Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

@DoorDing does your CamelBak only ever have water in it or have you used drink mixes too?

Hope you are feeling better!

 

Add one more Death Valley spindle failure to the list..


I carry spares of pretty much everything, didn't take long to swap out.

 

@MonkeyProof - ouch! Is that the road up to Beveridge you were on? Or one of the other canyons nearby?

Glad you got it all fixed. Impressive self extraction!

And as already asked - a bit more history on your spindle and what happened (totally stock? gusseted? after market?).

 

It was gussested with a TC non sway bar gusset kit with a bonus homebrew extra gussets added on. I'll post more pics later.

Bent the spindle, bad enough the tire rubbed on the edge of the upper control arm when turning passenger side..

 

That was indeed the beginning of Beveridge, we were trying hard to get out of the wind, and that spot worked out great to. Could only imagine how bad the wind was at the Springs, we were watching a constant dust storm blowing up the pass.

 

That's nuts!
Apparently we need a whole list of spare parts to have for just in case scenarios.

What were temps like? I'm heading out later this week to DV. Any pics of the springs enveloped in the dust storm?

 

No pics of the dust storms, we barely made it that spot just before sunset. Temps today was barely 80-85ish. Yesterday was nothing but rain and wind for us. We came in yesterday through Mazourka Canyon/Papoose Flats to N. Saline road. It was all rain and fog until we hit Pappoose Flats, very fun!

 

Details on the spindle..
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ks-with-b-s-talk.474632/page-14#post-17571018

 

That awesome you could fix that on the fly. I read the first page or two on the spindle gusseting. Please enlighten me on gusseting the spindles. You do that to strengthen them? But then they're failing / cracking. Are they that bad stock?

 

Ever experience traffic jams on S. Saline Road? We sure did.

 

Everyone, including me, likes to fly down Saline Road in the smoother spots. But there is a lot of cattle up there and it would be bad to hit one at speed. Plus you would be liable for the dead cow.

Looking at the busted spindle makes me realize how short I am on spare parts. I have the basics but there are a lot of things that I need to add.

 

Better bent than broken. I just take it easy when far from home. Good to know though. If I ever tweak one than I'll look into that. Thanks

 

What were the temps? You took the White Mountain Talc Road up the backside of CG? How was the road? I'm headed to DV later this week but the plan is to explore more of Eastern DV.

Oh you're one of those GFC people! JK, those are awesome and I can't wait to see more out and about. Maybe I'll switch from the FWC to a GFC one day.

 

Any snow at CG? My neighbor was up in the White Mountains last week at least as far as where Silver and Wyman Canyons intersect the road to the upper grove and said there was little or no snow there, though it got deeper and he turned around before Patriarch Grove.

 

Upper Wildrose open.

 

...speaking of...

Just ate lunch at Mahogany Flats. Road is in great shape.

 

Eureka Dunes, from Steel Pass.

 

..it's a sweet route..gotta do it. you have to try really hard to develop a need for a NAPA run..but i did pop this tire up there after midnight rolling without lights took a couple hours to change out the wheel..had left the oasis just before midnight in sandpaper gritty wind..got to the dunes at sunrise.