New Member from a California high desert

TJScott

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Feb 4, 2017
Messages
522
Location
Waterloo, ON Canada
Ok, so like many, I've been lurking here for a while. So, I decided to join in, I like the members' attitude here. Right now I'm pretty much a consumer of your knowledge as I've only had my Jeep for a year and it's my first 4x4. I pretty much take the Disney tea cup trails when I'm off road. We go solo a lot so I don't take many chances as I know my knowledge is slim.
We bought a 2003 Sport 4.0 5 speed manual. It only has the soft top. But, we don't have actual weather.
It had bald tires when I got it and stock bumpers with a lift, I believe 4" and 33" tires. I've since replaced the bumpers with a Smittybuilt on the front with a 10k waterproof winch and the rear with a tire carrier from a friends 02 he wrecked. I carry the gas cans on unknown trails. Pretty poor mileage.
So, I have a few pictures I can post here, one with a bit of a story. There's always a story right?

_L2A2513.webp

_L2A2519.webp


Below, this is the one with the story. It has dealer plates still, but I hated them so they get no publicity, even accidental.
My wife and her friend went for coffee with my new to me Jeep. They decided to hit the hills right near their work, 45 minute lunch break, yeah right, they were late getting back. So, I get the panicked call that they are stuck on a hill with the wheels in the air and they're afraid of rolling over. I had my motorcycle that day, but thankfully, this hill is right around the block from our house. I may have bent a few rules getting there, but I beat the rescue crews after going home to get her Jeep. I drove it up and parked it next to mine to keep it from rolling over. She was being held in by the seat belt and couldn't even reach the floor. Sadly when the rescue crews arrived they had nothing that could get up there. We had to wait for a 4WD rescue truck. They then winched the thing up the hill once the girls were out. Obviously, we didn't know what we were doing, thankfully it was close to main roads and home. A citizen came with his 4WD, but by then the Fire Dept was already there. If he reads this, thank you. At the time, no locker, no knowledge, wrong gears. She stalled it when she was almost to the top and rolled back.

IMG_3085.webp


So, a question would be, how would you handle this hill? I've done it once since, and I was carrying too much speed. That little Jeep was hopping all over due to the rough terrain. That's not good. I now have the 4.56 gearing and a rear locker. I want to try this hill again because I can't stand being beaten or nervous about it. There is nothing to winch on to if things go bad, have to have another vehicle up there. Would you go slow in 1 Lo with rear locker on and see if you can make it? Or try to carry some speed and use momentum to get up there. It's pretty steep. The first two sections are pretty easy, the top third gets steeper and much more beaten up. I've done the first sections since to practice backing up, going down a hill.

IMG_3089.webp


So, great to be on. Hope this isn't too much for a first post. :)
 
Yes indeed 4Lo would be appropriate for that climb Scott. 4Lo does two things for you... 1) it gives you more torque due to its lower ratio gearing, and 2) it slows you down for much better control on difficult trails or difficult climbs. So yes, try it again in 4Lo, stay in 1st gear with the transmission, and turn the locker on. Go slow and you'll be surprised how easily your TJ will climb and descend that hill.

Heck consider coming to Calico by Barstow with me the last weekend in March, there's going to be a huge group doing trails in the canyons out there. There will be at least one beginner-moderate level trail which would be great to learn on. I'll be leading one of the wheeling groups there. This particular group meets there once a year, alternating with Big Bear during the summer. :)
 
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Great first post, welcome aboard! That hill is all about 4lo and slow and steady climbing. I climbed a ridiculously steep hill last yr in ID. My buddy said "F this" and got out :D I am open in both ends but still was able to get it done.

If your rig is too bouncy I would be looking at the shocks. The usual RC type junk are notoriously rough riding.
 
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Wow cool pictures! Where in CA?


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We are in Palmdale. Just north of Los Angeles. The picture with the stream is shot from the other Jeep behind a very dirty window. My wife was driving my Jeep with my friend in it at the time.


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Love that photo of the Jeep on what appears to be two wheels!
 
Jerry, I did get the link, thank you. My wife isn't much of a camper. I'll have to stay in a hotel close by.

Chris, yeah, the girls didn't think so much of it. It was just balanced. The fireman pushed on the wheel in the air and the whole Jeep rocked.
My thought is to try it again by just crawling it, now that it's a little better setup. But I want another vehicle on top, just in case. It has easy access along the top ridge.


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My wife isn't much of a camper. I'll have to stay in a hotel close by.
There's one right at the offramp you take off I-15 to get to Calico Ghost Town, and a couple good restaurants. Especially Peggy Sue's which is a really fun old-fashioned 50's style diner. Beer, Root Beer Floats, chicken-fried steak. fried chicken, meatloaf, pizza, banana splits, you name it.
 
There's one right at the offramp you take off I-15 to get to Calico Ghost Town, and a couple good restaurants. Especially Peggy Sue's which is a really fun old-fashioned 50's style diner. Beer, Root Beer Floats, chicken-fried steak. fried chicken, meatloaf, pizza, banana splits, you name it.
Peggy Sue's is great!
I stop there just about every time I go through that area.
 
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I went there a long time ago. It was pretty good as I recall. I know more businesses have cropped up near that ramp. Calico is an interesting place. Especially when they do the reenactments.


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Just looked up Calico, looks pretty cool. That would be doable for the fam. Quite a ways a way but will have to look into it someday.
 
Looks like your wife might have been fine if she hadn't gotten sideways to the hill. That can happen when trying to use speed instead of gearing, especially on uneven terrain, to get up a steep incline.
 
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Yeah, she ended up sideways because she stalled towards the top and rolled back. Ironically we had talked about 4 Lo the night before. But, her eyes glaze over when I talk computers, cameras or mechanics. She may have missed some of the conversations content. So, she had taken that hill in 4 Hi. Clearly that didn't work out.


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Yeah, she ended up sideways because she stalled towards the top and rolled back. Ironically we had talked about 4 Lo the night before. But, her eyes glaze over when I talk computers, cameras or mechanics. She may have missed some of the conversations content. So, she had taken that hill in 4 Hi. Clearly that didn't work out.


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Hey wait, is your wife related to mine??!!

Thank goodness the track she was on is narrower than the Jeep's wheelbase; the rear ds tire hitting the embankment probably kept it pointed uphill enough remain upright.
 
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I agree, the narrow trail was a plus. The embankment although small, at that low speed was enough to stop her. It is tough to maintain low speed and control when going backwards on that narrow trail. And at the time the gearing was much higher so the speeds higher even with engine compression. But I'm willing to bet the clutch was in and she was trying to use just brakes.


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