LR Max
Local Oaf
This summer in Georgia has been rather...warm. Many days in the 3 digits in 80+ humidity. No real reason to leave the house. However this past week we were given a reprieve from the onslaught of heat and decided to take a day to go check out a few trails. There are a number of public trails in north GA that I had never gone on. All are public roads. However with such few trails and a major metropolis nearby, the issue of overuse has been constant. So ride these trails now before they are closed. All throughout the trip, we saw tons of signs of misuse. Trash everywhere, new trails made all over the place, and torn down "no trespassing" signs. I hate to be negative, but for many of these trails, it looks like the end is near. Also I'm being extremely vague about said trails during this write up, because that is what is needed, unfortunately.
Or original plan was ambitious. Meet early on Saturday. Budget roughly an hour and some change for each trail, hour travel between each, and do four trails all in one day. We all arrived at the meeting point. Myself in my 109, the green ROW 90, and then the blue 97 NAS 90. The NAS 90 was completely stock with a novice driver behind the wheel. Its weird to think that a NAS 90 is old, but that truck is almost 20 now. The ROW 90 is old and the 109...well...yeah...
A stock desirable 90 with a first timer? Sure! We are just gonna hit some easy trails. [Jeremy Clarkson voice] How hard can it be? [Jeremy Clarkson voice]
The first trail was supposed to be a cake walk. We knew of one section that would give us a run for our money but figured that would be all. That couldn't be further from the truth. Most of the trail was washed out, leaving significant ruts at the most inconvenient spots.
1 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
2 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
IMG_1571 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
I relied on the 109's rear detroit locker. The ROW 90, with its upgraded suspension was able to flex through most of the rut transitions. The stock 90 needed a lot of spotting. Despite being stock with the sway bars bolted in, that truck surprised everyone.
As mentioned before, it had been raining. We stopped to look at a mudhole. Previous experience has taught me that these can be 1 foot or 10 feet deep. After a lot of stick poking, I eased the 109 across and discovered it to not be that deep with good traction.
3 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
4 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
5 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
6 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
The ROW 90 was a bit more...zealous in its crossing.
We pressed forward to more V-ditches and copious spotting points. I did catch the driver rear corner of the 109 on something and then I slid into one V-ditch and tagged my diff on some lose rock and whatnot. I took note of these when spotting the other trucks through.
8 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
9 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
10 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
The ROW 90 made quick work of the V-ditches. Apparently upgraded suspensions and bigger, more aggressive tires help in these situations.
We exited, unlocked hubs and center diffs, and hit the pavement. After about 45 minutes, my stomach was growling and the clock on the GPS indicated it was sammich time. We stopped probably 5 miles from the next trail at a decent roadside spot. We pulled off and enjoyed ourselves.
20150815_132100(0) by Max Thomason, on Flickr
We discussed our next trail. All I said at that point was that I didn't really have any information. Our novice driver at that point, decided that they were done for the day as they were going to be camping and wanted to go ahead and find a spot. Couldn't say I blame them. The last trail was quite stressful on them. We said out goodbyes and went our separate ways.
One thing I didn't tell anyone...for our next trail, all I had was a GPS point. Not a track. Not a suggestion...a set of coordinates. So, eh, lets roll.
The next trail was a roughly paved road...then gravel...then dirt...then it started getting rough. We were still rolling and it provided a good balance of keeping moving, yet challenging, and fun. I did misread one obstacle that put the 109 nose first into the air.
IMG_1586 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
Of course my counterpart in his ROW 90 saw what I did and took the easier line...which I thought was the harder line...whomp whomp...
10 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
The trail entered a narrow ditch with really only one way to go. That is when things got rough. A bad V-ditch had formed next to a vertical wall. I had just gotten a new-to-me top for the 109 so slamming it into the wall was *really* not high on my priority list. I decided to try and climb out of the ditch and that is when my rear diff found the ground.
IMG_1587 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
I pulled winch cable and dragged the truck forward and way from the wall. It worked quite nicely. The ROW 90, with its tires sticking out beyond the body work, was able to ride the wall without even touching his mirrors.
We exited and the trail was manageable until we hit gravel. We pulled over for a moment, thought about our next move. We ended up pulling out wrenches as my rear door and tire carrier had loosened a bit. Then we checked oils and whatnot.
It was nearly 4pm and thunderstorms were on their way. We weren't prepared to camp for the night so the decision was made to call it. We hit pavement and rolled out. Pretty much the second we hit the state highway, the bottom fell out of it. I questioned my wiper blades on the 40 year old 109, but didn't really have any problems. For the most part, I stayed dry.
Once we hit the main interstate, the 90 spooled its turbo and went home. The 109 travels at a bit slower pace but made it back in one piece. Overall a great day of wheeling and being outside.
Or original plan was ambitious. Meet early on Saturday. Budget roughly an hour and some change for each trail, hour travel between each, and do four trails all in one day. We all arrived at the meeting point. Myself in my 109, the green ROW 90, and then the blue 97 NAS 90. The NAS 90 was completely stock with a novice driver behind the wheel. Its weird to think that a NAS 90 is old, but that truck is almost 20 now. The ROW 90 is old and the 109...well...yeah...
A stock desirable 90 with a first timer? Sure! We are just gonna hit some easy trails. [Jeremy Clarkson voice] How hard can it be? [Jeremy Clarkson voice]
The first trail was supposed to be a cake walk. We knew of one section that would give us a run for our money but figured that would be all. That couldn't be further from the truth. Most of the trail was washed out, leaving significant ruts at the most inconvenient spots.
1 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
2 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
IMG_1571 by Max Thomason, on FlickrI relied on the 109's rear detroit locker. The ROW 90, with its upgraded suspension was able to flex through most of the rut transitions. The stock 90 needed a lot of spotting. Despite being stock with the sway bars bolted in, that truck surprised everyone.
As mentioned before, it had been raining. We stopped to look at a mudhole. Previous experience has taught me that these can be 1 foot or 10 feet deep. After a lot of stick poking, I eased the 109 across and discovered it to not be that deep with good traction.
3 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
4 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
5 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
6 by Max Thomason, on FlickrThe ROW 90 was a bit more...zealous in its crossing.
We pressed forward to more V-ditches and copious spotting points. I did catch the driver rear corner of the 109 on something and then I slid into one V-ditch and tagged my diff on some lose rock and whatnot. I took note of these when spotting the other trucks through.
8 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
9 by Max Thomason, on Flickr
10 by Max Thomason, on FlickrThe ROW 90 made quick work of the V-ditches. Apparently upgraded suspensions and bigger, more aggressive tires help in these situations.
We exited, unlocked hubs and center diffs, and hit the pavement. After about 45 minutes, my stomach was growling and the clock on the GPS indicated it was sammich time. We stopped probably 5 miles from the next trail at a decent roadside spot. We pulled off and enjoyed ourselves.
20150815_132100(0) by Max Thomason, on FlickrWe discussed our next trail. All I said at that point was that I didn't really have any information. Our novice driver at that point, decided that they were done for the day as they were going to be camping and wanted to go ahead and find a spot. Couldn't say I blame them. The last trail was quite stressful on them. We said out goodbyes and went our separate ways.
One thing I didn't tell anyone...for our next trail, all I had was a GPS point. Not a track. Not a suggestion...a set of coordinates. So, eh, lets roll.
The next trail was a roughly paved road...then gravel...then dirt...then it started getting rough. We were still rolling and it provided a good balance of keeping moving, yet challenging, and fun. I did misread one obstacle that put the 109 nose first into the air.
IMG_1586 by Max Thomason, on FlickrOf course my counterpart in his ROW 90 saw what I did and took the easier line...which I thought was the harder line...whomp whomp...
10 by Max Thomason, on FlickrThe trail entered a narrow ditch with really only one way to go. That is when things got rough. A bad V-ditch had formed next to a vertical wall. I had just gotten a new-to-me top for the 109 so slamming it into the wall was *really* not high on my priority list. I decided to try and climb out of the ditch and that is when my rear diff found the ground.
IMG_1587 by Max Thomason, on FlickrI pulled winch cable and dragged the truck forward and way from the wall. It worked quite nicely. The ROW 90, with its tires sticking out beyond the body work, was able to ride the wall without even touching his mirrors.
We exited and the trail was manageable until we hit gravel. We pulled over for a moment, thought about our next move. We ended up pulling out wrenches as my rear door and tire carrier had loosened a bit. Then we checked oils and whatnot.
It was nearly 4pm and thunderstorms were on their way. We weren't prepared to camp for the night so the decision was made to call it. We hit pavement and rolled out. Pretty much the second we hit the state highway, the bottom fell out of it. I questioned my wiper blades on the 40 year old 109, but didn't really have any problems. For the most part, I stayed dry.
Once we hit the main interstate, the 90 spooled its turbo and went home. The 109 travels at a bit slower pace but made it back in one piece. Overall a great day of wheeling and being outside.
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