So I went wheelin today.... *Now with more Pics!*

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:10 am

Headed down to Mclean Creek, near Bragg Creek, Alberta Canada. Missing my group by 20 minutes so I set about going my own way.

Big Ruts, Easy.

Jeep Scenic Trails, Coming to the woods near you.

MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD!!!!!

This is my Desktop

Here comes the fun part. After awhile, we hooked up with a few guys. Shortly after, they left for deep mud. Me being stock and unable to keep up, I headed up this trail to the unknown. I now know the limits of the liberty. With no skids, it was a ball-breaker.

This is me (I have no beard now), next to my KJ on a VERY VERY steep hill. You'll note the flex. Its maxed out. The front drivers tire is accually suspened slightly Why stop for a photo on a hill like this? Well, we maxed out the flex in the rear and damage ensued.

CRUNCH! We had to stop and look. Punched the fender right out. But, thankfully, it pops right back in place with ease. As Far as Im concerned, these tires rule all. I would have never made it up that hill with the wranglers. Look at that 8 Ply squish.

More Trouble again. As we are coming down the other side of this mountain, steam rises from the hood. What is that smell? Coolant. But we didnt hit anything yet.

Further investigation reveals the Rad Fan decided to just stop working.

Resulting in HUGE heat. It was boiling in the overflow bottle. Since we were paying attention to big rocks and not the heat gauge, it was too late to re-act. No warning alarm buzzes. Nothing. We blow no lines or seals (that we know of) and after basically going down the hill with the engine off and in neutral. We get to the bottom and continue to drive with the heater on full. It was hot because of the weather too. Temp seems okay so I stop to investigate. Bing, the fan works again. WTF? It almost renders me stuck in the middle of knowhere and then it works? Time for a full-time on switch.

Anyone else have that happen?

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:13 am

I have some more pictures, including a power wagon with 54's that was there if anyone is interested. I just thought I'd make a little story summary of my day with the damage, etc.

Stupid Rad Fan.

I also forgot to add that this was the most amazing experience that I've ever had in a liberty. The Passenger has a YJ with 7 Inches of total lift and 35's and even he was amazed at what the Liberty can do.

As we speak, Im shopping for an 02' or 03' that I can do a SFA conversion on and totally equip it.

snow blower · **Joined:** Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:24 am **Posts:** 69

yep another rad fan bites the dust... what most likely happened is that the electric rad fan motor took a crap after getting gummed up with mud. My last time out wheelin, my fan motor and another fellow KJ wheeler had the same problem. My dealer actually replaced mine under warranty, even with the whole kj covered in mud

Sean150 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:58 am

Awesome photos you took there. I would have been in more trouble than you found yourself in, I would have been too distracted by the beautiful terrain. I'd probably hit a rock and over heat lol. You should post a link to a high res version of your desktop. How did the BFG ATs handle the mud?

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:11 am

The BFG's were AWESOME. There was this one spot it just dug in, then I was out of the muck in no time. I thought forsure I'd have to swim with the tow strap. I'd still recommend a straight mud tire for straight mud. But the BFG's did what they were supposed to, drive on all terrain.

As for the rad fan, Im definately going to look for a replacement from the dealer under warrenty. It works now, but theres got to be a way to protect it more.

I have some more pics, but they have to be resized for photobucket. I'll post them tomorrow. It was really busy for a non-holiday weekend. there was like a million quads out, including this crazy guy who almost drown himself.

Yeah on the way down that trail, before the rad fan thing, we passed a lifted Toyota Hilux Surf Truck and a lifted YJ. They we stretching their legs. The guy couldn't belive it was a stock liberty with only tires. He described them as having a hell of a time coming up. After continuing, we found out why. There was much rock stacking, and riding the frame-rails hard. But all, in all. No damage. Even the cast iron motor seems to have held up great!

I forgot to say, if you want the full size pic, I can e-mail it to you if you PM me your e-mail addy.

spencevans · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:55 am

I want to see the Power wagon. Oh yeah, cool pics.

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:34 am

Nice photos and sounds like a fun adventure. The Rad fan problem stopped for my friend the last time we went wheeling. Going through any mud and water hole that comes up and over the fan can make it stop. Fortunately I did not have that problem.

Nice tires

dirtykj · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:18 am

Could the radiator fan going off and on be caused by loose fuse? Try pushing down all the fuses in the engine compartment --- I've had this happened to my A/C where the clutch didn't engage on very hot day.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:02 pm

dirtykj wrote:

Could the radiator fan going off and on be caused by loose fuse? Try pushing down all the fuses in the engine compartment --- I've had this happened to my A/C where the clutch didn't engage on very hot day.

Most likely in Alax's case was the elctric fan motor got full of mud,mud and the electric motor brushes don't like each other.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:47 pm

That and the relay mounted low on the inner frame under the battery doesn't like heat or water. the replacement is twice the size and has a heat sync on it. Mine did the same thing after mud, it was off, then a few weeks later, it came back on, then off again. replaced the relay, and no problems since. I am just glad I had the cltch fan too, so no overheat for me!

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:44 pm

I want to somehow seal the motor, and install a switch to run the fan all the time. Like, when the switch is in the off position, it will operate normally, when its in the on position, it will turn all the time.

I'll post some more photos and videos. I have a video of me climbing the rock path and a video of the power wagon.

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:22 pm

Power Wagon Video. Poor Quality.

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:34 pm

More Pics!

Unpassable Trails

More Mud!

Hooked up with a couple guys, one had an FJ40 that did sick tidal waves. Ridding on 33's

Couple of Guys needed to use my white strap. Truck pulling is a 2WD 4Runner! Busted his T-Case!

Almost there! They did get him out

Going through where the red Toyota was stuck

Im in awe of the power wagon

Here it goes!

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:37 pm

Lots of Peeps Showed up all of a sudden. The Noise is what drew us to the power wagon.

The Jeep with the crowd in the background was a CJ7 with a 5.0L that blew his water pump trying the mud hole the Power Wagon did.

View of that Rocky Hill

Some of the Damage that buffed out. Tough Paint.

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:19 pm

Edit*Fixed Link

Rex · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:50 pm

Alak wrote:

Here comes the fun part. After awhile, we hooked up with a few guys. Shortly after, they left for deep mud. Me being stock and unable to keep up, I headed up this trail to the unknown. I now know the limits of the liberty. With no skids, it was a ball-breaker.

Man, you're crazy to do that with no skids.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:43 pm

ALak, where in alberta were you? Looks like a good time! if you ever have plans to head out there again let me know few weeks in advance and i might be able to make the trip to soak up some of those great views and wheeling. i need to get out of Ft. Mac for a bit! :wink:

Alak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:52 pm

renegadekj wrote:

ALak, where in alberta were you? Looks like a good time! if you ever have plans to head out there again let me know few weeks in advance and i might be able to make the trip to soak up some of those great views and wheeling. i need to get out of Ft. Mac for a bit! :wink:

That was in Mclean Creek just west of Bragg Creek, about 15 minutes from Calgary. Your welcome to come out anytime you want. Im planning a big weekend for the Canada Day Weekend. We are all going to Wiaprous for lots of action.

Rex wrote:

Man, you're crazy to do that with no skids.

I am, but when we went up, it wasnt bad. Touched the cross-member a couple times, but no biggie. Coming down the other side was rediculously insane. We had to rock stack about 7 times just to get the right breakover angle. I've since looked into ordering Rusty's skids. They seem good.

Rex · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:34 am

Alak wrote:

That was in Mclean Creek just west of Bragg Creek, about 15 minutes from Calgary. Your welcome to come out anytime you want. Im planning a big weekend for the Canada Day Weekend. We are all going to Wiaprous for lots of action.

MMM I've always wanted to do Wiaprous. I'm in Edmonton BTW.

Alak · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:40 am

Its a shame they reduced the over 120 trails to just a hand-ful. They said it was because of enviornmental damage. It was because they couldn't mediate every trail all at the same time. Now the hand-ful of trails take a pummelling. So everyone went to Indian Graves instead for may long. IG has since been closed. Now alls we have is Wiaprous and Mclean. They think its clever to just close it instead of working with us to restore it and keep it open. After all, it was wheelers that repaired the damage.

So I went wheelin today.... Now with more Pics!

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