Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

We're going to see 100F in Vegas this week. It's a bummer the park was closed through most of the best weather.

 

You should inspect the bottom of the cab around the rear most body mounts. My cab has cracks in the sheetmetal on both passenger and driver sides

This is the rear passenger side, driverside is the same..

 

Thanks. I'll check! I think you and Paul @HBMurphy are some of the few with C pillar cracks too.

 

Looks like the asshat confessed...

News Release Date: April 20, 2020

Contact: Abby Wines

DEATH VALLEY, CA – A man has confessed to marking multiple sites in Death Valley National Park with graffiti. Charges are pending.

Graffiti that included “Steve & Lacy” was found on rocks, a well, and historic structures in Echo Canyon, Butte Valley, Homestake Dry Camp, and Crankshaft Junction. Defacing any part of the national park degrades the experience of other visitors.

Park rangers had some leads pointing to the man’s identity, and appealed to the public for more information on April 14. The National Park Service (NPS) appreciates that many people shared the story on social media and contacted the NPS with tips. The NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB) handles tips on cases in all national parks and other NPS sites. The tip line can be reached at: 888-653-0009, online at www.nps.gov/ISB, or by email at nps_isb@nps.gov.

The man who confessed said that his acquaintance saw the story on social media and brought his attention to it. “Steve,” a resident of British Columbia, called the tip line himself on April 17. The following day he spoke with the investigating park ranger, confessed, and apologized.

Lacy is blameless – she is a dog.

Charges have not been filed again the man yet. Penalties could include a fine and/or restitution charges. The man’s cooperative attitude will likely be a mitigating factor.

This graffiti happened in January 2019 and January 2020. Park rangers are still patrolling Death Valley National Park during the current temporary closure due to coronavirus. Through traffic is allowed on CA-190 and Daylight Pass Road from Beatty.

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/vandal-apologized.htm

 

I for one, was glad the perpetrator called the park service himself. I'm guessing he might not be visiting the US for a time.

 

If they do not file criminal charges against him, he should at least be required to complete a community service project at DV.

 

WTF is wrong with people.

 

Since he wanted publicity, he should give it to the park in the form of a social media campaign about vandalism in the parks. He can do that from BC...

 

I turned out to have a loose hub bolt for probably my whole trip to DV in February! It didn't start hitting the studs until shortly after I got back home, but it went from silent to terrifying grinding noise in an instant. Could have been really bad if it happened while bombing down saline valley.

Moral of the story, crank the shit out of your hub bolts! I used a crows foot and a torque wrench the first time too. Now I use a big wrench and loctite.

Thanks to @glorifiedwelder for diagnosing this and saving my wheel. The grinding literally started as I pulled up to his shop!

 

I know that sound!

antiieze on all 8 hub bolts, 1 backed out 120 miles from home terrifying sound indeed!

Here's mine:

 

Pretty sure it's not supposed to look like that, even though most dealerships would probably say working as designed.

 

As others have pointed out already, traveling to a remote location is not social distancing, at-least not in the sense of stopping the spread of a virus. I was suppose to be there a week ago but shit happens, rather be part of the solution.

My wife and I did it a few years ago and it's always great to be reminded of how much elevation effects temperature, I think the peak is around 11,000 ft so it can be 40-50 F while Furnace Creek is in the 100's. It was super windy as well but well worth the effort!

 

I'm on the same page dude, and I don't need your fucking lecture. I'm stuck at home and going crazy, since well before the post you quoted. I just wanted to complain about our circumstances, that's all.

That said, thank you for helping to remind us why we're staying home. Every day gets harder, but these forums help keep me sane, and help me resist the temptation to head out to the desert in violation of the closures and lockdowns.

So, sorry for the terse language in the first paragraph. I will stay home for yet another day, and I'm glad that you're staying home too. We're all in this together.

 

I hear ya man, it's tough to know what is even acceptable/safe right now with things like travel and living your day to day. Most people are stepping up and doing their part but I've defiantly seen folks on other forums posting trip reports after the shelter in place order was given which sucks. Some places here in Oregon are staying closed longer now because people can't simply stay home, rangers were turning away 200 cars a day at one point.

Stay safe dude!

 

Yeah I work in aerospace and almost wish I could safety wire the thing. Have inspection/security paint a large portion of my bolts, mostly suspension/drivetrain, just not these.

So after I re-torqued the cab mount, lubed pretty much everything on the truck, took it back out on another drive... and CLUNK! Mother*&(^... working on the truck again today and find a bed mount bolt also loose too.. so now I'm 90% sure I got it...


Also headlight protection film is a PITA to install.

 

Right on. Just in case you hadn't heard, our trucks are subject to a flaw that affects some, but not all bed mounts. It may be related to your issue, or not?

Explained in this thread by Advisor, and Master of jungle truck builder @Milowilli https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-loose-bed-design-flaw-explanation.388873/

 

Looks like a 2nd gen problem. On mine the bolt was just loose from the washboard roads for 7 days. Re-torqued and she's good to go!

 

Definitely just a 2nd gen problem with the composite beds. 1st gen beds just crack the sheetmetal.

 

Apparently the valve handles have been cut off for the tubs at the hot springs. Not cool.