First rule of four-wheeling

[No Worries]

As an exploration geologist, I spent a lot of time four-wheeling in the wilderness. The number 1 rule of jeeping was not to do it at night. I only broke the rule once. Twisted the rear driveshaft in Utah and had to drive up a steep trail at night with two-wheel drive. On some switchbacks, the headlights were black. That's because they shined out on nothingness. The trail was next to a 500ft cliff.

A father and son were killed on Monday, when their Jeep went off a trail at night and plunged down a cliff. The father's body was found 300 feet down the mountain, and the son's 1,000 feet down. They still haven't found the Jeep yet. Story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/21/authorities-identify-lakewood-dad-son-killed-plung/.

[dReWpY]

As an exploration geologist, I spent a lot of time four-wheeling in the wilderness. The number 1 rule of jeeping was not to do it at night. I only broke the rule once. Twisted the rear driveshaft in Utah and had to drive up a steep trail at night with two-wheel drive. On some switchbacks, the headlights were black. That's because they shined out on nothingness. The trail was next to a 500ft cliff.

A father and son were killed on Monday, when their Jeep went off a trail at night and plunged down a cliff. The father's body was found 300 feet down the mountain, and the son's 1,000 feet down. They still haven't found the Jeep yet. Story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/21/authorities-identify-lakewood-dad-son-killed-plung/.

first: thats a sad story that you hate to hear

second: did not know you were a geologist, i completed my minor in undergrad in geology, majored in enviromental science and biology, dont think i could us the geology background in TN, but out west geology has a better job market.

[marko138]

I was gonna make a joke about the first rule of 4 wheeling...but this story brings me down. So no joke.

['73 H1 Triple]

I was gonna make a joke about the first rule of 4 wheeling...but this story brings me down. So no joke.

The son was 9 years old. Hell of a phone call for the wife/mom to get.

[marko138]

The son was 9 years old. Hell of a phone call for the wife/mom to get.
No kidding.

[the chi]

Damn, what a tragedy!

[Katherine]

No more sad threads. I can't take it.

[Rider]

Damn.... That's horrible. :panic:

[smileyman]

Yeah i was going to share some of my ATV stories...But not after that. RIP, hope father and son are together somewhere...:sorry:

[Mr Lefty]

As an exploration geologist, I spent a lot of time four-wheeling in the wilderness. The number 1 rule of jeeping was not to do it at night. I only broke the rule once. Twisted the rear driveshaft in Utah and had to drive up a steep trail at night with two-wheel drive. On some switchbacks, the headlights were black. That's because they shined out on nothingness. The trail was next to a 500ft cliff.

A father and son were killed on Monday, when their Jeep went off a trail at night and plunged down a cliff. The father's body was found 300 feet down the mountain, and the son's 1,000 feet down. They still haven't found the Jeep yet. Story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/21/authorities-identify-lakewood-dad-son-killed-plung/.

well first... I don't call it Jeeping... as I do it in a Toyota ;) :lol: and I've done TONS of runs at night... but yes... you must know your terrain... do a bit of research and know where cliffs are and IMO NEVER run a new trail at night.... even if you aren't near a cliff...

The other thing is to have proper safety gear... my truck (the one I wheeled) had a full cage inside... I put it on it's head several times... no issues... just make sure your passenger isn't holding on to the roll bar (loose a finger if the cab gets crushed against the cage


lastly... and most importantly...RIP

[No Worries]

...did not know you were a geologist, i completed my minor in undergrad in geology, majored in enviromental science and biology, dont think i could us the geology background in TN, but out west geology has a better job market.

I worked in mining for two years before I got into exploration and evaluation of mining properties. In 1988, I was evaluating some uranium properties in Utah. The Hey Joe Mine was one of them: http://www.utah.com/offroad/hey_joe.htm. The cliff was actually 600 feet. On the trail along the Green River, a rock the size of a garage fell on the road. Being a lazy SOB, I wanted to ride over the rock instead of hiking to the mine. I had a brand new Dodge Ramcharger. I made it over the rock, but broke the rear driveshaft. Here's what torque from a 360, four barrel, granny gear, and low range can do to a driveshaft.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4087/ramchargerdriveshaftkv8.jpg
Twisted it like a pretzel. After getting to the other side of the rock, we had to go back over with just the front wheel drive. Luckily the Dodge had a Warn winch. But it took us all day. That's why we had to go up the cliff trail at night. Rented two ATV's and made it to the mine after we got a new driveshaft. The reason I didn't want to hike was all the mapping, sampling, and safety gear we has to use to safely go into an abandoned uranium mine.

[MikeSP1]

That storry is beyond sad.

[Sixxxxer]

First and Foremost...RIP to the Father and Son...Thats Tragic

Secondly...That Driveshaft is Ridiculous.

I've wheeled before with myself and My dad and a Few buddies of Mine...Never at Night though...Always wanted to thought it would be cool but I just dont like that Visibility is Key and when you see a "puddle" it might really be a Lake.

[jeeps84]

As a kid, we wheeled 90% at night. Luckily we have lots of trees to keep you from rolling to far down the Mtn.