This is the photo thread from 4x4Wire's incredible Mojave Road Trip October 10th-12th, 2009.

A big thanks to Ray/OffRoader for organizing the trip and to Michael/Grasscat for leading the large group!
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Click here for original trip planning thread

ATTENDEES: 14 Vehicles and 25 People!
Ray/OffRoader and Vanni - 96 Mitsubishi Montero SR
Michael/GrassCat - 98 Mitsubishi Montero SR
Joanna/Blossom - 92 Toyota 4Runner
Carlos/CAP510 and Joseph - 94 Mitsubishi SR
Nick/NickR and Steve - Gen1 Mitsubishi Montero
Bruno/Chief and Mario - 89 Dodge Raider
John/KF6ZPL - Dodge Truck
Ty/tyty and Yoda - 94 Mitsubishi Montero SR
Daniel and Tracy (friends of tyty) - 09 Grand Cherokee
John and Wendy (friends of tyty) - 02 Nissan Xterra SE
Naomi and Sara (friends of tyty) - 01 Nissan Pathfinder LE
Vladimir/Vovkus and Vladimir Sr. - 01 Isuzu Trooper
Oleg/Holger and Vera - 04 Isuzu Axiom
Alex and Oxana (friends of Oleg) - Isuzu Vehicross

MAPS:


[color:"red"] Photos and Carnage Report to come!!! [/color]

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[color:"blue"] Holger's post from the other thread... [/color]



Alex got to the mechanics shop just fine. Except that the transmission is gone <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> He is thinking about the car's future now. This is the sad and painful side of our "sport".

Joanna, Mike, Ray, Carlos - thanks a lot for helping my friend Alex. That whole rescue operation on the freeway 5 was so cool. Wonderful to have you guys around.

My personal big thanks are going to Bruno for unlocking my car on the trail. This have never happened to me before, but some people are learning only from there own stupid mistakes.

Thanks to Mike for the navigation. My own evil GPS suddenly lost my old tracks right before the Soda Lake <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Probably the memory was overfilled.

That was a big great event. Thanks to Ray for organizing it.

Joanna crossing Mojave river:




On the trail:

[color:"blue"] Vovkus' post from the other thread... [/color]

Many thanks for all for nice trip. Actually it was most "bloody" trip for my 4x4 life. Get home at 5:30PM.
My Trooper with half-dead tranny made it! Front axle disconnect stuck in the middle position. TOD light flushing in "Auto" but it is not a big deal.
some pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/vboyko/Mojave2009#
Will post more later.

And don't forget AAA Towing x 2 !!
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Alex has the auto tranny tossed, alternator is gone and the battery is gone. He was towed by AAA.

In most Isuzu vehicles they were putting sealed 4L30E GM's auto tranny, the same as in Cadillac, etc, and in some BMW cars ( <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ). I am lucky to have a "normal" Aisin transmission in my 2004 Axiom with DI engine.

The carnage was extensive on this trip. This is my third time on Mojave road, and fourth time in Mojave, but I have not seen a broken thing in Mojave before this time.

Another thing is that every year the Soda Lake is getting drier and drier. There was some real mud several years ago (same time of the year); some mud still was present two years ago; this year the lake was almost completely dry. Our vehicles are clean this year after the lake. This is the image of my vehicle in 2004 after the lake (I made it from west to east then):

Picture from 2004 trip, Caruthers canyon, after Soda Lake:



In Zzyzx, in the Soda Lake shore, they still have the remains of a large boat for the lake trips. The lake was much more fleshy before.

Just discovered CV boots damage. Will do front diff drop soon. Transmission rebuild is scheduled for next Monday.






Remember: ONLY MAFIA IS UNBREAKABLE!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> All rest we can fix.

By the way, my previous position was:

Oleg, thanks for the great water crossing photo! To Alex/Oxana and Vlad and Danny and anyone else affected, I wish you the best with the repairs.

I cleaned the camera lens several times but the dust prevailed for this shot. Ray will post his up soon. :-)

Go Vanni !!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
(in Ray's rig)

GREAT pic's - can't wait to see the rest........

Unfortunately our Oct schedule just wouldn't work to get us there.

Looks like an awesome trip was had by all.........