Zig Zag - Sat, 15 Dec 2007

[JPLyn]

Zig Zag trip, Sat, 15 December 2007
Meet at Richmond McDonalds at 7:45am or at the Zig Zag Carpark around 9:00am
Reply here if you are attending
Trip Leader: Steve T
Grade: C grade with options

[azasjeep]

edit...bloody jeep wont start at all now and wont be able to fix it till saturday, will definitly be on your next trip :( ??? :'(

[Antz]

Google maps for all your navigation needs (on road anyway)

http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-33.573295,150.280867&spn=0.062931,0.099735&z=14&om=1

Turn right onto the Darling Causeway at Mt Vic (I think its signposted Bell)

[homedg]

We're in as well.
Can't wait to get out there.
Thanks for organising.

[homedg]

Are you guys meeting at Richmond Maccas or heading straight up to meet at Zig Zag?

[homedg]

I'll meet you all at Zig Zag then.

[casey]

Rebecca and I are keen to go on this trip :)

Where is the Richmond Macca's?
We're new to Sydney, I did a search in Google Maps and there doesn't appear to be one in Richmond exactly... just in surrounding suburbs..

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=McDonalds&near=Richmond+NSW&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.597463,150.753021&spn=0.836175,1.374664&z=10&om=1

We've got snatch straps and shackles - just haven't got a CB radio yet.. I don't suppose anyone coming on the trip has got a spare they can lend us for the day?

[stevet]

Hi Rebecca/Casey, Richmond Macca's is right next to the train station, or opposite Woolies. I have a spare hand held so no worries. I am heading from Blacktown on Richmond Rd to Richmond then onto the Bells Line of Road to the ZigZag. I should be there by 7.45a.m.. My Mob. No.-0412-707903, if you get lost.
See you guy's there 8)
Stephen T.

[casey]

Cheers Steve!
See you there :)

[Steve F]

How'd it go? Any pics?

Cheers
Steve

[sir_camel]

I heard there was some carnage...i had my fair share too yesterday except on the F3

[Steve F]

I heard there was some carnage...i had my fair share too yesterday except on the F3


What happened? Carnage on the F3 cant be good.

Cheers
Steve

[sir_camel]

Idler pulley bearing let go - fan belt came off the rails - got caught in fan - lost power steering - brakes - cooling - overheated and coolant everywhere - 110kmh - pulled over at mt white and got flat bedded to gosford. Looks like just two bearings/puleys need replacing and the belt but might have done head damage. Will know tomorrow. Picked up the Pug today after that died on me last week too. 2 cars on flat beds in 5 days. AWESOME

[Steve F]

Head should be Ok, takes a fair bit of heat to damage a cast iron head. Still, not a nice way to finish a weekend.

So what was the carnage at the Zig Zag?

Cheers
Steve

[homedg]

What a great day out!
Having only had the JK out with the stock H/T's on we were keen as mustard to see the difference in handling with the new set of Wrangler MTR's we just fitted would be. We were initially surprised by the lack of onroad noise from the MTR's while belting up the M7 and while the handling is slightly comprimised these are still a pretty practical tyre when on-road.
While topping up at tank at the Shell just outside of Richmond (at 146 cents per litre :o ) Steve T cruised in as well. So we started the convoy early and headed out to Maccas to meet up with Casey and Rebecca in the new Unlimited Rubi. What a nice piece of machinery that is. After tearing off some unneccesary plastic bits we then headed up to Zig Zag to get ready to head off.
After airing down, and wiping all the drool of my chin from hearing about the Rubicon, we headed off with Stephen leading his convoy of JK's. With a 2 door, 4 doors, petrol, diesel, sport and Rubicon we just about had a full set, complete with tops on and tops off.
After a couple of short runs to warm up, including me providing the opportunity to demostrate how to snatch a bottomed out Wrangler (the only recovery for the day :P) we headed into the articulation section to have some flex fun. Stephen went first to show us how it's done and DG Jnr and I had a blast getting wheels in the air and playing with the different angles we could get the Jeep into. Both disconnected 4 doors just ate it up with 4 wheel traction most the way through. Did you know that in the Rubi you just hit the button on the dash to disconnect; Seems like some sort of black magic Chrysler has engineered into this model :o. Again, Verrry nice ;D.

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=142&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=5f4b8c4070dcd08a3773a4d39ea86435 (http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=141)

The next challenge I had been looking forward to was the climb at Farmer Bob's???. You know, the climb where you first navigate between the rocks on the left and the downed tree on the right, then after climbing the hill there is that big rock at the top. We'd never had ago at that rock and today was going to be the day.

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=146&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=5f4b8c4070dcd08a3773a4d39ea86435 (http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=145)

First attempt resulted in little more than a whole heap of wheel spin and smoke. Deciding to try more brain than braun we adjusted our line slightly (and adjusted the use of the right foot as well) and just walked it up. What a buzz!

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=148&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=5f4b8c4070dcd08a3773a4d39ea86435 (http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=147)

There were plenty more adventures and exploits during the day, like Stephen laying in wait in a couple of bog holes, trying to ambush us with the top down by spraying the stagnant goodness behind him as he sped off. But I'll leave the other tales for the other trippers to describe.
As I said at the start of this post, A great day out, made even better by sharing it with some great people. Thanks as always to Stephen for the guidance and tuition, and Rebecca, Casey and everyone else on the trail, it was great to meet you and we look forward to getting out there with you all again soon.
Cheers,
David

PS: There were heaps of photos taken on the day and we can't wait to see them posted ;D

[casey]

What a day! - and The Colonel's first trip out!

I had such a great time :) It was my first time 4wding in about 10 years, I was surprised at how much I remembered, and a how much came back to me as the day went on. It was great to finally get to use all those extra features and switches on the Rubicon (4:1 transfer case, front sway bar disconnect, front and rear axle lockers) and to experience the difference that they made. SteveT even has photographic evidence of me christening one of the rock rails! :)

Rebecca took some great photos of the day, they can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603482012511/

There are quite a lot though, I don't want to use up all the SJC hosting space in one go so I'll select just a few to put on the SJC website gallery soon.

Big thanks to SteveT and Dave for their help in picking lines and guiding me through some of the trickier parts of the tracks. Looking forward to the next trip! ;D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2117753056_419f2000d5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603482012511/)

[homedg]

;D :D ;D Awesome Pics! ;D :D ;D
Great job Rebecca.

[DVL12H]

Head should be Ok, takes a fair bit of heat to damage a cast iron head. Still, not a nice way to finish a weekend.

So what was the carnage at the Zig Zag?

Cheers
Steve


broke a Uni joint on the left hand side axle... Jeep replaced both axles in the front diff under warranty and i got the JK back on wednesday night...

if joints break that easily... man, Jeep are going to be repairing alot of JK's...

[Steve F]

What size uni do they have in them, surprised it broke on essentially a stocker. What were you doing at the time?

Cheers
Steve

[DVL12H]

turning left on a track in 4wd high.



they replaced the right one aswell as they said it was 'on the way out'... only my second 4wd trip and already had to replace them both...


i have booked it in for them to check it out again because there is a knocking noise coming from the front diff now...

[DVL12H]

my pics are finally up!

HomeDG on ranger bob (i think)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g76/kezzarod/SJC%20Trip%20to%20Zigzag/038.jpg

link to the rest...
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g76/kezzarod/SJC%20Trip%20to%20Zigzag/

my phone pics stopped half way through as I took Steve T's camera after that! haha

Digital SLR will be coming soon me thinks...