Citylights' Tear - SOLD! - update 08-01-16

[citylights]

Went on a weekend trip over the Mojave Road from Laughlin Nevada to Baker California. Had a great time. I was surprised to see the cactus in so much bloom.

Start of the trip at the Colorado River



Cactus ready to eat my FJ



School Trip Gone Wrong!



At an abandoned sand and gravel mine



In the Mojave River bed



Water Crossing!

[drewh1]

Nice photos - You are inspiring me to get my FJ and TD offroad more!

Hope you are doing well!

drew.

[KCStudly]

Cool trip. Do you air down the TV or trailer for off road? I'm thinking probably yes, traction for the TV and resistance to rock damage for the trailer. (Deja Vu moment: have I asked this question before?)

[tony.latham]

Perfect. My kinda camping!

Tony

[dales133]

I'm jealous, what a trip

[citylights]

Cool trip. Do you air down the TV or trailer for off road? I'm thinking probably yes, traction for the TV and resistance to rock damage for the trailer. (Deja Vu moment: have I asked this question before?)

Yes air both down for all the reasons you mentioned... Also just for comfort. The more the rubber tires deform when they hit rocks and bumps(pneumatic action!), the less shock is transferred into the vehicle. I run 40-45 psi highway. I run 20 psi offroad.. And sometimes down to 15 psi in soft sand.

[citylights]

Nice photos - You are inspiring me to get my FJ and TD offroad more!

Hope you are doing well!

drew.

Go with the FJ! It's made for it. Careful with the teardrop! I had to beef up axle, springs, and tires before mine was ready for offroad.

My preference is to tow the teardrop to a bacecamp and leave it there. Explore out with the FJ. Unfortunately the offroad club doesn't understand that concept. They go point to point and the trailer has to tag along. Most in the offroad club camp with a tent or rooftop tent. They are more mobile that way. They are starting to come around to the comforts of a trailer though!

Also, I recommend joining an offroad club. I had fun off-roading by myself for years, but multiply that fun my 5X after I joined the club. Great support, ideas, and group trips.

[citylights]

If you are interested in more about the Mojave offroad trip, I have a couple videos.

First is an obstacle we went through, bumper camera caught a little of the rig with trailer in front of me. 2.5 minute long.

http://youtu.be/H6loU2S_Wec

Second is a video of the water crossings. One crossing looking front, one looking back at trailer. This one 3 min long.

http://youtu.be/GnMlFu9G3UI

[Gold5one]

Nice wilderness adventure pictures- that's what it's all about. Makes me wish now I had bought that Hummer H3 that I looked at last year.

[noseoil]

Curious to see about water & the crossing. Did any get inside or were you completely dry with the build?

[citylights]

Curious to see about water & the crossing. Did any get inside or were you completely dry with the build?

No water inside the teardrop except...

The front storage box. I have holes drilled in the bottom of that because I store propane bottles in there.

Also Maybe 2 cups of water that got by the door seals. It seems I need to work on those some more. I have noticed water getting by my doors in a driving rain before too.

[ae6black]

How'd the bearing seals do?

Art

[citylights]

How'd the bearing seals do?

Art

Trailer bearing axle seals? How do I check those?

Take front grease cups off and look for water?

[capnTelescope]

I. am. so. jealous. I've only been on the Mojave Road where it goes through the Razor off-road area. Made me not want to take the rest of it. The water crossing at Afton Canyon is too much fun. This was all Before Teardrop.

[citylights]

The "other" tow vehicle.