We were starting up Powell Canyon, in west-central Nevada. It was the start of what was to be about a three-day excursion. The roads were really smooth. (Tourists come through this area all the time – in passenger vehicles, of course.) We were looking forward to a relaxing trip to… Continue reading
We were on a trail called Jackpot, on the outskirts of Death Valley. A friend of mine was behind me in a used Grand Cherokee he had purchased recently. About halfway up the trail his entire steering mechanism suddenly fell apart. The steering box came right off the side of… Continue reading
A driver wants to make a 90 degree left turn down a steep hill and cannot see the trail. The Trial Leader offers to spot, and stands to the left of the vehicle. He focuses on the front wheels. The vehicle begins to roll into the turn. Soon a loud… Continue reading
How often has this happened to you? As you turn out of a drive way, you hear thump-thump as a rear wheel jumps the curb. Intuitively, you know what happened. But do you fully understand the chain of events? Now you’re in a parking lot. You spot an open stall… Continue reading
We four-wheelers customize our vehicles a lot! From tires and lift kits to bumpers, winches and auxiliary lighting. And that’s just the exterior of the vehicle. Inside, we load up on assorted electrical and electronic gear (two-way radios, laptops, fridge/freezers, and such). Extra wiring is required to supply all that… Continue reading
The new year is a good time to revisit some fundamentals of four-wheeling. Key among those is how to drive on gravel and dirt roads. After all, four-wheeling necessarily involves driving on unpaved surfaces. First, we’ll look at the hazards. Then we’ll review steps you can take for safer driving… Continue reading
Bruce was in a bind. While far into the Rubicon Trail, both axles on his Wrangler broke. Inquiring into how that happened, he had no idea. Maybe they were just worn out! Hopping in a buddy’s car, they drove out to get cell coverage. Bruce dialed up a junkyard in… Continue reading
“Begin with the end in mind” is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things. Stephen R. Covey, “7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” That passage is from Habit 2 of Covey’s best-selling… Continue reading
Whew. Drove an exhilarating event recently. Boss wanted to hit Death Valley for the annual Death Valley Experience March 22-25. Hosted by the California Four Wheel Drive Association, this trip lived up to its name. What an experience it was! But ol’ Pickle came through with flying colors (well,… Continue reading
Tires. Axles. Control arms. Body and frame. You name it. Just about anything that could get damaged while off-road will at some point. More than once, for those who drive frequently. And some of those issues can be serious. But a lug nut? Who would think that a humble lug… Continue reading
Every four-wheeling excursion involves some preparation. Even individual components of the trip can require careful planning to ensure a smooth drive. This is especially true when negotiating hills. Whether climbing or descending, knowing how to handle certain situations can mean the difference between continuing on and getting stuck. Before tackling… Continue reading
Four-wheeling entails constant alertness and decision-making. Even easier courses require the driver to be focused at all times. Any sort of obstacle increases the decision-making process exponentially. Certain situations require knowing when to throttle up and when to back off to try again. Every instance is unique and requires sound… Continue reading
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