| Author | Message | ||
     Ryan McDonald (Nursemcdonald) New Member Username: Nursemcdonald Post Number: 12 Registered: 05-2003 |
I tried a search, but found no information: Do you know anyone who has taken lions-back of moab in a discovery? if so, how was the disco equipped (besides a set of cast-iron-juevones) and what measures did the driver take? If you have PICS, please post em == ryan | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 234 Registered: 08-2002 |
http://www.expeditionexchange.com I think there are photos of Lions back on the EE site. | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) Senior Member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 988 Registered: 09-2002 |
Hell's revenge was just about scary enough for me. Lions' Back I think would give me a heart attack. | ||
| Dave_lucas (Dave_lucas) Senior Member Username: Dave_lucas Post Number: 382 Registered: 02-2002 |
"Hell's revenge was just about scary enough for me. Lions' Back I think would give me a heart attack." That was sooooo funny watching you that day on Hells revenge, I thought you were going to shit yourself on the climb in and the really steep down hill area. Brian =  Dave =  Brians wife =  I was sure that your wife was going to kick my ass for picking that trail  | ||
| david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 52 Registered: 12-2002 |
Talk to Nick Weede (Offroadguides.com I think). I met him in Moab a few weeks ago. He says he takes groups up Lions back all the time, and he drives a Dll. I didn't have the balls to do it my self. Maybe next time. Brian and Dave: when did you do Hell's Revenge? I did it about 3 weeks ago. What a trip! David | ||
| Dave_lucas (Dave_lucas) Senior Member Username: Dave_lucas Post Number: 383 Registered: 02-2002 |
David, We were out there from May 24th - 27th, we hit a bunch of trails and had a blast testing out my new toy and Brian’s new setup Saturday: 24th Behind the rocks Watched the rock crawling comp for a few hours Sunday: 25th Poison spider Mesa Bull Canyon Gemini Bridges Monday: 26th Hells revenge Top of the world Tuesday 27th Lower helldorado Man we had a blast, but then we had to go home  | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 428 Registered: 08-2002 |
I can't imagine doing lions back. I have seen it done in many different types of vehicles. Have seen at least 2 videos of vehicles going off the edge. Since it is could easily result in death if something goes wrong, why do it is my opinion. | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) Senior Member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 992 Registered: 09-2002 |
I still wonder who was the first nut to drive that thing? Must have been on LSD or something. | ||
| david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 55 Registered: 12-2002 |
We were there just before you. We did Kane Creek, Kokopoli (sp?) including Rose Garden Hill, Tip Toe Behind the Rocks (I think; it was done at night), Metal Masher and Gemini Bridges with OKRovers club. We did Hells Revenge and Wipe Out Hill with a LR dealer sponsed group out of Centerville, UT. Very nice people and lots of great wheeling. We plan on going back in September for the national rally. To check out some of our exploits, go to www.jnbvideo.com and click on the Moab section. Brian is right about Lion's Back; it definately has the potential for disaster. Why do it is a good question. I get the same question from people about off roading in general, especially in a "expensive Land Rover" | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) Senior Member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 994 Registered: 09-2002 |
I will do just about anything in my truck unless it involes the potential of seeing the Reeper. Then my tail goes between my legs. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 430 Registered: 08-2002 |
When I was living in SLC (driving a Bronco II at the time), there was video of a full size Bronco that lost its brakes coming down Lions back. Miraculously, the couple was thrown from the vehicle before it smashed. These people lost it pretty high up. The vehicle was about 1' tall at the bottom, noone could have survived in teh vehicle. The other video shows another full size truck that lost control at about 1/2 way. Then is going so fast it bounces most of the way down until it nose dives off the side of the lions back. Likely about a 30-40 ft nose dive, lands on the front end almost completely vertical. Again everyone walks, I think. I consider both of these groups lucky. Had something like this happened to me I am sure that I would be a goner or at least handicapped. I don't think that I would do it. | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) New Member Username: Newman Post Number: 30 Registered: 04-2003 |
I agree -- after seeing video of an old Suburban lose brakes and head down LB at about 35 mph, I made the same choice...no way I do anything but watch there...(if I ever get out to Moab) | ||
| Nick Weede (Nickweede) New Member Username: Nickweede Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2003 |
I have driven Lion's Back 6 or 8 times in my Disco II. I had a one inch lift, Rockware bumpers front and back and 31 inch tires. Lion's back is not a difficult obstacle if one goes slow and no one tries to pass on the more narrow areas. It really is quite safe. However every time I have driven it I have a death grip on the wheel. The sensation of driving and the rock slopes off each side really does a mind game on the driver. I have been in Moab long enough to befriend several locals. One friend was quite wild growing up and tells of a night with friends who both owned Broncos. The two trucks pulled up to the approach to Lion's back and sat talking for some time. One driver turned to my friend and said “Are you ready?" Because it was quite late my friend said he thought the driver meant ready to go home. Instead they both revved up and raced side by side up the Lion. I was not there to see it so I do not know if it is true. I looked carefully the next time I drove Lion's Back and in my judgment it is possible for two experienced drivers to drive side by side up the obstacle. Would I ever do it? NO. But it is possible. I plan to be in Moab Sept 7 thru 19 and Oct. 8 thru 24. I am always looking for trucks to go wheeling. Brian, you would really like Lion's Back. My home email is: nickweede@insightbb.com Send email if you want to see photos. Nick | ||
| exrover1 (Exrover1) New Member Username: Exrover1 Post Number: 7 Registered: 04-2003 |
Nick- This may be a stupid question regarding Lion's Back.. but do you engage hill descent control on your DII or does gravity and speed conspire to make HDC useless? I suspect engine breaking is insufficient and you ride the breaks while hoping heat fade out doesn't occur before you get to the bottom. True? | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) Senior Member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 1072 Registered: 09-2002 |
I am curious too. | ||
| david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2002 |
Nick, You have mail. David | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 506 Registered: 08-2002 |
Nick, I assume that you were talking about Brian Friend. Although the obstacle might be considered "easy". A mechanical failure or driver error can lead to death. That is one of my criteria for NOT doing a trail. If everything goes right I am sure it is very doable, since I hvae seen families in Suburbans do it. The problem is if one thing goes bad... Haven't done Black Bear, haven't done Lions Back, oh well, there are better more technical trails out there that I want to do that will not lead to death in a failure (and my wife will go on those too). | ||
| Marc M (Mosi) New Member Username: Mosi Post Number: 34 Registered: 09-2002 |
RE: "Haven't done Black Bear, haven't done Lions Back, oh well, there are better more technical trails out there that I want to do that will not lead to death in a failure (and my wife will go on those too)." I did Black Bear 2 years ago in my then Xterra with a CRAPPY low range. Having never previously driven it, I didn't know where the hard part was until I started getting down to the switch backs and met up with someone who had driven it before. I asked if the hard stuff was down below and he said "uhh, you just drove the hard stuff" . heh, LOL! The thing about Black Bear is that if your brakes melt or you get a mechanical failure, just turn your wheel to the right and the rock wall will stop you. Just watch that left turn cuz it's a doozy! Oh and don't even think about doing it with the worthless HDC. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 510 Registered: 08-2002 |
Yep, everything went well for you, even in an xterra. If everthing went right I could probably do Black Bear in my Subaru. Doesn't mean I will try it though. | ||
| Justin (Vanroth) Member Username: Vanroth Post Number: 72 Registered: 02-2003 |
Marc, Is a D2's HDC really that crappy? Although I'm on the east coast and don't really have much use for it, I just want to know if I can depend on it when the time comes. -justin | ||
| Marc M (Mosi) New Member Username: Mosi Post Number: 37 Registered: 09-2002 |
Justin, Find a steep paved hill in your area. Drop it into 4lo and engage HDC so you can note it's characteristics. In some cases like decending a steep sand dune that's smooth, it's perfectly fine. In rocky terrain where crawling is necesarry, HDC is very dangerous. Brian, Here is a friend's trip to Black Bear 4 years ago when his truck was 2 months old. It gives you a good idea of what you would encounter. The view of Telluride is worth the trip! http://www.xterrain.com/blackbear1.html | ||
| exrover1 (Exrover1) New Member Username: Exrover1 Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2003 |
I have engaged hill descent on moderate descents were engine breaking was insufficient. It seemed to work well and made driving down the hill rather comfortable so long as you didn't mind how noisy it was. It sounds as if your truck is falling apart. Having said that, there is no way I would trust HDC in any situation where there was a risk to life and limb. Were it to fail, even a slight increase of speed on an incline that is sufficiently steep could cause a loss of control resulting in the type of carnage we all think about when pondering Lion's Back. | ||
| Justin (Vanroth) Member Username: Vanroth Post Number: 73 Registered: 02-2003 |
Thanks guys... I've used it a few times here (once in the snow and once just playing around on some dirt mounds) and it worked pretty good. But of course there were no dangers. I can see your point on the big rocks. -justin | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 552 Registered: 08-2002 |
Again, I tend to avoid anything that will result in certain death due to an unpredictable mechanical failure or human error. This is why you will likely not see me on lionsback or black bear. I know what to expect and have been on the trail. I have not driven it and likely never will. If I need a view, then a hike is even more rewarding for me. |
