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Shran
Junk Collector
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Solid Axle Swap
Truck of Month
Just got back from another run with the Texas crowd that I wheel with. We were going to go to Kentucky this year and run the Kentucky Adventure Trail but decided to go to Arkansas instead in hopes of avoiding the flooding. Last minute planning found us on the Ozarks Overland Adventure Trail (in the rain, go figure.) Really bummed that I am missing the TRS event this year but I had this one on the calendar since 2023.
I think we ran about 1/3 to 1/2 of the OOAT. The map is broken up into five "days", some of which are harder than others. It doesn't have to be run in order though. I took my '92 Explorer again like usual. My wife and step son rode along. In the group we also had a 2014 Super Duty, 2022 Super Duty Tremor, 2007 Duramax, 2014 Ram 1500, and a Chevy Colorado Bison. They all had trailers. We were the only ones in a tent this time.
Our first day was relatively mild but I had to winch a few times because my new AVM hubs are not working worth a crap. There were a number of creek crossings, mud pits and deep ruts. The hub problem was super annoying - they would neither lock completely nor unlock completely. They would also unlock when in the lock position and make a clicking noise in 2wd when unlocked. I haven't taken them apart yet. Damn good thing I had a winch (more to come on that later) but I was really not happy to have a locker and brand new "awesome" hubs and still be stuck in 2wd.
Here is the first spot I had to winch out of, just high centered in the ruts was all.
Day 2 was mostly scenic stuff, we camped near a really cool waterfall. The plan was to stay here two nights but there was rain forecasted and we didn't want to get stuck there due to high water.
Day 3 began with giant deep mud pits, sorry for the screen grab from a video but this thing was past my comfort level. My door seals kind of suck so I ended up taking in some mud on the driver's side. Still very much on the struggle bus with the hubs but they did at least stay locked through this particular mud hole:
After that we stopped at the Union School, which you should really stop at if you can. It is a 2 room school but it reminds me a lot of the 4 room school I attended. It's open to visitors and you can wander through & look at the artifacts.
After that was mostly scenic stuff and a couple water crossings to get to the next camp (Haw Creek Campground.)
One last stop for the day was Bub's Cabin. This place is really cool, much like the school it is also open to walk around in and it's set up just like it was when it was lived in (probably at least 40 years ago.) Bub Pearson is the current owner, he is not related to the original owners at all but keeping the place maintained and in good shape is a hobby for him. If you go there, he might be there doing chores, as he was when we stopped by. He is 90 and a very nice guy, full of stories and trivia about the property. If you see him there... DO stop and talk to him... but plan on being there a bit because he likes to talk. Do plan on offering to help with chores if you have time. He has a list of things to do. It is a small price to pay to see such a cool museum in the middle of nowhere.
Day 4: this was supposed to be Day 4 of 5 but ended up being our last trail day. We left camp late in the morning and went to Oark and ate at the general store there (excellent place to eat, by the way.)
The plan at that point was to run a couple of shorter trails that would get us back to Haw Creek Campground. At about 1PM we started running into some very technical rock crawling stuff. I don't have any pictures but it was right at the top end of my comfort zone for a small rig with small tires... If I didn't have skid plates everywhere, I would have lost a driveshaft or the transfer case, judging from the gouges in my main skid plate. I had to winch a lot but at least the lockout hubs and front locker were working now.
About halfway through that mess, my winch quit working. There was a very difficult obstacle that I had to get pulled through on a tow strap but made it without any damage. The rest of the crew took f o r e v e r to make it and almost everyone had to winch... by that point it was about 4PM and it started raining. We were driving uphill, in the mud, through more deep mud pits/tree roots/rocks. I think we were all just focused on getting back and were pretty irritated that it had gotten so late in the day with terrible weather.
We did make it back to camp, ate dinner and went to bed under the threat of 1" of rain and flash flooding signs all around the campground. That never transpired fortunately, just a few sprinkles. At least our camp site had a really nice view (and giant ass spiders)
Day 5: We decided the night before that were were all burned out on wheeling. Nothing on the route was more technical than what we did previously so we decided to call it while we were still ahead! So we woke up late, packed up camp, said our goodbyes and hit the road at about 10AM. Our plan was to drive back to Rapid City in one day... 1005 miles... ETA 1:34AM when we left the campground.
I think the Explorer woke up at some point this week like this...
Somewhere in Missouri, I think maybe around Branson, I thought "that whining noise is kind of annoying."
By the time we hit Kansas City, it was more like "it's a bit loud."
We stopped for a picture in Nebraska City IA and when we pulled away from the stop sign, it was a lot like "I'm having trouble hearing anyone else talk in the vehicle."
As it turns out mud is not a good lubricant for wheel bearings and is only good for about 500 miles. So we stopped at AutoZone in Council Bluffs and did a parking lot rebuild. I finished up with that at about 10PM... ETA to Sioux Falls said 12:45AM... we were debating getting a hotel room but decided to just drive through the night.
I pulled into my driveway in Rapid City at 5:05 AM on Saturday... what a trip.
I think we ran about 1/3 to 1/2 of the OOAT. The map is broken up into five "days", some of which are harder than others. It doesn't have to be run in order though. I took my '92 Explorer again like usual. My wife and step son rode along. In the group we also had a 2014 Super Duty, 2022 Super Duty Tremor, 2007 Duramax, 2014 Ram 1500, and a Chevy Colorado Bison. They all had trailers. We were the only ones in a tent this time.
Our first day was relatively mild but I had to winch a few times because my new AVM hubs are not working worth a crap. There were a number of creek crossings, mud pits and deep ruts. The hub problem was super annoying - they would neither lock completely nor unlock completely. They would also unlock when in the lock position and make a clicking noise in 2wd when unlocked. I haven't taken them apart yet. Damn good thing I had a winch (more to come on that later) but I was really not happy to have a locker and brand new "awesome" hubs and still be stuck in 2wd.
Here is the first spot I had to winch out of, just high centered in the ruts was all.
Day 2 was mostly scenic stuff, we camped near a really cool waterfall. The plan was to stay here two nights but there was rain forecasted and we didn't want to get stuck there due to high water.
Day 3 began with giant deep mud pits, sorry for the screen grab from a video but this thing was past my comfort level. My door seals kind of suck so I ended up taking in some mud on the driver's side. Still very much on the struggle bus with the hubs but they did at least stay locked through this particular mud hole:
After that we stopped at the Union School, which you should really stop at if you can. It is a 2 room school but it reminds me a lot of the 4 room school I attended. It's open to visitors and you can wander through & look at the artifacts.
After that was mostly scenic stuff and a couple water crossings to get to the next camp (Haw Creek Campground.)
One last stop for the day was Bub's Cabin. This place is really cool, much like the school it is also open to walk around in and it's set up just like it was when it was lived in (probably at least 40 years ago.) Bub Pearson is the current owner, he is not related to the original owners at all but keeping the place maintained and in good shape is a hobby for him. If you go there, he might be there doing chores, as he was when we stopped by. He is 90 and a very nice guy, full of stories and trivia about the property. If you see him there... DO stop and talk to him... but plan on being there a bit because he likes to talk. Do plan on offering to help with chores if you have time. He has a list of things to do. It is a small price to pay to see such a cool museum in the middle of nowhere.
Day 4: this was supposed to be Day 4 of 5 but ended up being our last trail day. We left camp late in the morning and went to Oark and ate at the general store there (excellent place to eat, by the way.)
The plan at that point was to run a couple of shorter trails that would get us back to Haw Creek Campground. At about 1PM we started running into some very technical rock crawling stuff. I don't have any pictures but it was right at the top end of my comfort zone for a small rig with small tires... If I didn't have skid plates everywhere, I would have lost a driveshaft or the transfer case, judging from the gouges in my main skid plate. I had to winch a lot but at least the lockout hubs and front locker were working now.
About halfway through that mess, my winch quit working. There was a very difficult obstacle that I had to get pulled through on a tow strap but made it without any damage. The rest of the crew took f o r e v e r to make it and almost everyone had to winch... by that point it was about 4PM and it started raining. We were driving uphill, in the mud, through more deep mud pits/tree roots/rocks. I think we were all just focused on getting back and were pretty irritated that it had gotten so late in the day with terrible weather.
We did make it back to camp, ate dinner and went to bed under the threat of 1" of rain and flash flooding signs all around the campground. That never transpired fortunately, just a few sprinkles. At least our camp site had a really nice view (and giant ass spiders)
Day 5: We decided the night before that were were all burned out on wheeling. Nothing on the route was more technical than what we did previously so we decided to call it while we were still ahead! So we woke up late, packed up camp, said our goodbyes and hit the road at about 10AM. Our plan was to drive back to Rapid City in one day... 1005 miles... ETA 1:34AM when we left the campground.
I think the Explorer woke up at some point this week like this...
Somewhere in Missouri, I think maybe around Branson, I thought "that whining noise is kind of annoying."
By the time we hit Kansas City, it was more like "it's a bit loud."
We stopped for a picture in Nebraska City IA and when we pulled away from the stop sign, it was a lot like "I'm having trouble hearing anyone else talk in the vehicle."
As it turns out mud is not a good lubricant for wheel bearings and is only good for about 500 miles. So we stopped at AutoZone in Council Bluffs and did a parking lot rebuild. I finished up with that at about 10PM... ETA to Sioux Falls said 12:45AM... we were debating getting a hotel room but decided to just drive through the night.
I pulled into my driveway in Rapid City at 5:05 AM on Saturday... what a trip.
,s and TAINT!
