Club Run Story for April 14 and 15th, 2007-At Rausch Creek

Last edited by on Wed May 23, 2007 1:44 am; edited 3 times in total

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

What a great way to begin our journey today, we met everyone at Tom’s Gas station, Waiting for my arrival where; James and Tim Hinrichs, Paul Trautner, Susan and Cecilia McKinney, Dan Peterson, Tim Wayne, Chris Lloyd and Brian Brewer, Gill Lavallee, Cameron Bosshard and Mark Wilkinson. I arrived at 6:15AM and by 6:30 we were back on the road. My goal was to get everyone to the Exit 100 by 7:30PM and we arrived by 7:45, not a bad drive up to the Shell gas station. After getting refueled and buying a sandwich for lunch we got back on the road to Rausch Creek.

Arriving to the there we found several groups checking in too. We quickly got checked in, and moved to the stage area to set up our rigs, Chris Taylor stop by to say hi, as he was riding with another group that day, late in the morning we met up with Greg and his son in law both with Rubicon’s and soon to become new members. We traveled via the C trail that fed most of the area in the East property we were going to play in. We split into two group’s stocker and rockers, while the stockers stayed on the green line the Rockers took the CV trail. Impressively everyone made it with little to no problems must have been the spotter…. Finishing the CV trail we took trail 4 Black, by this time the stockers when on to the 101 course, we climb the black section of 4 and entered trail 8 Black. Introducing the trail to the new guys, they appreciated the demo before they tried it. Chris took just about everything on as he continued to be amazed by what his Jeep could do.

After clearing trail 8 we continued toward to tower, we found the stockers by the Pole line where Crazy Jimmy’s Jeep rested with a broken 9” rear and axle. He was done for the day, Tim Wayne escorted him back to the stage area while the rest of us continued to the tower for our lunch break. Shortly thereafter Tim and Crazy Jimmy showed up. Right about then a Tractor trailer appeared to be lost and had to turn his rig around, using the grassy area in front of us he turned around and headed back from where ever he came from. We got a chance to talk and exchange info on the Jeeps and life issues.

Second half of the day we took the J trail and took our time since we were all together. Needless to say, Gill and Cameron got there fair share of getting stuck in every mud hole. Tim Hinrichs (Crazy Jimmy’s son) got in Gills Jeep and showed him how to drive it, thereafter Gill did not get stuck anymore. But Cameron took a little longer to chat up to the idea “drive it like you stole it”. As the day wore down, Tim Wayne had to cut out early, he had a long drive back to the Easter shore and with the weather calling for worst he did not take any chances. The rest of us continued on to trail 19 green, a new cut that was more like a light blue. We did find some mud and had a great time, as we came off the main trail 11 back to the top side of the west property we drove up H trail the Pole line. There is a nice little section off of it that you can play around, jumping and all, I think this is where I must have broken a cap from my axle u-joint. We headed back toward the East property and took a passing of Winch Hill only Chris Lloyd and I drove it, everyone else took the easier passage. All being said and done the carnage was; Crazy Jimmy with a broken rear diff and axle, Gill with a tree dent on his passenger side front fender, along with Dan, as well as Cameron who also lost a side step tube and dented his bumpers front and rear. Dam those trees that jump at you… Cecilia drove for the first time a Jeep in the green trail got quite a hand of it too. You would think she was driving all along. Tim Wayne lost both his side steps, Susan did not break anything, but her daughter Cecilia found a tree too while she drove the black Rubicon. Well thereafter we packed up and head to the Goose for dinner, Crazy Jimmy and Tim, Greg and Gill decided to camp it out, Cameron and his friend got there fill and went home, Chris Lloyd and his friend also headed home, Susan, her daughter and Dan headed home too, but Paul and I stayed at the Comfort Inn. Poor Guy camping it out froze to death during the night, but Paul and I in our prospective rooms were quite warm. Day 2 next story tomorrow.

Sorry I missed you all Sunday, i fried my Alternator in a hole on Sat and had to charge the battery twice on the way to York to get a new one sunday Morning.

Last edited by on Wed Apr 18, 2007 1:14 am; edited 1 time in total

Club Run April 15, 2007 at Rausch Creek Park

Day 2 of the club run

Well what a day, rain everywhere, miserably damp cold weather. The dam rain washed off the mud I worked so hard to get on…..After checking out of the hotel I headed toward to the Gooseberry and ran into Crazy Jimmy, his son Tim and Gill, I was going to join them but I couldn’t handle the cigarette smoke while I eat. I decided to seat down in the non-smoking area, Paul Trautner joined me for breakfast and we talked for a while. Then after Crazy Jimmy and the others finish they came over to our table to chat some. Since Jimmy had broken his rear and an axle, he decided to call it a day, followed by Gill who had family to attend to and Paul not having a heater or proper defrosting on his CJ, he called it a day too. Leaving me with the in coming crew; Rich Althouse and Andrea showed up, then Nester and Ryan, followed by John and his father. It was a nice reunion, catching up with what is going on. Shortly thereafter I drove my rig to the gas station and asked permission to repair my rig under cover, gladly the manager, granted me permission ascertaining “for the rock raider group, anything you want”. I got to tell you, the feeling of pride swell my head. We have impacted this community in the best possible light and their red carpet treatment is without question appreciated by all of us. Brian got right to it, changing my axle; it turned out Rich had a complete set for emergency. Slip slap and it was done, on the field I don’t think there is anyone faster in changing axles than Ryan, his personal record stands at 16.5 minutes.

Now that I was fixed up, we could continue to Rausch to start our day. Arriving still on time, we all checked in and began our day, Missing Christopher Taylor who was going to wheel with us, later I found out that he had broken down the day before and thus couldn’t make it today. With a rainy day it made the trails more significant and challenging. We decided to climb the rocks behind the check in office, I was first and had no difficulty, but Nester had a hard time, after several attempts he made it up, the ground was mush, and the tires clogged up providing little to no traction. John in his Suzuki didn’t make it past the half point before his read blew out the gears or lockers. He was done, to his side Greg Knoll in his newer Jeep Adrenaline was tackling the rocks on the climb, with Rich spotting he made it up slowly. Rich climb the side the Greg Knoll took, while Gregg helped winch John up the climb. Once at the top both John and John Sr. decided it’s best to leave the rig back at the trailer that to take a chance any further, agreeing they rode as right seats. John took a seat in the back with Gregg Know and his brother on the Khaki Rubicon while John Sr. rode as my right seat. Now we had gone from 5 rigs to 4. Our day had just begun and already one had broken. I got to tell you guys roading this, we are train professionals in braking stuff, especially our rigs, we can prove it by the many dollars we spend in repairs…hehehe.

Once we got moving we traveled via trail C to the Pole line side of trail 5, then turned around and drove it the other way. Heading to trail 4 black we decide to do the CV trail backwards, going down rather than up, then we climb out of it. Without much difficulty we took trail 4 and then moved on to trail 8 black. No damages there but Nester took the scenic side….to early to brake. I climbed as I did the day before, followed be Chris Lloyd and Greg. By now we developed a little hunger and we took a lunch break by the entrance to the south property. Once getting our bellies full we took the ride into the south property, the rain was constant and the ground was needless to say mush, making the easiest of trail a little more hairy. We decided to go to the camel back blue black section of the snake bite but the Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance was already there, so we did the camel back. This was the first time I had driven this, and being the last to navigate it got the softer ground to climb. Rich took the lead and past with out much of a hassle, followed by Nester who had a little hang up but other wise got through without problems, next was Greg Knoll out side of sliding a little no problem, and finally me, unable to climb the second hump, it took several attempts and after setting rocks on the face of the hump only then could I get over it. It was quite interesting and something I will try again on a dry day. Having completed that trail we decided to do Boot Hill.

Ah yes, who said you can’t have fun in the South Property? Rich took us through the upper entrance that starts in a green level, and then turns into HELL. The glacier rocks took a toll on the Jeeps, spiking upwards and sideways you where at their mercy and your skills in navigating though it all. The path divided into two sections, Nester took the lower section while Gregg and I took the harder level, but both sections were equally as bad. Greg climbed the rock formation with some difficulty but managed to get through ok. I followed with a much more determination, at first the rocks would not give in and I had to take a more aggressive approach, about then Rich calls out that he is on his way toward me to help spot me, but my hast and pride over took my will and off I went into the mouth of the devil, SLAM-BANG, BANG TEAR, I was over the obstacle and clear, I called back out to Rich as I said I DON’T NEED NO STINKING SPOTTER. Well it was about two second later that my Wranglers rear end differential decided to brake! I couldn’t move with any effort, the front wheels were just spinning in the soft terrain and the back wheel were squalling madly. After several attempts I gave up and winched my self out of the pin between two rocks and out of into the clearing. There were two bowls that looked tempting but I couldn’t navigate them, I was done, Greg let Nester drive his rig and needless to say Nester had to give up the wheel thereafter, it felt too good and temping to change his mind about driving or owning a TJ vice an YJ.

Greg drove through it and with that we decided to call it a day. As Rich and I drove out the back side of the west property entrance Greg and Nester drove via the lower 3 area. Driving slowly out into the roadway I found that it would be better to leave the Jeep on the side of the road and return with the truck and trailer to pick it up. We headed to the Gooseberry Farm Restaurant and celebrated our traditional dinner. In all the carnage count is as follows; John, broken rear differential, Rich shattered driver side fender flair, stitched by Nester like a surgeon, and me with a broken rear differential too. It was a fun broken day and a welcome opportunity to see friendly faces again. Hope you all enjoy the story…

By Tico Carreras
President of the Maryland Rock Raiders

Hey Tico Its Ryan not Brian.

sounds like a good time

Locker/Spool Number of posts : 738 Age : 52 Registration date : 2007-01-19

Tico, what happened to Crazy Jimmy's 9"? What exactly did he break & how did it happen?

I don't know for sure, he had driven the stockers out toward the pole line and the next thing I know he is telling me he broke the rear, then Sunday he said he also broke the axle. I will let him tell the story on that. But I did break good. Tomorrow I will find out how bad, when I crack open the diff.

Admin Number of posts : 196 Age : 24 Registration date : 2007-01-18

Tico good story Bro.
Kat it is just a "9 thing" jjjjjjjjjjj

Knowing crazy jimmy it could be anything. I'd like to think I don't have to worry about breaking my 9" but I know it can happen. The only problems I've had from my 9" so far is from it pointing up in the air and running too hard without enough lubrication. Gotta make sure the 9" gets enough lube with a high pinion and with it pointing up too high.

Well I have not got the front axle apart yet, but I cant stand not having low gears, so I ordered for the sami: 6.5 to 1 t case gears, then a petroworks clutch, and just picked up a front lock right. Cant wait to get back out with everyone again. Thanks to greg for letting me ride along and tico for giving my dad a ride.

I was happy to help out, aside I enjoyed the company.

Subject: My 9" Folly Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:08 pm

Hey guys sorry this took so long. I was horsing around in the mud and some how had the tires off of the ground all except for the driver front which hit a foot tall stump. The other three were obviously spinging. When the rear made contact, the 9" disengrated.

The back pinion bearing bearing and the housing around it exploded. The driver axle shaft spun clean. the spiders in the center are rattling and loose. The only things that are salvagable are Ring, Pinion (less bearings) and the axle housing. The center cast is a nice item in my dead pile.

This axle is a 3L50. A 3.5 ratio, 31 spline and limited slip. They sell for 450, if anyone can find them. I went to 2 places to only find different gear ratios and one was bent (wreck I think). I finally had to help pull one my self, but I got it for 250. Moved in all the good components and Fanken Jeep lives.

I also have a good axle housing to Truss up in my spare time.

Now we start on Tim's Lift for his Grand Wagoneer.

Locker/Spool Number of posts : 738 Age : 52 Registration date : 2007-01-19

I have a spare 3rd member in my garage if you want it. I think the gearing is 2.75 though but if you have a use for it, it's yours.

» April 14th &15th trail ride at Rausch Creek
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