Sgt Ex

[Josh40601]

You know it!

 

[RangerSVT]

Looks like you had a good run. Any carnage/damage?

SVT

 

[Josh40601]

Kept getting hot, and it wasn't too hot of a day and the AC wasn't on. Not sure why. The e fans were not hooked up, so I hot wired then to the battery to help keep the temps down. It did the job, but was more of a bandaid than a fix. I hate cooling problems... My Ranger had them and I almost lost my mind because of it.

Only got hot when I was climbing hills with speed. Slow crawls was no issue. Just heavy load going uphill fast. Any thoughts?

 

[RangerSVT]

SVT is the same way. I got a few ideas, we'll work on em...

SVT

 

[Josh40601]

I'm thinking fan clutch or water pump. Slow crawling is no problem.

 

[RangerSVT]

Actually, I was going to mention how your fans are arranged. Also was going to say you can tee into your heater hoses (return hose) and run two lines down your frame rail and mount a cooler ( or heater core) in the back. This will do 2 things, give you another heat dissipation source and give you about 5 gallons more coolant capacity...just a couple things I plan to do, along with switching from two 10" fans to four 8" fans. I don't have a shroud, so almost half of my rad is not circulating air across the coils fast enough. The four 8's will give me more coverage and more cfm's....

SVT

 

[Josh40601]

The "T" Idea sounds pretty good. Does water flow into the heater core at all times or just when the heat/AC is on?

As far as the fan layout, there is dual 10" E-Fans mounted in front of the Radiator to pull fresh air in, and the factory mounted fan on the waterpump. Both have complete shrouds.

The PO said he never had a cooling problem in the rig. Which is why I was thinking something along the "failing part" line instead of "not good enough" line.

I think with the ease and the cheap cost of the fan clutch, water pump, and T-stat, i will replace those, flush the system, and likely plumb that rear cooler. Then comes the problem of where to mount it, and what size hose to use, or should i use line?

Of course, i forgot my phone at home, so I'll try and post a couple more pics here and there throughout today. Although, all the pics have been uploaded to Facebook, so if you are my FB friend, check the SGT Ex Album.

 

[Josh40601]

Start of the trail, Killin' Time

Tried this spot about 4 times before giving in and pulling cable. Back tire was in water and against a rock. Just couldn't get traction.

The trail was consistantly challenging throughout the whole venture

I say with a winch and 31s, almost anyone could do this trail.

 

[Josh40601]

Next up was Lower Rock Garden.

This one you will likely need at least a lock right or something in the rear, but still I say 31's would get you through. This is the same place Kevin and the Trucks! crew took that blue XJ/Cherokee project

 

[Josh40601]

That was the last sign Kristy took a pic of. The next few trails we ran were Railbed and Pinball. Railbed needed a little wheel speed in a couple spots as water was running down it the whole time. No pics. My camera woman rode along for these two.

Then we met up with a group called Appalacian Ride Runners, and they were awesome. They let us join their group, hooked me up with some Electrical tape, wire, and a tire plug, and were just good peoples.

They took us up to White Tail Crawl. This one was a bit more challenging. Two of the Jaheeps went first, and were locked front and rear on 35s and 37s. Both had a very hard time. The third was a YJ on tons and 40s locked F/R, and he did well until the very end. Then everyone looked at me. I wasn't going to do it... Then I said to hell with it, and took off.

 

[Josh40601]

The extra wheelbase and good spotter got me up the trail with no problems. I say a long wheelbase rig on 35s with a rear locker could do this one.

 

[Josh40601]

Next we went through another trail that was pretty much just a steep down hill grade, and thats it, so the stockers that were with those gents could have a little trail action too. Then we headed back to Pinball, the waterfall, and Railbed. we opted to spot for those guys as we just ran two of these trails this morning, and I still am not confident enough to run the waterfall. On the way up Railbed, the TJ on 37s snapped his rear axle when he bound up at the top. The YJ on 40s made it look like a walk in the park. The ARROC guys called it a day, and we headed towards Lion's Den....

 

[Josh40601]

we made it to Upper Rock Garden and it looked like a blast, so i had to try it out. It was getting towards later in the day, so confidence was growing.

 

[Josh40601]

Then it was off to the Den... Which seems like it is forever far away...
A crowd had gathered there as 3 rigs were going through.

One was a YJ that was linked, strectched, C/Os, 42s, atlas, you know, the whole 9. Since it still had a tub, it took a beating. The left rear corner of the tub was completely crushed, both doors were smashed, and LOTS of rock rash on the tube fenders. Sorry guys, no pics.

Second was a Yota Truggy on Propane, 4D Rockers, exo, Marlin crawler, and still running leafs. He was COMPLETELY tangled in logs beside the tree. After about 15 minutes of pulling and stacking and wiggling, he made it through the squeeze, where he laid it over to where the passenger side of the exo was lying on a rock.

Here is a pick right before he hit the rock

Then shortly after he was at the last obstacle and flopped his left side on a rock

This is the point i decided i was NOT taking the Sarge through this son of a bitch....

Next up was a former Comp Buggy that started life as a Jeep Liberty. It was still running the factory engine and transmission, and what looked to be part of a stock frame (I'm not sure if these trucks or unibody or not) with tube sub frames front and rear. C/Os, atlas, tons, full hydro, 42s, just awesome to watch this thing.

Coming around the corner

Starting the squeeze. This is where the Yota was stuck and where the YJ demolished his doors

He made it through with no problem

Then he decided to take the high line....

And Flopped

After this, we helped him get it back on all fours, he drove out no problem, and then we headed to the trail head as the sun was starting to go down.

All in all, this was one of the best parks out there. Only thing better so far has been Moab. I will be going here A LOT.

 

[railman]

looks like ya had a blast

wish I coulda made it......

l8r, John