Some more pics from a scouting trip in the Manastash/Naches area of Washington.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/crosscliff.jpg
A cross at the front of a cliff. Rusted out vehicle parts were down below.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/flowers.jpg
Spring is here.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/nwmoab.jpg
My mini Moab photo.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/nwmoab3.jpg
Posing on a cliff.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/rmirror.jpg
FlyingS and ATH cover my 6.

http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/watersnow.jpg
One of our more difficult crossings. Video later.
http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/chipstuck.jpg
The other side before the mud hill.
http://xterra4x4.com/images/bin/FunnyRocks/rainier.jpg
Mt. Rainier

That crossing looks kinda gutsy though I can imagine first coming up to it & not thinking there was much to it.
Anyone sustain any rocker panel damage???

Especially the shot of FlyingS and ATH in the side mirror.

:sun:

Originally posted by xterrabull
That crossing looks kinda gutsy though I can imagine first coming up to it & not thinking there was much to it.
Anyone sustain any rocker panel damage???

No, but close. You can see the ice coming up to my rockerpanel there. It was tough for a lot of reasons. Going straight across there wasn't enough room to drop down, so you nosed right into a ice shelf on the other side.

There was a tree on the back right, so we had to watch out for it (a few rubbings but nothing bad). I got out my shovel and chipped down the far side ice. We also found a fallen branch and put it in the stream next to the ice. Then we were able to get the nose across.

Once on the other side there were huge trenches in the snow (now ice), and a muddy hill beyond that.

I went first and had to winch up and out. FlyingS came second with his ARB/winch. Then we had to hook two 30ft tow ropes together with a d-ring, attach those to FlyingS and ATH. FlyingS stayed winched to the tree and pulled both of them up the hill with the winch and tire assist.

Then we ran out of trees and winch line, so FlyingS had to tug ATH up the final part.

It was a chore, but the winches performed wonderfully.

Originally posted by Schludwiller

It was a chore, but the winches performed wonderfully.

And totally convinced my wife that I NEED an ARB and winch :smoka:

Ben

Originally posted by Antitree_hugger


And totally convinced my wife that I NEED an ARB and winch :smoka:

Ben

But wasn't that all part of the master plan? ;)

Originally posted by xterrabull


But wasn't that all part of the master plan? ;)

Ha! Sure must have been. You should have seen Ben. Stalling on steep hills when he looses traction, sliding sideways down hills. Balancing precariously over ledges.

"Hey Honey! See this is why I need better equipment for my truck."

And you know what? It worked! :D

From the "posing on a cliff" pic, it doesn't appear that your springs are sagging at all (i.e. your rake is still stock-ish). True, or just appears that way?

BTW - I really dig the "spring flowers" shot and the Mt. Rainier pic. :)

Originally posted by Philosopher
From the "posing on a cliff" pic, it doesn't appear that your springs are sagging at all (i.e. your rake is still stock-ish). True, or just appears that way?



Yes, my springs are quite fine right now. Just when I put a good load in the rear they flatten out pretty quickly. I'm looking for solutions before putting on the KMA and SSR. They are the farthest point beyond the axle and will be causing a lot of droop.

I bet the mountain is out today.

Originally posted by wqbang
I bet the mountain is out today.

I thought you might like that Mt. Rainier picture. :)

I got new nissan spring packs in late january and they are already sagging under the weight of the rear bumper. sagged by a good 3/4" or so from what i can tell. and it'll get worse once i put the new VERY improved skid row modified version on there friday. i added features

mmmmm...powdercoating.....

i will probably be going for the ranch add-a-leafs here shortly to compensate/slow downt he process.

Originally posted by Synchro

i will probably be going for the ranch add-a-leafs here shortly to compensate/slow downt he process.

I wish people would stop copying me.

YOU'RE WELCOME! :)


:bonghitte

ummm.. i live in Washington;)

Originally posted by Antitree_hugger


And totally convinced my wife that I NEED an ARB and winch :smoka:

Ben



Note to self: Remind Schludwiller to invite me along on the next scouting trip. Get lost and stuck to justify winch and GPS.

Originally posted by Philosopher


I wish people would stop copying me.

YOU'RE WELCOME! :)

ok, smart guy. next time, i'll let you leave the c-clamps on. or whatever obvious problem you are running into. :flipa:

Originally posted by Philosopher
From the "posing on a cliff" pic, it doesn't appear that your springs are sagging at all (i.e. your rake is still stock-ish). True, or just appears that way?

BTW - I really dig the "spring flowers" shot and the Mt. Rainier pic. :)




Ha...Schlud's got the tallest springs I've seen yet on an Xterra! I don't know what he's complaining about. If I were in Schlud's position, I would just add helper springs for carrying extra loads. Then again, if he wants to replace them maybe I can get a good deal on his and I'll add helper springs to them! :D

BTW, I think I've actually gained some clearance in the back since I unloaded all my Moab gear. I'll have to measure again when I'm on level ground, but it actually appears that I'm at about the same as where I was before putting the bumper on. Ok, must go measure!

Originally posted by ChuckH


Ha...Schlud's got the tallest springs I've seen yet on an Xterra! I don't know what he's complaining about. If I were in Schlud's position, I would just add helper springs for carrying extra loads. Then again, if he wants to replace them maybe I can get a good deal on his and I'll add helper springs to them! :D

BTW, I think I've actually gained some clearance in the back since I unloaded all my Moab gear. I'll have to measure again when I'm on level ground, but it actually appears that I'm at about the same as where I was before putting the bumper on. Ok, must go measure!

Taller than Andy's?? That guy has like 5 feet between the axle and bumpstops!! My springs need serious help! With only 200lbs loaded, I am practically riding on the bumpstops!

Originally posted by Mosi


Taller than Andy's?? That guy has like 5 feet between the axle and bumpstops!! My springs need serious help! With only 200lbs loaded, I am practically riding on the bumpstops!

Yes, Schlud's got atleast an inch over Andy (That sounds soooo wrong!). Without the KMA on, my truck was about the same height as Andy's or maybe only a very small amount less in the back and Schlud's was 1-1/2 inches over me. For comparison, Schlud had 5-1/4 inches between the axle and the bumpstop and I had 3-3/4 inches. I still haven't looked to see what I have now. You had what...1/2 inch when we first got to Moab?

Schlud's truck has some serious rake to it. Remember how people were jacking up Camaros and such back in the 70's? That's how Schlud's truck looks...or atleast it did last time I saw it.

OK, I have between 3-1/4 and 3-1/2 inches between the axle and the bumpstops now. :( Can't get too accurate because my driveway is not level.

Originally posted by ChuckH


OK, I have between 3-1/4 and 3-1/2 inches between the axle and the bumpstops now. :( Can't get too accurate because my driveway is not level.

I've got a big whopping 2.5 inches between the bumpstop and axle with no extra gear inside! I am really close to taking it to the dealership so I can get the "Oh I'm sorry Mr. Mosi, you take your X off the pavement so NO WARRANTY FOR YOU! What's that? You and all of the others out there with Xterra Web sites have helped sell hundreds of Xterras? WE DON'T CARE! "

Okay, a bit harsh.... I am just preparing for the worst :frog:

Wow...you actually bounced up quite a bit after unloading though because you had maybe an inch max when we got to Moab! Remember, I have the shackles and still only have an inch over your truck. Of course I also have 120 lbs of bumper, a toolbox, and a subwoofer back there right now. I think a stock Xterra has about 3 inches or just over under the bump stops, so you're not really that far off and you have those skid plates installed. More than anything, I think you just carry a lot of crap or your springs just aren't very "springy" and aren't supporting when they need to. I'll try and keep my tape measure in my truck and check in a flat spot, but I don't anticipate too much difference. I think it's quite clear Nissan didn't put stiff enough springs on the Xterra and that's probably the main reason the load capacity is so wimpy (3 of me in one would overload it!). They were trying to keep the ride softer for the soccer moms I guess! :(

I will probably end up getting helper springs, as the National springs seem to be pretty soft too. Yes, they are taller when unloaded, but Ian Firth's really compressed when he was loaded up, unless that's the way the truck is suppose to sit with the 3 inch lift. I do know that his truck was lower in the back than Schlud's. I would rather give up some ride comfort and have the extra support.

Atleast you won't have to worry about it at Mt. Hood!

I'd go to the dealer, but I'd have to remove the shackles and the bumper, then would have a hard time convincing them the springs are weak. Besides, new ones would just sag soon enough.

I wonder if Schlud's going to hurt us for turning the Manastash thread into a spring thread? :D

FYI - I have 5 3/4" between bump stop and rear axle.

Originally posted by Philosopher
FYI - I have 5 3/4" between bump stop and rear axle.



Is that with or without gear?

Originally posted by Mosi


Is that with or without gear?



That is loaded down ... with an empty truck, probably more like 6.5 - 7" after installing the AAL. :D

I just went to the dealer and told them my springs are toast. He said "go check out a new X on the lot and see if there is a difference". I checked it out and said "yeah, there is twice as much space on the new ones". He said "okay, we will order some and get you in next week". DAMN!! He did it without even having a tech look at my truck! I guess it helps that he offroads too because he didn't give me any shit. SWEET!

Very cool, congrats. When I went in to get mione replaced, all I had to say was "extended warranty" and they were installed a few days later. :)

Grabbed a shot from video of Ben taking his wife down Funny Rocks.

That was fun. How did the shot of us all on the stair turn out?

ben

Pretty good. I'll have more over the weekend. Plus some video!

SWEET!!

So you are not going to Mt. Hood?

Nope. I can't go on all the trips. I'm going to finish waxing the truck, go to a couple of parties and hang around town.

Plus I figure I'll need to finish scouting the trail for Naches sometime soon before the June trip.

Originally posted by Schludwiller
Pretty good. I'll have more over the weekend. Plus some video!

Hey Ian did you ever get these pics done/ready? and how about the video of me taking the wife down the rocks?

Ben

LOL. Oh yeah that one of the snow. I had forgot about that. I'll have to look for the tape.