COMPLETED: Bundy Hill in Jerome, Michigan (5/29/10)

[DJones]

I met up with two of my Jeep cousins at Bundy Hill yesterday and had a great time. Not all trails were suited for the TB and some were hard for the Jeeps. I got stuck in mud within a half hour of entering the park. Ripped the lowest piece of plastic away from the front bumper, but no big deal. The best $15 I ever spent on a muddy paint job. Next time I go I think I will remove the swaybars and I will remove the bumper covers.

Upon leaving the park, I was confronted by a strange vibration around 55mph. Thought it could be a bent driveshaft, but I inspected it and it's perfectly fine. My current conclusion is that the excessive mud on the wheels act like weights and unbalance the tires. As I drove along, it got better, but if anyone has any other ideas, let me know.

The mud I got stuck in first:



The hill I got stuck on:



This trail was inaccessible to me:

The water in this one was almost floor height, even with humongous tires.



It's all fun and games until you realize you spent more on tires than driveshafts:


I didn't even try:


I had to honk the horn until somebody came to get me out (Third time getting stuck): (My cousin was talking to somebody else)
My favorite picture:



Overall view of the park (some of it):


The suspension tester:


I will be going back again.

[fishsticks]

EXCELLENT!

I think with some more aggressive tires you'd have pulled through a couple of those spots.

[DJones]

EXCELLENT!

I think with some more aggressive tires you'd have pulled through a couple of those spots.

I want to get some, but don't have the money.

[fishsticks]

EXCELLENT!

I think with some more aggressive tires you'd have pulled through a couple of those spots.

I want to get some, but don't have the money.

I hear ya. My mod list quickly outpaced my mod budget.

[DJones]

I hear ya. My mod list quickly outpaced my mod budget.

It doesn't help either being a poor college student that relies on eBay sales, Christmas money, and birthday money for all the mods. I applied for a job at O'Reilly's (another auto parts store is exacly what we need ) and I'll see what happens.

[Trail X]

Good to see you getting out there!

I agree with what was said before... it's all about traction... street tires don't provide much.

Plus, with time you'll learn the truck and how to read trails. It's all about time in the saddle. Sadly we all could use more of that.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Yep. Experience makes a huge difference. A 4x4 with limited slip and a good driver and go further than lockers with someone that doesnt know where to put their tires.

Looks like fun though.

[DJones]

I have very little experience at this type of stuff but I am excited for what I will be able to learn with time.

It was fun and I did avoid anything that may result in any kind of extreme damage.

[DJones]

It has taken me a little while to figure out what I broke:

Driveshaft: No
CV Axle: No
Transfer Case: Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes)

It now appears as if I have a bad transfer case. I don't really know what could have caused it, but it partially works and makes a metal-on-metal scraping sound. I wish I knew if it is a bad idea or not to drive on it until I get the opportunity to fix it. Serching car-part.com, I found a few with 6 and 12 month warranties for around $100. Not bad. Would it be worth it to replace it with a newer transfer case such as the NP4 or NP8 with the beefed-up components of which I do not recall? Is it possible?

Until I I will not be doing but only .

So much for breaking something major.

[Trail X]

It has taken me a little while to figure out what I broke:

Driveshaft: No
CV Axle: No
Transfer Case: Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes)

It now appears as if I have a bad transfer case. I don't really know what could have caused it, but it partially works and makes a metal-on-metal scraping sound. I wish I knew if it is a bad idea or not to drive on it until I get the opportunity to fix it. Serching car-part.com, I found a few with 6 and 12 month warranties for around $100. Not bad. Would it be worth it to replace it with a newer transfer case such as the NP4 or NP8 with the beefed-up components of which I do not recall? Is it possible?

Until I I will not be doing but only .

So much for breaking something major.

We have the NP8. I believe NP4 is the AWD package.

Find a later year (2005+) to swap to. I believe they have the upgraded bearing. I'm not sure if you'd have an issue with ABS though, as the ABS sensor for the rear axle is on the output of the transfer case I believe. 2006+ has ABS sensors on the axle.

[DJones]

We have the NP8. I believe NP4 is the AWD package.

Find a later year (2005+) to swap to. I believe they have the upgraded bearing. I'm not sure if you'd have an issue with ABS though, as the ABS sensor for the rear axle is on the output of the transfer case I believe. 2006+ has ABS sensors on the axle.

That's what I wanted to know. Now that you mention it, the (ABS) light on the dash was on for a few minutes that day. Restarted the engine and it was no longer on.

[lil_freak_66]

*insert long line of cuss words here *

(i was supposed to go that weekend,but didnt)

Wanna meet up sometime for a future trip?


Did you meet motocross(from trailvoy) he works there,but usually has his grand cherokee instead of the trailblazer.


looks really dry still in some areas,but other areas flooded,in your 2nd pic,during my last trip that was a foot and a half of standing water on top of a MUDDY bottom.

A few of us should meet there one day,ive been talkin to hardtrailz,hatchet and dcm,liftedtrailblazer4x and motocross(all the trailvoy offroaders in the area really) about a meet up there.

[DJones]

Wanna meet up sometime for a future trip?

Did you meet motocross(from trailvoy) he works there,but usually has his grand cherokee instead of the trailblazer.

A few of us should meet there one day,ive been talkin to hardtrailz,hatchet and dcm,liftedtrailblazer4x and motocross(all the trailvoy offroaders in the area really) about a meet up there.

Motocross was there and he had his Cherokee (without doors) on the trails but kept the TB in the parking lot.

I know hatchet wants to go there sometime.

I don't think I should go until I get my T/C fixed or replaced.

[lil_freak_66]

Well im free just about any weekend.

Still trying to get a lift and skid plates before i really tackle bundy hill,most of my trailvoy's action there is driving the roads around looking for stuck people,the TJ mentioned below is what i generally wheel with

My club was there,did you see this 05 willys edition TJ probably had a hi-lift on the hood,northwest ohio crawlers and we4x4 stickers on the side.
Btw,heres that trail you posted a pic of that u were afraid of doing,we rode it first day it was open.
I do NOT reccomend trying it without having a short wheel base and really good flex,none of us would ever be able to do it in trailvoys without a long arm suspension and quadra-steer.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I hope it is tougher than that pic there because that is doable in a trailvoy.

Longer wheelbase would actually make it easier on that. May touch frame from time to time, but it keeps you from having all tires in the holes.

[fishsticks]

I hope it is tougher than that pic there because that is doable in a trailvoy.

Longer wheelbase would actually make it easier on that. May touch frame from time to time, but it keeps you from having all tires in the holes.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought: "I'd try that."

[DJones]

My club was there,did you see this 05 willys edition TJ probably had a hi-lift on the hood,northwest ohio crawlers and we4x4 stickers on the side.
Btw,heres that trail you posted a pic of that u were afraid of doing,we rode it first day it was open.
I do NOT reccomend trying it without having a short wheel base and really good flex,none of us would ever be able to do it in trailvoys without a long arm suspension and quadra-steer.

He was there that weekend. My cousin is a part of Northwest Ohio Crawlers too.

Unfortunately, we never had quadrasteer as an option.

And that pic shows the easy part of that trail, a parallel one IIRC. My picture doesn't show the part farther up that looks like a deep ditch that would guarantee body damage to any trailvoy.

[lil_freak_66]

oh that trail was a toughie,theres one there that was also new when i went,it is something i would consider a triple or quadruple black trail based on they're ratings...never seen anybody even attempt the 2nd half of it,and my friend christie rolled on it.

the deep holes going side to side like that,drop offs...off camber very tight turns,and the trees are really low.

Kyle,if you got the trailblazer through that without damage....in my book you'd surpass roadie as the best trailvoy offroader by far.

Im northwest Ohio Crawlers,yet im 2 hours from Ohio...go figure,lol.