4WD Casual Run to Pancake Rock Sat. 10-11-14 VIDEOS ADDED!

What a great day here in San Diego County California!

Japutal Valley Road to the Trail on Lyons Valley Road is 4.8 miles (this junction is about 5-6 miles from I-8 exit, so about 10-11 miles from freeway to goat trail, I didn't record the exact mileage).

The trail is 1.8 miles to Pancake Rock... and that will take you an hour and a half... it's that rough.

Sean was a great four wheeler and was able to scurry up faster than I.

Here are the photos from my camera... many were taken by my co-driver, Josh:















CLIMBING THE ROCK:















COMING DOWN:




MORE TW MEMBERS heading up!:












WE have videos as well... they will be coming later!

 

TIRES: I aired down from 35 to 25 psi, no issues at all. These Destiny Dakota ATs pass the rock test!

Sean aired his 33" tires to 15-20 psi range... also no flats or chunks.

 

Looks like a good time was had and you suffered no damage.

I'm in next time.

 

There was some under the body... as we say on TW, it was just a flesh wound!

 

If I ever get a rear locker, this will be the trail to test it on

 

Sounds like you may want to get fuel injection too???

The Welk Run at Deer Springs exit, Escondido/San Marcos has some extreme spots where a locker or A-TRAC will help.

 

Very short video clips from my camera, taken by Josh:










Videos of Sean and I climbing Pancake Rock is coming soon from Josh's phone.

 

Good times David. Too bad yumatrd we were not able to connect. Maybe next time!

 

One word: lockrite. Super cheap not too hard to install and its not horrible to use in a dd.

 

Did you read that he saw us climbing, he was behind us, and his carburetor flooded with the steepness of the trail... ?

 

Good to see you finally made it to Pancake David..... That first 50ft from the entrance is an eye opener..haha...

 

I got lost and headed into the Barrett camp site, then exited and drove past the trail head. Once I turned around again I saw David's truck going up the hill. I stopped and aired down seeing the rutts at the entrance. I started to head up to catch up but then I had the flooding issue. The three hikers with two dogs were coming down as I was stalling. This is a common problem with the webber carbs. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting.

 

I've been eyeballing that mod. I didn't think I really needed it but the first 100 feet showed me how bad open/open diffs can leave you struggling for traction.

 

There is nothing better than stopping a tire from spinning so the other one on that axle can move you forward! Locker or A-TRAC is how to achieve that. There is just no way to get momentum to bounce over the ruts and rocks on THAT road!

Hi Doug, I wanted you to come along... next perhaps?

 

It was almost all ultra-slow crawling... I only got out of first gear a couple times near the top, low range all the way!

 

Hi Dave & thanks for the invite but not going to be hearing or seeing much of me until I have another truck.... I'm still in shock over giving my truck away (basically).....& just got walking papers (eviction) on Friday...Homeless now so guess I don't need a truck anyway...

Haha , yep pancake is a weird trail, not overly technical but in places that require thinking, you really have to think it thru...

 

Nice job getting through that trail in your stock taco!

 

Thank you! It was definitely the limit for a stock truck, I think. I do run 265/75-16 tires which are an inch taller than stock, so that gives me 1/2" more ground clearance. However most of those rocks and all that hit my underside are 10" or bigger!

My co-pilot Josh just emailed me the two You Tubes he made... stand by!

 

Yeah damned good driving for sure David!

 

Josh filmed Seantoobs and me each driving up the giant boulder and then a little out his side window of the road back down as I was driving.

http://youtu.be/o8K1MTS4-ic

http://youtu.be/vCzWTbZauy4

I recommend clicking on full screen to get as close as possible to the dirt action!