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

[BigMike]

Before we headed back down, Jon (jon82toy) was able to get off a quick Marlin Crawler gang sign that I have never seen before Jon James (desertoy) was most gracious to let Jon and Jaime drive the F-Toy towards the end of the trail! They loved it!



Here the trucks enjoy the view, and slight reward for a hard days work

I Love What You Do For Me, Toyota!

[BigMike]

Time to head down and drop into the mail box and the Sledgehammer trail!






Here is my rigs 3rd time at the Mail Box!



And here Rick just had put in a quick Canada plug. Hey, take off eh, this is America! Crazy hoser!

[BigMike]

It was good timing because we ran right into the other Marlin Crawler group lead by Rocky and his brother Ryan




Later we went up half of the upper canyon and then took the escape route to the upper right and headed on down the mountain

[BigMike]

It was then that Marlin came over the radio and said "Hey, look! It's Pepe!"



Good eyes Marlin!!

[yota18]

man it looks like you guys had a lot of fun wish m rig was built for the hammers hopefully next year i can make it.

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

looks like you guys had a ton of fun... im still pissed that I didnt get to be there

[iNfErNaL]

It was then that Marlin came over the radio and said "Hey, look! It's Pepe!"



Good eyes Marlin!!

  that's awesome.As always,it was good seeing you,Marlin and CJ!!!.Hope to see you guys soon,if not I'll see ya at the Round-Up 

[BigMike]

And back to camp we went.

All things considering, we had a great day. No serious breakage, the rollover was promptly cared after and no one got hurt. This must have been the earliest I've been back to the camp after running a trail out there.

Later that evening the dinner was great! Sorry I do not have any pictures of the food, but we had a choice of hot dogs or hamburgers, served with all the trimmings, a bowl of chili, potato salad, some pasta noodles, and ice chests full of generic soda pop.

After dinner, the raffle went down and what a great raffle it was!

Since Marlin Crawler worked hard to get sponsorship for the event, Marlin's Crawler truck and F-Toy were parked on both sides of the stage



Some of the Major Raffle Donations include:
1 set of Interco Tires - any model 37" or smaller
Diamond Axle $900 gift certificate towards any axle they make
Trail-Gear front and rear axle housings, knuckles, dual case crawler
All Pro Off Road High Pinion 5.29:1 Gears (x2) and HySteer kit
ARB 30% Gift Certificate
Advanced Adapters $350 Gift Certificate
Poly Performance $100 Gift Certs (3 or 4 of these)
4WD Toyota Owner free year subscription Gift Certs (4 or 5 of these)
Inchworm $75 Gift Certs (x4)
Budbuilt Bud-Light crossmember
Longfield 30-spline axle set
LC Engineering F-Toy-specific Exhaust Header
ROCK BRAWLERS Gift Certificates
Off Road Solutions 22R Heavy Duty Engine Mount Kit
Metal Tech Front Stinger / Bumper Kit
Round Eyes donated a H4 conversion headlamp kit

I am sure I've missed some items from the list as many items were dropped off at the event.

Other participating raffle donation vendors included
Slee Off Road - Awesome Jacket and duffel bags
12Volt Guy - Gift Certs
Randy's Ring and Pinion - Gift Certs
UDS Hardware, Inc - dropped off a lot of really cool stuff!

and Marlin Crawler donated:

• 40 Front Axle HD Inner Seals
  
• 10 New Prototype T/Case Rear Output Seals
• 10 New Prototype FJ80 front axle HD Inner Seals
• 10 Rear Axle special fit seals
• Ceramic 1600lb Super HD Clutch Kit
• Hilux and Tacoma Crown USA extended Brake Line Kits
• Billet USA Steel HySteer Arms
• 10% off Knuckle Rebuild Kit Gift Certificates (included at random with HD Seals)
• 1 complementary Rebuilt Marlin Crawler Transmission of your choice
• 1 complementary complete Dual Case Transfer Case System of your choice

I thought the event went very, very well! I thought attendance was great and I know I will be back next year FOR SURE!!!!


MAD PROPS to the Tin Benders club for putting on an extremely well organized and safe event and I look forward to doing this again next year!

[BigMike]

I've got a couple videos here, courtesy of Rick (BIGBIRD)!

[37 secs] Here is Marlin Walking the Crawler as mentioned on Page 1:
http://www.youtube.com/v/nzk5IMZ11zY&hl=en


[41 secs] Here I am about half way up the 1st canyon:
http://www.youtube.com/v/CJgQKqjVoAg&hl=en


[9 secs] Here is Tyler from Oregon in his 2004 3RZ-FE powered Hilux giving out a hi-five
http://www.youtube.com/v/Pbp5QytUxz4


[1:38 mins]And here is Rick's son proving that with a Marlin Crawler transfer case, even a kid can turn the most difficult trails into a cake walk!
http://www.youtube.com/v/Ua8ooSaxNbQ

[rockhound]

Awesome report Mike. Thanks for the props. I had a blast wheeling with you and CJ as well as the rest of our group. Being there for the hill climb drag race between CJ's turbo and your 3RZ was timeless. Marlin educated me in the complete workings of a steering pump, drawing a diagram on his hand, and spotted and corrected two vacuum lines crossed at the throttle body. I couldn't imagine a better day wheeling. Thanks. 

[BigMike]

Awesome report Mike. Thanks for the props. I had a blast wheeling with you and CJ as well as the rest of our group. Being there for the hill climb drag race between CJ's turbo and your 3RZ was timeless.

Hey Al! Thank you for wheeling with us!!

Here is the only video I currently have of the drag race -- I hope I can get a better angle on it!

CJ (22R-TE all stock) vs. BigMike (3RZ-FE aftermarket plugs, wires, and Downey header)
CJ has slightly larger tires and 4.88s where as I have slightly smaller tires and 5.29s, but this was a disadvantage for me because I had to shift into 3rd gear much sooner where as he was still pulling strong in 2nd gear. Also my side of the hill was much bumpier and I was on the outside of the corner. Also I had all my tool boxes and rescue gear in the back and a rear bumper, so I am pretty sure my truck is heavier.

Regardless of any of that crap, it was a lot of fun and I know CJs truck is much, much stronger than a 22R-E non Turbo and it runs great!

[21 secs] Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/v/70V3WZ_ovdw&hl=en

Marlin educated me in the complete workings of a steering pump, drawing a diagram on his hand, and spotted and corrected two vacuum lines crossed at the throttle body.

I was about to ask if you kept the drawing, but had you done that, Marlin would become much less efficient!

I couldn't imagine a better day wheeling. Thanks. 

Likewise, we got back to camp with plenty of light to spare, I just wish I could have been up there 2 or 3 days longer to enjoy more trails!

[EarlKann]

Well, since I was in the back with Marlin it seems Big Mike didn't get any pictures of me.   

That's alright, I'll just post my own!   

Start of the trail.




Me on the first fall.




and Marlin

[EarlKann]

I don't have commentary for everything so I'll pick out some of the better shots.

[EarlKann]

Cool sequence of BigBird.

[EarlKann]

More of me.






Ooops! 

[EarlKann]

A little bit of perspective on the hill climb that is the exit of Jack.






Marlin coming up with the lake bed in the backround.






Killer view.



It was so nice Marlin decided to eat his lunch.

[EarlKann]

Well, now you're at the top and you have to get back down.

Still hard to get a perspective, but this is pretty steep!

[EarlKann]

Me and Marlin coming down.

[BigMike]

Nice pics!

I still have more pics from the previous day from Wrecking Ball (a non-official run) but I choose to post just the Jackhammer (official) run for now.

I will post up the Jackhammer pics later

[EarlKann]

Probably the best day wheeling I've ever had.  I had a blast in the back hanging out with Marlin all day.  I consider myself lucky to have had the experience of being able to chat with Marlin at just about every break and stop in the trail.   I know he doesn't get on the forums much so Big Mike, please tell him thank you again for me for the oil and water.  Once again Marlin comes to the rescue with his boy scout style preparedness.

Can't wait to wheel with the whole Marlin crew again.  Gonna try my absolute best to make the next roundup.

Donald

[rockhound]

Mike, Here's some unofficial run (Wrecking Ball) shots for ya'. 

[rockhound]

and..

[ajordan1975]

awesome!!!! no other word but AWESOME!!! 

[Jud]

I need to go next year.

[Jud]

Who's whit 3rd gen with the camper shell is that? I saw it at the gas station by Peggy Sues Diner New Years weekend on my way to Dumont Sand Dunes.

[BigMike]

rockhound- Thanks for the *selective* pictures


Here is my "whole" Tin Benders story

Bevin and I left Fresno at precisely 9:20 pm Thursday night. We planned on leaving at 6pm, but I did not get off work until 7 (I hadn't even packed).

Here we are leaving Fresno:


We arrived at the Mean's Dry Lake Bed (Campground) at 3:30 am It was VERY cold and we tried sleeping in our trucks but found it to be too cold and uncomfortable, so a couple hours later out came the tents and sleeping bags

We woke up and found we had randomly parked right next to the Canadian's camp! So naturally we followed them on a run up Wrecking Ball!

[BigMike]

Wrecking Ball

I had never been on Wrecking Ball before. All I knew is that it was pretty hard, but not as hard as Outer Limits. I have done Outer Limits without any body damage, so I said "LET'S DO IT!"

Bevin chickened out and left his truck behind, I mean after all he had not been to the Hammers since 1996 and did not know what to expect!



Heading up the Canyon

[BigMike]

Here is our frequent customer and great friend of ours: Matt and his 4.3 Chevy-powered Yota. 37" MTR, Marlin Dual cases behind an Automatic




Here is Louie from the Wicked Wheelers and his secondary rig ROCKOTA




Here is Louie's daughter Holly driving EVILTOY. Many west coast wheelers ought to know by now who Louie and Holly are!

[BigMike]

Here Steve (shadycrawler) shows that even 39" tires are not immune from axle (and spring hanger) grabbers.


Working his way though this section with the help of BIGBIRD..

[BigMike]

And here is proof that you've gotta be careful no matter what you are doing. DON'T BE A THROTTLE JOCKEY STEVE!



Everything was well in the end, Steve's truck came back down and he was able to make it through eventually