"Snow and Sand" Power Wagon Pics

[Brakelate]

Weekend at the Coral Pink Dunes. Campground was empty, as was the OHV area, other than about five or six quads that showed up on Sunday to play around for the afternoon.

Cool, damp sand made for great traction and it was no problem running around at higher speeds like a skate park, as the whole place had been blown clean and smooth, eliminating any ruts created by previous traffic.

There still was several inches of snow on the backside of many dunes and in the shaded trails. This made for some exciting slipping and sliding down the steep dune slopes. The only issue was that of the grill guard's lower cross bar digging into the sand at the base of steep hills or where there was a sharp 'v' . I guess I would rather have some sand piled on the guard, rather than possibly scuffing the factory bumper, air dam and driving lights.

Beautiful brush and lightly forested bluffs of brightly colored rock surround the actual OHV perimeter, where miles and miles of more technical, muddy, narrow UTV / Quad trails spread out into the distance.

I found a neat, tall berm on a section of "worm trail" where I could explore the limits of the Power Wagon's suspension flexibility. The suspension is so well sorted, that it stuffs and droops to incredible angles, keeping all four tires on the ground at all times. I rolled up and did this in 4WD, never needing to engage either of the Locking Differentials.

Keeping a safe distance, I ended up following the group of quads around the dunes. I would rather follow, knowing where they were, rather than be surprised by one jumping up a blind rise and hitting me. It was also funny to see the looks from them after having been able to run up and down the tallest dunes present, and then negotiating the narrow single track ATV trails without issue. We later found a nice tall hill along the forest perimeter to take a break and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Neat Place.

[Brakelate]

The Flexy Pics

[Brakelate]

The quiet view overlooking the dunes.

[Brakelate]

I think I was "PhotoBombed" by the odd ghostly image in the passenger side of the windshield!

You may have to view in it's original full size to see it.

[xjrguy]

Looks like a lot of fun and a great place to explore. My Jeep would love it out there!!

[Brakelate]

My Jeep would love it out there!!

Yup! And I would love to have some back up, or at least someone to latch on to when I got in over my head. I don't think a gaggle of quads would make a sufficient anchor point for my winch on this beast, even if I lashed them all together and buried them.

[SonicVenum]

Nice! I'm always impressed by those suspension articulation shots.

[Brakelate]

I guess I never did share with everyone my custom made Winch Straps (these are obviously not made for towing, but rather to keep your fingers away from the rollers and thus accidental squashing during recovery operations). While having the front done, I thought it would be cute to put a spare on the rear receiver hitch pin.

I was thinking of all you Rubicon owners when I had the rear one made up.

[Brakelate]

Nice! I'm always impressed by those suspension articulation shots.

I am continually amazed by the capability, comfort, sophistication and strength of this truck. I was wondering how much more radical I am going to have to get just to "hang a wheel in the air".

I like the "modern" truck philosophy; Strong Frames and Flexy Suspension. Much better all the way around. Plus, the electronic swaybar disconnect is awesome. I just wish the "nanny" program could be easily defeated and allow it to be fully MY choice as to when it would operate. Right now, for liability reasons, the damn thing, even when activated, only works when in 4WD and at speeds below 19 mph. You exceed that (like on a fire road) and it locks itself back up. Ughhh.

The "Old" truck building philosophy of Strong Suspension and Flexy frames sucked. *Take a look at the body lines, easily noticeable by the red stripe on the lowers, where the paint changes from Black to Grey. Even with the wheels fully drooped and stuffed, there is little, if any flex in the frame. Any of my old trucks, and the axles would have stayed flat, like they were welded to the frame rails, and there would have been 9" of twist where the cab gaps the bed.

Not sure why they used to build them like that.

[xjrguy]

I guess I never did share with everyone my custom made Winch Straps (these are obviously not made for towing, but rather to keep your fingers away from the rollers and thus accidental squashing during recovery operations). While having the front done, I thought it would be cute to put a spare on the rear receiver hitch pin.

I was thinking of all you Rubicon owners when I had the rear one made up.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good thing this isn't WranglerForum LOL!!