubber side down and get the oil out of the cylinders And all was well again

Big Thanks to Marlin for his help and advise 

[ajordan1975]

nice pics! wish i lived out that way 

[BigMike [OP]]

Up the trail we went



Stopped for a brief regroup..



And then up some more..


this is a good 35° slope here...

[BigMike [OP]]

Big Thanks to Marlin for his help and advise 

nice pics! wish i lived out that way 

Thanks guys! I was up the canyon when the roll over happened. All I heard was a bunch of people cheering! ? haha I did make my way back to check it out, but we were trying to keep the trail clear and we continued up.

ajordan1975, The pictures really don't show just how step it is out there. Without my Crawler there is no way I could be doing these trails without any body damage or breakage.

[BigMike [OP]]

Here CJ demonstrates how even brand-new un-broken-in leaf springs can still put on a good show without any weight in the bed



It's getting there CJ! Glad to see your new rig is out working and working great with no breakage!

[BigMike [OP]]

Before heading all the way up, Al makes sure CJ isn't the only one trying to flex it out-



And here we are at the top!



And here I make sure to keep the F-Toys in check by letting them know that full bodies rigs aren't entirely incapable

[BigMike [OP]]

Bevin informed us that he has not been to Johnson Valley since 1996, back when I think there were only 2 or 3 trails in existence?

Bevin could not believe how much the place has changed! And how people used to do these trails without a Marlin Crawler just simply BLOWS HIS MIND!

To say the least, Bevin had one of the best time in his life wheeling the hardest trail he has attempted in his rig! You did great Bevin! Thanks for coming!


CJ comes up this extremely steep climb (more than 35°, might even be 38° steep!) with the aid of two Canadians! Watch out eh! They might not understand what these American rocks are all abot eh!


Here is a shot from the top of Jackhammer looking across the canyon towards the upper canyon of Sledgehammer. The optional dirt escape route is visible to the upper right


Marlin finally makes it up to the group without a hitch


Marlin was talking to me about how amazing the 3RZ engine does, how it will maintain a perfect 800 RPM no matter what the truck is doing and without any throttle input. When asked which gear he is in by an on-looker, Marlin quickly reached for his Marlin Crawler Triple Ultimate Overkill Ratio cheat sheet that I printed out for him last year, and determined -- while still Crawling and moving -- to have come up this extremely steep and very loose climb in 14th gear!



That is why, in my opinion, there will never be another Marlin Czajkowski, ever. For those who have gotten to wheel and experience life with Marlin, I sincerely hope you understand what is was like to be with a true honest-to-God legend.

[ajordan1975]

ajordan1975, The pictures really don't show just how step it is out there. Without my Crawler there is no way I could be doing these trails without any body damage or breakage.

yeah... i understand how that works. when showing pics of my trips to friends that dont wheel. that's one thing i always have to stress.