May 2003 - Table Mesa
Trail Rating - Varies
Trip Leader: None
Photos submitted by Chris Villarreal, Jay Kopycinski
Despite the threat of the first 100 degree day, we held a campout out by Table Mesa to show an out of state visitor some of our trails. It was pretty warm till the sun went down on Friday night, by 8pm it was very comfortable. While waiting for everyone to arrive Chris Lewis set up a double ended ramp and made a successful run on it. I had never tried one of these. The object was to run both tires along the ramp. This really tests the stability of your rig and you have to compensate for any rear steer that's present.
(Click for larger images)
I had just swapped out the rear main coils for a higher spring rate coil and it was a good thing. I think the last combination would have tipped me right over. I nearly made it to the end of the ramp but my rear tire came off and got trapped inside the ramp.
The guys were going to roll me over to pull the ramp out but it the rig didn't want to flop, too much rear suspension travel to just push it over. Instead they yanked the ramp out when the rear tire lifted. I backed up the ramp to check out the rear suspension. I discovered I still had some room between the tire and frame so I could back off the upper coil collars.
Pat was the only other guy to try the ramp that night. He almost made it but rolled a few seconds later.
The group decided to run Anaconda. Pictures can't convey the true feeling of a night run. Here's a bunch from the notch.
Towards the end Jay broke a main leaf up front and a front stub shaft (I think). It took a little while but the guys eventually rigged up the spring and got him moving under his own power.
The next morning a couple more people challenged the ramp. mark nearly rolled but gassed it at the last minute and avoided a roll. Matt took the fullsize across the ramp, his front tire was heading down before the back made it to the top of the ramp!
Brian was the last one to give it a try.