My NOVA TrailFest trip

[FTI76]

Went back to Rausch creek equipped with a new Novak Cable shifter and Spartan lunchbox locker up front. Both were great upgrades.

After lunch we crossed a harder stretch of rocks which I got through with the help of a spotter. Once everybody crossed and we started up again I got hung up good on a jagged rock and needed to be pulled out with a tow strap. I guess the Jeep gods were looking down on me because I dropped $40 on raffle tickets and came home with a new winch [emoji51]!

Some random photos attached including an 06 LJ Rubicon that has 38,000 miles on it and looks like it just came off the showroom floor. (This guys Rusty’s track back snapped off at the thread on a rough stretch around where I got stuck shortly after I got pulled out)

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[Chris]

Looks like you had a ton of fun. I'll get back to stuff like this once our youngest is about 3. Right now she's only 1, so it's kind of a nightmare going anywhere with her for too long!

 

[LTTJ]

Wow, this looks like a lot of fun. Also, beautiful turtle!


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[JMT]

Sweet trip! Great stuff. Sounds like you did some tougher stuff. Nice turtle too. Never seen that species IRL. Really cool. Thanks for posting. Congrats on the winch. A total score for $40. The rope alone is worth quite a bit!

 

[Reece]

Looks like a blast. I even recognize what the yellow sticker on your right rear fender is. Have not seen one of those since about 1983.

 

[JMT]

Looks like a blast. I even recognize what the yellow sticker on your right rear fender is. Have not seen one of those since about 1983.

LOL! I have not thought about those discs since the 80's!

 

[JP98]

So the Spartan did the trick for you. Glad to hear it. Did it react the way you were expecting?
Awesome score on the winch. Can't much beat a $40 winch.

 

[FTI76]

So the Spartan did the trick for you. Glad to hear it. Did it react the way you were expecting?
Awesome score on the winch. Can't much beat a $40 winch.

I have limited experience, but outside of some noises in the parking lot it is basically transparent. Even in 4 lo I couldn’t really perceive any negatives as far as steering was concerned. My friend was ahead of me most of the trip and he’s got 35s on his WJ and I was able to keep up with him just fine. In many cases I was actually able to take better lines than him with the shorter wheelbase. The TJ really is great in tight winding trails.


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[cramil]

Sounds like a great trip! Would love to get up to Raush one of these days.

 

[bobthetj03]

I would attest to that. Just ran a trail last weekend that would challenge a longer wheel base jeep like a JKU or XJ. I love it when I'm unloading the front tire just as the rear tire is climbing on to a rock and just seesaw right over without hitting my rockers.