Any Utah Members out there?

[sixstringsteve]

We found a campsite for the night up at Simpson Springs. It was wicked windy. I don't think anyone slept more than 3 hours. And I wonder if the guys in the tents slept at all.



Except for the wind, it was a beautiful desert morning.

[sixstringsteve]

We got to Little Sahara just as everyone was having lunch.









I wish I had chosen the wicked glasses that Brandon chose.

[sixstringsteve]

It's hard to see in the pics, but the wind was blowing the sand around like crazy. I had never driven in sand before, it was a new experience. I didn't air down, and so I didn't do too well out on the

[sixstringsteve]

A little carnage (twisted serpentine belt on Des's rig):




nothin like a trail repair in the middle of a sandstorm.




It was a great time. Thor definitely wins the rookie of the year award. He did awesome, and had a tough rig to get through the trail. WIth some bump stop extensions he should be ready to hit it again.

Tyler's brother and dad get extra points for braving the windstorm in their tent. It was nice to meet you guys. Des got the "trail repair" of the trip award, swapping 3 belts on top of the dune in the middle of a sand storm.

Brandon ended up breaking a few teeth on his R&P (maybe from the 4000 RPM clutch drops?) and dented his driveshaft.

[yota_power]

Originally Posted by benjijo14

I sold my 04, and havent gotten any armor on my new one yet. No wheelin for me

Well, it's for sale again, probably about $4,000 more than you sold it for.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&n...iew&ad=7480454

[sixstringsteve]

I miss that truck. That thing was amazing.

[AllTerrain82]

Those are some nice pics of the trip Steve; thanks for posting them. I was digging sand out of my eyes for 2 days after that repair. Why I did not bring my goggles to play in the sand is beyond me. Oh well... lesson re-learned I guess

[sixstringsteve]

yeah, I destroyed my camera by taking it to the dunes. I didn't realize how much fine sand there was in the air.

You've gotta head over to RME and check out our trip report for Hole in the Rock. We missed you.

[sixstringsteve]

We are holding another RME quarterly training day for those who want to come out and learn about spotting, modifying, where to wheel in Utah, planning trips, recovery (winching), and driving. Go to RME and reply to the thread if you're interested.

http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php...Day-April-2012

[Trowbocop]

I'm downtown SLC, and also try to get out every other weekend for some wheelin and fishin! Always down to meet up and drive around. New here- I'm failing to upload photos to my album now...

Anyway- I love moab- almost always down to cruise down and ride some trails in the truck and on the bike as well.

[sixstringsteve]

Welcome trowbocop. What kind of wheeling do you like to do? I'll be planning a couple of rockcrawling runs in a month or so, once my truck is back together. One or two of them can be done with a stock rig. The other one is hardcore and there's no way you'd get a tacoma through there unless it has 35" tires or bigger.

I love moab too. Check out RME4x4.com for local trail rides and people to wheel with.

[Trowbocop]

I like more mellow driving for now- still sitting stock height, so cant clear everything I'd like to. Made it up to Forest Lake a few weeks ago- that was the gnarliest trail I've done so far. The lift and tires are coming in a few months- so until then, I'll keep it somewhat mellow.

Thanks for the link- I'll definitely ck it out

[sixstringsteve]

Forest Lake is a great trail. I'm impressed that you got up it stock. Not that you can't, but it's a handful for a lot of people new to wheeling. A few other fun trails are Rattlesnake (we'll be doing that in a month), and Mineral Basin is great too, but you'll definitely want sliders and a rear bumper for Mineral Basin.

[Strautins]

First time posting, long time lurking this forum. Just looking for more people to wheel with out here in Utah. I am a Marine stationed here for another year or so and just looking to hit the trails (hopefully Moab?!?!) before I leave here.

[sixstringsteve]

Cool. Welcome. Check out rme4x4.com for local utah wheeling
Tons of cool trips there, and really cool people.

[jentzschman]

Originally Posted by sixstringsteve

cool. Welcome. Check out rme4x4.com for local utah wheeling
tons of cool trips there, and really cool people.

+1!

[Strautins]

Originally Posted by sixstringsteve

Cool. Welcome. Check out rme4x4.com for local utah wheeling
Tons of cool trips there, and really cool people.

Awesome, I just joined up over there too. Thanks

Just hoping to take advantage of my time here in Utah!!

[sixstringsteve]

cool. Post up on the "introduction/new members" thread in RME. Tell them a little about yourself, they'll start inviting you to runs there.

[Strautins]

Originally Posted by sixstringsteve

cool. Post up on the "introduction/new members" thread in RME. Tell them a little about yourself, they'll start inviting you to runs there.

Just did that, thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[misterg]

Long time lurker here, i am on rme4x4 as well. Would love to go out wheel with some fellow yotas. Whos ready for snow wheelin?

[sixstringsteve]

I'm looking to trade my 4runner for a nice 1st gen d-cab. Let me know if you know anyone who'd be interested in a trade:

'99 highlander
33's
4.88s
elocker
OME lift
sub/stereo

[sixstringsteve]

Hey Utah Guys.

Selling some parts that come with my new tacoma that I won't use. Package deals available. Hit me up if you're interested in anything.

$500 - 2.5" extended travel Donnaho front coilovers (icon) - rebuilt 1.5 years ago

$350 - Total Chaos UCAs - rebuilt 1.5 years ago

$600 - 285/75/16 (33") Cooper MT's. 50% tread. Slight cupping on the sides. With aluminum wheels.

$400 - 31" BFG Rugged Terrain Tires w/2nd gen taco wheels. Slight cupping. 80% tread. Fantastic A/T, winter tires.

pics:

[theferg]

Got this posted on some local forums, but haven't had any luck yet...

I'm trying to find a good local (to SLC or Utah counties) shop that would swap my 2wd prerunner auto tranny out for a 4wd auto tranny and tcase (manual j-shift type). I've already got the 4wd auto with tcase. I could prob do it on my own (or with some help) but I don't really have the right tools for this kinda job (nor any warm, covered space to do it in) and I would kinda like to leave something like this to someone more experienced with this kinda thing. Of course, I'm also looking to keep it as easy as possible on the old pocket book as well... :P

Anybody got any suggestions? I'd really appreciate it. I'm def open to any shade-tree types as well. And I'm totally cool with helping out with it as well.

-Ferg

[sixstringsteve]

I recommend sixstates in orem. Tell kevin that sixstringsteve sent you. They just finished rear wheel bearings on my rig today. Great guys and very reasonable prices. I also like them for hear installs
They're not quite as amazing as dougs auto but they're a good alternative for stuff Doug can't do.

I also wonder if kurt or olly could.do it.

[theferg]

Thanks for the reply Steve. Ive actually already talked with both six states and Kurt.

Six states didnt want to touch it. Which totally threw me for a loop. There is no way this wouldn't fall under one of the more "easier" types of work for them... But the guy I talked to was thinking it was absolutely crazy. And he was all over and under my truck. I think he was crazy. Or just didnt like me. :/ He recommended some other place and they wanted WAY too much.

Kurt could do it but they are crazy busy...wouldnt be able to fit something like this til about May or June. I am wantng to do it sooner than that, but if I dont find anywhere else in the next week or so, I'll def be gettin on his schedule.

[sixstringsteve]

Also, I have a friend who has a friend who dismantles salvage toyotas up in Ogden. I could get his contact info if you wanted. I'd go with sixstates myself, but if that doesn't work out, he's at least an option.

[sixstringsteve]

you know who would do it? ufab. They'd be great. They're on RME.

[theferg]

Originally Posted by sixstringsteve

you know who would do it? ufab. They'd be great. They're on RME.

Ah. Good idea. I talked to them a month or so ago when I was thinking about doing a solid axle up front and they were totally down, I just wasn't sure I was gonna do it. And of course, I wasn't. heh. But I'm ready to go on the stock IFS 4wd conversion now. I'll give them a call.

Thanks for all the suggestions man. You seem to know a good bunch of people.

-Ferg

[sixstringsteve]

I guess I've been around the block a bit. I'm just glad I can help. Don't feel obligate to use my suggestions, I'm just throwing them out there.

Mitch at ufab does incredible work. He has a quirky personality, but he knows his way around things. He did the ftoy competition thing for a few years. Now he's got a wicked TJ. He can handle it for ya.

One person I'd stay far away from is Seth (iamsparticus) up in Ogden. For some reason I can't remember the name of his shop.


Depending on your needs, IFS can be the better option. As sweet as a sas is, an IFS rig can go a LOT of places. I took my IFS taco through Hanging Tree Trail (open front diff, 35's, duals), the Rubicon, and all over Utah. My doublecab did the following obstacles on 35's w/ifs:

- potato salad hill
- hell's gate
- escalator
- double whammy
- Hell's Revenge
- Golden spike
- steelbender
- kane creek, and tons more
- constrictor (minus Eagle's Nest)

I never broke a single thing on either of my IFS tacos because I take it easy and wheel smart. Unless you want a hardcore rockcrawler, IFS can work great if you take care of it and don't beat on it.

If you can't tell, I'm a big fan of the IFS for the type of wheeling I do: multi-day camping, backcountry/desert trips, daily driving, covering hundreds of miles of highway before the trail, and light crawling.