Finally
- Thread starter Stinger
- Start date
Three days of wheeling and now a down day. I purposely pick three of the easier trials in Moab to give Stinger is maidenshake down.
We did: 7 Mile Rim, Polar Mesa, and Fins and Things.
7 Mile was well 7 Mile. A few challenges and enough rough stuff to shake out the suspension and then enough sand to play around. This is also the trial on which I found Stingers first serious flaw.One the first obstacle I started up and got a horrendous banging clattering sound. When we got to the top I found that my fabricated engine skid plate was hitting on the front drive shaft yoke. Now it looked great on the lift and on the ground. I kind of tried it at home and did do some trimming with the torch---apparently not enough. So I unlocked the front hubs, move the Atlas out of 4x4 and did 7 Mile rim in two wheel drive. Stinger did great. Boy has he ever got a pleasing growl!
I knew before starting the trail I had a problem with the brake combination valve. Blaine and I discussed this issue before we got here and he gave me a couple of tips to help. Apparently the shuttle inside the valve has detected a leak in the rear brake system and shuttled its way into closing off the rear lines which leaves me with only front brakes. There is no leak!! It behaves well enough on the street that I hardly notice it. --Thank you Blaine for the Vanco kit!— However, it provides a bit of a thrill when descending steep stuff with the front wheels locked up and sliding on the sand with the back doing nothing. Not too big a deal. I found that the 6L90 and Atlas both in Low/1st provides a lot of braking capability.
The only serious draw back to this particular runwas the trail leader. We normally run this trail in about 4 hours or less depending on lunch break time. We started at 9 and didn't get off the trail until 5PM with no break downs or problems. Don't get me wrong. He was a nice guy and was trying to do a good job but lack of experience (as a trail lead)was showing. Oh and he (and she) were constantly on the radio. Sorry for the vent but even 3days later I bristle..
After the trip I stopped in town and bough yet another 4-inch angle grinder and some cut off wheels. There is no longer a clearance issue with the skid plate and front driveshaft!!
Polar Mesa I had never heard of so we signed upfor it. (I eventually found it listed under Thompson Canyon.) It runs generally in the area of Rose Garden and Top of the World. Great trail for scenery. No need to air down, or lock the hubs, of use low range. Had fun! Worth it if you are looking for a break from the kidney pounding stuff and the vistas are gorgeous.
Last trail was Fins and Things. This is one of my favorite trails because it has a bit of everything. Sand, STEEP accents and descends, ledges, and beautiful country. We had a local person as trail lead who was actually one of the folks to developed this trail in the early 90s. He provided a lot of insight in the evolution of what once was primarily a sand run with the sandstone fins as a bonus. Now there are many areas of erosion that will serious test your suspension. One being what locals call Kidney Flats for a very obvious reason. We were really glad to get through that stretch! Something new that was not here the last a couple of years ago is "one way" and “do not enter” signs. Apparently the Sand Flat folks don't want the trail to be run backwards. With the increase of traffic on the trail I can see why but Fins backwards is a lot of fun!
I also encountered my last serious issue with Stinger. The power steering/hydro boost fluid got scalding hot. This is after I installed a tubular fins type cooler in line—it proved to be less than useless! It was so hot that it melted an overflow line running into a small plastic container I had rigged up. In fact, the container burst and blew fluid all over. It did not get this hot on the street but with lots of braking and low speed crawling over obstacles the heat became a real issue. Not sure exactly how I am going to deal with this just yet. Space is the limiting factor.
Again we whipped through without any trail or vehicle problems and got back to town before 2:30. Just in time to try and clean some of the Moab grit out of Stinger.
Not too many pictures because we were wheelin not taking pictures.
We did: 7 Mile Rim, Polar Mesa, and Fins and Things.
7 Mile was well 7 Mile. A few challenges and enough rough stuff to shake out the suspension and then enough sand to play around. This is also the trial on which I found Stingers first serious flaw.One the first obstacle I started up and got a horrendous banging clattering sound. When we got to the top I found that my fabricated engine skid plate was hitting on the front drive shaft yoke. Now it looked great on the lift and on the ground. I kind of tried it at home and did do some trimming with the torch---apparently not enough. So I unlocked the front hubs, move the Atlas out of 4x4 and did 7 Mile rim in two wheel drive. Stinger did great. Boy has he ever got a pleasing growl!
I knew before starting the trail I had a problem with the brake combination valve. Blaine and I discussed this issue before we got here and he gave me a couple of tips to help. Apparently the shuttle inside the valve has detected a leak in the rear brake system and shuttled its way into closing off the rear lines which leaves me with only front brakes. There is no leak!! It behaves well enough on the street that I hardly notice it. --Thank you Blaine for the Vanco kit!— However, it provides a bit of a thrill when descending steep stuff with the front wheels locked up and sliding on the sand with the back doing nothing. Not too big a deal. I found that the 6L90 and Atlas both in Low/1st provides a lot of braking capability.
The only serious draw back to this particular runwas the trail leader. We normally run this trail in about 4 hours or less depending on lunch break time. We started at 9 and didn't get off the trail until 5PM with no break downs or problems. Don't get me wrong. He was a nice guy and was trying to do a good job but lack of experience (as a trail lead)was showing. Oh and he (and she) were constantly on the radio. Sorry for the vent but even 3days later I bristle..
After the trip I stopped in town and bough yet another 4-inch angle grinder and some cut off wheels. There is no longer a clearance issue with the skid plate and front driveshaft!!
Polar Mesa I had never heard of so we signed upfor it. (I eventually found it listed under Thompson Canyon.) It runs generally in the area of Rose Garden and Top of the World. Great trail for scenery. No need to air down, or lock the hubs, of use low range. Had fun! Worth it if you are looking for a break from the kidney pounding stuff and the vistas are gorgeous.
Last trail was Fins and Things. This is one of my favorite trails because it has a bit of everything. Sand, STEEP accents and descends, ledges, and beautiful country. We had a local person as trail lead who was actually one of the folks to developed this trail in the early 90s. He provided a lot of insight in the evolution of what once was primarily a sand run with the sandstone fins as a bonus. Now there are many areas of erosion that will serious test your suspension. One being what locals call Kidney Flats for a very obvious reason. We were really glad to get through that stretch! Something new that was not here the last a couple of years ago is "one way" and “do not enter” signs. Apparently the Sand Flat folks don't want the trail to be run backwards. With the increase of traffic on the trail I can see why but Fins backwards is a lot of fun!
I also encountered my last serious issue with Stinger. The power steering/hydro boost fluid got scalding hot. This is after I installed a tubular fins type cooler in line—it proved to be less than useless! It was so hot that it melted an overflow line running into a small plastic container I had rigged up. In fact, the container burst and blew fluid all over. It did not get this hot on the street but with lots of braking and low speed crawling over obstacles the heat became a real issue. Not sure exactly how I am going to deal with this just yet. Space is the limiting factor.
Again we whipped through without any trail or vehicle problems and got back to town before 2:30. Just in time to try and clean some of the Moab grit out of Stinger.
Not too many pictures because we were wheelin not taking pictures.
Ahhhh, the things you can do when the kids are all grown! One day I'll get to do these things. Hell, I could even do it when the kids are a little older. But let me tell you, with a 4 year old drama queen and a 5 month old, it's going to be a little while 
The baby may make it more difficult but don't wait too long. All mine got a EARLY start!Ahhhh, the things you can do when the kids are all grown! One day I'll get to do these things. Hell, I could even do it when the kids are a little older. But let me tell you, with a 4 year old drama queen and a 5 month old, it's going to be a little while
We've just gotta wait long enough til she can be somewhat independent. For the first one that happened around 2 I would say.
derekmac
TJ Addict
If only Moab wasn't 2945 miles from my house. 
It's on my bucket list, even if I have to fly down and rent a Jeep.
It's on my bucket list, even if I have to fly down and rent a Jeep.
Well gang we have wandered over to Montrose, Colorado to spend a few days poking around. Two of these day were visiting both rims and the diversion dam tunnel of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Drop dead gorgeous and really must be seen from both side to get the total effect. This area was part of my stomping grounds when I was stationed at Ft Carson in the early 80s. Also got into serious elk hunting just up the road from the rv parking where we are staying during that time.
Because we have absolutely no set schedule until Sep 28th this trip is taking some interesting turns. Like Sunday.. We set out for lunch in Ouray and maybe visit Telluride again. Long story short. We found the Ouray Brewery for lunch at around 2 and got to swapping stories with a series of folks and pretty soon it was 8 o'freaking clock. Fortunately there was a motel directly across the street.
The next morning we decided we were in no real hurry to get back to the RV park so we wandered over to Silverton and onto Colorado highway 2. This is a very scenic byway but turned out to be too crowed. At Animus we took the road lesser traveled ( I think the navigator directed a wrong turn) and we ended up going to California Gulch and over the top of that pass at 129xxx feet. That's is where the thunderstorm moved in and started dumping snow on us. This area is absolutely pockmarked with mines of all types and sizes. What a fun area in which to poke around.
Like we have said its an adventure. A few more days here and then we head south!
Enjoy
Because we have absolutely no set schedule until Sep 28th this trip is taking some interesting turns. Like Sunday.. We set out for lunch in Ouray and maybe visit Telluride again. Long story short. We found the Ouray Brewery for lunch at around 2 and got to swapping stories with a series of folks and pretty soon it was 8 o'freaking clock. Fortunately there was a motel directly across the street.
The next morning we decided we were in no real hurry to get back to the RV park so we wandered over to Silverton and onto Colorado highway 2. This is a very scenic byway but turned out to be too crowed. At Animus we took the road lesser traveled ( I think the navigator directed a wrong turn) and we ended up going to California Gulch and over the top of that pass at 129xxx feet. That's is where the thunderstorm moved in and started dumping snow on us. This area is absolutely pockmarked with mines of all types and sizes. What a fun area in which to poke around.
Like we have said its an adventure. A few more days here and then we head south!
Enjoy
Last edited:
Travis
TJ Enthusiast
Good guess. Wonder what- Eagle- gave it away?
. It is. We stop here about once a year for a meal at the old train depot hotel. You can also buy a $10 tee shirt for 30 or a 7 hat for 25.
A bit of an update.
Running all over Colorado up and down to almost 13K feet and 65 on the highways never had an over heating problem! We are now in Camp Verde, AZ Yesterday we were headed to Prescott Valley —--their COSTCO has cheap Jack
— I noticed the temp gauge about half way between the 210 dot and redline. Not good. I was at 60 mph but outside air temp was 100 degrees and I had the air on. I hooked the OBD reader up which is hooked to an app on my phone. Air intake temp was a cool 146 degrees, but engine temp was 249.5
Immediately turned off the air and rolled down the windows. Temp slowly dropped to 217 and stayed there.
Lots of solution rolling around my head right now. I have gotten a ton of good suggestions from quite a few folks from ROF in person, and from some others on this forum.
Immediate solution will be to find a front bumper and winch mount that will lower my winch profile. Then maybe selling this winch and getting a newer Warn winch with a lower profile.
I wont go into my ultimate solution right now because it will be an entirely new "build thread
. Blaine started me thinking---a fresh paint job with same color is in the future so with the tub off..................
Any other thoughts ideas? Gathering as much info as I can before plunging into parts replacement.
Running all over Colorado up and down to almost 13K feet and 65 on the highways never had an over heating problem! We are now in Camp Verde, AZ Yesterday we were headed to Prescott Valley —--their COSTCO has cheap Jack
Lots of solution rolling around my head right now. I have gotten a ton of good suggestions from quite a few folks from ROF in person, and from some others on this forum.
Immediate solution will be to find a front bumper and winch mount that will lower my winch profile. Then maybe selling this winch and getting a newer Warn winch with a lower profile.
I wont go into my ultimate solution right now because it will be an entirely new "build thread
Any other thoughts ideas? Gathering as much info as I can before plunging into parts replacement.
VirtualRussel
TJ Enthusiast
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