Harlan KY 09

The problem with 81 is there is only two lanes and a lot of trucks in both lanes that go the same speed so it makes it hard to pass and make time.

well were all here and ready to go

Hey Nick, Got yer tow strap?

Well it was an experience! Be glad we ran a recon mission because that "camp site" (parking lot) was the biggest fucking joke. Things improved once the rain stopped and I got out of my floating tent. The trails are pretty damn intense and the park is enormous. I haven't seen open mountain ranges like that other than in Colorado, it was pretty. I must say I felt hellishly under built. You need HP and strong shit. Guys broke chromo birfs, transfer cases, driveshafts, knuckles, steering box and these weren't half assed rigs!! I'm amazed I didn't break an axle because I was beating the shit out of it. I really really wish some of the trails were dry so i had a chance in hell on getting into some other situations. Lion's den was that coolest trail I've ever been on, it had me giddy. Somehow Matt and I ended up being a trail guide and it was mostly just me, joe, and matt and john in the wj.

There are a lot of good stories we'll be sharing with you guys bullshitting and telling lies around the fire at big dogs. The guys from Trucks were there and there is a possibility of us being on TV so that's kinda cool. Some other guys we met had an online magazine you can find at www.moabjeeper.com. They got video footage as well and we're told we can find it by searching Jeep Porn in youtube. The younger guy from Trucks was cool as hell too. He joined us on the Mason Jar trail wheeled the rest of the day/late evening and came back and drank beers. Very cool down to earth guy.

I'm working on getting the pictures up now. That was a ROUGH day of driving. 81 is on my shit list. Every time we'd start building speed we'd come to a screeching halt on and off for like 35 miles. It was about 10 hours 15 minutes of driving for me at like 570ish miles at 9.5mpg OUCH. At the end of the day, would I go there again? Hell yes!! I sure as hell questioned what the fuck I was thinking a few times but it all worked out. If Mandy wasn't along to feed us it would have been much worse!! Next trip we'll be renting cabins with ac, shower, tv, and fridge sitting at the base of the mountain. Speaking of which, can you believe we drove about 30 min on the damn road - some highway to get back to our camp site?!?! I was just cruising down the road with no windshield just trying to think of some story for the cop the whole time I was driving. Well that's it for now, I realize it's scattered commentary but my brain is mush.

Also, keep Matt from Moon Works in mind if you need any parts. Go to www.moonworksoffroad.com He's a hell of a nice guy. After all that talk of running together at Big Dogs we finally managed to get on the trail and wheel for once. I believe Matt and John will be coming up for the Rausch comp and running with us.

Sweet! glad you guys had a good time. look forward to seeing the pics and video.

Pics and the videos are also mixed in there. There is video of me dropping into Lion's Den. It wasn't near as bad as it looked from the top in the drivers seat but once I got down onto it wasn't bad. All that "get ready to gas out of it" talk gets in your head when you're starting up top.

http://picasaweb.google.com/njf128/Harlan_07_2908_02_09#



I love this picture. I just can't get over seeing the rigs on the street.





This was the tranny temp gauge on it's way back DOWN. Should have used 4 Low so it didn't work it so hard. I ended up having to get into 4 low and use the rear locker to continue after stopping for it to cool down. The next pic in the album you can see Matt just laughing his ass off at how ridiculous we were going up there.

Sounds and looks like you guys had a good time.
Nice pics looks like we have a new go to spot. Maybe next year I can hit this.
Too many new spots for me this year with Big Dogs and I want to go to Rock Run.

Great pictures Nick.

Some more pics on the mall crawlin site here http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20190

You tube vid

I had a great time. Thanks again nick for letting me ride along and mandy as always great food. I can't wait to go back we'll just have to do things a bit different. Even though it was nice in the mornings to head over to the dairy hut to get breakfast instead of cooking. Trails were awesome but as nick said we got stuck trail guiding so we didn't do everything we wanted. I think I will be dreaming of lions den for a while.

I'm glad you came with Matt it was fun as hell. You can add your dad's camera to your list of forgotten things by the way.

that place looks cool...........joe, glad to see that you did not need the spare

thinga'ma'rig wrote:

that place looks cool...........joe, glad to see that you did not need the spare

Nope just a spare drive shaft. i appreciate you letting me borrow it.

I had a great time down there, even with all of Mandy's complaints about the locals, weather, and life itself
Many great funny stories that are to long to type here but will be perfect over some beer at big dogs.

Work has been real busy with all the storms that have come through plus the big one while we were gone so I haven't got a chance to get my photos and videos up loaded yet.

I was real happy with how the jeep ran. It's finally getting to the point were i want it. It climbed 90% of the stuff that i through it at with out to much effort once I gave it a little gas. Bill you better hurry up i'm getting ready to start phase 3 of the resurrection project.

-Full hydro up front
-doubler or atlas if the tree work keeps busy
-gears and cromoly axels with 35 spline axle all the way around
-coil overs in the rear
- strech the wheel base another 6" or so. Probly 2" up front and 3 to 4" in the back.
-38" tires on bead locks
-rear winch bumper
- And yes some decent drive shafts

Not sure if it will all be done for bigdogs but most of it will so you people better be ready for the because i'm bring my A game

NICE! Joe, I've had this build in 3rd gear all the way but every time i get one thing done 3 more things show up. not too far away though. I'll save phase 3 for this winter and it will likely include full hydro, coilovers, link setup and a stretch about 10 inches.

Broken motor mount...I knew that's what it was but I decided I didn't officially want to know while wheeling haha.

Got slow at work...replaced it pretty quickly w/o much of a fight for once. Wish all my repairs cost $18 and 15 min of work!!

md4wheelin wrote:

thinga'ma'rig wrote:

that place looks cool...........joe, glad to see that you did not need the spare

Nope just a spare drive shaft. i appreciate you letting me borrow it.

I had a great time down there, even with all of Mandy's complaints about the locals, weather, and life itself
Many great funny stories that are to long to type here but will be perfect over some beer at big dogs.

Work has been real busy with all the storms that have come through plus the big one while we were gone so I haven't got a chance to get my photos and videos up loaded yet.

I was real happy with how the jeep ran. It's finally getting to the point were i want it. It climbed 90% of the stuff that i through it at with out to much effort once I gave it a little gas. Bill you better hurry up i'm getting ready to start phase 3 of the resurrection project.

-Full hydro up front
-doubler or atlas if the tree work keeps busy
-gears and cromoly axels with 35 spline axle all the way around
-coil overs in the rear
- strech the wheel base another 6" or so. Probly 2" up front and 3 to 4" in the back.
-38" tires on bead locks
-rear winch bumper
- And yes some decent drive shafts

Not sure if it will all be done for bigdogs but most of it will so you people better be ready for the because i'm bring my A game

Joe if nothing is broken and its working why not wheel it a little more and enjoy the rig a little. save phase 3 for the winter.

becausei got to keep ahead of bill on the page thing

What i'll do is things that I 'm sure will not hamper the big dog events. The real reason is that i hate wheeling with you guys with a rig that holds everyone up. That and i have a bone to pick with rob on a challenge he laid down a few months back

You should be proud of that after this trip Joe!! I would enjoy it for while. Go inside and hump Mandy and take a break from it. I was seriously impressed with it all weekend. It was the best I've ever seen it work once you decided to man up!!

I was impressed @ big dogs it worked well I agree with Nick enjoy it awhile, give ED HARDY some money and relax God knows he prob. needs it

Nick - Awesome pics and vids! is that one youtube video above the lions den?

Yes video above is lion's den

here's some video of me on railbed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZFmFILfqno

here's my pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/md4wheelin/HarlanKy#

nicks laugh

Haha, you bastard! That was a lot more violent looking in person!! God pics and vids

nice video and pics. what a nice looking place. when do you all think you will be going back?