Originally posted by Hook
You guys went up THAT in a stock Toyota 4x4?
In our stock 4x4 Chevys, so a little more clearance---but I did manage to crunch the floorboard on the way down--high centered them on the rocks
protruding on the side
David-------how do we access that U-tube about the "Diablo Dropoff" (between Fish Creek Wash and Arroyo Seco Del Diablo in the western Carrizo Bad
Lands area of Anza-Borrego)?
Originally posted by Barry A.
David-------how do we access that U-tube about the "Diablo Dropoff" (between Fish Creek Wash and Arroyo Seco Del Diablo in the western Carrizo Bad
Lands area of Anza-Borrego)?
There are many... but here is the one where I pulled 'James' (in a 2WD double cab Tacoma) out of the sand (between the two drop offs) then on to the
top... 41 seconds, with sound:
He was backing up to take another run at the climb, and backed into a sand dune...
Hooking him up...
It was a great run, the kids with SoCalTacomas are all very cool to do runs with... No drinking, good manners, many are military, and they have a lot
invested in their new-ish Tacomas. Off all of us on this run, about 4 were 2WD, and only James couldn't climb the upper part of the Diablo Dropoff.
There was a Jeep club that climbed to the top while we were hooking up, and about laughed when they heard I was going to pull him up... as if that was
impossible!
Well, as you saw, nothing is impossible with a 4WD Off Road Tacoma... with locking differential and A-TRAC!
Awesome!!!!!!! Thanks, David. I would not have believed it if I had not just seen it!!!
After seeing that video, and the pics of the Pole line road stuff, and the Widowmaker pics and videos, I know that I have to stay away from you wild
and crazy guys or I will be in BIG trouble, and my wife will leave me.
You will do fine Barry.. (even if you only have a Nissan)!
Seriously, it is more about driving skill... and people like us who have been four wheeling in the desertand Baja since we were teenagers have an
advantage!
Here is another video clip from the Diablo Dropoff, that same day... showing first a 4WD Tacoma easily climbing it, followed by a 2WD Tacoma... and
you can hear the difference...
Hmmmmmmmm-----------all I can say is the ground-moisture must have been ideal that day. I have been at the dropoff several times when IMO there is no
way any 2-wheel drive vehicle could have made it up (maybe, just maybe, with posi-traction!?!?!? huge tires, and low air-pressure). However, I must
admit that I have never even seen anybody try to climb it since it use to be closed to vehicles going that direction. (I know that now it isn't
closed anymore---as learned on NOMAD'S). I remember it as being very steep and sandy, with big whoop-de-doos. It has been 2 years since I went down
it, tho, and I have never tried to go the other way.
The whoop-de-dos made it more difficult, but since the dirt has been packed in, it really isn't too challenging. But, my question is, why were 2WD
vehicles on this run???
Because Tacoma World/ SoCalTacos doesn't discriminate!
In all seriousness, I prefer just 4WDs on a run, as there is usually one issue where I need to pull someone... but I don't mind... people helping
people and all that.
Many of the 2WDs are full-out pre-runners with lifts and big tires, etc. As I said only that one stock 2WD truck (without a locker) needed help... all
the other 4x2's did fine... and it was fun to quiet down the Jeepers who were shaking their heads earlier at the bottom, that any 2WD could climb the
Dropoff, and that the one that couldn't do it would be rescued by me in a truck... Seriously, he said to me: "you're going to pull him with that
(looking at my stock truck)?"
In Calico, a run took place with the Rubicon Owners of CA where a simple tire-placement took a wrong turn, and a new Rubicon was reduced to a twisted
metal ornament - at the beginning of the 4WD run! This Jeep had a strong rollcage, etc.
On "When Vacations Attack" a well-built Jeep rolled up in Barstow, and the same outcome. These things can happen in a split second. That's why I
wonder the logic of someone who could get into trouble - it's not arrogance, just wariness. Think about it.
Well, a Tacoma is a world safer than a Jeep Wrangler... Not as nimble, but being longer wheel based... far more stable. Too many unexperienced city
folks buy a Jeep and then think it will go anywhere... But ignore that driving skill off road plays a BIG HAND.
Have you seen the rolling Jeep on Heart Attack Hill?
Originally posted by David K
Well, a Tacoma is a world safer than a Jeep Wrangler... Not as nimble, but being longer wheel based... far more stable. Too many unexperienced city
folks buy a Jeep and then think it will go anywhere... But ignore that driving skill off road plays a BIG HAND.
Have you seen the rolling Jeep on Heart Attack Hill?
[Edited on 4-14-2012 by David K]
Actually, when you lift both vehicles, the Jeep Wrangler has a much LOWER COG than does a Toyota Tacoma. Pickup trucks are not as safe as SUVs in
side impact crashes. I researched this when I had the Ford Ranger (1996-2003). Sure, the short wheelbase Wrangler is less stable on hillclimbs, but
the Unlimited TJ has a similar wheelbase to a previous-generation Tacoma, but a center of gravity close to that of a stock Tacoma. I wonder if the
BFG AT/KO tires (narrow width) played any role in that mishap on Heart Attack Hill?
It was pretty dramatic, and that poor lady... I guess it was her husband guiding her... and I am sure he never meant for her to turn into the slope,
but the last thing he did before jumping out of the way was pointing her to turn right (which was wrong)!
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