I HAVE had my toy in water over the hood with a snorkel for about 3 minutes solid- I had no problem with the fan eating the radiator. I was running 33s and open diffs back then, crossing a creek that turned out to have a foot-deep hole in the middle that stopped my tiny Toy cold. The only tricky part was keeping the motor revved so all the backpressure from the water didn't kill it while I rigged the strap. I knew there was a reason I had a passenger. But the fan was fine, FYI. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regarding the snorkel: Be glad yours is short. I was constantly snagging mine on trees, and had to stop and yank the branches free. Problem was it kept wallowing out the bolt holes in the a-pillar holding it down, and then it would rattle until I drilled it out for bigger bolts and gunned it back down.

Tell your buddy not to mind hitting his driveshaft skid, er, gas tank. As soon as 4 or 5 of us on Pirate4x4 moved our gas tanks up & out of the way, the driveshaft died on each and every rig. I cut a hole in my floor and lifted the tank 5 inches so it was flush with the frame, and the 'shaft died on the first ledge I scraped it on. Until he's ready to re-tube it with 1/4" tubing, let the gas tank skid do its job. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sege:

We did run parts of Archers and Firebreak five. Also Saddle up, 7-up, Hogs back and others I can't remember. I got to watch a poor guy in a Jeep tear a huge chunk out of his fiberglass top at Can-opener at the end. We got up to over 3300 feet. There the snow was about a foot deep or so, maybe a bit more. I can't remember which trail that was picture was. I'm not intimately familier with the trails and I wasn't paying attention to any maps, just the guy in front of me and the guy behind me. That was a very steep switch back rocky section.

TNToy:

Regarding the fan, I'm not sure, but I think the reason more people don't send the fan into the radiator more often is because when the fan clutch is not engaged, it doesn't present any danger. I would assume if you enter water with the clutch disengages, the cool water around the radiator will keep the temps down and keep the fan disengaged for a while. But enter the water with the clutch engaged, and I'll bet it will broken fan and radiator city.

Here's a few more misc. pics from that day.

Here are just some of the rigs in our group. We were not the hardcore group.



This poor guy had to be winched out of this. Everyone else made it, including the unlocked stock hieght 4Runner.



Here is the basicly stock 4Runner, no lockers, no lift, but does have 32" mud tires. It took him a while and some coaching, but in the end, he made Toyotas look real good.



A nice vintage Jeep.



I am now convinced beyond all doubt that the Goodyear MTRs are the all time best snow and ice, mud/off road tire you can have. Mine are siped and were aired down to about 15 psi. I just couldn't be stopped in the snow. Ed (tan 4Runner) on the other hand, had brand new unsiped BFG muds down to about 18 psi and was spinning all four wheels like crazy. Both of us were totally locked front and rear. It was an amazing difference. Here we're trying to air down Ed's truck even more just to keep going. The BFGs did fine in the mud and everything else, though.



Snow wasn't too deep, we only got up to about 3500 feet and maybe a few feet of snow at the most. The ruts from everyone driving in it, made it easy going.

Joey:

Well, that's good news! Can't come any sooner though, eh? I'm itchin'... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I still need to buy my 35's though! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Toydoctor:

Yup, we should all make a run. Frankly, I'd love to see Ed's 4Runner up close - looks like an awfully sweet setup! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Brian:

Ain't Canopener fun? That dirt bank sure gets close. Give a shoutout the next time you go up - I -and some others- would like to tag along, if that's cool with ya...

hey brian,
what are the specs of the tan 4 runner?,<ed's>?? its aweosme looking!

Good point!

wvuguy: Ed's truck is a 1985 4Runner that started out with a factory 22RE/w56. It now has an early 1990s 2LT-II turbo diesel from a Japanese Land Cruiser Prado and an R151 tranny/T-case from a U.S. model turbo truck. Also a rear axle from a later model truck. Front and rear Toyota electric lockers w/ 4.56 gears, front high steer & IFS steering box, 35" BFGs and much more. He did it all himself, too.

Here's a few more pictures a little more info on his truck on this part of my website.

http://www.brian894x4.com/GoatMtnSnow.html

Sege:

That sounds good to me. I'm not real familier with the trails there, so if we all go, I'll follow you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Or if there's any other place you guys want to go.

Brian, sounds good! I guess when Joey gets his Croozer, we can all go play <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> Be sure to let dieseltoy know too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Quote

aired down to about 15 psi.

down to about 18 psi

So... when did you air down? My old MT/Rs LOOOOVED 9 PSI. I run my current 38.5s anywhere from 4 to 9 PSI, 9 if the trail is fairly easy. 18 PSI is my **street** pressure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Try your MT/Rs at 10 PSI sometime. The difference will amaze you.

EDIT: I just noticed he has a diesel. No wonder his BFGs were sucking... BFGs only clean when you spin them about eleventy-billion RPM. Diesels aren't too fond of that.

believe it or not, I used to run street pressure of about 28-30 psi. Basicly maximum pressure, so I could have the best fuel economy. I almost never aired down. Lesson learned. I now run about 25 psi on the street and it rides much nicer. Not sure how fuel economy or tire wear will be affected.

We aired down at the very beginning. But from now on, I'll be airing down for any off road excursion. If nothing else, it helped the off road ride. I'm afraid to go too low, since I don't really have any way of safely resetting a bead.