In Western Mass. Not too much time to take photos. More coming soon.

Ma Bell



Got up some rock faces that some of the other vehicles had a lot of trouble with. Got as far as the Jeeps (locked and or lifted) on the steepest face (my camera was full, and Norman didn't know it.) so no pics of that one. All in all, a very techical rocky trail with some deep water sections, but most really tough sections have go arounds. I got winched up one section after making it 50% up, then took the go round on a really hard wall. I did my first major trail carnage trying to crawl around a sheer wall, I was crawling over a rock, when I slipped off to the side, sliding my passenger fender into a tree. Ouch. Had a Jeep towstrap me over away and I went at it from a different route. I can't figure it out, I was at least 6" from the tree then screeeee!!!!! Not too bad. It's the last photo in the batch.

So, now that I had a bit of damage, it was Norman's turn.... I was a little squeamish after that one, and I got up a tough chute that is offcamber and turns sharp to the left at the top of a steep hill. Big rock on the inside of the corner you need to get your rear tire over. I got up and over, then grabbed the video camera to go get Norman coming up, as I ran back to the hill, I heard a loud BANG!!!! I was not 4 seconds from getting it on video. He blew a U-Joint on his passenger front axle. ball bearings, half the U joint housing, and sections of his bearing housing and the boot band were in the dirt. We towstrapped him up to a level point and removed the halfaxle, 6 12mm bolts. pulled it out, stuck it in a bag, and strapped Norman up the next hill. H was able to traverse most of the terrain in 2LO. We got out unscathed (well, any more) and aired up and started to cruise home. A bit o carnage, but a really fun trail, with some insane challenges for the ballsy.

Ouch on your fender, and double-ouch on Norman's CV joint (not U-joint). That's the second blown CV joint I know of, Pikachu was the first.

Sounds like a great trail though. Take it in stride...

Brent

Nice pics, too bad about the damage.

How did the TrXus tires do on the rocks and how much did you air down to? I have the same tires but never tried them on rocks yet.

Thanks

The friggin thing exploded... The guy behind me was about 100 yards back and he heard it loud and clear.

Anyone know the chances of this passing for a warrenty fix???

They did great. I aired down to 14 psi. Seemed to work very well.

Here's the photo's of the CV...
This is what it should look like...

Here's the damage...

Here's what's left of it...

Stormy

I don't think your chances of a warrenty fix are too good. iirc, Pika paid for his. AgXterra has t-case damage and the dealers he went to all said no, 3 total I believe. One even photographed all his mods before telling him no.

Good luck with the fix, sorry about the damage

I thought my chances weren't good but I still have to try...

Will they pound out a fender under warranty?

I don't think they will...

Was the suspension extended when the break happened ?

And here's my dumb question, why are you guys running trails like that with the front sway bar on ?

What, it wouldn't have broken if he was disconnected?

Goliath, what kind of transfer case damage?

Brent

Thanks Stormy.

Excuse my ignorance, but what would cause a CV joint to blow?

That wasn't why I was asking. Just curious why no disconnects on a trail like that, they make for much better traction and a comfy ride.

As for why a CV joint blows, it's as simple as applying power to it when it is beyond the limits of its travel.

I don't think Stormy has the diff drop kit from SLR, and if his suspension was at full extension (he was going up a hill I think) it could cause the CV joint to exceed its angle limit and break.

Anyone with a lift can check this out.
Jack the front of the Xterra up so the front wheels are off the ground.
Try turning an axle by hand (hubs unlocked).
Feel it bind.
Add power and it will eventually break.

Ditto, damn it's like you were just asking for trouble.

Matt and I talked about that the night before. We decided to leave them on.

I think it was...

What do you mean asking for trouble? Please explain...

I think he's a little.

It wouldn't have saved the CV joint. A diff drop kit probably would have though. That's two blown CV's I've heard of now, both similar.

Were the wheels steered straight ahead or crossed up ?

They were steered to the left. I had traction and the wheels started to hop. I kept the gas steady when I should of backed off and tried a better line. I wasn't far enough to the right of the trail

I agree with his last statement. Instead of going around the rock with his front, then popping over it with the rear, norman tried (or more appropriately miscalculated) to go over the rock. Once you got on the hill, you had to make your shot. it's a steep one, and it was loose dirt. any loss of momentum meant you were back at the bottom. I don't think he was blasting up the hill, I think he just got unlucky, hit the rock on the left, it made his wheels bounce and turn, and he dropped that wheel back into the dirt. I got up it, but I was being pretty careful, as it was after my bit o damage. Norman jinxed himself. He said "nobody's broken anything yet!" halfway through the trail.

That will do it every time

You had to bring that up didn't you! I got what I deserved

Matt, does the wift know about the dent yet?

Doh, That's the most painful part about trail damage. It's much easier to deal with the repair bill and time spent fixing it than the wrath of the wife.

"Why in the hell would you WANT to do that shit to a $25,000 vehicle that you've put a bunch more money in?"