Welcome to the Official SoCal BS/ Shenanigans, Tundras and What’s Happening Thread

A good spotter makes all the difference

 

THIS. Is why, until we get to know the capabilities of those we're wheeling with, we sometimes default to relying on our own training and experience, and not asking someone with us to do something none of us have ever done before. Hard to risk thrashing a brand new truck, when not sure we have the right experience on scene to get through unscathed.

I love learning with other newbies... all of us motivated by watching the BASTRDs growing up to be Big Dawgs... but we're still new. I appreciate guys like eccracer104 and BestGen who are many levels above us in experience, but willing to teach us by showing us on trails we're equipped to do. Someday, I hope to spot like that!

 

I feel comfortable spotting as long the driver will listen.
I've been trail lead for a few different runs now. How much experience does everyone have here trail wise?

 

A lot have NO experience prior to our local SoCal runs. Saturday we had one truck that had never been off-roading (albeit with awesome mods- far better equipped than most!).

So far, we've had really good, experienced talent on our big runs, really welcoming guys who answer our newbie questions and tell us stories that teach us. Bfor those of us newly addicted, those runs don't happen often enough and aren't technically challenging enough to get enough practice to get better, so we've started going out in small groups. Super fun..., but I and others will probably will feel safer once a couple of us have observed or been assisted in getting snatched or pulled out by someone who's done it before.

 

I've done well spotting others over the years, and also had good luck so far with picking lines that never put both front tires in the same trough, and keep the rear wheels of my 2WD on solid ground. But clearly that won't always be possible so there's a lot I and other new wheeling buddies need to learn. We'll either learn from experienced wheelers... or figure it out as we go. But we're just getting to know each other, and learning what each brings as far as experience, and also have different comfort levels about rescue options, so there's definitely a learning curve.

FWIW, my grandfather did a full career with the Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power back in the day. Helped build and maintain structures that supported transfer of electric power. He once got into a knock down- drag out fight with a guy aloft (and lost a tooth, which is why my grandmother found out about it). Anyway, he was an old-school American-ingenuity guy and could do anything. I watched him pull and tow all sorts of things over the years. And... sometimes it went okay. Other times..., horrible results. Then he'd laugh, with the gap in his teeth showing, and say, "weeeeeeeee don't care!" So I'm not quick to snatch or pull something without some trust that the person with the plan isn't making sh!t up on the fly.

And to be clear, this isn't a reflection on anyone I've wheeled with. So far, these have been friendly, responsible, smart people and I feel blessed at the caliber of my new friends! We just all love our trucks and are therefore a bit cautious.

 

HAHA! dammit. That was the exact rock that crunched my fender. But I was coming down, not going up.

Yeah but if you bash your fender because of your spotter, will he repair all the damage??? LOL



@01erionracing

 

It always amazes me how many people won't trust their spotter. Why ask for a spot if you aren't going to follow their direction?

 

Dude I believe it!

LOL! My spotter specifically said he isn't responsible, he also has a big dent in his passenger door so I think he wanted us to be twins but spotted too well.

 

Mike, was there something there that made you hug that rock so close? And how’s the rest of the trail after the gatekeeper?

 

Hopefully this helps illustrate it -


More to the left was a Giant Boulder. The further driver I went, the less traction I had and I’d sit on that rock with both driver side tires in the air haha.

Had to hug right for traction and to keep my wheels on the ground to keep driving forward.
The “dirt” is reall silty there, so minimal traction on dirt and the silt on the rocks made those slick as well.


Further up the trail we’d have short breaks between obstacles but it felt like around every corner was something gnarly haha. 5 hours to go 4.5 miles

 

5 hours to go 4.5 miles
Damn was this big bear or rush hour on the 91 fwy LOL

 

Yup, that pic explains it. That is gnarly. I'm pretty sure I'd get hung up on my sliders on that boulder. Worst section I've done so far took 3 hours to go 1/4 mile. Fun... but not fun.

 

Lol zero traffic on the trail, it was just that gnarly haha. Even the "easy" sections had potential to mess up and get stuck.

We all dropped on our sliders hard on that boulder, needed rocks under the front driver wheel to move forward. I'll try to take a picture of the bottom of my sliders, they're so scratched up! Makes me happy haha.

 

The silt is deep there making the boulders slippery. Add water like the last time I was there and it's like driving on grease! After the gatekeeper there's only a couple other obstacles. Mostly just one long crawl...

 

We had some fun on the hill just before the parts guy statue. And the drop on the tree root... yeah fuck that drop! haha. I'm not a fan off that much off camber lol

 

Not a fan of off-camber shit myself. I took out my driverside mirror and crushed my driprail on the Hangman's tree.

 

This was me trying to get over that rock going up:

https://youtu.be/0hJDOEnVPow

This is me having to use my winch LOL

https://youtu.be/-A8TAQGp_qw

Once I got to the top, I had to turn around because no one wanted to follow me haha! Here's my fender changing shape:

https://youtu.be/Zn4re-0ssJA

It actually held up better than I thought. And its way easier to repair than sheet metal

 

You were going to rip the rear fender but the spotter told you to backup and take a different line.

 

HAHA spotter just didn't want to have to repair the entire fender

 

Man, it is amazing what you can do with that truck-- and your willingness to winch and move forward!

Yup, you're right, we all can learn from pics and videos! Your spotter said straight, but it looks like the front passenger toes in a bit as you move out of that hole up that rock and moves your truck toward driver, causing you to drop toward driver and catch your fender.

Not only do I have a lot to learn about driving off road with the truck I have, I can see that modified suspension will require another learning curve.

It is SO AWESOME you took on the Gatekeeper and DID IT!

 

Topped off my tank tonight

 

I’m selling my truck lol

 

"I didn't buy it for the gas mileage"

 

Not all of us are big ballers from Calabasas like you sir lol

 

Dang, Steve! My biggest concern is that you paid over $4.00/gal !!!

 

'Da Fuh?!!

 

Filled at the Semi truck area. I paid $3.75/gal. Glad I don't drive a semi truck.

 

Calabasas? Is there a 2nd celebrity in here?

 

Uh. Not counting Obama?