I wanna hear what is going on, and lets see the first pics already, sheesh, you guys have been there for almost a full day. I suddenly have the urge to eat large grilled wieners for some reason.

Terence, we start running trails in 9 hours. You are WAAAYYYY too early. You'll be lucky if you get pics three weeks from now the way the picture takers run the show..

I consulted Madam Ruby this morning for a little psychic update on the trail run. She said:

MMMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMmmmmmm...

I see.........................................

Mikey's junk broke.

You don't need Madam Ruby for that, I could of looked into a bowl of Cheerios and told you that.

ARRRGGHH!!! THIS IS KILLING ME!! I WANT TO GO!!! hmmmm....seriously thinking about knocking off a liquor store....but tuff to wheel from jail.

I need news! I am feeling terrible inside and have to tell myself that sacrificing the AZ run for the sas cause is worth it. I am very close to having this thing bomb proof, and look forward to whatever run is being held when it is finished. I hope to go to the Rubicon sometime this spring, or even in the summer. And of course, Moab is the best. Anyway, you guys have fun while I suffer and drive around in my pos that isn't done yet.

Thanatoz, are you going out for Sat at the coves?

Well, I just got home. I don't want to take away from Andy's write up that he'll do after the run - but Madam Ruby was right!! Mikey sheared an axle. I have awesome pics of it, but the camera is still out with Andy.

So far - 2 days into the run, 6 trucks broke. All were fixed on the trail except for a trip into town for a new tire.

Wow thats alot of breakage...sounds like a good time. Im going to meet everone out friday morning...Thanatoz if you dont go thursday and want to try for Friday, thats when Im going.

I drove AJAX today in the X - which was probably not the best decision made today - I took a strap twice. My feeling is - I try twice, if I can't make it in 2 tries just strap my ass over it. I can't stand holding the group up - and we had a pretty large group! I smashed my plastic bumper and caved the whole passenger side in. By the time Andy was done yelling at me about it, the whole thing popped right back into place all by itself and looks perfect.

I won't say who broke what - other than what I already said about Mikey - but here's the things that had to be fixed:

* Mikey's toyota axle
* a tie rod adjuster on a new steering system replaced with EOE (the spare available in the nearest truck)
* an a-arm bolt that goes in the frame pretty much sheered
* a flat tire and radiator issues
* duct tape applied to hose by MAF
* heim joint replaced
* a front skid plate complete sheered all bolts off - it was welded on the trail

And - when I left, the 2nd group on Martinez Cabin hadn't finished and was barely to the spot where the heim joint was being replaced - so it could be likely there was more after I left from that trail.

Very cool trails though! Everyone's having a great time and I'm totally bummed that I had to come home so I could work.

That is hella crazy! I can't wait to see the pics and video!

Well, at least I get to partake tomorrow! I can hardly wait!

-matt

Matt - if you see this before you leave tomorrow - tell Flip to call Michelle when he gets reception. It's about his mom's plane ticket and she needs to talk to him as soon as there's reception - which I told her might not be until Thursday morning in Superior.

DL,

I'll pass that along.

-matt

Thank you - Michelle will be happy!

Yeah. I broke an inner. One of the good, 4340 inners. It was pretty cool. Time for 300M.

I thought Toyota axles were the best? How many Nissan axles broke?

Terrance.

THIS IS KILLING ME!!! I'm going to try to go, I will NOT be going out Thursday...maybe Friday. It all depends on how much my son's crown eats a hole in our pocket on Thursday.

Oooh - we have fairly good dental insurance and I paid $450 for my son's crown! Not cheap - good luck Mike!

Toyota axles ARE the best. A Nissan wouldn't have even thought about trying the line that I did. And your D44 would have broken LONG before the inner let loose.

I have seen Toyota axles get bent and become worthless before right in front of my eyes. I hear about broken d44 axles, but never see any.

quote:

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Originally posted by TF&J:
I have seen Toyota axles get bent and become worthless before right in front of my eyes. I hear about broken d44 axles, but never see any.

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Next time you're in town you can come over to ZUK's house and see the stack of broken and twisted D44 inners and outers. You can even see the twisted chromoly Dutchman axle... As a footnote, I was spotting and watched him snap a Spicer D44 axle on a remedial section of trail... Everything breaks. The D44 vs. Toyota axle is moot. They each have their pros and cons.