[Sep 20, 2018] 32nd Annual Dixie Run (Sparta TN)

@Jody Treadway
@crazyyj
20180922_095907.jpg
20180922_143457.jpg
20180922_143715.jpg
20180922_154810.jpg
 
I had a good time at the Dixie Run! Good to see everybody and meet some screen names.
Big thanks to @Stuntman Autoworks for the road trip and haul out there and @Lorenzo816 for air conditioned zutank ride.
Got to catch up with some old friends, wheel some killer trails, eat some good food and <Gump voice > won a winch..... again.....

Got a few pics
20180922_153313.jpg
 
It was a long slippery climb, but she finally reached the peak for that Mountain View... @Paul

View attachment 276627


Allie the Adventure Dog in action!
My 3 pooches had a blast @ the Dixie Run also.
Good wheeling, good friends, good damn food and good times!
 
From @BigSouth :

Dixie Run 2018! Figured I'd write up my trails and problems mostly for memories. Gotta get it on the internet while it's still fresh...

Arrived Wednesday afternoon and setup camp with my BDB brethren. Dinner, DARK, "Let's go wheeling!" Copperhead is the trail of choice and I didn't know any better. Truck was doing great. Made it up 3/4 of the trail with no assistance. Got high centered on some rocks, over extended my front axle, unplugged my front driveshaft (this will be a recurring theme). No biggie, I'm with a good crew, tools out and fixed. 5 feet later trying to winch up and over, unplugged driveshaft again. This time, those smarter than me suggested a ratchet strap. @upnover has everything in his rig so I stepped back and let experience teach me a few things. Strap from shock hoop, under axle, back to shock hoop. WORKED!

Thursday morning I took some advice from @sbrittain and twisted that front passenger limit strap to allow zero droop. We tested it out on The Moon.
the-moon-2-jpg.276797


Entire trail, both ledges, with no winch, and most importantly, NO DRIVESHAFT FAILURES!! Did catch a little 3 wheel action climbing over one of the ledges. I was amazed that the truck just sat back down on all 4's as I drove out. Probably should give credit to @mcutler for solid spotting. Wife may have tensed up just a little.

the-moon-1-jpg.276798

the-moon-3-jpg.276799


Friday afternoon I attempted some (unnamed to me) obstacle that once again resulted in an unplugged driveshaft coupled by a busted front u-joint. It was noticed that I've got a serious case of front axle wrap when I'm under torque. This time I actually started to spread the yoke ears. Thought I was done for the trip. Long story short, hand driveshaft to @loose cannon , he heats the ears with @Curtis_H propane cook stove, clamps it in George's trailer vise, and then manages to install my new u-joint in egged out holes. I definitely chose the right crew to role with!

Saturday I joined up with @T-bone71 and @John Fowler and saw some more of the park. Rode the entire Creek Bed from bottom to top.

creek-bed-1-jpg.276800

creek-bed-2-jpg.276801


Headed up and into the Canyon Trail.

canyon-trail-1-jpg.276802


Managed to take a little more paint off @mcutler pretty cage work.

canyon-trail-2-jpg.276803


And climbed up and out of The Jungle (driveshaft again = winch)

jungle-jpg.276805


One last obstacle worth noting is Hellivator. No I didn't climb it, but I did get up to it and around the bypass trail unassisted. I'm at least proud of that.

All in all, it was one hell of a trip and I couldn't have made it happen with out my BDB and Rock Corps crews. Made some new great friends and ate like a King. I also can't forget to mention my wife. She trusted me all weekend, never bitched about the ride, learned and ran my winch several times, even laid in the dirt helping me put my driveshaft back in. God, I love her!
 
Back
Top