President's Day Run - Feb 18 - Badlands

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:57 pm

Matt has asked me to post that he will be missing this run. His wife has to work and it's just to cold to drag his little one out on the trail. He really wanted to come along, too.

He said he'll be on the next run for sure and really wants to go to Rockport, so we'll have to be sure to make that happen.

Renegade363 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:41 pm

Have a good day guys
Try and stay warm

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:54 pm

What an eventful day!!

SunDvl had an oops and managed to crunch his driver's side door preety good. I'll let him tell the story.

BakerKJ fell victim to the front diff weakness, and fell victim the same way as others have. Vertical obstacle, bad front traction. When the front finally grabbed, the pumpkin cracked. Luckily he was able to make it home 150 miles in 2WD with no further issues.

Otherwise we all had a good time, even those that had breakage, despite the zub-zero temperatures.

vxla · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:55 am

where did he break? what obstacle?

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:52 pm

I just dropped it off at the dealer to see if it is covered under warranty. Mine actually broke in the mall parking lot while i was picking up toys for the local orphans.

I did hear of someone cracking one right down the middle on the 14 ft. rock ledge in the rock quarry. I believe he made it all the way up and it broke right at the top .

vxla · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:01 pm

well, then that's his own fault. kj's aren't made to do that.

using blunt force to get up an obstacle is like an invitation for disaster. i'm glad no one got hurt or control was lost at the top of the ledge.

SunDvl · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:33 pm

More then 1 KJ has made that ledge on multiple occassions...

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:47 pm

vxla wrote:

well, then that's his own fault. kj's aren't made to do that.

using blunt force to get up an obstacle is like an invitation for disaster. i'm glad no one got hurt or control was lost at the top of the ledge.

It definitely wasn't carelessness on anyone's part. I think it was just one of those risks you take wheeling a vehicle with a weak front diff. On top of that, the obstacle was taken with proper care so that no one was in a position in which they could have gotten hurt. It was just one of those days where damage happened.

I would venture to say that what you were doing in what you call "pergatory" was much more risky and dangerous. This particular obstacle has been taken by the same kj that blew its diff as well as 3 or 4 others on past runs. I bet you have even tried this particular one before as I see a lot of rigs try it every time.

vxla · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:17 pm

i never do ledges; kj's dont like them. throttle hill is bad enough on a front diff.

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:21 pm

You're right the Kj comes with a trail badge, not a rock ledge badge. They should have a warning in the brochure not to climb rock walls. I think he was a victim of a poorly written operators manual.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:35 pm

when time comes and I get my franken and good rock rails , that ledge will be mine for sure....
It is just the challenge that makes you tick..... Adrenaline flows, excitement is there, if you are ok with taking risks, then do it...
There is a lot that I want to do but my rig is not ready for it - when it is, and when my understanding for the risks I'm taking and when I learn more what my jeep can do, I'll probably go crazy a bit more.
Yeah for sure now I know what the consequences can be. - Maybe DC will figure something to get rid of this problem - it has happened b4 - It will happen again...

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:39 pm

Next time I do that ledge, I'm going to wrap my diff with a roll of duct tape to keep it from splitting open!

vxla · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:42 pm

baker: try peanutbutter!

actually i think i have so much mud from rockport that it just holds my darn jeep together.

anyway - whats the damage, and which stealership did you take it to?

maybe we should have a fab party for those front diff braces that someone posted about many moons ago?

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:48 pm

They are looking at it now. I was told that if I didn't hit anything with it, it should be under warranty.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:00 pm

ok....
This was posted a while ago..... it might be a good idea to really look into it...
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... l&start=15

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:52 pm

Sweet! The warranty is going to cover it. They said the ring and pinion blew out the back. I'll take some pics when I go pick it up.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

The ledge was nearly vertical and probably 7-10ft high. I believe he high-centered the first time up. I was surprised he made it up, being covered in loose sand and little wet. It was one of those obstacles that there was really no way to get up it beside to just mash the throttle. Anytime you mash the throttle to get up an obstacle along with lots wheel spin you risk breaking something. I've broke axles on my CJ doing the exact same type of thing and seen happen on other Jeeps. Plus having a weak front differential to start out with doesn't help. But an obstacle like that where you have lots of wheel spin and sudden traction can damage just about any vehicle. Especially when your front tires slam down once you crest the top. I sure he realized the danger of breaking something, but decided to take the chance. That is the way to goes when you wheel. The harder you push it the more stuff you can go over, but the greater the chance you risk of breaking something.

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:09 pm

This thread is :cry:

ing for pictures...

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:32 pm

My next door neighbor is a machinist. I'm gonna get a set of the 3 1/2 inch ones and get him to machine them down to 3 9/16for me. If it works out, I'll ask him how much his boss would charge him to do 10 or 12 more.

I also am re-contacting JeepinAl to see if he is going to look into this for me anytime soon.

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:05 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

My next door neighbor is a machinist. I'm gonna get a set of the 3 1/2 inch ones and get him to machine them down to 3 9/16for me. If it works out, I'll ask him how much his boss would charge him to do 10 or 12 more.

As a wise man once said... "I am on this like cheese on a Whopper." Count me in on one of those.

President's Day Run - Feb 18 - Badlands

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