Creede to Ouray to Moab

[epriev]

Took a trip over Labor Day weekend to run a few trails. The original plan was to meet two other rigs in Creede, CO and travel Stony Pass to Silverton. The other 2 couldn't make it last minute, so I went by myself.

Traveled from Denver to Lake City and over Slumgullion Pass.

The Matterhorn Peak in the distance to the right and Red Mountain to the left.


Camped near the beginning of the trail after visiting a nearby waterfall.

Started the next morning on Stony Pass until taking a spur to Kite Lake by crossing the Rio Grande River.



End of spur trail at Kite Lake





I started to hear a rubber binding noise then a clunking noise. I checked all the control arms, shocks and springs, all good. It sounded like it was coming from the rear, but couldn't replicate the noise by rocking the Jeep. It was fairly wet, and I put it down to rubber bushing binding and releasing. Rear track bar? As it happened during flexing. It went away when the front swaybar was disconnected, so I the thought it might be those bushings? Anyway continued to Silverton.

 

[epriev]

The weather was getting worse. I wanted to do Black Bear, but that's a no go when wet. So went to Mineral Creek (western part of Engineers Pass)

Got to this old mining building I took a picture of my new Xterra, so tried the same picture with the new Jeep, about 22 years and lots of deterioration later.





Then the rain started hard and I didnt capture any more pictures. Dodging many SxSs until near the Engineers Pass and Animas Forks and the rain cleared up.


It was getting late and headed up Burns Gulch and setup the truck for the night.



It was mostly comfortable, but the seat fold was in the wrong spot to get very comfortable as they are not fold flat. I did figure it out with padding and a moving blanket by the lat night.

 

[epriev]

Next morning finished Burns Gulch and back down.


On to Picayune and Placer Gulch.

 

[epriev]

Then Cinnamon, Corkscrew and California Passes and the kale at the end of Poughkeepsie Gulch.



I didn't do Poughkeepsie Gulch this time as there was a log jam of trucks at the wall and it was likely muddy making it very difficult and I wanted to do Black Bear and Ophir Passes before heading to Montrose.

 

[epriev]

Black Pass. Jeep B.O.H. trail.
Into Telluride.








The Telluride Film Festival was taking place and Imogene Pass was still closed so I got out of Telluride and headed to Ophir Psss.

 

[epriev]

Ophir Pass, another B.O.H. trail.






Aired up and off to Montrose to meet 2 other to do Rim Rocker Trail to Moab.

 

[epriev]

Rim Rocker is a 160 mile group of trails from Montrose to Moab and a new virtual B.O.H. trail.



Not many pictures as it was a lot of gravel at a quick pace.

Stopped at Buckeye Reservior for the night.


Finished Rim Rocker to La Sal Pass into Moab.

 

[epriev]

So back to the rubber binding and clunking noise I heard on day 2.

At camp at the reservior I started looking at bit more at the front end and discovered the source of the clunking. The nut for the driver's side sway bar link vibrated free, likely on the Stony Pass wash boards. I didnt see it initially as it was still "attached" to the swaybar. The treads were destroyed and I just took it off. I also noticed a weird mud free spot on the front differential. The track bar had rubbed on the differential.

I drove back to Denver on I70 without a front sway bar and it didn't seem to be any worse than another trip. I70 in this area has plenty of heaving and bumps. Maybe from driving the Xterra for so many years without either sway bars could have biased me in the feel of the Jeep. It didnt seem to have excessive body roll or instability compared to the kast time I drove the same stretch.

 

[jeeeep]

So back to the rubber binding and clunking noise I heard on day 2.

At camp at the reservior I started looking at bit more at the front end and discovered the source of the clunking. The nut for the driver's side sway bar link vibrated free, likely on the Stony Pass wash boards. I didnt see it initially as it was still "attached" to the swaybar. The treads were destroyed and I just took it off. I also noticed a weird mud free spot on the front differential. The track bar had rubbed on the differential.

I drove back to Denver on I70 without a front sway bar and it didn't seem to be any worse than another trip. I70 in this area has plenty of heaving and bumps. Maybe from driving the Xterra for so many years without either sway bars could have biased me in the feel of the Jeep. It didnt seem to have excessive body roll or instability compared to the kast time I drove the same stretch.

View attachment 431053

great trip!
The driver side upper sway bar link bolt keeps coming out on my 2018, even with stover nut, over time it works loose.
After losing 3 bolts I now check it frequently.

A little mud for detecting all the rub areas