Cruise Moab Live (2015)

[BigMike]

I got so far over that I could touch the sandstone





Forward driver resulted in lifting the passenger's front tire.

Forward passenger resulted in the rear end slipping more and more out from underneath me to the right.

[BigMike]

Bob's advice at this point was to back down into the water and square back up for another attempt.

Looking at the pictures now I can see why it didn't feel so good at the time.

I had the LC strap up to me as shown and did ponder reversing with the LC's winch lending assistance to keep my front-right from lifting and tossing me over backwards, but I know when I've had a good run and if there is no reason to risk injury or damage I might as well be happy and call it a day.

Next time Escalator! I will return and I will defeat you unassisted!

Pull me up Scotty! Thanks for the help everyone. My rig will live another day to



In the above picture look just to the left of my driver's rear tire and you can see a white line. That was my beadlock's outer ring searching for traction. That is how far over and down I had moved.

And that was it for Escalator. After two fails no one was interested in giving it a go. Wimps!!

People watching from below told me they really thought I had it. BugManMike said he'd put $ that I'd make it 2 outta 3 times.

At least I know what I'll be doing in 2016!

BigMike

[blackdiamond]

Nice adventure!  It looks like it has changed since I saw it last.  Had it been dry I'm sure you would have done great.  There's always oil in there and the water brings out the worse in oil stains.

When I took my 85 in I stood it up and the passenger side rock gave me a hug.  I couldn't back up and I creased the corner from bottom to top knocking out the tail light.  I managed to get the front end too high on the passenger side wall and it pulled the tires that direction.

CrankyCrawler attempted it in his K5 with 35s and an open front differential.  At one point he had one front tire off the ground (i.e. not pulling) and one rear tires was in the air thanks to his rear bumper holding him up and the truck actually inched forward basically on one rear tire!  Way to go Detroit Locker.  We both ended up on the winch and he broke his rear axle the next day at the end of the Golden Spike trail.  We're certain that the Escalator was where the axle got stressed to the max.

[jangelfire]

Damn! I figured you got it first try! Ive never seen it full of water tho. Nice try big mike!

[SqWADoosh]

  Wow I'm glad no one bet me. Oh well Mike, gives you a reason to come back to Moab. As if you needed another 

[BigMike]

We continued on to the last obstacle of the day called Tip-Over Challenge.

It doesn't seem too difficult except for the route everyone was taking, which involved climbing straight up on the left side, turning mid-climb to the right into an off-cambered side-hill, and then driving your passenger's rear tire right into a good sided hole further pitching your truck to the right.



I'm watching these guys go up and I thought, "why this?", and I decided to enter the climb far right from the bottom and then just climb straight up the face.

I've got FJ80 width on a lightweight and very stable Hilux, so sidehills don't bother me, but someone's gotta be the rebel and try something different and that person is usually me!

So I get waaaay over to the right and square up, and the spotter is yelling at me and telling me to get far left. I hollered back that I'd like to give it a shot to the right and climb the face straight-up, and man he was pretty serious that he didn't want me over there so I backed up and proceeded up to the left.

After I got up I told him what my original idea was and he just walked away.

I actually didn't know this at the time but the spotter was Christo Slee of Slee Off-Road. Well, I've never met him either so I guess I just didn't know what to expect.



The whole way up I'm thinking "you can have me turn passenger at any time there buddy" but he waited until almost the very top to have me turn into the corner. There is really no reason for this to challenge your rig's tip-over ability. The "challenge" is intentionally positioning your rig into a bad spot.

[BigMike]

A few more pics from the road out. It was neat to be up on the hill looking down at the city, wondering how many ppl are stressed out going through their day-to-day while we are living the dream in our rigs. I guess the trails I'm used to are far from any city so I remember it feeling strange.

[BigMike]

A few more

I'm sorry I forgot this guy's name but he had this really pretty FJ40 and said the closest he has ever come to rolling it was on this exact downhill stair step that leads to a sharp left handed switch back. I only helped him down just a tad and he was on his way. I was behind him for most of the second half of the trail and he was a good driver



Tail Gunner and me



Reality starting to sink in...



All grouped up after another successful day  of wheel'n!

[blackdiamond]

I am assuming that you were planning to stay on the black tracks on tip-over-challenge?  If so you should have been just fine, but I have seen several rigs try the right side and the sandstone just crab walked them farther and farther right without any forward progress. It was somewhat unexpected so maybe you were far enough over for this to happen.  It's hard to say since I have not been there for a while and obviously can't see where you wanted to go.

As for the challenge, I have been there when an achohol injected driver had his TJ on three wheels at the crux and was gunning it trying to use momentum to aide his open differential(s). I assume that if he didn't roll it would be very difficult to do. We actually left not wanting to be around and saw him finally make it up in the distance.

[BigMike]

Once off the trail I got some air from Amory, a very nice Slee Employee, using a slow but helpful ARB compressor (only aired up to 15 psi per tire), and back in town I topped off all four tires at a gas station on the north-east corner of 300 and Main St.



Also there must have been an EB meet this weekend because they were everywhere:



^ Note the second orange one to the left!

[SqWADoosh]

This is my favorite thread. 

[BigMike]

Found this 4Runner at the City Market



...and this FZJ80 at Maverik's:

[BigMike]

Back at camp Friday evening everyone was getting ready for dinner and the raffle. I finally got some down time to walk around and grab some sweet pics

I think I said it earlier, but if not, I'd like to share that staying in the Slick Rock Campground was a FANTASTIC idea, not only because it's right next to the registration booth / Cruise Moab HQ, but because there are endless cool Toyota trucks to look at! Sure, staying in a motel would be nice, but you miss out on this great mingling and networking opportunity!

On to the pics!

Typical sighting upon entering the campground



Random rigs parked all over

Here is Adam (Box Rocket)'s rig at center and Joe's rig at right

[BigMike]

Sorry for the blurry pic but here are a couple of long time friends Gordon (left) and Bob, who was my spotter on Escalator (and is also our EMT at our annual Round-Up events).

Gordon is long time friend with Mark Algazy of Mark's Off Road. Both of these guys are 'good ol cruiser' guys if you know what I mean. Hard working, do whatever it takes to get it done, old school, self taught, and genuinely friendly, trustworthy type guys.



Gordon... Gordon... You were definitely a hard luck candidate of Cruise Moab '15. Members of TLCA's Toys On The Rocks, Gordon and Bob traveled from Cen Cal to Utah towing Gordon's white Tacoma shown above.

They couldn't even make it off highway 50 when they nearly lost a trailer tire that ended up wiping out a trailer wheel bearing. So they unloaded the Taco, drove it back to town while the other stayed in the motorhome for ... 4 hours(!), finally fixing the trailer and getting back on the road.

At Moab in camp Gordon leaves Bob in the motorhome and when Gordon returns he finds Bob had left and locked everything up.... with the keys locked inside. They had to wait for AAA to show up to get it unlocked.

Then on the long drive back home Gordon likes to stay on the right side of the #1 lane to ensure there is plenty of room for other traffic to pass ... and he gets too close and runs the motorhome up against the side of a guard rail.

DOH!

[BigMike]

Back at our cabin. The Crawler truck alternatorless...



Ho hum



I say lets BBQ it!!

[BigMike]

Pretty blue FJ40



Actually saw quite a number of FJ60s. I'm used to seeing more 62s back home-









Troopie!!

[BigMike]

One of the lead organizer's Jeff at center along with his 60 at right



Bryce's LX



There are so many Land Cruisers that you nearly get ran over by them while taking pics! I can't recommend enough camping here for next year's event



The only bummer is this doggone Cottonwood!! It's everywhere!

[BigMike]

Oh I'll just leave these here

[BigMike]

見て！日本語です‼︎



I can only read the kana (easy) parts of this, but the top reads 運転上のご注意 or in Roman characters would be "untenjou no go chuui" which means like Caution or Read Before Operating. I seriously need to learn much more kanji.

[BigMike]

ほんとう日本からです！



Wasn't expecting to see the CT26 (familiar with these from my MR2 world)



24 volt system

[BigMike]

More info for you

This is a BJ74 (BJ73 is non-turbo) and was imported from Japan by http://www.landcruisersdirect.com. Sure enough this was the camp of Kurt of Cruiser Outfitters! They actually had a couple BJ74s and they were just A-W-E-S-O-M-E. This black one belonged to Ben who says the cost is about $14k depending on which 70-series you're interested. Out the door, fully registered in your home state. Oh man if I was ever Jonesing for a 70-series before, well now I'm, well crap I don't know what to do. I've been planning on a new Tacoma but man...... these are just SO DAMN SEXY. Too many toys, not enough time!!

[BigMike]

And then, if I wasn't out of yet, while I'm standing there this thing rolls up and stops at our cabin:



So... Ummm how much time do you have any how many pictures would you like to see?

[jangelfire]

Keep em coming big mike!

[blackdiamond]

As and FYI for you and other future Moabers, The Chevron station on the south end of town just past the Moab Brewery has great free air.  The hose is on the backside of the carwash.  I almost always get my gas there to support a gas station that provides such a great service.  It's the only good air that I know of in town.  Ironically, they have a quarter machine out front so don't be fooled!

[BigMike]

First person who was not at the event to guess what this is receives a free Marlin Crawler USA-made anodized Billet Aluminum bottle opener with his or her next order:

[BigMike]

[BigMike]

Portal IFS



Interior



Engine bay



Seats

[BigMike]

Steering



T/Case



Come awn, who doesn't want free Marlin Crawler swag?

[twistedtoy92]

Awesome pics Mike!!!  I drooled all over myself staring at that BJ74.... That thing is in amazing shape!!! Damn I love Toyota's  Keep em comin!!! 

[twistedtoy92]

Is that an FJ45V?