Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Wow. It was $1.50/gal cheaper I think for unleaded when I was there 2 weeks ago and I thought that was expensive.

 

The final installment of my hiking adventure; this time with driving! Woke up in Saline Valley, found Mike @mk5 on Steel Pass, and then made my way out through Dedeckera and Eureka Valley via the Piper Road. Everything was smooth sailing for the next 900 miles, when, 100 miles from home, the battery light came on...

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Our Paths Finally Cross - Hiking #5​

What a great way to wake up in Saline Valley!​

Good morning Mike!​

Stepping down Dedeckera.​

Talc powder swallows truck.​

Made it out the Piper Road without getting stuck in the snow!​

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Our Paths Finally Cross - Hiking #5​

 

I am so excited. We are packing up and heading out first thing Monday. Looking forward to spending more time in a smaller area than our first Pan-Valley tour! I’ll be out there for 12 days!

 

Well, first thing Monday may be second thing Monday.... LOL. Not quite packed, yet... at all.

@turbodb I think I know the spot where you found the stuck guy - right 'round the south side of Eureka Dunes? Before you start to climb up to Dedekera? It kind of freaked me out a year ago when we went... Not wanting to widen the destruction, I gingerly rolled through it no problem but it sounds worse now?

 

Had to hide out in the canyons last night. The wind/dust in both Panamint and Death Valley was brutal.

This was 9am this morning looking east into Death Valley.

 

Yep, that's the spot. Didn't really phase me that much either when I was there, and I think I went through 6-8 times as I was helping/photographing. Stay on the main road, use 4WD, and I think you'll be fine. It's definitely worse than it was a few years ago, but it's still manageable as long as you don't wander off the main track.

What's your (general) plan/route through the park for the 12 days? I'd love to be there for that long!

 

Camped in Saline and Panamint valleys the first two nights were great though...other than the gnats that we're out at the dunes before sunset.





It was warm enough Friday evening that the awning and awning wall were welcome for shelter when cooking dinner.

 

I don’t have a set plan, actually… We are going to enter from eureka dunes/dedekera and then wander around… we want to explore in hunter mtns and side roads along the way out whippoorwill to bishop where I will drop my wife and pick up my kid on Sunday and head back in till sat. May go up to rhyolite or or down goler with him… or just keep to saline. I’m open to suggestions!

 

Can anyone recommend a good mechanic in bishop?

 

I cross posted your request to the 395 thread for you:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rn-sierra-region.700273/page-45#post-27088738

Good luck and hope your trip is able to continue!

 

Perry Motors for major work
Toyota certified
Brett in the service department

 

Bishop Auto. Behind the Chevron Station on 395. What's going on that you need one?

 

you guys are awesome. Busted diff. Maybe more. Had to limp out from dedeckera to bishop with the rear end sounding like a jackhammer. I will post full story so others can learn from my stupidity!

hoping to get things fixed quick but we shall see!

 

Rear diff, gotcha.

 

Most likely a broken ring and pinion gear. I cary a spare 3rd because I know thats our Achilles Heal. You'll need a complete bearing kit along with the new gear set. Driving that long of a distance with broken bits of gears eventually works its way into the bearings. Ensure that the shop thoroughly cleans all that shrapnel and everything out if the axle tubes. Otherwise whatever is inside will work its way into the new bearings.

 

Almost certainly that is what happened. I kept waiting for it to grind itself up completely and stop hammering or seize.

thankfully we made it out but there is more to the story, I’ll tell all when I have a real keyboard.

Right now I’m wondering how much of the driveline I need to replace. We took the prop shaft off to spare the transfer case. But I would rather replace more than less and not be sorry later.

 

Maybe try to source a complete axel at a junk yard if you can? That would make it a fairly quick fix if you can get one. Just not sure availability and cost? Probably have to get it in LA / OC

 

Chances are that the rest of the driveline are just fine. An emergency trial fix in that situation would be to remove the drive shaft as you did to lessen binding on the trans and t-case. The ultimate on the trail option would be to remove the 3rd to remove the ring gear from the ring gear carrier, reassemble to safely get to pavement. I would not recommend to drive any distances without the 3rd or a ring carrier removed from the 3rd member. The ring carrier supports the axle shafts..

 

I know @Hobbs offered up some driveway space in Big Pine in the East Side thread. I'm pretty handy with a wrench and swapping a rear diff is pretty easy. If you can find a replacement I can lend a hand throwing it in this weekend.

@Hobbs You got jack stands and a floor jack?

 

I do indeed! Let’s do it!