Day trip in the U500

[wolf359]

Since I haven't started construction on any kind of Expedition camper yet... this is the best I could do... A day trip to the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve, Alberta, Canada.

Snowed most of the day and night.. but was nice, about -5 was all it got down to... we set up the bivy's and sleeping bags in the bed of the U500 and did a nice 10k hike, scouting some ice climbs.

On the way out on Sunday, we ended up pulling a few right hand drive Mitsu 4wd Vans up the hill...

I will say the U500 suspension unloaded is so stiff... I need to put about 5k in the bed of it, then it might do something.

 

[charlieaarons]

By the time you add 4-5000kg in the rear it will ride just fine.

Charlie

 

[CalgaryMcLean]

Is this along the Ghost or the Waiparous? Hard to tell due to the low clouds, but the first picture looks like it could be across from the G.B.U.?

Any ice in?


Kevin

 

[JIMBO]

:REOutCampFire03: Man, being from California, all I can say is


------------------------WOW--------------------------

:26_7_2: JIMBO

 

[Rallyroo]

Cool pics. No snow in Southern California yet. Hopefully we get a good snow season this year.

 

[wolf359]

Is this along the Ghost or the Waiparous? Hard to tell due to the low clouds, but the first picture looks like it could be across from the G.B.U.?

Any ice in?


Kevin

Down the lease road in the south Ghost, through the dry riverbed, and up a trail on the other side.

 

[Jeep]

Why is that Chevy pulling you backwards?

 

[Overland Hadley]

I will say the U500 suspension unloaded is so stiff... I need to put about 5k in the bed of it, then it might do something.

Looks like a fun time in the snow.

What is the payload capacity of your U500?

 

[wolf359]

Looks like a fun time in the snow.

What is the payload capacity of your U500?

15,000 lbs +

 

[sandalscout]

Awesome pics, looks like a blast!

Is that a Delica with you? How's it do out there?

 

[green1]

Having seen it in person, that's one nice vehicle you have there.

On the way out on Sunday, we ended up pulling a few right hand drive Mitsu 4wd Vans up the hill...

I have to take offence to this claim however. You pulled ONE of the vans up the hill, the other 3 of us drove up just fine, in fact one of us did it twice (once before, and once after you came up (he was going to pull that van up the hill, but we let you do it instead)) I even managed to get up that hill with my all-season street tires on... (we're actually not sure why Jon couldn't get up on his own, we have to suspect simply lousy tires)
(I also notice you mention pulling the Delicas up, but no mention of pulling the 4x4 pickup up...)

But to feed your claim, I'll add the following...

Here's our group when we met in the morning, unfortunately some of the people had other commitments and weren't able to go for the drive:

More info from our day can be seen here

But all in all, we had a great day, and it was nice seeing your truck out there, it really was quite something, I'd love to have a mog, I just can't justify it.

 

[Erebus]

Is this along the Ghost or the Waiparous? Hard to tell due to the low clouds, but the first picture looks like it could be across from the G.B.U.?

It was along the Ghost River, west of the Forestry Trunk Road. For a map of where we in the 4 Delicas drove, see the map in the post about 2007's meet, when there was no snow. 2007 Calgary Delica meet. The map shows the area north and west of Cochrane, a town west of Calgary.

On that map, the spot marked "end" is where all the photos on this thread were taken.

Hope this posting works -- it's my first on this forum, although I've spent too much time reading about expeditions.

Wolf359, sure like your mog. I was in the Delica that drove down to meet up with you and the other Delica at the bottom, and in your third photo I'm the one in the yellow jacket, trying to walk on the ice.

It was quite a laugh to be able to drive up and down while the Chevy needed your help. Sure glad you were there though. I'm not sure my Delica would have had enough spare traction to have helped the other Delica up.

 

[wolf359]

Wolf359, sure like your mog. I was in the Delica that drove down to meet up with you and the other Delica at the bottom, and in your third photo I'm the one in the yellow jacket, trying to walk on the ice.

Thanks. It was nice meeting your crew. Without a load in the back of the Mog, I was having my own troubles getting up that hill. I don't even know how much pulling I was doing getting your buddy up.. I think the strap was loose most of the time. The Mog really needs some weight in it to get the suspension to do anything. I thought the Delica's were pretty cool.

Tim.