Colorado Land Cruisers is a four-wheel drive club based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and sanctioned by Toyota Land Cruisers Association. We are organized to bring together Toyota owning families and individuals interested in exploring Colorado four-wheel drive trails.
Is everyone ready for
SNOW? Rumor has it this is going to be
a good winter. Well, good depending on
how you look at it. Some people like snow, some don’t. Like it or not we need to be prepared for
it. Making sure the heater in your vehicle works, finding your chains, or
putting a sleeping bag in the trunk.
These are some things most of us do without really thinking about, but
there is one thing I always forget or put off to the last minute… windshield
wipers! I am the guy you always see in
the first storm at Napa buying new blades or cleaner. Anyway, our next run is September 18th to Iron Mike/Halfmoon. This would be a fun overnighter, and maybe
the last chance this year to go camping. It can get chilly at night so bring
extra warm stuff.
“Remember we’re all
in this together, I’m pullin’ for ya!”
Andy “Minisrule”
Johnson
President – CLC
It would seem that most who initially planned to make this run followed the advice from the weatherman and stayed home. The forecast was for snow above 9,000’ as well as rain. As we set up camp, on Friday evening, with light sprinkles falling, we were able to get the tent up, and covered with a tarp, just about the same time darkness set in and the rain stopped. We were able to grill burgers, have a good meal and enjoy a nice fire. Someone had left a nice pile of wood, which kept dry. I thank them for that. The clouds broke and we enjoyed seeing a nearly full moonrise. There is something magical about being out in crisp clear air and watching the moon come up like that. It turned out to be a chilly night, but we were well prepared and were snug and warm in our tent. I hardly noticed Andy roar in at 3 AM, followed by Bart at 4:30 AM. We got a good nights sleep, and when I got up to start the coffee, Andy was up, and we had a beautiful clear, crisp morning. All the tall grass had frost covering it. We fired up the Coleman stove, and soon the fragrant smell of coffee was adding to the clear, clean mountain air. As we were finishing breakfast, we heard Norm coming up the road. He saw our camp, and came through the large guardian mud puddle at the entrance. We waited for a while, looking for others to join us, but soon realized that we were it. So we had 2 FJ40’s and Andy’s MiniToy. We aired down in preparation to start the run up Holy Cross. I didn’t realize it, but I had forgotten to do something I always do when I air down. Our camp was only about a mile from the trailhead and when we got to the trailhead, we shifted to 4WD, and up the hill we went. Now, to those who’ve made the run, you realize that about a quarter of a mile from the start is a small, innocent and of not much consequence set of rocks to go through/over. It is not really an obstacle even, just some rocks in the trail. Norm was leading, and I didn’t see his line, so I picked one and started through. Much to my surprise, my FJ faltered, and didn’t want to go. So I backed up and shifted lines and tried again. Same result. I then locked the rear and had the same result, only this time; the front reared up, and shifted to the right about a foot and slammed my right front fender in to a large rock. I am happy to report, though I sustained a dented right front fender, the rock remained undamaged. About this time, as I tried again, Andy noticed the front tire was not trying to turn, and Norm asked Andy to check the left hub, while he checked the right hub. Neither was locked! This was what I forgot to do when I aired down! As if by magic, with the hubs locked, the rocky bump in the trail became but a memory. The lower part of the trail is fun and is a good warm up for the upper part of the trail. The lower section, which is one way up, is about 2 miles long. At that point there is a parking lot for hikers, which is accessible by SUV road. A sign notes that beyond here damage is likely, and that a tow truck is no longer an option. And here the true Holy Cross trail starts. The trail follows along French Creek, which is on the left going up. There are only 3 “real” obstacles on the trail. (But, believe me, the entire trail is one long obstacle!) The 1st is about a mile up from the mid parking lot, and has an “easy” route – I say easy, in that rolling down to French creek is not an option. And of course, a more difficult line in which bathing in French creek is a possible option. Norm and Andy made short work of the difficult line, while I chose the easy line. We were stopped for a while watching a group of jeepers out of Denver with an open diff Cherokee working up the easy line on this obstacle as well as a prepared Sami, though terribly underpowered. The obstacle challenged them. Good group of folks though. We went on ahead to the 2nd obstacle, French Creek crossing. The obstacles change from year to year as well as day to day. This year, the “easy” route was blocked by 2 rocks about 4’ apart. So, the line was across the middle, and a challenging line it was. Norm was first to make the attempt, and while he had a little difficulty, it was a challenge. FJ40’s with their short wheelbase just can’t bridge the gaps sometimes. Even with Norm’s stretched wheelbase he needed to pull cable to get across. After watching Norm, I knew it would be fool hardy for me the even try, so I elected to park and watch. Andy, with 37” TSR’s, dual transfers, with a crawler low twisted by a 4.3L GM V6 had no trouble at all. Linda and I had decided that we would walk on up to Holy Cross City, since it is only about 0.8 miles from there. I had wanted to try Holy Crosses 3rd obstacle which is on the upper trail above Holy Cross City, but not this year. But we decided that it would be nice to get back to camp early so Norm and Joan could set up their tent, and we could have a nice relaxing supper and evening. And that’s what we did. It was great to have a relaxing enjoyable meal for a change. Norm brought horseshoes, so we relaxed pitching shoes before dinner. Dinner was a community affair, and the camaraderie around the fire was great. We were all worn out and turned in about 11PM. Sunday dawned bright and clear, and we had a lazy morning brunch, a real game of horse shoes, broke camp and headed home. We had a great run with great friends. You should have been with us!
Darryl
Remember: Oil in transmissions and transfer cases has nothing else to think about but how to leak out. If you are seeing some fresh oil drops in your skid plate or where you park, you may need to take a look at the rear seal in your transfer case. Oil seal leakage never stops, or gets better unless, of course, all the oil leaks out. I am finding on older Cruisers, while parts are available, sometimes you need the part NOW. Not tomorrow. I took the seal over to Whistler Bearing in North Colorado Springs, where they measured it, and handed me a Federal Mogul 45X62X8 oil seal for $3 less than the tomorrow seal. Such a deal!
Next
Run ~ IronMike/HalfMoon ~ Sept 18, 2004
Meet 7am; leave 7:30am from the Western station 3 miles east of Woodland Park. IronMike/HalfMoon is between Mt Elbert and Mt Massive, south of Leadville. Bring lunch, a jacket and your camera! If you are thinking about overniting, call Andy, 338-3384. Kendall is planning to lead.
Next
CLC Meeting ~ September 21, 2004 7:00PM
Mark your calendar for CLC’s next meeting, Liberty Toyota, North. See you there!
Road Closure ~ 322A off
the Mt Herman road.
Sad to report the forest service has closed 322A. Linda and I were just over it in mid July. It was a neat little road. Seems that the idiots just couldn’t stay on the road and out of the creek in the wetlands.
ALWAYS do your part, so all following can do theirs.
FOR
SALE ~ FOR SALE ~ FOR SALE
LC 3spd transfer case. Vacuum shift. (I believe it can work with your floor shifter parts.) $200
LC "South Africa" spec radiator: 3-row, staggered tubes, high fin count. Needs rodding out. $50
LC poly spring bushings (21) New in packages (I used 3 of them) $20
Original LC leaf
springs (4). One center pin broken, but all leaves included. Good for
spring-over??? $100
Sam Grivy ~ (719) 494-1226
1972 FJ40 front axle. Includes housing, both axles, hubs, bearings, and brakes. NO 3rd member. $125/???
Darryl ~ (719) 593-9829 ~ editor@coloradolandcruisers.org