Colorado snow wheeling

[DirtyLarry]

Finally got together with a few friends for winter snow wheeling up in the mountains yesterday. This was the first snow trip for the truck since the 8.1L install. It ran awesome! The truck definitely has enough power to tootle around in 4 high blasting through the snow.

Board member Zoomad75 (white Blazer) was the camera man until my truck grenade a left front axle shaft.

Rigs:
1983 Dodge Ramcharger, Dana 60 rear, Dana 44 front with an Auburn limited slip
1991 Dodge Ram with a Cummins, Detroited in the rear
2006 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, stock
1975 Blazer
1978 K10 Detroit Trutrac front, Detroit locker rear
Jeep YJ Detroit rear, welded front
Jeep TJ open

Brrr…





This spot here was a deep frozen snow drift that none of us could break through.


We ended up having to turn around and take a different trail to meet up with 3 more friends (2 Jeeps and a Dodge Ram) who we found stuck on the other side.

Right after we got back into the action after stopping for lunch my left front axle shaft also decided it was done for the day.


Cold drive back to the main road.


Videos coming next

[72BlckButy]

Looks like fun, great pics!

[DirtyLarry]

I tried to power through the frozen snow drift with no luck either. On the first attempt I got wedged in the trees and had to get winched sideways to get out.

The audio didn't turn out that well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQRr5YKeWXs&feature...

This Jeep here also wound up with a broken LH front axle shaft. The 8.1L has a set of lungs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvXf-_gmC5o&feature...

This one is a cool slide show from Zoomad75’s camera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJvTaMe4gQ&feature...

[DirtyLarry]

A few more videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpdYcm8Xqdc&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjIHUQnOasE&feature...

YouTube - Westcliff Colorado Snow Wheeling.

Jeep from Alabama. Not too bad for a guy that has never drive in snow before.

YouTube - More Westcliff snow wheeling

Then the big bad Ramcharger slide into a ditch.

YouTube - More Westcliff Snow Wheeling

The Ramcharger was the trail breaker for the day and Zoomad was the guy pulling everybody out, while my truck sat at the bottom of the hill with a broken axle shaft.

[sandking]

Thats awesome!!! Love the videos.

[desertrat]

Looks like alot of fun. Cool videos, Thanks for posting them.

[jrdv]

Larry,
Great pics and vids!
The 8.1 sounds great and looks like it has some good power.

I need to put a lift on my blazer and some bigger tires so I can come up and take a trip with you.

I always enjoy 4 wheelin in the snow, although it is usually because I have to get out and feed the cattle and chop ice!

john

[RANDY COX]

Ah I miss the snow we don't never git anymore than a lite dusting here in SW.VA.Like the vids.

[DirtyLarry]

Hey John,

You should come along sometime. It might not be all that far for you either. Just run north on I-25 to Walsenburg and head northwest on Hwy 69 for about 45 miles. We snow wheel on a buddy’s property on the back side of Greenhorn Mountain, which is the big mountain you see from I-25 near Colorado City.

Bring that Mog with you if you come! That would be a saw-wheat stuck truck extractor!

We are planning another trip in a month or so. I’ll send you a PM when we set up our plans. I need to fix my broken axle shaft first. Prolly get a pair of chrome molly shafts or break down and find a Dana 60…I don’t know. Still licking my wounds.

[Zoomad75]

That was a fun trip. I pulled out more trucks than normal. Which is rare because usually I'm the one getting stuck. It's pretty cool to have a truck that is open on each end still be able to yank around some Dodges and Jeeps throughout the day.







I guess one benefit to not being locked on each end is I'll get stuck before I snap an axle shaft.

I had my son and his two cousins with me and they had a riot. They were yelling most of the way in the hairy spots. They were worn out by the ride home. 2 out of the 3 napped most of the way back.

While I didn't break anything I did expose a new weakness. Seems like my battery is giving up the ghost and I need to swap the freshly rebuilt q-jet back on. It ran suprisingly well with the old q-jet from my Nova that hadn't been used for at least 5 years.

All in all it was the most fun I've had in the snow in a while.

[vtblazer]

Looks like it was a great day for it!

Snow wheeling is a lot more challenging than people think.

Thanks for sharing, cool vids.

[special-K]

Looks like a great time.1/2 the fun is getting out in it and feeling like you`re the only ones.

[jrdv]

[
Bring that Mog with you if you come! That would be a saw-wheat stuck truck extractor!

We are planning another trip in a month or so. I’ll send you a PM when we set up our plans. I need to fix my broken axle shaft first. Prolly get a pair of chrome molly shafts or break down and find a Dana 60…I don’t know. Still licking my wounds.[/QUOTE]

Let me know--it will depend on the weather here! The Mog is out of service right now. It has air actuated controls for the four wheel drive and lockers. The seals are leaking and it loses all the air. I am going to haul it to Rob Pickering in La Junta and let him fix it. It is a major pain to do and I don't want to get in over my head!

Get the truck fixed already

My wife and I would love to go on a 4 wheelin trip! I need to build a truck just for wheelin---I have some dana 60's to put under something--probably the 72 blazer! I have too many projects to get any work done!!!!!

I went through Westcliff about a month ago. I bought a truck that was north of Salida. I almost called you to go, but it was a quick trip up and back, except for road construction in the canyon (45 minute wait).

Let me know about the next trip.

John

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Awesome pics and videos looks like everyone had a blast. I need to get out and go wheeling again!

[Yukon Jack]

Sure wish we would get snow like that here!

[DieselEater]

Why wasn't I invited?!?!?!

Just messin'.......My puller wont work, and my bogger isn't even close to being ready. Maybe this spring. I have a buddy with a 68' that would go with me also.... Don't forget to let me know when you're going again, cause its hard to find wheelin buddies this close to me!!!!! And its way better with lots of folks....Kind-of a club type event....

Hey jrdv....where you at? I'm in Valdez....West of Trinidad.

Laters,

A.......

[jrdv]

Diesel Eater,
I'm in Des Moines----45 miles east of Raton. I go to Trinidad every once in a while. We'll have to meet sometime.

john