OP
OP
Lighthawk
Weekend warrior
We had the time to travel up Steel Pass to check out a canyon Gene had told us about . . .
On the way I heard a big pop!. I went out and personally hugged each tire, listening for a telltale hissssss. But each was fine (BTW: 26k miles on my BFG's).
So what was that sound? My airbag had popped on the drivers side! I kick myself for not doing a post arrival inspection under the vehicle. Next time, I throw a thermarest on the ground and take a nice look around!
Post analysis: I think the lower mount had jumped forward, sliding along the leaf spring when we crossed a steep rut on South Pass. I had heard a clunk, but saw nothing obvious doing a quick road check. Full disclosure: we were packed to the gills for a week's outing and had a jack, 5 gal. gas and two bikes hanging off the back.
I had been experimenting with air pressure and had leveled the truck with 90# in the bags. In retrospect I would go back to 65# which has worked well in the past.
I pulled off the tire to inspect the damage. I use lengths of thick plywood to level the camper so they make great footings for jacks, especially in sand/mud/snow. I lifted the axle with a 5 ton bottle jack and pulled the wheel. My custom mount (kudos to Camelracer) hi-lift jack made a quick way to lift the body and stretch the suspension so I could amputate the blown airbag. Total repair time: ~45 mins. Note to self: inspect undercarriage after arriving over rough terrain. Fortunately, we were able to limp home via N. Pass later in the trip without further incident. [epilogue: Firestone sells one replacement bag at a time for $122, so I'm going cheap and fast and sticking a new one back in]
We had lost some time, but were still able to explore into the Saline Range to seek petroglyphs:
The rock is oddly white, called pozollan, a form of volcanic tuff.
Dragonfly
She-fly
Dakine ad
We're not sure if the 'phoenix' is authentic, but saw them in several places.
Callie had fun bouncing around. She even cleared a 10' fall with little assistance.
There were a number of 'birthing' petroglyphs at the mouth of the canyon.
turtle?
We passed this basalt chock stone via a left branch to access the upper narrows.
Amazing multi-ton boulder awaiting the final straw.
We tip-toed around then on the way down I gave it a shove after SR & Callie were clear.
Nothing budged.
Evening light
Heading back down the fan to the truck
one more chapter to go . . .
On the way I heard a big pop!. I went out and personally hugged each tire, listening for a telltale hissssss. But each was fine (BTW: 26k miles on my BFG's).
So what was that sound? My airbag had popped on the drivers side! I kick myself for not doing a post arrival inspection under the vehicle. Next time, I throw a thermarest on the ground and take a nice look around!
Post analysis: I think the lower mount had jumped forward, sliding along the leaf spring when we crossed a steep rut on South Pass. I had heard a clunk, but saw nothing obvious doing a quick road check. Full disclosure: we were packed to the gills for a week's outing and had a jack, 5 gal. gas and two bikes hanging off the back.
I had been experimenting with air pressure and had leveled the truck with 90# in the bags. In retrospect I would go back to 65# which has worked well in the past. I pulled off the tire to inspect the damage. I use lengths of thick plywood to level the camper so they make great footings for jacks, especially in sand/mud/snow. I lifted the axle with a 5 ton bottle jack and pulled the wheel. My custom mount (kudos to Camelracer) hi-lift jack made a quick way to lift the body and stretch the suspension so I could amputate the blown airbag. Total repair time: ~45 mins. Note to self: inspect undercarriage after arriving over rough terrain. Fortunately, we were able to limp home via N. Pass later in the trip without further incident. [epilogue: Firestone sells one replacement bag at a time for $122, so I'm going cheap and fast and sticking a new one back in]
We had lost some time, but were still able to explore into the Saline Range to seek petroglyphs:
The rock is oddly white, called pozollan, a form of volcanic tuff.
Dragonfly
She-fly
Dakine ad
We're not sure if the 'phoenix' is authentic, but saw them in several places.
Callie had fun bouncing around. She even cleared a 10' fall with little assistance.
There were a number of 'birthing' petroglyphs at the mouth of the canyon.
turtle?
We passed this basalt chock stone via a left branch to access the upper narrows.
Amazing multi-ton boulder awaiting the final straw.
We tip-toed around then on the way down I gave it a shove after SR & Callie were clear.
Nothing budged.
Evening light
Heading back down the fan to the truck
one more chapter to go . . .
