Trip thread - SxS Canada to MX

[DLC]

What’s for dinner ?

Are you doing oil changes in all cars or stagger them ?

 

[DLC]

You only stopped for 42 minutes ?

Thats a record!

 

[paradise]

You only stopped for 42 minutes ?

Thats a record!

View attachment 1432290

I think that’s stopped with the engines running. We definitely had more stopped time than that.

All cars are getting an oil change tonight

 

[Bpracing1127]

That’s just getting ahh ….1st day… ok, 2nd day jitters. Need to settle down

I’m sure it’s absolutely beautiful and a little rubber necking, Then... Oh shit…. there’s a turn …..

Or
Hey we’re hauling ass ! Opps 90 hair pin turn on loose DG !



Happens to @Bpracing1127 all the time….

LoL

Bullshit. @Englewood is who is happens too. Twice in less than a mile

 

[paradise]

To address the comment about the ‘issues’ we’ve had, we’ve put almost 5000 miles combined in 3 days on the cars, effectively a season of riding for some people. We’ve had a brake caliper failure, and two instances with someone going too fast for a corner. Unfortunately, we are trying to make time on these days so there will be a certain amount of push to make sure we can get the mileage we are shooting for. That combined with new trails and some excitement and things will happen.

The milage issue on Monday was unfortunate but it all worked out. Even with the mapping issue, originally it was planned much shorter, but the road closure and fire closure detours stretched that day a lot, clearly.

We could certainly just show the pretty pictures (there are plenty of those) and pretend everything went perfect, but that wasn’t what this thread (or ride) was supposed to be.

Here are some of yesterdays cool pictures:

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Please continue to tell the whole story, I need the reminder that I'm not ready for this program yet! Just the pretty pictures makes me think "I could do this"

 

[Outdrive1]

Couple of thoughts and questions.

What made you pick 2 seat cars? After owning both I found the 2 seat cars get squirrely on fire roads, they also tend to buck more. I just found that the 4 seat is a better handling car. At 6’7” you could probably do something custom and move the drivers seat back as well, and of course take out the back seats and use them for storage. Even for your spare, which you have hanging pretty far off the back of your cars. I’m guessing the fact that you can fit 3 on the bigger trailer is a factor?

Are most of your roads fire roads? I know I did a lap in the 425 here in Parker, and I couldn’t wait to get out of the car. I was exhausted. Not sure how you can do 350 miles, especially at your size.


I saw a group of cars set up like yours at Swansea last year. With similar cages and spare tire configurations, was that your group?

Anyhow thanks for the content.

 

[DLC]

Just a little info about the wheel base & over all length -

Xp4 is - 117
Pro r 4 - is 133.5
*Pro r - 104.5

Over all length
XP 4 - 146
Pro r 4 - 165.5
*Pro r - 136.5

The newer pro r’s are really big even for a 2 seater

As a comparison to the RZR

The can am x3 is a long car, looks long!
Wheelbase -135
Over all is -164

Maverick r
WB - 108
Over all -140

Mav r Max - bus !
WB - 142.5
Over all - 175

 

[thmterry]

What is your thoughts on front windshields on journeys like this? To much heat, like the feel of wind in your face or...?

 

[paradise]

Couple of thoughts and questions.

What made you pick 2 seat cars? After owning both I found the 2 seat cars get squirrely on fire roads, they also tend to buck more. I just found that the 4 seat is a better handling car. At 6’7” you could probably do something custom and move the drivers seat back as well, and of course take out the back seats and use them for storage. Even for your spare, which you have hanging pretty far off the back of your cars. I’m guessing the fact that you can fit 3 on the bigger trailer is a factor?

Yeah, overall size is a big part of the decision process. Luckily the guys we had build the cars do a ton of testing. The tire hanging way off the back is intentional to fox the weight distribution and make the cars work. That combined with suspension work makes them work really well. A lot of the riding we do down by Yuma is very technical and there are some spots a 4 seat pro r won’t even fit.

edit: no doubt that a four seat car is a better handling car in high-speed straight line situations. 100% agree.

Are most of your roads fire roads? I know I did a lap in the 425 here in Parker, and I couldn’t wait to get out of the car. I was exhausted. Not sure how you can do 350 miles, especially at your size.

Is that a fat joke?
We did a lot of work on this car to make it work for me, trimming the plastics, moving the seat back, different steering wheel, modifying the cage, etc.

I saw a group of cars set up like yours at Swansea last year. With similar cages and spare tire configurations, was that your group?

Anyhow thanks for the content.

Could have been part of our group. I wasn’t over there last year.

What is your thoughts on front windshields on journeys like this? To much heat, like the feel of wind in your face or...?

Below 60 they are worth everything.
Under 80 either way
Over 80 I’ll pay someone to take it
We are taking ours off tonight

 

[paradise]

So today was awesome, left around 710, had a little asphalt outside McCall, less narrow trails, some additional fire roads and it was awesome. No issues with the cars or drivers at all today. Some 85 mph gravel roads coming into Mountain Home.

Start of day 4

Fuel stop off the trailer at 150mi

Stopped at the river

Pine Lake

Miscellaneous

Final numbers, ended up over 40mph average

 

[paradise]

This sign pretty much defines the majority of the trails so far in Idaho. Tons of 8’ wide trails with 1000’ drops. Very sketch and slow

LOL

 

[Hartman]

This is an awesome thread and trip. Thanks for sharing, keep it going!

 

[HST4ME]

Amazing

 

[riverroyal]

Yep we avg 30-50 miles between stops depending on trail speed

For that reason...I'm out

 

[paradise]

For that reason...I'm out

Weak.

We made 4 stops today. 100 mile fuel stop, 150 mile fuel stop, river stop at 200 and beer stop at 230 at the Pine dam.

 

[paradise]

After dinner last night while reviewing notes for the rest of the ride we decided to audible and skip the overnight in Austin NV. It’ll make for another long day into Tonopah but makes our Sunday getting home a lot easier. So the new plan is to stop at Elko, Tonopah and Primm shortening the ride by one day and arriving at the border on Saturday.

The Elko to Tomopah day ends up mapping at 327, but based on the mapping Issues we are planning for 360. We‘re looking at the maps and times from previous days and with how much faster the desert riding should be we’re shooting to be in before dark Thursday.

Yesterday afternoon the terrain abruptly changed over one ridge from lush pine trees to desert scrub. It was pretty cool actually and will be fun to do a hyper lapse on the camera to show the change. The final 50 miles into town were all desert roads and we clocked those off in ~1 hr.

Today is a short ~230 mile day through Jabridge and into Elko. We confirmed with Jarbridge they have fuel so we won’t need to fuel off the trailers which makes life easy for the chase guys. We need to do laundry so we’ll plan on hitting the laundromat when we get into town before running to the hotel. With the change to desert roads we should make good time.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Donald Mathias was one of my teachers in high school. He wrote a couple of books about Jarbridge. At the time of his retirement, he owned the old ghost town area.. and knew each foundation and history. I had him his last year teaching. The last day, what should have been finals, he did a slide show on the town. He spent summers up there. Brilliant man, world War II vet, geologist, historian and teacher. He rode a Goldwing to school everyday, and smoked a pack a day as well. He passed away in 07, in his 80's. He was one of few teachers I can remember clearly, really good guy.

 

[jesco]

So badass!!! Keep the updates coming.

 

[paradise]

180 miles to the lunch stop.

Awesome bladed roads to start the ride. Cows jumped out in front of 3 of us at different times. Not the most intelligent creatures

We hit 1000 miles on the ride at this point so grabbed a picture.

Here you can see the valley that leads up to Jabridge in the distance.

Grabbing a beer after fueling in Jarbidge. It was beautiful up here, but cold as hell. It was hilarious there were pockets that were legit 20 degrees cooler. lol

Outside Jarbidge we saw a couple of the most picturesque valleys I’ve ever seen.

Trail repair on the mudflaps

 

[monkeyswrench]

Don't know if you're even a third through, but must have past hundreds of places and thought, "I could definitely live here".
So many beautiful places that just don't get seen. Probably why they've stayed such beautiful places.

 

[paradise]

Don't know if you're even a third through, but must have past hundreds of places and thought, "I could definitely live here".
So many beautiful places that just don't get seen. Probably why they've stayed such beautiful places.

Oh yeah! Tons of amazing little towns. Also some that are so off the beaten path you wonder how people live. Definitely beautiful country.

As for the overall drive, we are just at half way now

 

[paradise]

Final tally for today:

Tomorrow will be the combined day down to Tonopah. Estimated at 330mi so not too bad

 

[Warlock1]

I'm about 30 minutes from Tonopah. What time do you estimate that ya'll will be there?

 

[paradise]

I'm about 30 minutes from Tonopah. What time do you estimate that ya'll will be there?

About 30 minutes ago.

 

[paradise]

Hello from Tonopah

Totals for the day

Leaving Elko this morning around 630

Tight trails this morning and super dusty.

Opened up into some nice stuff

Lunch and Fuel stop

Ran up to a lookout after fuel in Austin

After lunch the trails were a lot faster.

Last stop before Tonopah at the solar field

 

[paradise]

Two days left.

310 tomorrow and 290 on Saturday

 

[Englewood]

Two days left.

310 tomorrow and 290 on Saturday

Are you burned out?

 

[paradise]

Are you burned out?

Honestly not too bad. I’m ready to be home, but I’m usually not away from the girls for more than a few days so it’s more that rather than being tired of driving. I think now that we are in the home
stretch (and into terrain we can make better time in) everyone is getting their second wind.

The small forest roads are really tough being usually ~10’ wide and with almost no corner or dust visibility. It makes it much more stressful, especially leading.

Edit: cars that are comfy makes a huge difference too. I run earplugs and we are all running helmets so you really don’t have much noise or dust worries. Besides freezing this morning (because I looked at the wrong forecast ) I’ve been very comfortable.

 

[DLC]

How are your tires ?

Have you swapped out any due to wear…

 

[paradise]

How are your tires ?

Have you swapped out any due to wear…

No issues with any tires yet (knock on wood).

Mine are around 2k miles so they are the most tired but it looks like they’ll make the whole ride.

 

[paradise]

We are in Primm. Arrived around 300.

Hot day, 108 was the highest I saw. Trail was gold point, Bonnie Claire, Pahrump, Primm.

Rougher than shit in a lot of areas but we got through it. One day to go

Morning gas

Bonnie Claire, first stop

Morning Prep

Early trails

some tighter trails

108 degree hill climb before the drive down to Jean. The number of washout going South along some of these mountains was insane.

 

[FishSniper]

We are in Primm. Arrived around 300.

Hot day, 108 was the highest I saw. Trail was gold point, Bonnie Claire, Pahrump, Primm.

Rougher than shit in a lot of areas but we got through it. One day to go

Morning gas
View attachment 1433819

Bonnie Claire, first stop
View attachment 1433820

Morning Prep
View attachment 1433821

Early trails
View attachment 1433822


View attachment 1433823 View attachment 1433824 View attachment 1433825

some tighter trails
View attachment 1433826 View attachment 1433827


View attachment 1433828

108 degree hill climb before the drive down to Jean. The number of washout going South along some of these mountains was insane.
View attachment 1433829

We were headed to Havasu today on the 15 and I wondered if you guys were headed the opposite way somewhere around. Stayed in primm this summer on trip to Wyoming was a ghost town.

 

[paradise]

We were headed to Havasu today on the 15 and I wondered if you guys were headed the opposite way somewhere around. Stayed in primm this summer on trip to Wyoming was a ghost town.

Oh, we were there, maybe just a little west of you guys lol

We were only next to the 15 from Jean down to Stateline.

 

[paradise]

We were headed to Havasu today on the 15 and I wondered if you guys were headed the opposite way somewhere around. Stayed in primm this summer on trip to Wyoming was a ghost town.

We’re having fun in Primm

 

[FishSniper]

We’re having fun in Primm
View attachment 1433834
View attachment 1433835
View attachment 1433836
View attachment 1433837

That’s where we stayed Buffalo bills. Go hit the Buffalo slots they were good to me.

 

[paradise]

Good news is everyone is still having fun

We don’t know this guy

 

[paradise]

Steak dinner tonight. So good

 

[Sawtooth]

Is the phone charging the potato or is the potato charging the phone .
What an awesome adventure you guys are on! And with the lack of attrition I’d say kudos to the overall planning for this expedition .

 

[paradise]

View attachment 1433867
Is the phone charging the potato or is the potato charging the phone .
What an awesome adventure you guys are on! And with the lack of attrition I’d say kudos to the overall planning for this expedition .

Hahaha

Definitely the battery pack charging up that potato with some luck for the casino

5:00 start tomorrow so I’m off to bed. Gotta get the chase guys their pins and times for meeting points and review the routes for tomorrow.

Thanks for the kudos. Like @DLC said, once everyone settled in (and especially once we got to more familiar style terrain) everything smoothed right out

 

[paradise]

@FlyByWire Where you at?

 

[monkeyswrench]

Making good time to be in his neck of the woods! Ya'll are on a mission

 

[paradise]

Just towed these people out on the way into Rice. They had been stuck there for 24 hrs apparently.

 

[Outdrive1]

I can’t believe you’re going from Primm to the border in one day.

 

[FlyByWire]

@FlyByWire Where you at? View attachment 1434004

I’m busy. Leave a message though.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Just towed these people out on the way into Rice. They had been stuck there for 24 hrs apparently.

View attachment 1434005 View attachment 1434006

Good on you guys for being out there and helping out. Pretty sure it hasn't been nice cool weather out there either. Near 100 out here yesterday

 

[DLC]

That looks like an Awesome trip !

Quite an adventure !

I wanna go !

 

[Bpracing1127]

That looks like an Awesome trip !

Quite an adventure !

I wanna go !

We WILL make this happen

 

[Englewood]

We WILL make this happen

I’m in.

 

[paradise]

Woohoo! We made it! 11:41
110 degrees