Was a good day today! Lets just say that I won't wheel the Montero Sport on as difficult trails as we did today in the future with out some sort of traction aiding device. The Sport, with the 2" OME lift and 32" tires regularly had opposing tires off the ground and was "stuck." Lots of backing up and trying different lines and significantly TOO MUCH stupid pedal was needed because of it. If I had some sort of limited slip or rear locker I'd have had zero problems and never need a strap. Also, if the transfer case gearing was lower it would have gone MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better. As it was, I was quite disappointed in our Sports performance on the "harder" trails where most people were locked front and rear or at least had a limited slip.
Seemed Steve's stock Trooper with 32" tires and a limited slip was PERFECTLY set up for everything we did.
I VERY MUCH like the OME lift, don't get me wrong...I just think the shocks are about 2" too SHORT in the rear. I did not disconnect the sway bars front or rear and the bushings in them constantly reminded me they were connected. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Over all, it is a VERY VERY tough SUV. It just needs a locker in the rear and it will be quite capable. As it was, I'd NEVER go wheeling alone in it unless you were in a flat desert and wouldn't need a tug and I'd make sure who I went with had a locker or a limited slip and a winch/strap in addition to my own strap for added length in getting over obstacles where you have opposing tires off the ground.
I will say, a rig with IFS makes you think a WHOLE LOT more about what line you take. I guess I've been spoiled starting off my wheeling career with a Grand Cherokee (solid axles front and rear) that was quickly regeared from 3.73 to 4.56 on 31" tires and dual true tracks and had MASSIVE amounts of articulation. My vehicle being a new Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Drive has spoiled me even more, it's just "point and shoot."
If you have a Sport, get it locked up before you try really hard stuff, or you'll be left frustrated, especially if you've had a solid axle rig with lockers of some sort that has spoiled you in the past.
I still love our Sport, it doesn't go quickly, but it will ALWAYS eventually get you there, it proved it was quite tough to me today with how much I was using the stupid pedal.
Thanks Steve, Russell, and Gerardo for coming out!
Everyone should ask Gerardo for help/tech questions on his SLICK on-board air set up using dual compressors from a Cadillac he got in a junk yard and his npt fittings up front and the rear. All he lacks is the pressure regulator. He knows his stuff about Gen I Monty's as he's done his own work on it!Steve's Trooper was amazing! Stock with 32" tires and a limited slip in the rear, he didn't need a strap all day! I have MUCH respect for Isuzu Troopers, they are TOUGH and have AMAZING!!! amounts of articulation out of their rears. He never lifted a tire when I was flying them all over the place and he never spun his tires all day. Have I mentioned that traction aiding devices are paramount??
Special thanks to Russell (Was in a 33" locked front and rear YJ) who was, it seemed like, strapping Gerardo and myself up the vertical deep sand and loose rock climbs that left opposing tires front and rear off the ground ALL day!
If you are in the TX area or close to, Gilmer has around 50+ trails. About 1% of the trails are easier than those around Ouray, CO and another 25% are about the same difficulty, and 74% are significantly more difficult than the trails around that area, for comparison sake, from personal experience.
