Not Indestructible

[geoffff]

Here in the Pacific Northwest, it's lush and things grow. Old roads don't last forever like they do in Nevada or Baja. Over the years they close up as surrounding brush inexorably advances to reclaim the trail.

I find myself drawn to the challenge of old roads that haven't seen much travel. But sometimes I overestimate the invincibility of my van. It's just vegetation, right?





Well, it turns out the plastic and rubber parts don't like so much being poked After snapping some fenders and plastic bumper cladding, I have decided to temper my enthusiasm for overgrown trails. I did end up successfully repairing the fenders with super-strong urethane glue, but I then learned that two of my tires had non-repairable punctures at the sides of the tread.








This is why I don't mount anything on the outside of my van (racks, jacks, etc.)!

Here are more photos of that trip:

https://octopup.org/2018/keechelus-ridge


-- Geoff

[Twoxentrix]

WOW - the width of that narrow trail guarantees issues - admittedly I'm a little impressed since I hardly detected any Forest rash in the 3 photos you posted, was your paint all scarred as well?
BTW - Great view in the last photo.

[nemesisnight]

That last picture kinda makes it worth it though..... I often carry a battery powered sawzall and axe to clear out the thicker branches that will cause major damage, with a high top I hit everything on roads like that.

[geoffff]

Yes, the paint is definitely scratched - but always just the outer surface, never all the way through. It's not very visible with the light tan color unless you're up close (and turn up the contrast like in this photo):



-- Geoff

[geoffff]

Here are a couple more photos. This trip was back in October.





-- Geoff

[Twoxentrix]

What a great outing - very picturesque. Too bad about the paint, but with your spirit for adventure it may be time to consider Rhino liner

[86Scotty]

Great pics Geoff! Even the carnage pics. I enjoy using my van or expedition vehicle also and don't care too much about the paint. Ever so often I get out the buffing compound and those types of scratches come right out. They aren't deep, just clear coat.

Here in the east (not unlike the PNW) we have aggressive growth during the Spring and summer so this is pretty normal.

[REF]

Way to give it the ol’ middle finger there......I’d be doing just about the same if I caused that much damage from bashing through some brush, sheesh!
Ya, might be time to get a locomotive front end and rhino line the whole thing.... [emoji577]

[shenrie]

Awesome! I do a lot of that kinda stuff too. I bought this rig to explore. I’ve got lots of pinstripes but have yet to bust anything serious off of the van.

I would like to do a full coverage bedliner paint job eventually though. Would coating the bushwacker flares add any strength at all? To be honest those flares are way thicker gauge plastic than what mine felt like when I installed them year before last.

[pjpvi]

I bought this rig to explore.

Yep, me too. I got over being pinstriped after spending most of a day running a narrow trail through manzanita.

Looks like a nice trip! Thanks for sharing ...