NEW!!!
CHUCK'S EXPERIENCE CORNER:
Only 1 Modification Allowed
When I decided to get a little more serious about offroading, I talked to as many experts as I could find. There was one question I asked them all. "If you only made one modification to your vehicle, what would it be?" The most common answer I got was "Install front swaybar disconnects". This kind of surprised me as most of the modified rigs I had seen were lifted to varying degrees, and not many had front swaybar disconnects. If you stop and think about it for a minute it makes good sense. any 4 wheel drive vehicle can be taken off road. Sooner or later an obstacle will be encountered where one or more wheels come off the ground. At this point the airborne wheel spins and this axel ceases to propel the vehicle. Get another wheel off the ground on a different axel and the vehicle stops. This happens frequently when crossing over large objects, or at the bottom of a steep ravine, for example. It is probably the most common form of traction loss when 4 wheeling. Keeping all 4 wheels on the surface and pulling when going over obstacles is called articulation. Driver skill plays a big role in maintaining good articulation.
Swaybars are very important for good cornering ability when driving on streets and highways. They provide a good safety improvement to the vehicle. But, for off road 4 wheeling they are a detriment. If one lifts one of the front tires off the ground with swaybar attached, the remaining front tire will quickly want to become airborne as well. Keep lifting the first tire and very soon the vehicle becomes "tipsy", and will want to roll over on its side. If this same procedure is repeated, but the swaybar has been disconnected first, one can lift the first tire off the ground a considerable distance without the other tire breaking ground contact. The vehicle remains level or near level, i.e.., no "tipsyness". The picture of my Jeep shows the improvement in articulation (all 4 wheels on the ground) despite the big difference in elevation of one wheel over the other. Note also that the vehicle is level and not wanting to tip forward and over to the passenger side as it would if the passenger tire were off the ground.
Photo taken Moab, Utah Kane Creek Canyon Trail
Swaybar disconnects are a standard feature on the newer Jeep Rubicons. For other and/or older Wranglers there are the aftermarket units that cost anywhere from $85 up to over $400 depending upon ones taste and needs. The cheaper units are relatively easy to install and work just as well as the more complex expensive units. So, if your thinking about mods and offroading think about swaybar disconnects first. If you just want "show" go for the lift kit and big tires. It's "Sweet!".
Jan 29th 2010
by YUMA 4x4
Very unfortunate event today. A small group was making a run over Laguna Ridge and as I understand it: The vehicle began to spin and loose traction, when things went from bad to worst.
The driver got out to survey the situation and while out of the vehicle it rolled backwards and ended up rolling over down a steep ravine, while the drivers wife was still inside.
The women was Medi-vac'd out with chest injuries. The Heli drop a man and a basket into the ravine and hoisted the women up and flew her to the hospital.
I have no update on her condition.
The section of the ridge is very steep (~40 degrees) and very narrow. The Located is about 1/4 mile (as the crow flies) from the gravel pit on the east end.
Recovery will require several well outfitted rigs with winches. A couple of rig would be required just to provide anchorage for the winching rigs. And a seasoned rigger is a must toperform a safe recovery, as this will be a very difficult recovery.
A few pictures, that do not show any indication of the steepness or difficult terrain.
UPDATE ON CRASH!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFp-CbxwkHw
www.yuma4x4.org
Thank You YUMA 4x4
For Your contributing Articles :)