Went back up to Big Fork On Signal mountain in TN with my buddy and a few others. He got rid of the FJ and now has a Jeep. Other 2 trucks were a 2010 Jeep and a Toyota Land Cruiser. The land cruiser and myself had the most issues on obstacles, due to wheelbase. But eventually cleared them all. The rock wall climb was probably my hardest with no locker. Few other times I was 2 wheels on the ground with no traction, but figured ways over them. My Trailblazer surprised me again though with what I could make it do.....no matter how much it complained lol. But biggest surprise was the 1 Jeep....almost all stock and only hung up a couple times on rock climbs. It was like a little tank out there. That straight front axle made a big difference compared to mine. I turned down the big rock wall climb at first but buddy razed me enough I did it anyway. Me and the land cruiser had the hardest times out of the group with no lockers and longer wheelbase.
Last time we went out here we didnt spend much time there and went to another area. This time though we stayed at Big Fork and went everywhere. Only carnage I can find after a good washing (twice) was Smashed exhaust tips, bent the Bull bar bracket (pretty beefy) good bouncing off a rock (but feel it saved radiator) and some scratches, but nothing a good wheel wouldnt get out if I cared. Oh and ripped the ass out of my jeans lol. My biggest complaint on my truck out there was no lockers, not enough front flex and the long wheelbase. My transmission cooler made a night and day difference in temps going up the mountain to get there. Only went up about 5 or so degrees engine temp wise this time. The front sway bar disconnects were awesome. Right off when we got there and right back on when we were done, 0 issue.
At the beginning of the pictures youll see me outside of 1 of the jeeps watching under it. He had just got it lifted and a big skid plate under it and once he started flexing some we found his front drive shaft was leaning in and rubbing the skid, so we had to adjust it out there.
Wife took a bunch of pictures, Some are sequence pictures so almost looks like the same picture repeated. Youll see in the pics, we went to a place called "Insurance Bluff" where a TON of cars and trucks have been rolled off to be forgotten. Was a great view witht he exception of the morning fog.
http://www.brooksphotodesign.net/42112_off_roading/