Trip report: 7 days, 1,555 miles & 132.5 gallons of fuel use around Southern Utah and

[Smokinthehippies]

wow i'm jealous. think this is my favorite thread in awhile.

do you have a link to the camper that you use?

:.offtoreadbuildthreadnow&drool:

actually i just realized that its a photo album and not a build thread. do you have a build thread anyway i could read?

 

[bigred88]

Your truck is just about perfect. I'd love to do a trip like that.

I think your truck is gonna be my background for a while.

 

[Larry]

It's not that bad at all, I took a 95 F250 Extended cab long bed up and down that like five times. 4" lift and 35" tires.

That's a nice spot to camp though.

I would probably pick a different time of year to do that trip but those are all really nice areas to go.

Hehe, I figured it was a matter of time before someone popped up with stories how they made it over that spot in their minivan or something. Got pictures or videos of your trip? No pictures or videos...it didn't happen

Long wheel base is definitely in your favor on that spot. A big crew cab would probably do alright. I’ve seen pictures of a couple different Jeeps laying on their side and a 4Runner on its top there. If you went over that spot prior to 2009, the corner was filled with sand and silt and was washed out during a heavy rain in 2009. When the corner was full of dirt it was a much easier obstacle without the 18" drop off for the right front tire to fall in. The corner is very boney these days with big drop at the bottom.

Coming down in 2009

Video of my buddy’s stock Ram coming down in 2009. Notice the left rear tire has 3 ft of air under it…..that would be bad on a SWB truck with a camper on top. The Ram made it down alright but we had to winch it back up the stair step.

wow i'm jealous. think this is my favorite thread in awhile.

do you have a link to the camper that you use?

:.offtoreadbuildthreadnow&drool:

actually i just realized that its a photo album and not a build thread. do you have a build thread anyway i could read?

Sure thing. The camper is a 2011 Phoenix. All of their campers are custom made to order and no two are a like. Great people to work with and their camper has held up great so far. Much easier folks to work with than Four Wheel Campers!

I don't really have a build thread on the truck as it has been my project since 1996 but there is one on Expo Portal when I did the NV4500 swap and several more threads on various projects I have done to it over the years on 67-72chevytrucks. I took a several year hiatus from CK5 when this place started to go the immature ways of pirate4x4. Glad to see that has changed!

Thanks bigred88!

 

[y5mgisi]

Thats what i ment to ask you on an off topic hijack! When are you going to get started on your dads old wrecker? The yellow and white one with the 427.

 

[Larry]

Thats what i ment to ask you on an off topic hijack! When are you going to get started on your dads old wrecker? The yellow and white one with the 427.

Ah, funny you should ask. I am actually pulling it into the garage this weekend to start dismantling it. I’ve been struggled with what to do with it since my dad passed away in 2010 and finally decided to scrap it and keep the best of what is left. The truck is just too far gone to try to save. Every panel has a great deal of body filler or some degree of rust plus the frame has been broken in two spots. One by the steering gear and another by the right rear upper shock mount. That crack was fish plated back in the 80’s but looks pretty sketchy. The D44 and 14 FF with 4:10’s are going in to my Suburban and the 427, SM465/205, and wrecker parts will be stashed away for a rainy day. Actually, once I confirm the engine numbers are a real deal 427 it will go up for sale. I remember that engine came out of an old Chevy station wagon when I was still in middle school.

I hate to scrap the truck I learned how to drive but you can’t save them all. Poor ole truck is going to meet the crusher here in the next week or so.

At least some of its parts will live on in my Suburban although I am swapping the big 13 X 4? rear brake drums onto my K10 and moving the K10s' drums to the wreckers axle that will go in the Suburban.

 

[nutt7]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing...

 

[azblazer]

Nice to see some units out there exploring gods country. Nick...i bet Leigh would flip to see her old burb in action....lol.

DW

 

[clandr1]

I saw this thread at the perfect time... My friend ('94 FZJ80) and I will be heading up to Silverton/Ouray/Telluride area next week for a three day stay.

Do you have any pointers for us? I want to avoid doing something stupid on my first mountain trip, and also want to watch out for potential hazards/idiots while I'm there. It will be my first time doing any mountain driving.

Looks like you had a great time, thanks for taking the time to post the thread/pics/vids.

 

[meanboyjr]

Wow. This thread is so full of awesome.

I kinda hate to admit this, but I like the Ramcharger. Don't see too many of them around, so it's nice to see one out on the trail.

Great pics, great trip. Thanks for posting.

 

[RED MONSTER 4X4]

I have to agree, that Ram charger is pretty SICK too! No match for Larry and that fine truck of his! but still, always liked those Ram Chargers.....and back when they were around, the LA Rams and San Diego Chargers were in the same state! ahahah!

 

[Larry]

I saw this thread at the perfect time... My friend ('94 FZJ80) and I will be heading up to Silverton/Ouray/Telluride area next week for a three day stay.

Do you have any pointers for us? I want to avoid doing something stupid on my first mountain trip, and also want to watch out for potential hazards/idiots while I'm there. It will be my first time doing any mountain driving.

Looks like you had a great time, thanks for taking the time to post the thread/pics/vids.

Nah, not really any pointers other than look out for idiots on ATV’s, UTV’s and rental Jeeps. A lot of tourist fools cruising around on the trails up there in that area. Also keep a good lookout for a space to allow for passing. The typical passing rules don’t always apply on these narrow roads. It is more of who has most accessible spot to allow for passing is who moves over. The ATV’s and UTV’s seem to think they own the trail up there so don’t expect them to move over for you. I think the worst invention ever was the ATV and UTV! Idiots can almost go anywhere now!

Wow. This thread is so full of awesome.

I kinda hate to admit this, but I like the Ramcharger. Don't see too many of them around, so it's nice to see one out on the trail.

Great pics, great trip. Thanks for posting.

That Ram Charger is a badass! ARB’d front and rear, on-board air for the lockers, tools, etc, D60 full-floater rear, and the full on expedition type goodies for living out of the truck for a week at a time (refridgerator, water, sleeping platform and a ton of other custom touches.) The only thing it needs is more gonads under the hood. The 5.2L is a bit taxed but hopefully we’ll be doing a 5.7L or 6.1L Hemi swap soon.

 

[496truck]

Looks like you had a great time, thanx for sharing.

Hard core wheeling? I think what you are doing still applies. Being 6-8 hours from the nearest civilization in that type of terrain is hard core enough, you don't need to be pushing your luck on nasty obstacles too. You're getting out there and seeing parts of this country I'll probably never get to see. Out here I'd be lucky to find myself 30 minutes from civilization .

And it's funny about the 8.1 and it's mileage. The 2500HD I had with the 8.1 and Allison just always seemed to get 11.5 mpg on average. Didn't seem to matter if it was empty, towing cars, hauling logs, hauling scrap metal.... it always seemed to average that 11.5. I briefly considered one for the K5 but came to the conclusion that it would be serious overkill for what I do with the truck.

 

[y5mgisi]

Well thats unfortunate. Gotta do what you gotta do i suppose. I scrapped my first truck that was the same color and was handed down to me by my dad. I still regret it 10 years later... Granted i would still be working on it! That thing was toasted! My plan is to build a tribute truck with the same colors and feel but done the way i would do it knowing what i know now.

 

[Larry]

Looks like you had a great time, thanx for sharing.

Hard core wheeling? I think what you are doing still applies. Being 6-8 hours from the nearest civilization in that type of terrain is hard core enough, you don't need to be pushing your luck on nasty obstacles too.

Thanks, that is my thoughts too. Not everything needs a D60 and exocage, yada, yada, yada....they need to be capable, durable and reliable.

Action video of the Ram Charger tearing it up in the snow last winter. A lot of ice under the little bit of snow and the hill is steeper than it looks. It could use more power but it sure sounds mean!