Clubbs
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2008
- Location
- Blounts Creek
Didn't get many pics so just a trail report for anyone interested:
Busy weekend, but didn't encounter much traffic considering the amount of trailers in the parking area. Us and one other group of 3 was there in fullsize rigs, the rest was all SXS and dirt bikes. Trails still plenty wide enough for fullsize rigs though.
Green trails are good for moving around
Blues are the same as green just steeper
Blacks are steeper, deeper ruts, and some have some small ledges, but my sons Gladiator on 35's handled these just fine.
Double blacks are great, and you won't encounter any dirtbikes or SXS's at least we didn't. This was our third time up here so we avoided the most difficult trails with large ledges, but the other group left tire tracks from their buggies.
Out of state fee is up to $65 a person now, and you still have to wear a helmet although I saw noone enforcing this.
We drove up Friday, found a nail in the tow rig tire on 64 or 77, I don't remember, patched it and filled with the compressor. Truck started running hot on 77 towing the goose with two rigs. Never done that before, but I was having to drive like a normal person and not pass everyone pulling hills. This was disappointing... Got to the cabin we rented and the driveway was legit steep and gravel. Vrbo listing said 4x4 required, which usually means a minivan can go up it. Not this one, had to unload both jeeps at the bottom and 4 low getting after it to make the hill and a switch back. My old ram was hopping and screaming (felt horrible) but made it to the top.
Loaded the CJ back on the wagon that night and drove the gladiator to the trailhead the next morning. There's apparently an abandoned mine in Danville called the Hobbit mine with 100's of acres to ride on. We explored this for an hour. May have potential but didn't want to waste time driving around on old mine roads so we made it to Ivy and checked in at 9 and hit the trails.
It has rained the night before so it was slick and not dusty, weather was perfect. Bent a 90 degree angle into my front left leaf spring on the CJ before lunch so eased it back to the parking lot for lunch. Put in a new leaf spring and went back up. We were near the bottom of trail 71 I think heading to double black 94 and the Holley sniper fuel pump stopped building pressure.
I had bought a generic spare and had it with me but you know that feeling when your rig is down and half way down a trial, late in the afternoon with no one there that could take you out. (Gladiator wouldn't be able to manage that, and it's winch motor smoked earlier that day). So I check fuel filters first and they're all clear but still not building pressure on the regulator or at least the gauge says we're not. Pinch the return line close and still no start so it's not the regulator. Pull out the new pump and slide under the jeep still on a slimy black trial. Pull the old pump out and realize the new pump has one size smaller fittings and they won't exchange. Uhoh... Dig around in the tool bags and boxes we have with us and find two rtv nozzles. The new pump fortunately came with about 4" of line. We trim down the rtv nozzles to make a slightly sketchy adapter. Particularly on the outlet side as the pressure will likely push the hose off the taper and I can't clamp them very tight without collapsing the rtv nozzle thing. Get it to fire and no fuel leaks so we get off the black and take greens back to the trailer. Then head north on 119 because I saw an AutoZone in Charleston on the way in the day before.
No luck finding any adapters there, but pick up some hose clamps, walk to Walmart to get some distilled water for the towrig that is mysteriously low on coolant (I have concentrated coolant with me). Then over to home Depot and buy an odd assortment of brass hose adapters and unions. Back to the cabin, bom out way up the driveway again, this time with the CJ on the wagon. Didn't make it... Had to offload on the hill, back up a bit and get another running start to make the steepest section.
Get to the cabin, it's dark, make fajitas.
Fix the fuel pump thing with the home depot brass plumbing parts, it's still rigged but no risk to blow fuel anymore. Troubleshot the warn 12000 on the gladiator and believe the motor is done.
Put about 3/4 gallon of antifreeze in the cummins and head out. No major carnage on day 2. Ram stayed cool on its 40ish miles of towing. Get back to the cabin, unload to make the hill and get back to the top. Truck takes another 3/4 gallon of antifreeze. Uhoh... We load everything up on the wagon, expecting to have a nice evening at the cabin before driving home Monday. Powers out, and is expected to be out until 2 am. At least it's not hot.
Called ahead to the AutoZone and ordered a water pump and a belt for the ram. Will pick this up in the morning on the way out just in case.
Mountains are beautiful, I think this hobby is still fun, it's not relaxing at least not this trip. Good time with my son. I'll keep a set of hose adapters in the rig from now on and probably switch to an in tank pump before the next trip.
Busy weekend, but didn't encounter much traffic considering the amount of trailers in the parking area. Us and one other group of 3 was there in fullsize rigs, the rest was all SXS and dirt bikes. Trails still plenty wide enough for fullsize rigs though.
Green trails are good for moving around
Blues are the same as green just steeper
Blacks are steeper, deeper ruts, and some have some small ledges, but my sons Gladiator on 35's handled these just fine.
Double blacks are great, and you won't encounter any dirtbikes or SXS's at least we didn't. This was our third time up here so we avoided the most difficult trails with large ledges, but the other group left tire tracks from their buggies.
Out of state fee is up to $65 a person now, and you still have to wear a helmet although I saw noone enforcing this.
We drove up Friday, found a nail in the tow rig tire on 64 or 77, I don't remember, patched it and filled with the compressor. Truck started running hot on 77 towing the goose with two rigs. Never done that before, but I was having to drive like a normal person and not pass everyone pulling hills. This was disappointing... Got to the cabin we rented and the driveway was legit steep and gravel. Vrbo listing said 4x4 required, which usually means a minivan can go up it. Not this one, had to unload both jeeps at the bottom and 4 low getting after it to make the hill and a switch back. My old ram was hopping and screaming (felt horrible) but made it to the top.
Loaded the CJ back on the wagon that night and drove the gladiator to the trailhead the next morning. There's apparently an abandoned mine in Danville called the Hobbit mine with 100's of acres to ride on. We explored this for an hour. May have potential but didn't want to waste time driving around on old mine roads so we made it to Ivy and checked in at 9 and hit the trails.
It has rained the night before so it was slick and not dusty, weather was perfect. Bent a 90 degree angle into my front left leaf spring on the CJ before lunch so eased it back to the parking lot for lunch. Put in a new leaf spring and went back up. We were near the bottom of trail 71 I think heading to double black 94 and the Holley sniper fuel pump stopped building pressure.
I had bought a generic spare and had it with me but you know that feeling when your rig is down and half way down a trial, late in the afternoon with no one there that could take you out. (Gladiator wouldn't be able to manage that, and it's winch motor smoked earlier that day). So I check fuel filters first and they're all clear but still not building pressure on the regulator or at least the gauge says we're not. Pinch the return line close and still no start so it's not the regulator. Pull out the new pump and slide under the jeep still on a slimy black trial. Pull the old pump out and realize the new pump has one size smaller fittings and they won't exchange. Uhoh... Dig around in the tool bags and boxes we have with us and find two rtv nozzles. The new pump fortunately came with about 4" of line. We trim down the rtv nozzles to make a slightly sketchy adapter. Particularly on the outlet side as the pressure will likely push the hose off the taper and I can't clamp them very tight without collapsing the rtv nozzle thing. Get it to fire and no fuel leaks so we get off the black and take greens back to the trailer. Then head north on 119 because I saw an AutoZone in Charleston on the way in the day before.
No luck finding any adapters there, but pick up some hose clamps, walk to Walmart to get some distilled water for the towrig that is mysteriously low on coolant (I have concentrated coolant with me). Then over to home Depot and buy an odd assortment of brass hose adapters and unions. Back to the cabin, bom out way up the driveway again, this time with the CJ on the wagon. Didn't make it... Had to offload on the hill, back up a bit and get another running start to make the steepest section.
Get to the cabin, it's dark, make fajitas.
Fix the fuel pump thing with the home depot brass plumbing parts, it's still rigged but no risk to blow fuel anymore. Troubleshot the warn 12000 on the gladiator and believe the motor is done.
Put about 3/4 gallon of antifreeze in the cummins and head out. No major carnage on day 2. Ram stayed cool on its 40ish miles of towing. Get back to the cabin, unload to make the hill and get back to the top. Truck takes another 3/4 gallon of antifreeze. Uhoh... We load everything up on the wagon, expecting to have a nice evening at the cabin before driving home Monday. Powers out, and is expected to be out until 2 am. At least it's not hot.
Called ahead to the AutoZone and ordered a water pump and a belt for the ram. Will pick this up in the morning on the way out just in case.
Mountains are beautiful, I think this hobby is still fun, it's not relaxing at least not this trip. Good time with my son. I'll keep a set of hose adapters in the rig from now on and probably switch to an in tank pump before the next trip.
