And buy a Toyota minivan!

Toyota minivans on the Pardoe Road trail!

I wonder how body flexing affects the sliding doors?

The "rigs" look pretty much stock. I wonder if they have lockers or maybe they are just nuts for even attempting it.

I don't think they have lockers, but being nuts can get you a long way.

BTW, for the NCCX nubies here are pics that CCX (chris) took on our last trip there.

click me

I'm embarassed that we can barely get a stock Xterra through that trail. :p

Those are great pics and some beefy looking X's too Very nice. Whats with all the open, vegetationless areas? Was there a fire there?

Holy hand-grenades, Batman! That's incredible!

I didn't even know Toyota minivans had 4WD!!

Geez, those guys have some serious cajones! Stock 205/75R14 tires, 12-degree approach angle... wow!

We should keep a lookout for those guys, next thing you know they'll be running the Rubicon!

That's pretty amazing. Huey, when you sell your X, can I have your crawler gears?

First of all seeing a minivan is just wrong!@! I am going to have to mace myself to forget that image.

Second some sweet pics of the X's. Very nice.

I knew you couldn't be serious after all the goodies you just added, Huey.

Those pics are freekin' classic though. That's awesome!

No fire there, that's just above the tree line.

Pardoes, while a pretty easy trail, is one of my all-time favorites.

Never crowded, incredible views and scenery, and just challenging enough to justify the 7-8 hour round trip we would do to drive it.

When I went to japan a couple years ago I saw some pretty cool vehicles. Specifically, I went to hokkaido, the northern island where it snows a lot. First, they had lots of solid front axles there, although the very new SUVs did have ifs. Second, almost all the minivans had brush gaurds (some had winches), diesel engines, and 4low.

I don't know about the US ones though.

Hey! I wasn't stock. I had replaced my factory antenna with one of those short stubby ones!

Ohh my ...

My dad used to have one of the early/mid 80's toyota minivan and I think they have all-trac system like some Celica and Corolla. I used to have a 89 Corolla with all-trac and no one belived me when I said my car has 4wd ...

Any plan to do Pardoes again this summer? Last time was fun.

....

Actually... yes!

I'm planning on leading 3 trips this year.

-Pardoes Road (stock 4x4 are welcome minus step rails and lower mud flaps).
-1/2 trip to Deer Valley from 88 into the trail to the large stream crossing and then out the same way (stock 4x4 are welcome minus step rails and lower mud flaps) with the option of the other 1/2 for *modified 4x4s (out to HWY4).
-Slick Rock and Deer Valley (HWY4 to HWY88) for *modified rigs only.

*modified = at least a small lift (shackles/add-a-leafs and t-bar crank), 31" tires, and rock sliders.

And then there will be the annual NCCX Rubicon trip for those crazy enough to go.

Dates will be announced as soon as the snow melts.

I guess you'll have to shedule the runs in the order you posted... Pordoe, 1/2 Deer Valley, and Slick Rock/Deer Valley...

As I recall, the 1st half of the Deer Valley is not that difficult, but it were the 1st time off-roader, that part is still not easy...
Ohhh.... Now, you're making it an annual event, eh? You should start a log with pictures to record..."Rubicon Run Damage Log." :p

So, you're going to run trails with Toyota minivan next season, then?

Toyota calls their AWD a 4WD. The Toyota Matrix is called a 4WD (if you have that option), whereas Pontiac calls the Vibe an AWD.

So now there are bunches of "4WD" Matrix owners who think they have a 4x4. :rolleyes:

Sounds great, I'm in if the dates workout.

I got over my Holiday-screw-it-all-start-stripping-the-truck-and-sell-parts mania and am looking forward to a summer of enjoyment. I do like Pardoes...hmmmm, maybe I can run it in a 1972 New Yorker, or maybe a Honda Civic? I bet when we do Pardoes we find a LOT of stacked rocks

Glad to hear it Charlie!

BTW, I'm going to do Pardoes in my 89 Civic Wagon (that I've named putt putt).

I'm up for going on that run. Rubicon is still out of the question. Any other runs planned for this year?

If you're in, I'm in....for the bacon and eggs if nothing else..

Nope, no Rubicon....some of the more tame stuff I'm game for. Maybe Deer Valley and the like

Guess what I saw on the way to work today...





bigger



bigger

Whatever it is, 4wd or awd, it is part time..

I can't read it, but it looks like "AISIN" hub. :rolleyes: