OK, so July 4th is looking good. 3-day weekend. Drive down to Mammoth on Thursday after work, setup camp, and spend the weekend out there.
Linda and I are down. Who else?
Bart
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OK, so July 4th is looking good. 3-day weekend. Drive down to Mammoth on Thursday after work, setup camp, and spend the weekend out there.
Linda and I are down. Who else?
Bart
James, can we rely on you to get a campsite together on Thursday and provide directions? If we leave Reno around 5:30-6, we will probably get there around 8-9pm.
Let me know, otherwise it might just be easier to leave Friday morning.
I am thinking of hauling the canoe also.
Bart
I probably can't leave until friday morning(graveyard most likely thurs. night:mad:) Also, any Mtn. bike trails out there James?
That's cool, you can just meet us there if we decide to leave Thursday afternoon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ascinder
Bart
Campsite, no problem.
Bring the boat, lots of lakes, fishing, hiking and some very good mountain bike trails. The mountain will also be open for mountain biking as well, and I will have some free passes...
Best,
Sweeeeet. I can't wait. :)
Bart
So, are we planning on any wheeling? My front end is getting louder so I may be 2x
There are plenty of 4x4 options. Moderate trails to rock crawling.
What is the group consensus?
Best,
I am game for whatever, but if Clint's VX isn't running well on the front end, we don't have to. Personally, I am mostly interested in hanging out, drinking and eating like a pig, hiking and hopefully canoeing.Quote:
Originally Posted by snowtrooper1966
I guess the main question should be, what is the campsite like you have in mind, James? Can you let us know the options? Like, is a community campsite with showers and bathrooms, or is it more primitive with only an outhouse? Or is it totally primative, let us know bro! I will also have my dog, so if there is any issue there, let me know.
Thanks,
Bart
Here are some of the campsites I found, James, which ones are good, do you know?
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreat....shtml#mammoth
Bart
PS - Good means, not crowded, pretty views, etc. :)
Also, it looks like most of these campsites require reservations.
So lets get the campsite plans hammered out asap so we can make reservations. Its a holiday weekend, so I don't want to get screwed.
Bart
I am thinking Shady Rest or Lake Mary.
I know Shady has toilets. I can't remember if there are showers. I will check it out today and get back to you.
Best,
On that website I linked above, it says both of those spots are "Closed for the season" :confused: :confused: :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by snowtrooper1966
Is that for realizies or just outdated info?
Bart
Well, I just got off a not-so-encouraging phone call with the Mammoth Lakes ranger office. The lady told me that she does not know if the two sites you mentioned James, will be open. She said as of now, they are not.
Also, she said that the 4th of July weekend is their busiest weekend all summer, which is to be expected, but is still not very encouraging. She said it is difficult to get a reservation down there during this time.
Therefore, if we want to make this happen, we should probably act soon.
James, as a Mammoth Lakes area resident, are you sure you don't know of any "secret local spots" that we could camp in? Maybe just somewhere in the Inyo National Forest that is not a designated campsite? Or is that not allowed? I don't know what California's laws are regarding back country camping in National Forests.
Anyway, just a thought.
Bart
After looking around, I was thinking Twin Lakes campground would be the best spot, but checking online, all the reserved spots are taken. There are first come first served spots available @ Twin Lakes & Lake Mary.
I know for sure both campgrounds will be open on the 4th.
I will check around and see what I can find out about "secret spots"....
Best,
Maybe the weekend after the 4th0july?
Well, sure, we could, I was just hoping to have that extra day off....but if it doesn't work out, I'm down.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyronman
Bart
James, any updates? Do you think it will be too busy down there for the 4th?
CrnCnn/Ascinder: How are your vehicles? If we don't get down to Mammoth for the 4th, maybe we could do the Petroglyphs? James, would you be willing to come up this way if camping down there doesn't pan out?
Bart
I just looked at mine yesterday and saw nothing to obvious. I need new rotors that’s for sure but the clicking has got me. I lubed up the CV that was run with a loose boot but didn’t seem to fix it. I will look at my transfer case fluid and front diff levels soon. It is really loud in 4low. I wouldnt feel good about driving all the way there with out knowing whats wrong.
CrnCnn, is the clicking all the time, just when turning, just under acceleration...?
If you have the trooper skids you might check to see if the front plate has been bent towards the front of the drive shaft. Others and myself have had this problem.
Well I am pretty certain its the CV's but not 100%. I dont have any skid plates. It happens mostly under acceleration, havent noticed any change when turning. It really started on our Hells revenge trip in Moab. I was driving with an open boot most of the week cause my band came loose on the way Moab. There was plenty of grease so I let it go for a couple days. I may be regretting it now. I was going to pull the CV's and see were that left me but its a lot of work and I got lazy. I was thinking of pulling the front drive shaft and seeing if that made a difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by Triathlete
Unless you got some dirt or rocks in there that short of a period should not have done any damage. Have you tried thoroughly cleaning it and filling it with grease then putting the boot back on? Also usually when a CV goes bad you will notice a lot more clicking during turning. Try it in a parking lot with your windows down and see what you get. Maybe have someone out side try and narrow down where the noise is coming from.
Just throwing this out there but have you checked the oil level?
I didnt completely clean it so that could be. I just added more grease after the best inspection I could give with the tire off and the boot peeled back. The motor oil level is fine. I havent checked the front diff yet though. It usually only happens at 30mph or above under acceleration, when in 4hi. But pretty consistent in 4lo. Thanks for the input. I may have to call a Reno work meeting again soon. I know Beau and Bart both had things they wanted to get done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Triathlete
Get a can of brake cleaner and clean all the old grease out, let dry and repack with grease and put the boot back on. That may be all you need.
I'm game for Sunday. I need to do my diffs and transfer case.
Bart
Hey guys!
I have been scouting out trails the past few days. There is alot of stuff here. I could explore for weeks and not hit the same trail. I would hate to have anyone not up and running 100% and miss out, so let's see what pans out with Clint.
Best,
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowtrooper1966
Dont hold anything up on account of me. If I am not 4x in time I will just stay home.
Well, why couldn't you just take your Jeep? I mean, it would suck to not have your VX, but its better than staying home!!Quote:
Originally Posted by CrnCnn
Bart
Yeah right:eek:, that's why we got a winch, we can use you for the guinea pig:evil::rotate:Quote:
If I am not 4x in time I will just stay home.
Seriously though, Clint, what do you think is needed to get your VX back up to speed? Are you thinking major CV work?
Bart
Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a VX meet?Quote:
Originally Posted by nfpgasmask
Please dont use the word PIG when we are going into the woods.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ascinder
I am thinking but really not sure yet. I am going to investigate this weekend. Are you guys going to do some work on your this sunday?Quote:
Originally Posted by nfpgasmask
Are you guys thinking strictly VX peeps, or kind of a more-the-merryer deal.
I was going to bring 2 people W/me but was telling a few people to think about coming (IF I can even make it) along, since for us down here it's kind of a get-outta-town 3-day vAcA type of deal.
Just wondering
I don't see any reason to exclude anyone, especially if Clint may be driving the Jeep.
We can always print out a full size VX and paste it to the side of any non VX;)
Best,
Exactly! Obviously it would be ideal to drive the VX, but I would like to think that we are friends beyond the VehiCROSSes by now! :) That's doesn't mean I won't give you crap for being in a Jeep. ;) To me, I am mostly interested in seeing the Mammoth Lakes area, getting outside, hiking, canoeing, drinking and camping, and just plain hanging out and having a good time. I would go in whatever vehicle I can get there in!
And yes, the more the merrier!
Bart
I agree we can't exclude anyone... i will be driving the jeep!! HEHE! Clint says its too "plush" for his bottom!!:rotate:Quote:
Originally Posted by snowtrooper1966
LOL. Yeah, the VX is like that. Once you ride high in those comfy Recaros, nothing else seems to work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs. CRNCNN
Well James, do we have any updates from you? With this trip tenatively 3 weeks away, I highly doubt we are going to get a reservation at an "actual" campsite. So, have you any ideas where we can go? I think its time we get a real plan with real specifics in place here or else this trip ain't gonna happen. Sorry, I am a stickler for organization when it comes to these things.
That said, I am also still game for a Petroglyphs trip up this way. James, you are of course welcome to make the trek up here, and I would even be willing to put you up Thursday night so we can leave Friday morning. (We have a spare queen and a spare single for whoever you bring with).
Come hell or high water, I'm going somewhere that weekend!
Bart
I think we are still go!
The site I recommended (Twin Lakes) has some first-come-first-served spots, which I should have a good crack at. I have a plan to go up one of the proposed trails, which is 4X4 only that ends at a lake. I think we should be able to camp there, but not sure of there are any "facilities". In my recent exploring, I have found MANY campsites. We should have no problems...
Best,
OK, well, as far as crappers go, I will be purchasing one of these for me and Linda:Quote:
Originally Posted by snowtrooper1966
http://www.thepett.com/images/page/p...ettcombo-L.jpg
She better like it! ;) So I think we will be fine.
So, if you get a campsite for Thursday, that would be awesome. I think we should be able to get there around 8-9pm. Ascinder will probably have to come down Friday morning and meet up, right Ascinder?
I just want to make sure if we make the 3+ hour trek we have a place to camp. So, the weight is on you, James!!! :) Keep us up to date, dude!
Thanks,
Bart
What time are you planning on leaving? Cari works til 6 so we need to decide if we are gonna leave in the am with Beau or night time with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by nfpgasmask
Well, I can probably be on the road by 5:30, but I can wait for you guys too. My main concern, is that if James gets a spot, and is holding it, we need to get peeps in there so there are no issues with him getting bumped or whatever.
James, do you forsee any issue with us arriving after 9pm? Or should we just come down early on Friday?
Bart