Completed--TECORE IV.... PICS

[HARDTRAILZ]

Thanks for the videos James. Well Done. I will try and get some pics up after they load.

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Random camera pics





















Fluke log hit


Rock tag

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Thanks Jeff!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[janesy86]

Nice pics Kyle!

[HARDTRAILZ]

A few turned out decent. I definitely need a better camera, but, as you saw, I dropped that one out the window and it still worked. I just have to take twice as many pics to get half decent ones.

There are definitely some cool shots, but a new camera will hopefully come for christmas.

[fishsticks]

Well done.

Things I noticed:

Seems like the difficulty level has gone up a bit since the last couple TECOREs.

Other people (Kyle) have squeeky front suspensions.... glad I'm not alone.

Mike really likes to pound on his skids. CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG. Jesus....get a lift already.

Kyle made it down that shelf he tried in TECORE 3 without even flinching.

There's an Envoy with NERF BARS? How'd they hold up?

Very little tire deformation... who was running what PSI?

TECORE 5 needs to be all about going uphill...




All you people and your plate bumpers.................................

[Trail X]

Thanks for the pics kyle! Some really cool ones in there!!

[Trail X]

Well done.

Things I noticed:

Seems like the difficulty level has gone up a bit since the last couple TECOREs.

Most of it hasn't changed much. I'm still taking most of the same trails. I do think I did a better job of showcasing some of the more difficult trails. We did explore more of Dictum than last time.

I'd rate half of our trails at a 2, and half at a 2.5 with areas being a 3. (Per the ORTB trail rating guide... http://www.offroadtb.com/articles/trail-rating-guide)

[bartonmd]

Mike really likes to pound on his skids. CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG. Jesus....get a lift already.

Part of the deal is spring rate... Going up hill wasn't too bad, but going down hill with the stock spring rate (and 1/2" outside spacers) with all the extra weight still had me at or a little less than stock height... Plus, the front end would bounce pretty far down when I'd come off a rock (not to mention stock struts with 70k on them)... Even at the same height, with stiffer springs, I'd have probably hit 1/2 as much as I did... Front springs are on the list, but didn't get time to do them before leaving... I like my 20MPG on the highway on the wife's driver, so it's keeping the 1" rear blocks and 1/2" outside blocks in the front; and getting stronger springs and (tomorrow) a set of LT/LR-E 245/70-17 BFG ATs...

I had probably a little much deformation, given the SL/P tires, and I was running 27PSI hot... That's also why I walked up a lot of the rocks that others spun a lot on... It's probably also partially why I have a hole in a sidewall from that rock that was hidden by freshly fallen leaves...

Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

That squeaking drives me nuts, but with the top plate off I had no squeak, but less clearance. I also was fully connected the whole time and should have disconnected since it does alleviate some of the squeak. I also had sprayed pb on them and I think the dust sticking to it made it worse than ever. Hoping to switch to a non-alum plate or gets marks new kit to see if it fixes it.

I ran my typical 15 psi with load range E. They deformed really well. Here is a pic of it sitting flat...



I did notice several samll chunks from the sharp rocks and one nice spot ripped out from a lug, but nothing out of the ordinary. These tires have taken some serious abuse and just keep on working.

[bdp1978]

Well done.


Mike really likes to pound on his skids. CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG. Jesus....get a lift already.

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Ha, awesome vids, but I did find myself cringing at some of those sounds! The first vid at the 4 min. mark is great, he leaves the screen and all you hear is ssssscccccrrrraaaapppeeee. You sir, are better than I, I would have been crying.

Good show guys.

[fishsticks]

I do think I did a better job of showcasing some of the more difficult trails.

That's most likely it.

I like my 20MPG on the highway on the wife's driver

I forgot what it's like... I just try to tell myself I never got better than 15.

That squeaking drives me nuts, but with the top plate off I had no squeak, but less clearance. I also was fully connected the whole time and should have disconnected since it does alleviate some of the squeak. I also had sprayed pb on them and I think the dust sticking to it made it worse than ever. Hoping to switch to a non-alum plate or gets marks new kit to see if it fixes it.

Mine squeak with no top spacer, UHMW, or aluminum ones. I always figured it was rapid loading/unloading of the shock that did it.

[bartonmd]

Well done.
Mike really likes to pound on his skids. CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG. Jesus....get a lift already.

.................................

Ha, awesome vids, but I did find myself cringing at some of those sounds! The first vid at the 4 min. mark is great, he leaves the screen and all you hear is ssssscccccrrrraaaapppeeee. You sir, are better than I, I would have been crying.

Good show guys.

Yeah, that was the sliders... Right out of view (that you can see coming up, toward the first part of the vid), there is a berm that you've got to get over... Most of us touched going over it, but since my sliders go out instead of up, and I'm not as high as others, I just scraped longer... Sliders are 3/16 thick... No big deal...

Rad and oil pan skids (as well as frame and trans crossmember) did get a workout, though...

Mike

[bigezzyk]

Well done.

Things I noticed:

Seems like the difficulty level has gone up a bit since the last couple TECOREs.

Other people (Kyle) have squeeky front suspensions.... glad I'm not alone.

Mike really likes to pound on his skids. CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG. Jesus....get a lift already.

Kyle made it down that shelf he tried in TECORE 3 without even flinching.

There's an Envoy with NERF BARS? How'd they hold up?

Very little tire deformation... who was running what PSI?

TECORE 5 needs to be all about going uphill...




All you people and your plate bumpers.................................

the nerf bars held up good im up high enoff they dont hit the rocks and my tire psi was 30

[janesy86]

Well done.

Things I noticed:

Seems like the difficulty level has gone up a bit since the last couple TECOREs.

Very little tire deformation... who was running what PSI?

TECORE 5 needs to be all about going uphill...




All you people and your plate bumpers.................................

Still haven't been able to watch the vids on my work comp so I'll have to wait to check em out when I get home.

Yea James took us on the same trails that he's previously taken everyone on before. I wouldn't say they were very hard, but definatley some good hill climbs in there and the fisrt day I would have made it up easier on some of the trails had I been properly aired down. The air gauge I first used wasn't working right and I didn't catch it at first. Once I aired down everything was a lil bit easier and not as harsh. Was at 31ish the first day and aired down to 22 the second.

And I love the MTA bumper!

[dirty anton]

man it looks like you guys had a blast! wish i could have gone.

[bartonmd]

It was definately a good time!

Mike