Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-29-2010, 09:20 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
woodbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Posts: 286
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by EMrider
FYI, good youtube vid taken recently of an SMB going through Dedeckera canyon.



That looks it might be uncomfortably tight in an EB.........

Still, I'd probably give it a shot traveling with a group. I've always wanted to go through Dedeckera canyon and Steele pass and a few minor dents or scrapes are not a big deal.

R
My wife and I went through Steel Pass and Dedeckera Canyon last March in our EB with no real problem. Just a little ding on the edge of the exhaust pipe and a small scratch on the rear bumper.
Pictures on our website: http://www.beckersminerals.com/ Click on March 2010.
This was our first 4 wheeling in our new SMB.

Woody

__________________
2009 White E-350 Modified EB-43, 4x4, 6.0 PSD
woodbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2010, 09:43 PM   #12
CJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SoCAL
Posts: 312
Send a message via Yahoo to CJ
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Hey that’s me (youtube), news (video) travels fast. My wife (Navigator) and I spent T, Day in DV. Here’s a quick report

Tues, Day 1 stayed in Johnson canyon off of the west side road.

Day two started kind of strange...about 2:30 am we woke to the roar of a motor. Sound was coming from the engine compartment. About 20 degrees outside and I'm under the van. Did I say 3:00 am? So as not to let the battery drain, off we go in search of a decent place to fix or die. LOL. Long story short, we ended up in Pahrump, no there is not a Ford dealer there as told there was by attendant at the station in Shoshone. Oh well! After trying the Dodge dealer..no luck! Motor still screaming even with key in hand ‘LOL’ Petes repair shop helped me pull a fluid tank and air cleaner assy. to get to the ABS module and PUMP that was screaming and hotter than "The gates of ____" unpluged the module and stopped the problem now we're off to DV to finish what we started.

Late day two (WED) we ended the day at Eureka Dunes.....Beautiful but cold (windy).
Hiked the dunes drank some toddys and sacked in early.

Day three, "T" day. No wind still cold but warm in the sun....some day trippers no other campers. We hiked the dunes and just generally enjoyed the day.. Then off in the distance a long cloud of dust is spotted...and it’s coming our way. Looks like a train is coming and then one-by-one...jeep after jeep pulls in and they encircle all of the camp sites. This group means business..Within minutes they have established a tent city and are all set up.. It's a great group of jeepers all from "MyJeepRocks" forum (MJR site). It was great to meet them and check out all the nice equipment. They invited us over to celebrate Tday but we were already underway cooking ours. That night got down into the low teens some even said single digit.

Day four (Fri.) the MJR group was up, fed, packed and heading out via Steel Pass. They stopped over to say goodbye and threw in an invite to go with them. With the ABS problem and the fact that a ranger advised against taking the SMB through Steel pass I had to say no...............Then I really gave it some thought, after all it was our original plan to do it solo. And now we have a dozen savvy off roader's to catch up to. Soooo! Packed up and off we went to catch up. We did and that’s one of a few videos of it. This is a great group of people..I hope I can meet up with them again some day. You should check out their site they have some great Pics and detailed reports of the Tday in DV 2010.

You can also see more videos of the steps and narrows on Expedition Portal. Three or four more videos and another great report.

We made the Pass and headed home but not without some salt in the ABS wound..... Coming down 395 about an hour from home I hear ANOTHER roaring motor. Pull off, turn it off and yep a motor is roaring again. This time it’s my Extreme Aire compressor. Don't ask! I don’t know why, the switch is off and after crawling around under the van I cant figure it out..........a bit pissed....this is simple isolate the power wire a CUT IT.

Done... I'll let you know later..... Right now it's just 'stranger than fiction'.

It was a great trip.........PS on our way though the valley we spotted at least three other SMBs at the springs

Woody, I have the exact same marks on my bumper and a good scar on my ladder.



I have very few pictures I'll post later.....However if you are thinking of doing it by all means check out both the Expedition portal and MyJeepRocks sites for their reports pics and vids.
__________________
CJ
CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2010, 10:13 PM   #13
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

CJ, that was great video of you going up the canyon, but the sound of the SCRAPE made me cringe.
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2010, 10:41 PM   #14
CJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SoCAL
Posts: 312
Send a message via Yahoo to CJ
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

I know it did the same for me when I watched it.

It wasnt that bad inside the van when it happened. The scars are not as bad as it sounded either.

__________________
CJ
CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2010, 01:45 PM   #15
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Would two ladders be a problem? You guys think if you would have moved a bit slower the hit might have been avoided?
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2010, 03:46 PM   #16
CJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SoCAL
Posts: 312
Send a message via Yahoo to CJ
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Hard to say if two ladders would have been a problem.. My first thought would be no, you would just have to take a bit more time getting it lined up. Yes I did drop off faster than I should have. I really didn’t realize I was that high up on the side wall. However it really is minor scrapes on the bottom of the ladder and two small marks on the bumper.

I can’t be sure about the two ladders Dave, But I wouldn’t let it stop me from trying that’s for sure.

Go for it man, when do you want to go?
__________________
CJ
CJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2010, 04:47 PM   #17
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Worst case, you end up with one ladder and a great story!
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2010, 07:58 PM   #18
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Death Valley Thanksgiving 2010

Yup, it's only money. Besides, my ladders and bumpers are all scratched up anyway. I'm scheduled to get new SMB springs in a week or so...then I'll be ready to tackle some DV washboard. I love winter+DV
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.