Rattlesnake Canyon, La Luz, NM (Pic Heavy) (Text heavy)

[CaptainMorgan_SOS]

Hey, so I finally got another wheeling trip in out here in NM. This time it was up in an area called Rattlesnake Canyon near La Luz, NM (Southern NM). This was the first time I really got to test out the SAS and what it could do and it performed VERY well! I had a few hiccups but they are easily solved. The RLC bumper rubbed on the front tires when the front was flexed out, A LOT. so that needs to be trimmed immediately. The rear inner fender well rubs and was bent up a bit by the tires when the rear flexed, so that has to be trimmed. And finally, the rear is just an open diff right now since the air locker is not fully hooked up yet, so I need to do that ASAP; had a couple issues going up some huge ledges, but a locker would make it climb right over. So, not a lot of issues, but a couple.

Ok, so on to the trail. It consists of traversing through canyons and creek beds, going up some really big hills (or small mountains), going over big rocks, squeezing though tight spaces surrounded by even bigger rocks, going by mesquite trees as they give you some serious pin striping (my have some irreparable paint damage; we'll see after I wash her), and all throughout there are many articulation points and ledges. The Xterra took on everything thrown at it. It spent more time parked on a flat spot on the trail than it did actually driving. It easily got through obstacles and then I had to put here in park, walk back to the obstacle and guide others through it or tell them to take the bypass because they wouldn't make it.

So we had A LOT of rigs out there... that's what you get for putting out an open invitation on Facebook. Food for thought for next time. There was everything out there from bone stock TJs to serious buggies running blown 454s, portal axles and 49"+ tires and everything in between. Everyone had a good time and we had 3 groups that ended up going their own way; the big boy buggies, the crawlers and medium modified rigs(the group I was in, 35-39" tires; we had one guy who should not have been with us and really beat up his rig), and then the lightly modified and stock rigs.

TL;DR Southern NM wheeling with MANY different rigs. Had a blast!

On to the pics:

Airing down:

Waiting for others to catch up (Again, there were a lot of rigs):

First set of obstacles (easy-medium, depending on your line):
"Sleeper Jeep" Crawler Gears, front & rear air lockers, lots of motor work; VERY capable rig

FJ had a little troubles throughout the day.

Simple, well built and could crawl over anything; Yota truggy.

Jeep on 40s.

Oh. My. Goodness. Blown 454 and 49s

Here, we all pulled over to watch the big boys play:

1st up:

 

[CaptainMorgan_SOS]

2nd up. Yota Truggy.

Last up and fastest up... I couldn't take pics fast enough.

Groups started to split up (the orange jeep stayed back with the stockish rigs)

Me and this Toyota were always the first over the obstacles and had to wait for the others. Really great guy with an awesome rig.

Ended up climbing up to the top of the canyon to see what was taking the others so long. This Jeep was running a 401 big block and was very capable as well.

Another spot people had issues with. You had to really put your foot to the floor in order to get up the hill on the bypass. The other way was up this waterfall/ledged area which is where me and the tan Yota went. Got this pic as I came back to guide.

And now to the poser shots:
I was driving, and this guy just wanted a pic next to the X. Everyone absolutely loved the rig. You can see the edge of the bumper hitting the tire here.

I actually jumped out to take this one. Not the best pic, but I had realized at this point that, because we were at the front, there were almost NO shots of the X on obstacles.

The final Poser shots from the top of the biggest hill (or biggest, little mountain). The drive to get to this spot was foot on the floor, shooting rocks and dirt everywhere because it was a really long and really steep incline to get there. But the views were awesome! The black Jeep in the back of this pic was the one that got really beat up... by the end of the day he lost 2 tires, destroyed his clutch, busted his radiator and crushed his rocker panel on the driver side.

Overall, it was a really great trip and I met up with some really cool people with all sorts of different rigs. I'll definitely be going with these guys and gals more often, but hopefully in a smaller and more specialized group. I wished we could have got some more pics of the X, but that's what I get for going ahead and having fun in front of the others and then walking back to guide people. I would have liked to get more pics of obstacles as well, but was to busy guiding people on how not to destroy their rigs.

 

[Cruecible]

So much awesome in one place. Really great pics man, and your rig looks great as always. That buggy was beast mode, I love seeing those things just spider climb over obstacles. I'm anxious to see pics of you going over obstacles, with locker, and really stretching it's legs out :sure:

 

[Prime]

Wow. That's some awesome wheeling.

Nice pics!

Btw......
You're one of the big boys

/just sayin

 

[Roadwarrior]

^ In agreeing with Prime, I do believe that you easily could have gone with the big boys.

I do however also see that you haven't wheeled this much and you don't want to go too big too early.

 

[GhostX]

Nice pics and run report...well written. Get that locker hooked up and have some more fun.