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.
@backhalf-cj runs 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.
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.
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.
Headed up and into the Canyon Trail.
Managed to take a little more paint off
@mcutler pretty cage work.
And climbed up and out of The Jungle (driveshaft again = winch)
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!
