pics from Nexterra's KIX-Off summer run yesterday, 6-5-10, pre stripped torsion bar adjuster....taken by my brother

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555820497076_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555807163744_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555793830412_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555787163746_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555783830413_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555773830414_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555770497081_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555760497082_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555740497084_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555730497085_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555723830419_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555720497086_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555707163754_1000002797508.jpg
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http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555657163759_1000002797508.jpg
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http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555633830428_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555627163762_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555613830430_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555597163765_1000002797508.jpg
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555593830432_1000002797508.jpg
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http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555573830434_1000002797508.jpg

nice! looks like fun. still have to paint that wiper fluid tank!

looks like a nice weekend.

Dude so lucky Jason had spares.

Dude so lucky Jason had spares.

LOL

If ANYONE would have spare torsion bar anchor/adjusters...it would be Jason.

:D

LOL

If ANYONE would have spare torsion bar anchor/adjusters...it would be Jason.

:D

Yup.

Man Brian your X is so sweet >.< awesome pics!

Great pictures Brian. I hope you had a good time despite the damage.

looked like fun dude!

great pics Brian....see ya next month. Didn't take any pics...waiting for my buddy to post up on my local forum w/ his.

awesome time.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk158/mene62374/Rausch%20Creek%20June%205th/PICT5058.jpg

Almost ran over this guy on 19.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk158/mene62374/Rausch%20Creek%20June%205th/PICT5057.jpg

it was a great day despite the damage....ran a few new trails and a few favorites (J, pizza rock)....i was stressing pretty bad when i busted my torsion bar anchor mostly because it was basically the worst trail damage i've taken so far and it could have prevented me from getting home....my mood definitely lightened when tim said he was bringing down jason and the spare parts...live and learn right?

overall a good trip with great people....if i didn't have stuff to do this morning i would have stayed out there overnight and hung out at the pub with everyone

thanks a ton for throwing this together tom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVs2dHLZOs

Awesome vid! Who was that at the end?

Tjtj

Here is a few....
http://www.expeditionr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_3589-1024x768.jpg
http://www.expeditionr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_3586-1024x768.jpg
http://www.expeditionr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_3584-1024x768.jpg
http://www.expeditionr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_3570-1024x768.jpg
http://www.expeditionr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_3582-1024x768.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVs2dHLZOs

great video Mike...like the commentary too :) That Jeep girl (Mollie) was cocky w/ her Heep...should of taken her on some hard stuff "D

Nice pics! Looks like fun...

gahhh the video is taking forever to load at work :(

great video Mike...like the commentary too :) That Jeep girl (Mollie) was cocky w/ her Heep...should of taken her on some hard stuff "D

“ah, this is nothing”; usually that someone’s famous last words. I’ve been with guys running lifted, locked, loaded and on 37’s that never would say that crap. Fail.

Haha I was thinking that same thing when I was watching it.

great video Mike...like the commentary too :) That Jeep girl (Mollie) was cocky w/ her Heep...should of taken her on some hard stuff "D

Yeah god she was cocky.
I almost wish she had broken something just so she couldn't bitch me out about all of the Xs breaking shit.

Yeah god she was cocky.
I almost wish she had broken something just so she couldn't bitch me out about all of the Xs breaking shit.

HAHA...tell her to follow me 1 day and see how that Heep does :) I'll take her on 13 or Yellow Jacket :D I'm such a bastard :)

That Jeep girl (Mollie) was cocky w/ her Heep...should of taken her on some hard stuff "D

Aren't they all? lol At least until they have to pull over to fix something. We've yet to make a trail run in my local club that didn't require somebody having to tow a jeep back to the parking lot or spend 2 hours on the trail fixing it. I like wheeling with nissans... we only stop to piss. :mocking: lmao

Great shots of Brian and nice video too. I really want to go up there and hit Rausch one day. Another destination to add to my wish list. :)

Awesome vid! Who was that at the end?

Me.

:D


Its rude to essentially tell the others on the trail with you that YOU are not challenged by it....but THEY were, etc.

Its TYPICALLY a sign of insecurity rather than conceit though...so, I recommend interpreting this sort of thing accordingly.

:D

Me.

:D


Its rude to essentially tell the others on the trail with you that YOU are not challenged by it....but THEY were, etc.

Its TYPICALLY a sign of insecurity rather than conceit though...so, I recommend interpreting this sort of thing accordingly.

:D

It looked like you went through that little rock garden in 2wd...you should of tried it backwards hahah :D

It looked like you went through that little rock garden in 2wd...you should of tried it backwards hahah :D

LOL

Gliding over rocks is what I built it to do....the funny thing is that the ride inside was way rockier than normal, as I do not have any rear shock right now....so except for the Revolvers - there's nothing to cushion the axle or body motions, etc.

The last time my wife went, she loved how it just soaked up all the rocks and whoop de doops, etc....this time, she says I gave her shaken baby syndrome.

On the plus side, she ALSO said..."you HAVE to get new shocks...."

:D


Bwah hah hah ha!



(I had to take them off as they are the wrong lengths now with the extra wheel travel...)

LOL

Gliding over rocks is what I built it to do....the funny thing is that the ride inside was way rockier than normal, as I do not have any rear shock right now....so except for the Revolvers - there's nothing to cushion the axle or body motions, etc.

The last time my wife went, she loved how it just soaked up all the rocks and whoop de doops, etc....this time, she says I gave her shaken baby syndrome.

On the plus side, she ALSO said..."you HAVE to get new shocks...."

:D


Bwah hah hah ha!



(I had to take them off as they are the wrong lengths now with the extra wheel travel...)

damn I forgot about you not having any rear shocks...well atleast the wife gave you the go ahead now to get some new ones...yes!!!

Yea I know why you built her for it was just funny to see almost everyone kind of crawler over and then you come up and just speed over everything :)

damn I forgot about you not having any rear shocks...well atleast the wife gave you the go ahead now to get some new ones...yes!!!

Yea I know why you built her for it was just funny to see almost everyone kind of crawler over and then you come up and just speed over everything :)

LOL

Yeah, if they were not all parked in a conga line in my way...I could have gotten up a better head of steam.

Seriously though...I started going faster over the rocks so I could avoid feathering the clutch...Its either engaged, or disengaged...no clutch slips if I can help it.

I just idle along, goosing the gas if it needs more ooomph, or just letting it stall and restarting it if it hits too much resistance. (As in it might crest something too fast, and come down too hard on or into the stuff in front, etc...)

I also like to use bounce clearance....where I aim for a rock, etc, that will bounce me up over a larger one on the way, etc.

:D

If I had crawler gears, well, I might go slower.

;)

if you had the gears...you would have an option of going fast :) damn wish I was in your group...

if you had the gears...you would have an option of going fast :) damn wish I was in your group...

True dat.

:D

Jason - At ECXC - same group dude...see to it.

:D



Brian - Almost forgot

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555627163762_1000002797508.jpg

I like this one best of your truck so far.

:D

True dat.

:D

Jason - At ECXC - same group dude...see to it.

:D

word!! :) we will run every blue trail and you and I can have fun trying the hardest lines.

great video Mike...like the commentary too :) That Jeep girl (Mollie) was cocky w/ her Heep...should of taken her on some hard stuff "D

if i were better equipped i would have taken her to 13 or 22.

if i were better equipped i would have taken her to 13 or 22.

well buddy you could of borrowed mine and showed her how it is done :D

Looking good.

Brian - Almost forgot

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l408/cait_brian/Netxerra%20KIX%20run%206-5-10/30255_128555627163762_1000002797508.jpg

I like this one best of your truck so far.

:D

yeah, thats one of my favorites thus far too....my bro snapped a few great ones this weekend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVs2dHLZOs

wtf happened to my passenger front wheel at 1:03 ?

Oh shit.. I wonder if you tires were kinda spreading once you got off that rock they kicked back and that's what that was..



I love how quick (TJ was flying) we all ran that trail where as the jeeps took it a bit slower.. Definitely fun to watch them struggle with things that was easy for us, like pizza rock. (Most of us at least) and glide easily through parts that were a bit more work for us..

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun, I'm jealous. Glad there was spares to be had so it all worked out. How were they broken?

I have to get it together and come out with you guys sometime soon.

Love the vid and pics.

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun, I'm jealous. Glad there was spares to be had so it all worked out. How were they broken?

I have to get it together and come out with you guys sometime soon.

Love the vid and pics.
The splines stripped

That was kool, it is nice to see X's in action and not just pictures, I don't get to see any X's in action out here where im at...it's either Jeeps, Tacomos or full size trucks that most guys don't wheel in anyways. They don't want to get mud on there shiny chrome wheels and pretty suspension parts.

The splines stripped

Due to something or just normal trail wear and tear?

My 4x4ing experience is snow and mud. Watching you guys crawl gives me anxiety lol. I bet I would burn my clutch out or something stupid.

wtf happened to my passenger front wheel at 1:03 ?

The front drive train wound up, and then released.

It was akin to a hub being partially engaged, or a CV going south...only they survived.

:D

PS - If so, the P-side "symptom" usually indicates a problem on the OTHER side.

:D

Due to something or just normal trail wear and tear?

My 4x4ing experience is snow and mud. Watching you guys crawl gives me anxiety lol. I bet I would burn my clutch out or something stupid.

Burning the clutch is an arch typical newbie reaction to rocks.

Its caused by the urge to go very slowly, to avoid damage, pitted against the need for RPM to make torque sufficient to get over obstacles/climb grades, etc.

If you simply let yourself stall, without worrying about it....you can just idle along with the clutch out (Off the pedal)...and goose the gas to get over obstacles as needed...with a simple stall as your protection against the speed adequate gas goosing might produce from time to time.

When you try to feather over everything (Pedal partially down...), you are going to overheat the clutch pack.

You can simply stop, and let it cool, and its fine again unless you are an insane person and waited until a cloud of smoke first convinced you that you might be slipping it too much, etc.

Obviously, a nice set of AC or Calmini low range t-case gears will fix this too...almost doubling the rpm at any given speed, and allowing you to crawl along very slowly, WITH adequate RPM, etc.

I just idle along, and pick my lines quickly...and just let it stall/goose it, if I need to...as I have the OEM t-case range.

IE: Have the clutch in, or, out, with as little in between as possible, and even off roading, the clutch will last ~ the same as if you don't off road it.

Its pretty damn simple once you try it.

:D


The last 1/2" or so of splines in the adjuster anchor was not engaged, so only part of the bar's head was splined into the anchor...not enough to grip it w/o slipping (apparently...), so it slipped, smoothing the splines of the anchor closest to the bar, but not damaging the harder bar material...and leaving healthy, untouched anchor splines deeper in the anchor.

Anchors can strip all by themselves though...even on the road...it happens from time to time on torsion bar suspensions, just like coils snapping, leaves breaking, and so forth.

Generally, no one has a problem on the trail...but, its always a possibility....as happened to Brian on Saturday.

It happened to me maybe 6-8 years ago...but I had no spare adjuster, and had to invent the now famous "Quarter Trick" to fix it.

:D

Yes, the proverbial 'quarter trick.'
So, do things break like that a lot?
Or was Saturday just a bad day to be an Xterra?

Yes, the proverbial 'quarter trick.'
So, do things break like that a lot?
Or was Saturday just a bad day to be an Xterra?

it is just part of wheelin dude...get a bunch of Heeps or Toyotas or what ever and you will have problems. Sometimes you have a good day and sometime you have what happen to all you on Saturday...its all good...you had a great group of guys to wheel w/ that is for damn sure :) I'll be wheelin w/ these fawkers in 5 weeks at ECXC :D

it is just part of wheelin dude...get a bunch of Heeps or Toyotas or what ever and you will have problems. Sometimes you have a good day and sometime you have what happen to all you on Saturday...its all good...you had a great group of guys to wheel w/ that is for damn sure :) I'll be wheelin w/ these fawkers in 5 weeks at ECXC :D

Yeah, I figured.
Yeah, the rigs we ran with on Saturday were awesome, and I got to meet some really great guys. I'm really glad I was able to make it up!

Yeah, I figured.
Yeah, the rigs we ran with on Saturday were awesome, and I got to meet some really great guys. I'm really glad I was able to make it up!

you need to make it to ECXC...that is what you need to do. I remember TJ telling you that on Saturday as we watched Brian wrench on his X in the dirt :D

you need to make it to ECXC...that is what you need to do. I remember TJ telling you that on Saturday as we watched Brian wrench on his X in the dirt :D

Lol yeah he did say that didn't he.
I will definitely try, but if I can get work for July it's unlikely.

Typically, theres NO breakage, but, sometimes, there is.

Its like driving on the road....Typically, you DON'T get into an accident, but, sometimes, you DO.

:D

A lot has to do with preparation....and, a lot has to do with experience.

Doing certain things tends to lead to certain results....

For example, if you don't know how to pick lines (As most newbies do not), you need to learn on trails that are forgiving of inexperience, and, which allow you to LEARN to pick your lines.

Picking a bad line might be running into a rock or stump with your rear diff or leaf hanger, or running you into a dead end option-wise.

Picking a good line might be positioning your self so as to find things to put your tires on that pick the REST of the truck up, to CLEAR those stumps or rocks, etc...and picking a path that CONTINUES all the way to the end of the trail section of concern, etc.

If you have a tire against a rock, etc...but need to turn, but the rock is stopping the tire, turning the steering wheel harder, to try to FORCE the tire to turn, against the rock, can break the steering linkages, tie-rod ends or adjusters, and so forth, and rarely if ever actually works to turn you.

If there is a deeply rutted section, with deep tire trenches on either side of a high center section....driving with your tires IN the ruts will high center you (The middle high part will end up with your FRAME resting on it....while your tires HANG in the trenches...)

If you are too inexperienced to navigate a higher difficulty level trail, you will miss lines, and not anticipate problems, and tend to get into trouble/break more things.

and so forth.

:D

On a green trail (Meant for stock rigs and inexperienced drivers...), picking a bad line typically has no bad consequences other than maybe getting stuck...or having to back up and try another way, etc....and you get to see what works, and what doesn't, and how much room is enough, etc.

:D


As for preparation, well, making sure your parts/lines, etc, are not hanging below the truck, and that they'll reach when articulating, not catch on stuff below, that parts are greased and working properly, all go towards a carefree day off road.

People who hit the trails with t-bar adjuster fingers hanging below the cross member, so that they can catch, can have the fingers bent back/damaged, or even pop off the t-bars, crashing the suspension....if you make sure they are tucked up INTO the cross member, this won't happen.

If you coat your skid plates with a rough textured bedliner, so that instead of SLIDING over things, they catch on them, it can rip them off due to too much friction, etc.

If you leave your step rails, mud flaps or hub caps on, they can get broken easily off road.

If you leave your rear sway bar on, it can break your rear passenger side shock (Bad design...but a known problem, with an easy solution)

If you bring first aid, some food and water, a change of clothes, some tools, some spare parts, etc...you increase your ability to deal with problems.

The smaller the group, the more you should bring...but, try coordinate with others...as loading in TOO many spare parts, etc...actually increases the weight, and therefore the load, on the drivetrain, suspension, etc.

For really large groups, some one tends to have what you need more often than in a smaller group....and it can be more likely that someone will be more mechanically inclined, have more tools, etc.

Newbies are not expected to be well supplied with recovery gear, parts, etc...old timers are. (Otherwise, no one would ever go the first time)

:D

Typically, theres NO breakage, but, sometimes, there is.

Its like driving on the road....Typically, you DON'T get into an accident, but, sometimes, you DO.

:D

A lot has to do with preparation....and, a lot has to do with experience.

Doing certain things tends to lead to certain results....

For example, if you don't know how to pick lines (As most newbies do not), you need to learn on trails that are forgiving of inexperience, and, which allow you to LEARN to pick your lines.

Picking a bad line might be running into a rock or stump with your rear diff or leaf hanger, or running you into a dead end option-wise.

Picking a good line might be positioning your self so as to find things to put your tires on that pick the REST of the truck up, to CLEAR those stumps or rocks, etc...and picking a path that CONTINUES all the way to the end of the trail section of concern, etc.

If you have a tire against a rock, etc...but need to turn, but the rock is stopping the tire, turning the steering wheel harder, to try to FORCE the tire to turn, against the rock, can break the steering linkages, tie-rod ends or adjusters, and so forth, and rarely if ever actually works to turn you.

If there is a deeply rutted section, with deep tire trenches on either side of a high center section....driving with your tires IN the ruts will high center you (The middle high part will end up with your FRAME resting on it....while your tires HANG in the trenches...)

If you are too inexperienced to navigate a higher difficulty level trail, you will miss lines, and not anticipate problems, and tend to get into trouble/break more things.

and so forth.

:D

On a green trail (Meant for stock rigs and inexperienced drivers...), picking a bad line typically has no bad consequences other than maybe getting stuck...or having to back up and try another way, etc....and you get to see what works, and what doesn't, and how much room is enough, etc.

:D


As for preparation, well, making sure your parts/lines, etc, are not hanging below the truck, and that they'll reach when articulating, not catch on stuff below, that parts are greased and working properly, all go towards a carefree day off road.

People who hit the trails with t-bar adjuster fingers hanging below the cross member, so that they can catch, can have the fingers bent back/damaged, or even pop off the t-bars, crashing the suspension....if you make sure they are tucked up INTO the cross member, this won't happen.

If you coat your skid plates with a rough textured bedliner, so that instead of SLIDING over things, they catch on them, it can rip them off due to too much friction, etc.

If you leave your step rails, mud flaps or hub caps on, they can get broken easily off road.

If you leave your rear sway bar on, it can break your rear passenger side shock (Bad design...but a known problem, with an easy solution)

If you bring first aid, some food and water, a change of clothes, some tools, some spare parts, etc...you increase your ability to deal with problems.

The smaller the group, the more you should bring...but, try coordinate with others...as loading in TOO many spare parts, etc...actually increases the weight, and therefore the load, on the drivetrain, suspension, etc.

For really large groups, some one tends to have what you need more often than in a smaller group....and it can be more likely that someone will be more mechanically inclined, have more tools, etc.

Newbies are not expected to be well supplied with recovery gear, parts, etc...old timers are. (Otherwise, no one would ever go the first time)

:D

Damn that was a long post.
Yeah, I get what you're saying. You're basically saying always wheel with someone like you, who can pretty much fix anything, be it alternator or T-bar adjuster.
:)

Damn that was a long post.
Yeah, I get what you're saying. You're basically saying always wheel with someone like you, who can pretty much fix anything, be it alternator or T-bar adjuster.
:)

LOL

Well, I try to at least.

:D

Heres a vid I threw together of a few highlights from the green group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCXWWIAqU4

Great video! You just can not appreciate how hairy “J” is in a picture or video. Jerry’s shaved head is a bit shiny; he needs to powder it before the next video.:mocking:
Who was that at the end bouncing over the rock? Nice…:)

sweet video...gotta run "J" again and see how the crawler gears do on that super down hill part :)

Great video! You just can not appreciate how hairy “J” is in a picture or video. Jerry’s shaved head is a bit shiny; he needs to powder it before the next video.:mocking:
Who was that at the end bouncing over the rock? Nice…:)

Thanks! That was me doing the bouncing :D

sweet video...gotta run "J" again and see how the crawler gears do on that super down hill part :)

Yeah, J was much more washed out thus, much more fun compared to last time I ran it.

awesome video!!:excellent:

I loveee your Xterra!:love-big:

nice pictures.. so green! :)

Here's my favorite of me..

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/xblsean/IMG_9473.jpg

Sweet vid dude

I didn't even see the video that last time I posted... that is awesome... all the x's on there on this forum?

I didn't even see the video that last time I posted... that is awesome... all the x's on there on this forum?

yup, first was me, then jeeps, then CMD, then TJTJ

XterraMike was first through but wasn't in the video because he was filming