Google saved my pics from the day I killed the phone. This shows the difference between the hd and ld tow hooks.CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Google saved my pics from the day I killed the phone. This shows the difference between the hd and ld tow hooks.
They are beefy suckers for sure. 
Then, just before the summit, we came across this fresh kill of a Mazda CX-5. Some bonehead thought he could take Tincup as a shortcut to the Mt. Antero trailhead and avoid having to drive out of his way through Gunnison via Taylor park. Well, he almost made it to the top. All 4 tires flat. Rockers bashed hard enough to get into the doors and knock the moldings off. Who knows what it looks like underneath the car. A group of dudes riding in a TRD 4Runner said the driver had hiked down to where they were camping and asked for their help. Somebody took him back to Buena Vista and was told the wrecker fee would be $250 an hour to fetch it. We all had a good laugh at somebody else's stupidity.
Is that the new Blazer?
Nope, but I would have laughed just as hard if it was. Plus the photo of of mine next to it would have gone viral if it was a new blazer. My truck would be internet famous.Is that the new Blazer?
Took the Blazer to work today just to run it. Hadn't fixed the speedo needle position yet. Got annoyed all the way to work. Having to do math to figure out your speed is dumb. You take for granted when it's accurate and you can just glance down to check the speed. Not being able to do that hits a nerve with me I guess.
After doing some chores at home I pulled the bezel and lens (left the cluster in this time around) and grabbed a fork from the kitchen. One trick I've learned going through clusters like this is pulling on a speedo needle with your fingers is a good way to snap the needle off the base. Taking a fork and sliding the tines behind the needle you can pull the needle off without breaking it. So there's your tech tip for the day @F.S.F.W forks CAN be used for something other than burritos.
Before I put the stuff back together I took a run around the block with my new phone in the truck this time and the GPS on. I had to repeat the procedure a couple of times to get it right, but it's back to being accurate.
I'll finish wiring the thermostat and furnace in the camper for our upcoming mountain run. Crested Butte got a dusting a snow last night, so something tells me the furnace will be necessary as we'll be camping at or near 10-11k feet of altitude each night.
After doing some chores at home I pulled the bezel and lens (left the cluster in this time around) and grabbed a fork from the kitchen. One trick I've learned going through clusters like this is pulling on a speedo needle with your fingers is a good way to snap the needle off the base. Taking a fork and sliding the tines behind the needle you can pull the needle off without breaking it. So there's your tech tip for the day @F.S.F.W forks CAN be used for something other than burritos.
Before I put the stuff back together I took a run around the block with my new phone in the truck this time and the GPS on. I had to repeat the procedure a couple of times to get it right, but it's back to being accurate.
I'll finish wiring the thermostat and furnace in the camper for our upcoming mountain run. Crested Butte got a dusting a snow last night, so something tells me the furnace will be necessary as we'll be camping at or near 10-11k feet of altitude each night.
Went out and wired up the furnace in the camper. Pretty simple setup, but what I like is no pilot. It has it's own ignitor. Fired it up and the blower came on, but no heat. I couldn't hear the burner going. I tried couple of taps on the regulator at the propane tank and turned it on again. Bingo, the burner came on. Let it run for a little bit, no leaks and it puts out the heat. Buttoned everything back up and called it a day.
I'm ready for the next run for sure. I'd like it to have been BB, but this will be fun exploring a new area we haven't been to before.
I'm ready for the next run for sure. I'd like it to have been BB, but this will be fun exploring a new area we haven't been to before.
Spent a little time this weekend hanging out with my nephews who came down to the reservoir for Labor day. Pulled up to the lakeshore where the boys were and found they were parked by some other dude with a 78 K10. He came over and we talked squares for little while. It was nice to kick back and relax.
Nothing relly got done to the truck except using it. The wife wanted a change in elevation today so we did an easy run west of Colorado Springs. Stopped for lunch in Old Colorado City and then hit Rampart road that leads out of the south end of the Garden of the Gods. It's really not a trail, but a graded dirt road that climbs up to around 9,000 feet of elevation with good views of the city, Pikes Peak and the Waldo Canyon burn scar. So due to the proximity to the city there's a good bit of Subaru traffic and bicycle riders. One of which was hauling ass downhill as we were climbing where he came around a blind corner to find us in our own lane. He came out wide and locked up his rear brake trying to avoid the front end of my truck. I thought I was going to worry about wildlife on the road.
This is looking south back towards the city and the large mountain on the left is Cheyanne Mountain. It's the one used by NORAD. Ft. Carson is seen to the left of that.
Looking due east at Colorado Springs.
Looking southwest at Pike's Peak.
The road weaves in and out of the Waldo Canyon burn scar. This fire was 6 years ago and consumed 18,000 acres and 346 buildings. It was a massive fire you could see the smoke from Pueblo and Canon City. Looking at the steepness of the terrain you can see why it was such a hard fire to fight.
It's crazy how some areas got wiped out and other areas a little further away got missed.
Another shot of Pike's Peak from one of the overlooks.
We took a couple of offshoots of the main road and still it was pretty mild as trails go, but being alone we didn't really want to push it. We were pretty close to getting back to the Mt. Herman trail when a couple of guys on dual sport bikes went to overtake us. I pulled into a corner to let them by and one stopped to ask if I had an air pump as his front tire went flat. To his amazement I said sure do, let me get the hose and chuck out. I flipped the compressor switch on and hopped out to help. The tire didn't seem to be taking any air at all, but after rolling the tire around to look for something in it we found nothing. We rolled the tire back near the valve stem and found the tube had pulled away from the stem. Realizing airing up was an effort in futility the guy decided to run it as is to get further up the Mt Herman trail to get cell coverage and call his son to bring his truck and trailer.
We ended up putzing around up there for another 45 minutes on a different side road and decided to come back since a storm looked to be rolling in. Plus a search and rescue team was crawling all over looking for a lost hiker.
We popped out of the trail in Monument and hit the highway for the way home. We had a nice quiet uneventful ride. Ready for more of a challenge though. Wheeler Lake is on the plan for Friday. Should be fun.
Nothing relly got done to the truck except using it. The wife wanted a change in elevation today so we did an easy run west of Colorado Springs. Stopped for lunch in Old Colorado City and then hit Rampart road that leads out of the south end of the Garden of the Gods. It's really not a trail, but a graded dirt road that climbs up to around 9,000 feet of elevation with good views of the city, Pikes Peak and the Waldo Canyon burn scar. So due to the proximity to the city there's a good bit of Subaru traffic and bicycle riders. One of which was hauling ass downhill as we were climbing where he came around a blind corner to find us in our own lane. He came out wide and locked up his rear brake trying to avoid the front end of my truck. I thought I was going to worry about wildlife on the road.
This is looking south back towards the city and the large mountain on the left is Cheyanne Mountain. It's the one used by NORAD. Ft. Carson is seen to the left of that.
Looking due east at Colorado Springs.
Looking southwest at Pike's Peak.
The road weaves in and out of the Waldo Canyon burn scar. This fire was 6 years ago and consumed 18,000 acres and 346 buildings. It was a massive fire you could see the smoke from Pueblo and Canon City. Looking at the steepness of the terrain you can see why it was such a hard fire to fight.
It's crazy how some areas got wiped out and other areas a little further away got missed.
Another shot of Pike's Peak from one of the overlooks.
We took a couple of offshoots of the main road and still it was pretty mild as trails go, but being alone we didn't really want to push it. We were pretty close to getting back to the Mt. Herman trail when a couple of guys on dual sport bikes went to overtake us. I pulled into a corner to let them by and one stopped to ask if I had an air pump as his front tire went flat. To his amazement I said sure do, let me get the hose and chuck out. I flipped the compressor switch on and hopped out to help. The tire didn't seem to be taking any air at all, but after rolling the tire around to look for something in it we found nothing. We rolled the tire back near the valve stem and found the tube had pulled away from the stem. Realizing airing up was an effort in futility the guy decided to run it as is to get further up the Mt Herman trail to get cell coverage and call his son to bring his truck and trailer.
We ended up putzing around up there for another 45 minutes on a different side road and decided to come back since a storm looked to be rolling in. Plus a search and rescue team was crawling all over looking for a lost hiker.
We popped out of the trail in Monument and hit the highway for the way home. We had a nice quiet uneventful ride. Ready for more of a challenge though. Wheeler Lake is on the plan for Friday. Should be fun.
That's so cool man. We were right in the same areas just a month ago exploring with the family. And I'll confirm the crazy amount of Subaru's in the area!!! LolSpent a little time this weekend hanging out with my nephews who came down to the reservoir for Labor day. Pulled up to the lakeshore where the boys were and found they were parked by some other dude with a 78 K10. He came over and we talked squares for little while. It was nice to kick back and relax.
Nothing relly got done to the truck except using it. The wife wanted a change in elevation today so we did an easy run west of Colorado Springs. Stopped for lunch in Old Colorado City and then hit Rampart road that leads out of the south end of the Garden of the Gods. It's really not a trail, but a graded dirt road that climbs up to around 9,000 feet of elevation with good views of the city, Pikes Peak and the Waldo Canyon burn scar. So due to the proximity to the city there's a good bit of Subaru traffic and bicycle riders. One of which was hauling ass downhill as we were climbing where he came around a blind corner to find us in our own lane. He came out wide and locked up his rear brake trying to avoid the front end of my truck. I thought I was going to worry about wildlife on the road.
This is looking south back towards the city and the large mountain on the left is Cheyanne Mountain. It's the one used by NORAD. Ft. Carson is seen to the left of that.
Looking due east at Colorado Springs.
Looking southwest at Pike's Peak.
The road weaves in and out of the Waldo Canyon burn scar. This fire was 6 years ago and consumed 18,000 acres and 346 buildings. It was a massive fire you could see the smoke from Pueblo and Canon City. Looking at the steepness of the terrain you can see why it was such a hard fire to fight.
It's crazy how some areas got wiped out and other areas a little further away got missed.
Another shot of Pike's Peak from one of the overlooks.
We took a couple of offshoots of the main road and still it was pretty mild as trails go, but being alone we didn't really want to push it. We were pretty close to getting back to the Mt. Herman trail when a couple of guys on dual sport bikes went to overtake us. I pulled into a corner to let them by and one stopped to ask if I had an air pump as his front tire went flat. To his amazement I said sure do, let me get the hose and chuck out. I flipped the compressor switch on and hopped out to help. The tire didn't seem to be taking any air at all, but after rolling the tire around to look for something in it we found nothing. We rolled the tire back near the valve stem and found the tube had pulled away from the stem. Realizing airing up was an effort in futility the guy decided to run it as is to get further up the Mt Herman trail to get cell coverage and call his son to bring his truck and trailer.
We ended up putzing around up there for another 45 minutes on a different side road and decided to come back since a storm looked to be rolling in. Plus a search and rescue team was crawling all over looking for a lost hiker.
We popped out of the trail in Monument and hit the highway for the way home. We had a nice quiet uneventful ride. Ready for more of a challenge though. Wheeler Lake is on the plan for Friday. Should be fun.
Stuparu's.
And I love seeing you go out and have fun in this rig Rob. The proof is right here that you don't need to buy links or 40's or go full buggy to enjoy your truck.
And I love seeing you go out and have fun in this rig Rob. The proof is right here that you don't need to buy links or 40's or go full buggy to enjoy your truck.
Thanks dude! Yep I'm more of get the build done so I can drive it kind of guy. It's no fun letting it rot in the driveway or garage. I appreciate the guys that are in perpetual builds but it killed me not having either one of my k5's drive for over a year while the 91 was starting out.
Mine was built to hop in and go. Add gas, food/drink and some clothes and I can be on the road in 20 minutes.
This is why I have tried the mad thrash on my '90. I didn't want to go from having the bent72 to not having anything for too long. I am glad that you are enjoying yours!
I had a feeling we'd be in Subaru territory given the proximity to the Springs, but the wife wasn't looking for heavy duty wheeling so it was a calculated risk. What pissed me off was the Ram from Wisconsin riding my ass on Mt. Herman. I made it a point to throw it into second down hill and let he get a good look at my spare tire. Speed limit is only 20 as it's tight and twisty with about 50 blind corners. I wasn't going to baja my way down that's for sure.
I can't wait to see yours on the trail. It looks like it's going to be really good out there.
I had been planning to go to Blazer Bash earlier this year and just ran short of the funds to be able to pull it off. No shame in that, but I had the time off, my son had the time off too so I made some phone calls to arrange a run a little more local but fun none the less. So @Larry got the K10 ready to fly and brought our buddy Ian along with him. John and Pam came along with their dog Daisy and the damn yellow Jeep that seems to have an "easy" button smack dab on the middle of the dash.
Airing down line up at Montgomery reservoir below the Wheeler Lake trail.
Depending on which guide/website you look it up on Wheeler lake is rated by some as moderate, others list it as difficult. I'd say it varies based on what you take up there as always. For us, it had it's challenges. Some of which came down to line choice we found out later.
The trail starts out quickly from the trailhead with a decent gate keeper obstacle that keeps the Colorado Subie crew out. The trail actually drives under the Magnolia Mill.
The first of 3 named obstacles is the "Flopper". For obvious reasons, this slab of granite wants to toss you to the driver's side if you don't run the right line. I was leading and didn't get pics of me coming through this but I'm pretty sure Larry got video. Here's Larry and John making their way through it.
Next up is the "V-Notch". There are actually 3 lines through here. From where my son took the photo below is actually standing in the v-notch which for a fullsize is sure way to nail sheetmetal. The middle line is the easier way supposedly which goes up and over rock where I went and the third line is to the left is another harder way to go. Larry took the third line.
My line wasn't the right way to go. John went more to the right and walked right over it. I on the other hand had to spool cable to pull me over the spot my unlocked rear axle couldn't.
Larry's far left line had two ledges to climb with the right spacing to hit the front and rear at the same time. Plus a little wet spot at the bottom just to get the right side tires moist.
Had Larry installed the front ARB he has sitting on the shelf he probably would have popped right over. As it was after three attempts we pulled more cable to get him over it.
John took a better line at the middle going more right. With both ARB's on, he walked over it. As we saw the next day by watching a few mildly modified 4runners come up as we went down, it was the exact line to take.
Clearing the V-notch had us plodding up this valley full of trees and scrub brush. Fall is coming and the leaves are starting to turn here. Breathtaking.
The last hard spot is a section they call Bowling Ball hill. A nice steep climb up with loose rocks the size of, you guessed it bowling balls. Oh yeah there was a good amount of runoff still coming down to add wetness for an added degree of fun. It wasn't difficult as much as it was annoying. Hard to pick your way through when everything moved under your tires.
It was around here that John's wife Pam noticed something hanging on Larry's K10 from behind. John called it out over the radio and we stopped to check it out. He managed to nail his tie rod and steering stabilizer, sheering off the top of the stud on the axle side. The tie rod had a nice frown to it too.
Ian and Larry took to removing the broken stabilizer and we mushed on up the hill.
My son caught a deer running above the trail in full flight mode. Pretty cool.
Further up bowling ball I came across nasty little section where the climb up was rutted out with a large bolder sticking out the driver's side. The only reason I made it was the tru-trac pulling me over. Larry's being open up front just couldn't pull over the ledge.
I ended up giving him a tug to make it through.
A few minutes into camp, we are ready to take it easy.
Lounging on a rock down closer to the lake was a group of middle aged gals that passed us near the 2nd obstacle. Yep, a group of women hiked the trail faster than we could drive it. Actually had we not stopped twice on bowling ball hill we might have beat them. But they beat us.
Camp.
We had an excellent view of a massive waterfall behind our camp.
The sun dropped behind the ridge and dropped the temps.
We lit the campfire in a can (aka propane fire) and procced to tell stories and give each other shit until it was too cold to stay out anymore. That ended our Friday. Saturday coming...
Airing down line up at Montgomery reservoir below the Wheeler Lake trail.
Depending on which guide/website you look it up on Wheeler lake is rated by some as moderate, others list it as difficult. I'd say it varies based on what you take up there as always. For us, it had it's challenges. Some of which came down to line choice we found out later.
The trail starts out quickly from the trailhead with a decent gate keeper obstacle that keeps the Colorado Subie crew out. The trail actually drives under the Magnolia Mill.
The first of 3 named obstacles is the "Flopper". For obvious reasons, this slab of granite wants to toss you to the driver's side if you don't run the right line. I was leading and didn't get pics of me coming through this but I'm pretty sure Larry got video. Here's Larry and John making their way through it.
Next up is the "V-Notch". There are actually 3 lines through here. From where my son took the photo below is actually standing in the v-notch which for a fullsize is sure way to nail sheetmetal. The middle line is the easier way supposedly which goes up and over rock where I went and the third line is to the left is another harder way to go. Larry took the third line.
My line wasn't the right way to go. John went more to the right and walked right over it. I on the other hand had to spool cable to pull me over the spot my unlocked rear axle couldn't.
Larry's far left line had two ledges to climb with the right spacing to hit the front and rear at the same time. Plus a little wet spot at the bottom just to get the right side tires moist.
Had Larry installed the front ARB he has sitting on the shelf he probably would have popped right over. As it was after three attempts we pulled more cable to get him over it.
John took a better line at the middle going more right. With both ARB's on, he walked over it. As we saw the next day by watching a few mildly modified 4runners come up as we went down, it was the exact line to take.
Clearing the V-notch had us plodding up this valley full of trees and scrub brush. Fall is coming and the leaves are starting to turn here. Breathtaking.
The last hard spot is a section they call Bowling Ball hill. A nice steep climb up with loose rocks the size of, you guessed it bowling balls. Oh yeah there was a good amount of runoff still coming down to add wetness for an added degree of fun. It wasn't difficult as much as it was annoying. Hard to pick your way through when everything moved under your tires.
It was around here that John's wife Pam noticed something hanging on Larry's K10 from behind. John called it out over the radio and we stopped to check it out. He managed to nail his tie rod and steering stabilizer, sheering off the top of the stud on the axle side. The tie rod had a nice frown to it too.
Ian and Larry took to removing the broken stabilizer and we mushed on up the hill.
My son caught a deer running above the trail in full flight mode. Pretty cool.
Further up bowling ball I came across nasty little section where the climb up was rutted out with a large bolder sticking out the driver's side. The only reason I made it was the tru-trac pulling me over. Larry's being open up front just couldn't pull over the ledge.
I ended up giving him a tug to make it through.
A few minutes into camp, we are ready to take it easy.
Lounging on a rock down closer to the lake was a group of middle aged gals that passed us near the 2nd obstacle. Yep, a group of women hiked the trail faster than we could drive it. Actually had we not stopped twice on bowling ball hill we might have beat them. But they beat us.
Camp.
We had an excellent view of a massive waterfall behind our camp.
The sun dropped behind the ridge and dropped the temps.
We lit the campfire in a can (aka propane fire) and procced to tell stories and give each other shit until it was too cold to stay out anymore. That ended our Friday. Saturday coming...
Nope. Open on the rear. But hauling the house on it's back seems to do wonders for keeping the rear tires on terra-firma. The front tru-trac does seem to do quite well for pulling me up and over most obstacles, but the rear needs get a selectable when funds allow.
The sun rose up over Wheeler lake and started to break the chill of the night before. It also gave us a new look of the waterfall near camp.
A little closer in.
We warmed up some breakfast burritos my wife sent with us and packed up to head down. We expected some traffic coming up since it was Saturday, but holy cow the jeep heards were thick!
Actually, the first group was the Mile Hi Jeep club coming up to finish up a project up at the lake. The lead truck in the crew was crazy right hand drive 6x6 Land Rover Defender 110.
We hit a second group loaded with Toyotas and a couple of buggies and before we could clear the v-notch a third group of a different Jeep club rolled up with 13 more of them. We were glad to be clear and not be dealing with them when they came down.
Larry coming back down the flopper.
Back to the Magnolia mill.
We made our way back to Fairplay to hit up the parts store for a steering stabilizer for Larry's rig. What little he did drive on pavement to get there proved that bias ply swampers, bent tie rod and no stabilizer was recipe for instant death wobble. Part in hand we got to work in the parking lot.
Heading back up to the Mosquito pass trail we see more of the Aspen's changing colors for fall.
This entire area is dotted with old mines. This is the mill for the London mine that is located well above here on the pass.
Towers for the tram that carried ore from the mine above.
Part of the London Mine.
Ian and Larry checking for a noise that developed along the way.
Still climbing to the top of the pass.
At the top. 13,185 feet. This is one of the highest passes you can drive over in the state.
Coming down.
We found a spot to camp on the west side of the pass. Cooked up some Chili for everybody and hung out until it started to drizzle.
It was a great weekend of wheeling and camping. I need to get the video's together and post them up too.
A little closer in.
We warmed up some breakfast burritos my wife sent with us and packed up to head down. We expected some traffic coming up since it was Saturday, but holy cow the jeep heards were thick!
Actually, the first group was the Mile Hi Jeep club coming up to finish up a project up at the lake. The lead truck in the crew was crazy right hand drive 6x6 Land Rover Defender 110.
We hit a second group loaded with Toyotas and a couple of buggies and before we could clear the v-notch a third group of a different Jeep club rolled up with 13 more of them. We were glad to be clear and not be dealing with them when they came down.
Larry coming back down the flopper.
Back to the Magnolia mill.
We made our way back to Fairplay to hit up the parts store for a steering stabilizer for Larry's rig. What little he did drive on pavement to get there proved that bias ply swampers, bent tie rod and no stabilizer was recipe for instant death wobble. Part in hand we got to work in the parking lot.
Heading back up to the Mosquito pass trail we see more of the Aspen's changing colors for fall.
This entire area is dotted with old mines. This is the mill for the London mine that is located well above here on the pass.
Towers for the tram that carried ore from the mine above.
Part of the London Mine.
Ian and Larry checking for a noise that developed along the way.
Still climbing to the top of the pass.
At the top. 13,185 feet. This is one of the highest passes you can drive over in the state.
Coming down.
We found a spot to camp on the west side of the pass. Cooked up some Chili for everybody and hung out until it started to drizzle.
It was a great weekend of wheeling and camping. I need to get the video's together and post them up too.
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I have not done Mosquito Pass. My parents lived in Leadville for a couple years and never seemed to get a change to run it. I had been given me the impression it is really narrow, but my sister gets freaked out on any sort of ledge road so I never know how to judge based on her word.
Mosquito is not that narrow. It is tight for a full size in a couple of spots but most of the time we had almost enough room on the east side to run two lanes. When it does narrow down we still had 2-4 feet to the edge if you pulled right up to the slope. Plus you can see traffic coming on either side as it's well above timberline. So if someone is coming, find a wide spot and wait.
For us it's an easy road. It gets Rocky in spots, but we saw many out of state plates on 4runners and Ford and Dodge half tons with street tires make it over.
Thanks for the trip report! This thread truly never disappoints!
You're welcome! Thanks for checking it out.
