Offroad adventure turned nightmare.... sort of

[mattferguson14]

So this past weekend I decided to take my VX out for a little offroad action. I took her out to a local spot call Butcher Jones here in AZ. A few buddies of mine came with to spectate, but my truck was the only "offroad equipped" vehicle. Now mind you, I STILL have no front prop shaft (waiting on parts) so my TOD is disconnected and I am running rear wheel only. I can proudly say that my little VX is a BEAST! I crawled up some pretty darn steep, uneven hills. My little truck flexed out like a big dawg. I surprised the hell out of my buddy who is somewhat of an offroad guru. I climbed a couple hills in 2 wheel that a lifted Suburban and his lifted Bronco counterpart couldn't make in 4 wheel! And i was crawling where they were taking runs at it. I have a feeling that a previous owner geared my truck down because the low end torque was surprising. I am running 4 inches of lift with a Calmini setup and 33" Nitto trail grapplers, but still, 2 wheel drive is 2 wheel drive.

So after a successful and fulfilling off road adventure (even stopped off at the lake and caught a few catfish), I was headed out of the desert and back to civilization. I came down a small decline on a fairly smooth trail about 2 miles from the exit, and my left front wheel kicks out at a 45 degree angle. Snapped a tie-rod end ball joint right off the spindle! FML!

Luckily the buddies I was with were a bit redneck and at least half McGeiver. The one buddy had a spool of bailing wire in his backpack (I mentioned they were redneck right?) and I had a couple ratchet straps in the back of my truck. We spent about an hour twisting on lengths of bailing wire with a set of vice-grips and topped it off with a nice wrap of ratchet strap. Not only did I make it off the trail, but I drive it (at low speed) about 25 miles back in to town and parked it at my other buddy's shop! He threw it on the rack for me the next morning, popped a new tie-rod end on and aligned it for me for nothing. Found out my ball joints, upper and lower on both sides, are pretty much toast, so that will be my next venture.

All in all, it was a very interesting , fun, and sketchy first offroad test for my VX.

[Vendetta]

Great story! The VX never ceases to surprise.

Regarding your gearing, I think if post up some low gear speed/RPM/wheel & tire size data, the experts will probably tell you what's what.

Enjoy!
-V

[JoFotoz]

Glad Ya Got home ok :thumbup:

These are worth their weight in gold IMO...

http://www.independent4x.com/Isuzu-IFS-Heavy-Duty-Steering_p_27.html


Cheers

Jo

[nocturnalVX]

I know that ISUZUs in general are damn near unstoppable, but I think some people have the VX lumped in with AWD mom-mobiles. Glad you had fun, blew some minds, had some skillbillies with YA, and got home safely.

[Triathlete]

Once I get my maintenence done we will have to get together and hit up Florence or Charloau Gap :)

[tom4bren]

... and my left front wheel kicks out at a 45 degree angle...

Sorta like what happened to Zeus!!!

[mattferguson14]

Once I get my maintenence done we will have to get together and hit up Florence or Charloau Gap :)

Let's do it

[Triathlete]

I'll let you know when I get all my "fixes" done. You will need that front prop shaft though ;)

[mattferguson14]

Well I've been waiting forever to get it from the dealer that I bought the truck from. I financed an extra $1000 on the truck for parts and labor. I just told them today that I'm sick of waiting and to just write me a check for the $1000 and I'll do it myself. They cut the check, I'm picking it up this afternoon and beginning my junk yard search for a new shaft!

[JoFotoz]

Sweet...


They cut the check, I'm picking it up this afternoon and beginning my junk yard search for a new shaft!

... this forum saves money again :thumbup:

Jo

\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ ..... !!!!!

[bartmanS4]

Well I've been waiting forever to get it from the dealer that I bought the truck from. I financed an extra $1000 on the truck for parts and labor. I just told them today that I'm sick of waiting and to just write me a check for the $1000 and I'll do it myself. They cut the check, I'm picking it up this afternoon and beginning my junk yard search for a new shaft!

Let me know if you have trouble finding one. I've got my old one sitting in the garage and shipping from Denver shouldn't be too bad.

[VXorado]

Let me know if you have trouble finding one. I've got my old one sitting in the garage and shipping from Denver shouldn't be too bad.

Ha beat ya Scott, I offered this option last week! Matt never replied to my offer.

[Triathlete]

Probably less than $30 using Greyhound...

[mattferguson14]

Well Bartman and VXorado, looks like I've got competing sellers now! ;) What's your price? And how bad of shape are they in? I'd like to get one that is not totally beat to crap if possible. P.S. sorry for the non reply before VXorado, i was not sure until yesterday whether or not I'd be doing this myself.

[mattferguson14]

can you beat this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-ISUZU-TROOPER-FRONT-DRIVE-SHAFT-/150989585503?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2001|Make%3AIsuzu|Model%3AVehiCROSS&hash=item2327ae3c5f&vxp=mtr

$50 +$24.99 shipping = $75

[Triathlete]

That about what I paid for mine...from a 60,000 mile trooper.

[VXorado]

can you beat this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-ISUZU-TROOPER-FRONT-DRIVE-SHAFT-/150989585503?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2001|Make%3AIsuzu|Model%3AVehiCROSS&hash=item2327ae3c5f&vxp=mtr

$50 +$24.99 shipping = $75

You don't want that one, it needs to be a CV shaft.

I'll respond to your PM in a bit.

[Triathlete]

HAS to be from a TOD equipped Trooper or another VX.

[mattferguson14]

You don't want that one, it needs to be a CV shaft.

I'll respond to your PM in a bit.

No, I need the front prop shaft, not a cv.

[Triathlete]

The front shaft uses CVs...hence a "CV shaft".

[mattferguson14]

The front shaft uses CVs...hence a "CV shaft".

Ahhh, i see. So it actually has rubber boots covering the u-joints? Can these boots be redone? Are there grease zerks?

[Triathlete]

No and no :(

[mattferguson14]

dang.. I wonder how long a used shaft will last.. well I guess I'll find out.

[Triathlete]

As I said, my 60000 mile trooper shaft has been quite happy for the past couple years (I also have manual hubs which are unlocked pretty much always for day to day driving which puts less pressure on all the front end parts even though the shaft still rotates).