3rd annual Black Mountain Fall meet.

Congrats on the new place! I've been in mine for about a month, and I'm just now beginning to feel like I'm getting back into my routine. Also prepare to have your heart broken by home repairs taking away from truck money.

 

Thanks man!

Yea, I'm learning this already

 

Yeah i know, I just don't like fixing anything but must fixes on the trails. I have to cut the wind flair on the rack and everything if i'm going to put it on the roof. Too much trouble taking the bumper off to put it behind the bumper.

 

We paid 15 or 20 I believe to the gas station guy just north of the campground and he was very nice, gave us nearly a short bed full.

I'm interested, my stock is rusting through and I'd prefer more protection. What are you asking for?


I enjoyed doing the lower rock garden last year and am willing to be a little more daring with the help of a good spotter. The taco isn't my daily so I can afford more risk, would still prefer to be able to drive it home though. @Bluegrass Taco would my style fit in the red and some black trails or mostly just red? Still on OME and 33s no sliders.

 

All we have to do is pull the grille off for lower valance. Provided you bought those mounts I linked for you

 

Locker? Can you get sliders?

 

rear locker, no sliders before the meet, if I had those I'd probably do all black lol. It's just not a priority in our budget at the moment. If my dad does make it in his Titan I'll be more likely to do harder obstacles, I trust his spotting judgement a lot, Bill would probably agree @Bluegrass Taco

 

The first time we met was at Badlands in August of 2016. You climbed a rock hillside that I wouldn't have thought a full blown rock crawler could have handled. There were about 20 of us watching, stunned that you were even attempting, much less that you actually made it! Big part of that was your dad spotting. And that was in a completely stock truck. You could handle ANY of the red trails I've seen at Harlan. Then again, I haven't seen but maybe 25% of the red trails...But they were consistent with the way they were rated. I'm thinking you'd do OK.

I've walked a short stretch of some of the black trails, as well as watching U-Tube video of black trails. You're on your own with that! They seem pretty intimidating. A few of the video's show bouncers on their roofs... Sliders and skids at the very minimum....

 

I'd find a way to buy sliders if you plan to wheel anything beyond fire roads. Your cab looks like its in good shape and 4xInnovations sliders are like $220. Cheap protection. Depending on where you live, I'd even offer to weld them up on my way down.

 

Harlan is one of the only places I've been with just about an entire category of trails I hesitate to attempt without a full day and capable rigs (35"+ dual lockers, full armor, etc). Mason Jar and Lion's den are nasty trails...

 

We did Harlan last year with 5 trucks....and not a slider amongst us. Year before, 3 trucks and no sliders. We got away with green/blue/and some red....No damage. We were careful. 2 did lower rock garden, the first half anyway. It can be done, but sliders are DEFINATELY cheap insurance. On black trails (that I've seen) sliders and skids aren't enough... I'm well armored this year. Will get a little more adventurous. Probably no black though. My 12 year old grandson will be with us. HIs name is Mason. First thing he noticed on the map was Mason Jar. He's heard NO WAY a few times....

 

You can definitely can get by without them but I am a huge proponent of them as an early mod. I just hate to see clean sheetmetal get banged up over not having sliders.

 

The most often asked question is always "What's the biggest tire I can fit"? Next is what is the first piece of armor would you buy? My answer to that is SLIDERS. In the last year (last few months actually) I've added Sliders, IFS skid, mid skid, and t-case skid, along with front and rear plate bumpers. + bigger tires... than I had last year at Harlan. I have a rear locker (Will have front by spring time) After doing this nonsense for 43 years since I bought my first truck, and beating the snot out of a few 4wds in the past, there is still a lot I won't do with this truck. Not out of "fear", but I've just beat 'em up enough to get that out of my system....And I plan on this being my last build. I'll push it a little this year, but still have no aspirations of getting too wild. I'm all up for watching others bend metal though!

 

Nope. Not spending $30 on a small piece of metal lol

 

I felt the same too. The I compared the competition's prices

 

Buy a full plate bumper....Light bar mount usually made into it! That way you can spend $1000 to $1500 on a BIG piece of metal.

 

@JBTacoma when are you going up?

 

I wish

 

Nigro rigging works wonders.

 

$220 is not a lot of money for good protection but it will have to wait. I'm willing to risk some damage but will have to play by ear, I'll stick to red. Are we going to have preset groups before next weekend @Bluegrass Taco ?