Winkle99 Build Thread

Tuesday June 14
I had never been to the Royal Gorge Bridge so on the way home I stopped for a visit.


Took the gondola across and the Zip line back - was a blast! Can you spot the zipliner in this picture?


Coolest bridge ever! Really gives you the heebie jeebies. You can see through the cracks between the wood planks to the river below and the bridge moves a little in the wind. I walked there and back, constantly looking over the railing to try to mentally overcome the natural survival instict warning me of danger.


I meandered home via the town of Guffey, CO where I saw this yard artistically decorated with jalopies.

 

Man that is a sweet Tacoma. Love the look of that thing.

 

Great build, I appreciate the write up on the steering wheel swap. That is on my short list once I can source the correct parts.

 

162575 miles - bought some new shoes.

Was:


Is:


Decided to replace my 5 year old BF Goodrich K02s with Toyo Open Country A/T 3 in the same size 275 70 R17 (32.2") and side wall rating - E (10 ply). I really like the BFGs. I probably could have gotten at least another season out of them, since they only had about 24K miles. They were getting a little chunky and the rubber seemed stiffer, less supple then when they were new. I would have gone with fresh BFGs except for the weight. The spec sheet on BFGs say they weigh 56 lbs per tire and the Toyo spec sheet says 51 lbs. The "What Cracks Next" thread spooks me a bit. The guys cracking their coil buckets are running 35" tires which weigh upwards of around 69 lbs. Less unsprung weight is important to me. I am curious to see if 5 lbs less rubber in the Toyos will be robust enough. The BFGs travelled over (along side) some pretty sharp rocks without issue over 5 seasons of wheeling.

I weighed the wheel with BFGs before replacing them and it weighed 75 lbs. I imagine it was closer to 80 lbs when new.


The new Toyo weighs 75 lbs.


The Toyos ride smooth as a new tire should. A little different sound compared to the BFG. Not louder or softer just a different frequency or pitch.

I am looking forward to trying them on the trails.

Edit: After driving the Toyos for a few months I definitely notice less lateral stiffness compared to the KO2s.

 

I went with Toyo Open Country A/T 3's on my Subaru, I love them!

 

2022 Off Road excursions:

• May 15
  • A little rock garden on Daker Rd (FS563)
    • Trip Report
• June 12
  • Victor, Phantom Canyon
    • Trip Report
• June 13
  • Hayden Pass
    • Trip Report
• July 10
  • Kelly Flats
    • Trip Report
• Sept 17
  • Red Cone, Radical Hill, Middle Fork Swan River, and SOB Hill up to Georgia Pass
    • Trip Report
• Oct 6 -31
  • No offroad adventures this month. Instead, took my wife to Europe. I had never been there. Here are some favorite photos:

je ponce donc je suis - I think therefore I am. Rene Descartes at the Louvre


Catacomb worker got creative and made a heart shape out of skulls:


Loire Valley, France
Stayed at the Chatau D'Artigny in Montbazon.


Chateau Chamont-Sur-Loire picture taken from a hot air balloon


Royal Chateau of Amboise


Cruised down the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basal, Switzerland.




Saw many Cathedrals. St Stephen's in Mainz Germany with the Chagall designed stained glass windows was my favorite because it felt more inviting and lighter compared to others that were dark, contained ostentatious decor or had a "fear of God" feel (ie Cathedral in Cologne).


Stayed at the Zermatterhof in Zermott, Switzerland


After eating three full meals a day for 7 days on the river boat, a mountain bike ride in the Alps is just what I needed. Clouds obscure Matterhorn peak just above the bike.


Saw the astronomical clock and the old town square in Prague, Czech Republic


The architecture was stunning. I liked this edifice displaying the classic hero slaying a dragon.


Lots of gargoyles in Europe. Here is one on a building in Munich, Germany


Stopped by the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart. Imagine cruising around in a 500K:


I did get to cruise the autobahn for short stretches at around 120 mph. Germany has traffic just like the rest of the US. We flew out of Frankfurt home.

The trip was wonderful. The thing that impressed me was seeing some of the places where the people whose ideas I have studied lived. We stayed on the south bank (now I know what Rive Gauche means) in Paris near Saint-Germain-des-Prés where philosophers such as Jean Paul Sarte discussed existentialism in the local cafes. St Thomas Aquinas church was just around the corner. I spent much time studying his, Augustine's and Anselm's ontological arguments. We saw astronomer Tycho Brahe's tomb whose meticulous measurements of the motions of the planets allowed Johannes Kepler to formulate his three laws of planetary motion, whose equations I use at work. It made these people more real to me now instead of data memorized from a book in school.

 

Had to try out my new tires today. It’s wonderful to drive on new rubber, so grippy. I love cruising over the curvy roads, rolling through the gears, on the way to Rainbow Falls, my test track. There was hardly anyone out today, so clear ahead that I could choose the motorcycle line through the S turns. This truck really handles, both off-road and on-road very well. It feels balanced, smooth, and ready to tackle anything, no squeaks or rattles.

The weather was perfect, sunny enough to stay warm in 30 degree temperatures with the windows open and the heater on.
There was no dust, a couple-three inches of snow in the shady areas and I only saw two trail bikes on the trails.

Photo dump:






@Wulf you missed out on another concert. I stopped here to practice. @johntoyota knows this spot. He camped here overnight a few winters ago with, I think, @bot102 and @YamaDirtrider.


Some snow in the shady areas.


I think the new Toyos will do fine.

Another relaxing, scenic day cruisin' in my truck in Colorado.

 

WINKLE!!!!!

 

The backcountry mountain bike trails behind Highlands Ranch are bursting with flowers, butterflies, ladybugs, hawks, hummingbirds …

Fields of tall grass looking like ocean waves, bending to the wind’s will.

Long uphill climbs, made easier by the encouraging beauty around each corner.

Grasshoppers jumping out of the front tire’s path, exposing the orange, monarch like colors of their wings

Dead, burnt scrub oak branches contrast against the live green growth

Here are some pictures:






Then I came home to the ice plant in full bloom.


The colors pop when seen live as opposed to these pictures. Get out and enjoy!

 

Went to Moab Thursday June 15 to Monday June 19 with my daughter.
Here is a map showing the trails. Thursday night, we camped a little north-west of "State Trust Lands Spanish Valley Block". Friday we headed south on 191, then west/north west on the red Kane Creek Canyon trail. Saturday we took the green Hurrah Pass trail, then part of yellow Chicken Corners to where it intersects with red Lockhart Basin and drove south. Sunday we drove west past Needles Campground into red Elephant Hill in the Needles District. Monday we drove home.


Thursday June 15
Left home around 11:00 am, drove 365 miles and arrived at Moab to a rainstorm around 4:30 pm. Ate dinner at Moab Diner, which has fast, excellent service. The storm ended by the time we finished eating. We took Behind the Rocks road to the campsites behind Picture Frame arch where we set up camp.

I took my daughter on a short hike and climb to the arch.




Then played various songs on my violin inside the arch.


We hiked back to camp and tried out the new Lava Box, which worked great. Kicks out more heat than I expected.


We read and watched the sky change colors over the La Sals as the sun set. The evening was peaceful as there was only one other group around, no ATVs or generators, the end to a perfect day.

 

Camped that exact spot. Great area

 

Friday June 16
We entered Kane Creek Canyon at 9:00 at the Hwy 191 entrance heading north and exited at Hurrah Pass around 4:30. Kane Creek is beautiful with rocky then sandy terrain and dozens of water crossings with water no more than wheel center cap deep. There was no one on the trail until we saw a few of side by sides near the end. I chose to go the downhill direction thinking I might need gravity assist and I did. Holy Crap! The first part of Kane Creek kicked my ass! I turtled three times, which delayed us about 2 hours. At the first high center, I used the High Lift on the rock sliders and had to lift high enough to overcome droop. Then I realized the jack happens to fit in the spokes of my wheels. It was easier to lift the individual tires and placed rocks underneath them to clear the frame. I was so hung up on one obstacle that I had to lift and place rocks under 3 tires. I wish I hadn't aired down. I could have used an extra half inch clearance.
A few pictures:










Preparing to turtle








Yes! made it!


At the Kane Creek/Hurrah Pass intersection ...




... is Legends E campground, where we found site 5 open:





I am glad I tried Kane Creek and survived with a few scratches on the frame, sliders and skid plates but I probably won't try it in the future. This trail tested the limits of my capabilities on 32" tires.

 

Kane Creek is no joke. Sure you don't want to try going up it?

 

LOL! I think I’d have to install Speedracer’s “Mach 5 Button A” mod to my truck before attempting to go uphill.

 

Saturday June 17
Woke up and broke down camp. Got on the trail before 8:00 am to cover the 47 miles scheduled for the day.
Drove up Hurrah Pass and ate breakfast at the summit.


Drove down Hurrah Pass to ...


... the scenic Chicken Corners trail along the Colorado River ...


... until it intersects with Lockhart Basin at the rubber chicken laced sign.


Lockhart Basin was beautiful. The first 1.5 miles is uphill with a few "hood blocking the view" climbs.




The most challenging obstacle is steep and narrow at around the 1.5 mile mark before a final switchback. The white arrow in the picture shows a little bit of its exit.


The rest of the trail is packed dirt with gorgeous scenery and enough intermittent obstacles to keep the drive interesting. We had the trail to ourselves.








Stopped at Indian Falls and waded in the water.


Stayed at Hamburger Rock campground.


Had to refuel so we drove 45 minutes to Monticello, got ice, and ate dinner. Enjoyed the sunset on the drive back to end a wonderful day.

 

Is there not fuel at the needles outpost still? Or did you not want to pay $8/gal?

 

I had read there was gas at the outpost, however when I drove the 1.5 miles past the Needles Visitor Center and looked around, I could only find campsites and bathrooms. Maybe I did not look hard enough.

Edit
Now I see what I did wrong. Gas is located before the Visitors center, not after it like I had in my notes. Live and learn.

 

The outpost is before the visitor center. Looks like they still sell fuel, it's always expensive though!

 

Sunday June 18 and Monday June 19
Left Hamburger Rock campground around 8:00 am and headed into Needles District ...


... to ride Elephant Hill, a fun, beautiful trail. Definitely worthwhile. Challenging obstacles but nowhere near as difficult as Kane Creek or the last obstacle before the switchback at Lockhart Basin, since high centering is not an issue. There is an initial steep climb, a section where it is recommended to drive backwards then a switchback down a steep incline.




The rest of the trail is scenic with a few rock formations strewn along the way.




A narrow chute, which can be difficult for wide vehicles, as evidenced by the scrape marks on the walls.


Stayed at Devil's Kitchen #1 campground, which is sheltered and windy enough to keep bugs away.


The empty campground has 4 sites containing a few slots to explore.


After dinner we took a short hike among some of the needles.




Monday morning, we broke down camp and headed back out towards home.


Winkle performed exceptional again. 75 -80 mph out, off road trails Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon morning, then a comfortable 75 - 80 mph, with air conditioner on, back home.
Although upon startup in Silverthorne after refueling, it did throw a P0171 code. I cleared the code using the Torque Pro app on the Android head unit and it hasn't reappeared. Investigation underway.


Edit: After driving the truck for 2 months, the code has not reappeared. Checked all vacuum hoses for leaks and cleaned the MAF. Possibly the pressure reduction upon opening the gas cap at altitude caused a measurement to be out of tolerance upon startup.

 

165000 miles
Issue: Radio signals seem weak, with occasional static on some stations.

Solution: Installed a new antenna from Crutchfield.



Original antenna connections looked OK to me. The new antenna definitely provides a stronger signal. Static no longer an issue. New antenna is not exactly the same as the original but it is close enough for me. I guess my Made in China head unit likes the Made in China antenna better then the original antenna.