Big Bear california

[bernhard]

A few Pictures and a quick video from my Trip to Big bear this weekend. Had lots of fun! Took the 712 and trailer on the Holcomb Creek trail. People couldn’t figure out what I was doing on that trail. The jeeps were all using winches and I passed them pulling a trailer! Anyone that says a 712 is too long for tight trails has not seen one 27 foot long with trailer! Toward the end of the trail a guy walks up to me and says (do you have a welder?) He had broken the control arms right of his front axle! He was extremely surprised when I said ….sure what needs welding! 45 minutes later I had him all welded up and back on the trail. The line of jeeps was 25 deep by then and in the middle was one single Pinzgauer!!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/28195322@N ... 917684752/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VYAGGkOLXg

[totaljoint]

Oh, now... you can't leave us hanging by that video. It ends before we know how you got over the rock!
By the way, shouldn't a 712 have 6 tires on the ground?

[bernhard]

Im uploading all the videos to youtube right now. Ill post them all here.

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

That's a common sight when Jeeps are on trails. Only they would make a control arm that could be broken.

[michaelh712]

Love it!
Happened to me in Moab, although not towing a trailer.
I went with some jeepers, friends of my son. When I showed up with my 712, got the usual "just what do you call this THING anyway", and sighs and predictions that they would probably have to "drag" my ass back to town when I got stuck. Well, on the first really rough place, I placed the nose up on the rock, full lockers, and just crawled up the rock wall with no trouble. "Jeepers creapers" spinned their wheels, applied too much power and some struggled.

At one point, we caught up with some jeeps that had to winch a member of their party over a slick rock section. Many in my party had to wait, but I went around them with a much harder line and again crawled up the slick rock with no trouble.

At another section, a jeep broke a shock mount and was stuck as daylight was fading. After much discussion, I volunteered "would a welder help?" Jaws dropped and we fixed the break in short order with my ready welder.

That night, back in town, the welder was again called into action as several wanted "touch ups" for "repairs" that they were nervous about. The Pinze was the talk of the dinner tequila and after discussion; I was awarded the "Driver of the day" award (???) and the pinze dubbed the CATiPILLER for the way that it just walked up over obsticles. This was several years ago when I wheeled with STOCK (HARD) Maloyas, and not the Intercos I now roll with.
HRV = Hummer recovery vehicle
JRV = Jeep recovery vehicle

I have great respect for well prepared jeeps and most other vehicles with real articulation and where horsepower can make a difference. Offroad, slow and steady will work every time.
thanks for the photos, I did not have a camera along for this trip but will in the future.
Michael

[bernhard]

Thanks for the  great story Michael  
!! I'm always friendly to the jeep crowd  no matter how much grief they give me for driving anything but a (trail rated jeep)!! I just go about spotting a good line and taking it easy. You have to when your 27 feet long!! Not backing that up in a rock garden!! I've had my ready welder for some time and never had to use it. Practiced with it a few times but that's it. It's one piece of equipment I do not leave home without!  For pure off road I still wish I had my interco's they just were so bad on the road I switched to 255-85-16 BFG MT's. People told me the side walls were weak and they were right. Got a 2" slice in one on that trip. Glad I have 2 spares. The super swamper ltb's never gave me a problem. I upload a few more videos. One of me blowing that tire. You can find it on my YouTube page.  

[bernhard]

This is how I got over that rock!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPKP-2ku ... ata_player

In the end I just moved it!

I'm not the guy yelling by the way. Thats the jeep guys in front of me.

[texas pinzgauer]

Between your driving, the capabilities of your 712 and the lack of power steering, the Jeep guys damn well should have been impressed!

[undysworld]

Bernhard,

I noticed you posted your question about how the shock bolt got broke three days before you posted these videos! I guess you didn't want to give away the answer, huh?

I'll give you credit for hauling that trailer over that trail. I tow a little (comparatively) M416 army trailer, and I don't think I'd even have tried that.

Is it hard on your clutch with all the stop & go?

Paul

[krick3tt]

I also was impressed that you attempted that terrain with a trailer. I sold my M416 but would not have taken that trail anyway.

[bernhard]

Ya it's not easy on the clutch! I try to keep a bit of momentum and not slip the clutch that much.  I do Carry a spare clutch and all the tools to put it in just in case.  Having all the spares gives you a bit more confidence driving that terrain.  The trailer is 2500 pounds. 66" wide and the box is 94" long.  It's not all that big. The Pinz was designed to pull a lot more then that!! Also the stock pintle helps out a lot. I would not trust a ball coupling on something like that! 

[totaljoint]

Since I just got my Staun 15-55psi Deflators, and watching some interesting video's of a guy who's wheels break bead and fall off at Big Bear, I was wondering what the lowest recommended pressure is for Pinz tires on soft vs. rocks, what were you running yours at, Bernhard?
Ed

[bernhard]

What tire are you running again Ed? On my old super swamper LTB's I ran 14 in the front and 10 in the back on that trail and never blew a bead.  I blew the 255/85-16 BfG KM2 at 30psi! After that I increased them to 35 and didn't have a problem. The 712 love to drive on 3 wheels so in lots of situations the entire weight of the truck is on 3 wheels. I believe your truck has 8" widened wheels so you should be able to go a bit lower then what I am running.