4speedfunk
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REDBIRD...March 2nd, 2013
- Thread starter 4speedfunk
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08H3
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Yep. I was just driving along minding my own business and was assaulted by a tree! It was crazy there. I'm not blaming anything but my own driving, but the slick mud definitely did not help matters. It was sloppy when mkmcgreg and I were there last year, but it was downright scary this year. I really think the tree was minor compared to 4 speeds precarious placement on the side of a slippery drop into a ravine.
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Looks like a lot more fun than what I did yesterday.
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That mud (and that hill) look evil! Glad it was "only" a broken window.
4speedfunk
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More pics. For some reason I can only post a few at a time.
On the bright side...we got some good practice on winch techniques. I honestly have not used mine for quite some time...made up for that Saturday! This was also my chance to hammer on the SAS a little bit. I've been sort of "slowly" breaking in the suspension and I figured being in slick mud was the perfect opportunity to really do some wheel-spin tests. I tried my front Eaton E-locker for the first time...all four wheels fully locked...standing on the rear bumper...and everything felt good. No weird noises or strange behavior from any of the suspension. In the open area (power-line easement) I did some high-speed mud slingin (about 30mph was as fast as we could get up to)...and bottomed the bump stomps several times over some huge mud-ruts. Once again...nothing surprising or too harsh. I'm not sure I ever want to get this truck airborne but, it was still controllable even when bottoming out. FWIW...08H3's stock IFS rig went everywhere I did, although it seemed to take a bit more momentum and throttle in a few places...mostly due to tire size & gearing (and perhaps the stick-shift).
I actually feel lucky getting outta there with only one broken window. Conditions were just awful, and every 500 feet required a team effort just to make headway. I won't be going back to Redbird until the next drought!
On the bright side...we got some good practice on winch techniques. I honestly have not used mine for quite some time...made up for that Saturday! This was also my chance to hammer on the SAS a little bit. I've been sort of "slowly" breaking in the suspension and I figured being in slick mud was the perfect opportunity to really do some wheel-spin tests. I tried my front Eaton E-locker for the first time...all four wheels fully locked...standing on the rear bumper...and everything felt good. No weird noises or strange behavior from any of the suspension. In the open area (power-line easement) I did some high-speed mud slingin (about 30mph was as fast as we could get up to)...and bottomed the bump stomps several times over some huge mud-ruts. Once again...nothing surprising or too harsh. I'm not sure I ever want to get this truck airborne but, it was still controllable even when bottoming out. FWIW...08H3's stock IFS rig went everywhere I did, although it seemed to take a bit more momentum and throttle in a few places...mostly due to tire size & gearing (and perhaps the stick-shift).
I actually feel lucky getting outta there with only one broken window. Conditions were just awful, and every 500 feet required a team effort just to make headway. I won't be going back to Redbird until the next drought!
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Wish I could have made this, but I made the mistake of showing my wife the pics and telling her about the window. I hope she don't try to take the keys away from me in Moab. Was the ground still frozen under some of that mud? If so that makes it worse.
06 H3
a.k.a. "The Jackal"
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You probably won't lose a window in Moab. East coast trees and west coast v notches take out windows lol
Looked like a good trip though
Looked like a good trip though
08H3
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I'm in total agreement with 4Speed. Next visit to Redbird will be during a dry spell. This was the most challenging, difficult, and frankly dangerous outing I've been on. Not really any pictures that we could post that would really convey what the conditions were like.
Schwarttzy
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I know that feeling
cgalpha08
"Like Nothing Else"
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Wow, im kinda glad i missed out. Looks like a blast though!!
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
08H3
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Everything is back to normal. Picture doesn't really show the body work (since it's muddy again already), but I worked the big one out from the backside. No evidence it was ever there. There's a little ding left up on the breakline that I couldn't get to, but it's not very noticable. Only part I still don't have on is the cap for the door handle. Ironically, it wasn't damaged in the incident-- I put it in a safe place so I'd remember where it was. I'm sure it's still safe. I just can't remember where that place is. 
Fortunately another forum member is graciously helping me out and sending his un needed handles my way.
Fortunately another forum member is graciously helping me out and sending his un needed handles my way.
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Glad to hear you got it fixed up
4speedfunk
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Looks great J. Glad it wasn't any worse.
When you consider all the times we've been wheelin...all the times we've cheated the dent demons...its actually pretty amazing we've gone as long as we have without major body repairs.
When you consider all the times we've been wheelin...all the times we've cheated the dent demons...its actually pretty amazing we've gone as long as we have without major body repairs.