Koh 2020

[6DoF]

*i'll reserve this first post for edits and all the updated info in one spot*

Dates:

Who's in:
- Me (whole week)
- Brian
- James?
- ?
- ?

Sleeping:

Flights:

Rental car(s):

https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/5f28b81208c5451c979470d9116be12e/5DF131C2/t51.2885-15/e35/67438551_2109563006015906_2181986262156050061_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com

[6DoF]

so last year we booked what i would call "late" after thanksgiving. still got a good RV, but there are easier options available if booked early. like they will deliver a 5th wheel camper out to the lake bed for you, and pick it up after you leave.

we had a 4dr Taco along with the RV and that worked out great, any awd with better than car ground clearance should do.

we flew into LAX, picked up the truck, and drove 2h towards the lakebed where we picked up the RV, then another hour drive out after a walmart stocking run.

can we get enough ppl to need multiple RVs?

[xj_man_646]

It sounds like a group of us from the wheelers will be trying to form a trip as well. I know Hubble, Jeremiah and Alan will probably be in, not sure about Dice, Caldwell, or Socha at this point.

We're looking into a rental RV or a travel trailer that includes drop off / pick up. Probably fly in / out of Vegas and spend a night there on either end of KOH.

Have KOH 2020 dates been set yet? I searched the other day and didn't come up with anything.

[6DoF]

i wasn't able to find the dates

that'd be cool to see old wheelers, but those guys were never my group :lol: we could set up a circle of RVs, lots of desert available. more ppl makes it easier to set up fires n such at night.

[xj_man_646]

Yeah, I get that. I ended up becoming pretty good friends with them in the later years. I stood in Jeremiah's wedding.

A big group out there would be a lot of fun though.

[Cobound]

My plans will be discussed over EJS and COBDR this year...likely put solid plans together this fall. SRT8 (my buddy Pat) is looking to race in the Every Man Challenge, so he may be driving out...not sure I'll be able to take that much time off, but I'm going to get there in 2020!

[xj_man_646]

:eek: He's gonna compete? That is awesome!

[Cobound]

That's his plan ;)

[6DoF]

*bump*

this planning needs to start getting real

[Cobound]

So, Pat bought a buggy a few months ago, is competing in Crandon over Labor day for a qualifying spot...hoping to be up there to sit in the pit while it all goes down. Things turned into a shytshow w/ camping and whatnot, and my boss is what she is, I can't get that Friday afternoon off so I'm hoping it all still works out that I make it up there...anyway, KOH 2020...

Yes, I'm in. While I'd love to ride out w/ Pat in his rig, I'll likely fly out and rent a Jeep for a few days, fly home. I have limited time off, and a lot of other trips I want to do, including continuing EJS shortly after KOH.

Once dates and races are figured out, and depending on whether Pat qualifies in two weeks or not, I'll be on it in a heartbeat! Gonna make sure I'm there in time for whatever race he gets into, or there to get in on the most debauchery :lol:

I'll know more after Labor Day's events.

[6DoF]

https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/5f28b81208c5451c979470d9116be12e/5DF131C2/t51.2885-15/e35/67438551_2109563006015906_2181986262156050061_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com

[Cobound]

:rock:

[6DoF]

so what i'm getting is that Brian, you'd be staying with your other buddy to help him run then?

James, would you be camping with us?

Is there NO ONE ELSE going to go with us?

[xj_man_646]

I don't think I'll be attending KOH 2020 sadly

[Cobound]

Yep, I'll be hanging w/ Pat. Sounds like we may have a few other guys as well, but I'll be there.

James :james:

[6DoF]

dude!!! James!!?!?!? wtf!!?!?!

[Cobound]

Par for the course :lol:

[xj_man_646]

Yeah one of the guys knocked up his wife so I think the whole group backed out :lol:

I guess it isn't out of the question...we were looking into a rental camper to get parked on the lakebed for our time out there. Seems like it was going to be relatively cheap...hundred bucks a night per person maybe?

[Cobound]

Dude, there will be plenty of us out there...fly out, shack up, dig in and hammer it out w/ the rest of us!!

[6DoF]

Yeah one of the guys knocked up his wife so I think the whole group backed out :lol:

I guess it isn't out of the question...we were looking into a rental camper to get parked on the lakebed for our time out there. Seems like it was going to be relatively cheap...hundred bucks a night per person maybe?

i literally JUST asked if you'd be staying with us or with another group ...

last year we got an RV n drove it in, plan to do the same this year. it was only a few bucks more, lets us move it, and lets us stay in town off the lake bed the night before our flights. just trying to get a count of how many for how big of an RV. But like you, i might be on my own n just catching up with Brian's group, worst case we can split the RV.

[Cobound]

Worst case you can rent a damn Jeep and buy a cheap Walmart tent :p

[srt8-jk]

I'm Brian's buddy Pat...(he likes to add this to any post that he references me) I will be racing in the 4400 class in Hammers. My car is very capable and finished 21st this year.

I will be driving out on the 23rd or 24th of January. Going to pr-run the week of the 26th. The previous owner lives about 40 minutes from Johnson Valley, so I'll have his help working out multiple paths on each trail.
Around midweek, the U4 staff will start putting up signs for the official route, historically they don't open the official route until the Friday before Hammers week starts.

I'll have a decent-sized crew with me in the pits, guessing I'll have my RV+trailer and maybe one other camper in the pit area, the rest will find a spot out on the lake bed to set up camp.

We learned a lot at Crandon and looking forward to Hammers.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/140011_fb84975c7a384fee83caad62f83a53a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_960,h_640/crandon.hill.jpg

[xj_man_646]

Good luck to you, Brian's buddy Pat ;) :lol:.

How was Crandon? I hear some of the U4 cars are tearing it up these days. Last time I was there, was the first year for U4 cars on the short course.

[srt8-jk]

It was a good time. The rock and woods section is a bit tame and short. The short track is a good time.

The U4 rigs are only off the pace of the Pro4 trucks by a couple of seconds.

Here is a video of the rocks section

Crandon Saturday night (https://video.wixstatic.com/video/140011_7a7947f500044065bd61580b728f7418/720p/mp4/file.mp4)

[Cobound]

:roflmao:

Good, now they know you...buddy :lol:

[xj_man_646]

It was a good time. The rock and woods section is a bit tame and short. The short track is a good time.

The U4 rigs are only off the pace of the Pro4 trucks by a couple of seconds.

Here is a video of the rocks section

Crandon Saturday night (https://video.wixstatic.com/video/140011_7a7947f500044065bd61580b728f7418/720p/mp4/file.mp4)

:eek: I didn't realize that U4 cars were reaching the pace of Pro4! That is amazing!

Yeah the section you showed in the video does look pretty tame by U4 standards. I bet it was fun though. Was this your first time racing?

[srt8-jk]

Yes, first time racing in Ultra4. I have been after it for about 3 years.

[Cobound]

Never asked, how's it compare to the track shyt you did before that?

Even after moving that dash plate, it has to be only slightly better than squeezing into the Porsche :lol:

[6DoF]

last year crawling around the Mt's around the lake bed ... i swore i'd loose 20lbs and do some hiking before to warm up to this year. so far i'm down 8, and have been doing a lot more walking.

[Cobound]

Man, I felt it in CO this past vaca...some of the places I've hiked before were a bit tougher this trip...and my wife had a bit of a tougher time. She used to walk daily, then slowed down and got into wine and chatting w/ friends :lol:

She's back on the walking path now tho...I need to do the same, but I've been saying that for years :p

Good on you man :rock:

I'm really looking forward to meeting more peeps...even if it is just you :lol:

[6DoF]

...even if it is just you :lol:

:roflmao::roflmao:

[Cobound]

LOL...yes, sir...I even italicized it just for you :lol:

[6DoF]

LOL...yes, sir...I even italicized it just for you :lol:

you mean ... JUST for James :james:

[6DoF]

i thought KD might go

[Cobound]

:lol:

[Cobound]

Flight booked. Fly into Vegas Feb 2 @ 6p. Fly out of Vegas Feb 8 @ 6p.

Is it February yet :cotter:

[6DoF]

:cry::cry:

i might not have the funds to go in 2020 :(

[Cobound]

:cry::cry:

i might not have the funds to go in 2020 :(

Wait, WTF :eek:

That would suck, dude...but just finishing a house and all, maybe it's time you tell the wife to sell the Vette :lol:

Dude. Pull those penny jars out and get to saving! My flight out was only $150 from Mpls to Vegas, splitting a ride w/ a Damon and a buddy...gonna tent it out there. You can do it!

[6DoF]

do ya'll have an extra seat? maybe i can book flights around when you'll be at the airport

my only issue then would be getting enough equipment out there to survive the week.

i'm just fawking WASTED right now ... i want to get the 60/9" in the YJ, work on the '55, but mainly just pay off the builder for the house ...

[Cobound]

I hear ya...lots of irons in the fire. I'm stretching this myself. Originally was only going to do a 3 day stretch, but turned into the full week, plus.

I'm confident there would be room for one more person, but that'd be on the guys I'm w/...I'm splitting the Jeep rental w/ them, they are doing a VRBO in town and I'm staying out at KOH w/ another group. The one thing I coordinated was the flight dates/times so didn't have to rent my own vehicle...if you're serious I'll get a message out w/ everyone in it for some real talk. LMK.

Hell, I've taken nearly 4 weeks of vaca this year and my wife/son are going to FL tomorrow for the week...I'm not going. They go out on a trip like this tho, used to be the wife and two kids...now just one. I do more long weekend trips they don't want any part of :lol: Well, sitting on a beach in FL doing absolutely nothing is sometimes appealing, it's not at the moment - meh :p
I may use a couple more days, or roll them into next year...but in reality, I don't have a full week to take anyway...I get to stay home and drink by myself - which is nice, too :chug:

[myjeepsbigger]

I'm pretty stoked. Yeah, we got a VRBO house nearby, because I'm not sure I could handle the constant party and sand blasts every night. Getting too old for that shyt. It'll be nice to have a quiet place to grab a few hours of quality sleep, and a real shower every day, before heading back out to the lakebed. I think Glen and I may venture around to check out the surrounding area at least 1 day out of the week, just for a change of pace. We'll be arriving late in the evening on the 2nd, and fly back home on the 8th.

[6DoF]

while i 100% see your reasoning ... the lakebed is just, THE FREAKING LAKEBED. the RV last year was great, and we were far enough away from the party. you still get the occupational UTV with a concert PA system, but whatever.

on the other hand, we were only doing towel baths ... saving water til the last day when i still didn't fit in the shower to save my life.

[Cobound]

Damon :rock:

I'm w/ Matt on this one, gonna likely just stay at the lakebed, but I'm TOTALLY up for cruising and seeing more than just the lakebed w/ you and Glen. Looking forward to hookin w/ you guys again. Funny, we go all this way to connect and live 1/3 the distance apart otherwise :lol:

I think that means you need to have another MJL run :yes:

[myjeepsbigger]

I think that means you need to have another MJL run :yes:

I have no desire to do another MJL Run. The liability, trash clean-up, and headaches aren't worth it any more. ;) :f2::roflmao:

[xj_man_646]

I have no desire to do another MJL Run. The liability, trash clean-up, and headaches aren't worth it any more. ;) :f2::roflmao:

Too bad. Those were a good time. What about :jeepin: only? :lol:

[Cobound]

I have no desire to do another MJL Run. The liability, trash clean-up, and headaches aren't worth it any more. ;) :f2::roflmao:

I can understand that...after years of Shakk abuse on top of that, was a tough run of things.

However, we've all changed a bit from those days as well...not all breaking shyt to pieces and such. Hell, you don't even drink any more, much less stay up past 8PM :f2: :roflmao: :p

[myjeepsbigger]

T-minus 3 months and counting......

[xj_man_646]

T-minus 3 months and counting......

Cripes. I can't believe how quickly 2019 is ending.

[6DoF]

i guess i'll officially announce it here ... i'm out. funding didn't happen, jeep needs the cash more.

[Cobound]

You and James can get together and talk about how you want to go but won't cuz you'll find an excuse :lol:

"T-minus 3 months and counting......"

-myjeepsbigger

:p

[srt8-jk]

KoH is right around the corner. I'll let you guys know what pit I get assigned whenever that comes out.

Crunch time to get the car finished up and ready for the big dance.

I will be out on the lake bed either Sunday January 26th or Monday the 27th.

See you guys out there.

[6DoF]

when you find out what time you leave the line for any qualifying or the main, let us know so we can stream it!

[Cobound]

I'll hit the pits on Saturday, Feb 1 early to mid afternoon...guess it depends on Damon and Glen rolling in from their pad in Yucca, too.

Damn, it's getting close...off to CO on Jan 17th, then KOH, and EJS...busy early year!!

[myjeepsbigger]

I'll hit the pits on Saturday, Feb 1 early to mid afternoon...guess it depends on Damon and Glen rolling in from their pad in Yucca, too.

Damn, it's getting close...off to CO on Jan 17th, then KOH, and EJS...busy early year!!

Good grief, man. You take more trips than anyone I know. :roflmao:

[xj_man_646]

Good grief, man. You take more trips than anyone I know. :roflmao:

Not that it's a bad thing, but yeah..he travels a lot :lol:.

[Cobound]

Good grief, man. You take more trips than anyone I know. :roflmao:

Life is short...and you obviously don't know Pat well enough to say that about me :lol:

Pat :dunno: :f2: :roflmao:

But, back on subject, T-minus 3.5 weeks :eek:

:rock:

[6DoF]

Life is short...and you obviously don't know Pat well enough to say that about me :lol:

Pat :dunno: :f2: :roflmao:

But, back on subject, T-minus 3.5 weeks :eek:

:rock:

wait wait wait ... is Pat your buddy?

but amen, get busy living!! doesn't always mean trips/travel, just make your time worth while. :chug:

[Cobound]

:lol: :roflmao: :f2: :yes:

Correct, not my cousin, or my uncle, not my brother...you get the picture, glad you all understand.

So, good, now that you know him...talk about somebody busy living - fuk yeah :p

Yeah, I try to get away as much as possible, enjoy different things. Of course, my wife would accuse me of ONLY surrounding those things I do with Jeeps, but what fun are things w/o them :dunno:

[6DoF]

we are now doing a 3-day ski trip to VT end of this month. driving up, splitting a condo with a bunch of other ppl, and the resort had a ticket package that was 60% off. also by driving we get to use our equipment and not rent. should be a somewhat cheap trip that also includes the wife.

[Cobound]

we are now doing a 3-day ski trip to VT end of this month. driving up, splitting a condo with a bunch of other ppl, and the resort had a ticket package that was 60% off. also by driving we get to use our equipment and not rent. should be a somewhat cheap trip that also includes the wife.

:rock:

[srt8-jk]

when you find out what time you leave the line for any qualifying or the main, let us know so we can stream it!

It looks like I will be 5th off the line on Tuesday February 5th at 9am in the morning for qualifying.

[6DoF]

It looks like I will be 5th off the line on Tuesday February 5th at 9am in the morning for qualifying.

damn! early tracks!

[Cobound]

:rock:

[Blue XJ]

wait wait wait ... is Pat your buddy?



:lol: :roflmao: :f2: :yes:

Correct, not my cousin, or my uncle, not my brother...you get the picture, glad you all understand.

No kidding? Seriously? :roflmao::roflmao:

[srt8-jk]

If you happen to make it out to Hammertown, my pit is on Spidertrax street 212/216 .

[myjeepsbigger]

Glen and I will be pitting at 204 Nitto, at least until the UTV race is over. Then we'll probably be over there bugging Pat.

[Cobound]

:rock:

Good to hear my buddy Damon and his buddy Glen are going to be there...where is our buddy Matt going to be :lol:

[myjeepsbigger]

Finally got a chance to watch the pre-show on Youtube this morning. Sounds like this year is going to be crazy. I'm soooo ready!

[Cobound]

10 days, sheesh, that went really fast :p

[6DoF]

i'm more bummed that i'm not going then i thought i would be ... this sux

[Cobound]

It's not too late :f2:

That's how I felt last year, was all ready to go, then got the rug pulled out from under me...made sure it didn't happen this year!

[Cobound]

Tick-Tock

[Cobound]

Pretty stoked...man, I'm not getting a lot of work done today :lol:

https://youtu.be/2wjeHhBilgg

[Cobound]

Flight checked in.

Bags packed.

I'm leaving work shortly...KOH bound, bitches :rock: :driving:

[xj_man_646]

Nice.

[ct90YJ]

trip report yet?

[myjeepsbigger]

Mid-week update. Glen (not a :jeepin: guy), pit crewed for the #71 Wolff Racing Team in UTV class that ended up 5th! Pretty damn exciting. Pat ran qualifying for 4400 yesterday and finished, but we had some minor repairs to do. Coolant hose, few loose bolts, belt and tensioner pulley. Got that all back together last night and we should be ready for the start. Today and tomorrow will be chill days before the race on Friday.

[xj_man_646]

:rock:

[Lubes]

Well, what'd ya think? Worth all the time and money?

[myjeepsbigger]

Dust. Holy hell there was some dust. At this point, I think I would go out to spectate, but I don't have much interest in participating. I think I'm forever a Rec Wheeler, and not a Racer. It would be cool to go out with my own rig on a Wednesday or Thursday, spend a few days exploring, and then watch the 4400 race from a couple different places (Backdoor, Chocolate Thunder, the flats out NE of Hammertown, etc) on Race Day.

Also, I'm really glad we had a house rented away from the chaos and noise. It was nice to grab a shower at night and sleep without the constant thunder of cars driving by. Maybe I'm getting old.

Get off my lawn! :lol:

[myjeepsbigger]

The whole experience has really piqued my interest in shock tuning though. I'm soaking up all the info I can get on that right now. Cool stuff.

[Cobound]

Dust. Holy hell there was some dust. At this point, I think I would go out to spectate, but I don't have much interest in participating. I think I'm forever a Rec Wheeler, and not a Racer. It would be cool to go out with my own rig on a Wednesday or Thursday, spend a few days exploring, and then watch the 4400 race from a couple different places (Backdoor, Chocolate Thunder, the flats out NE of Hammertown, etc) on Race Day.

Also, I'm really glad we had a house rented away from the chaos and noise. It was nice to grab a shower at night and sleep without the constant thunder of cars driving by. Maybe I'm getting old.

Get off my lawn! :lol:

I would concur. I LOVED getting out in the Can-Am, sold on those, I'm juicy about them now :roflmao:

Lots of dust, understatement, you BECOME DUST! That is NO joke. Hammerlung is fo realz!

I was OK w/ camping on site (in an RV), noise didn't bother me, but never escaping the dust was a bit much at times...would have LOVED a more regular opportunity to shower, but it wasn't unbearable, even if I am getting older :p Just glad I didn't end up in a tent as originally planned, that would have been miserable!! Maybe w/o the winds bearable, but not w/o shower access!

I'd love to go out and run some of that myself w/o the crowds, but definitely getting to watch the different rock challenges would have been nice...we were there so long but seems I didn't get to see a sliver of it.


The whole experience has really piqued my interest in shock tuning though. I'm soaking up all the info I can get on that right now. Cool stuff.

I still can't say enough about that...the Can-Am was a game changer to get around with. Being able to hammer over whoopdies at 50-80 mph was INSANE!

I'll invest in good shocks when time comes to replace mine on the Jeeps.

I could see myself racing UTV class, but I don't have the energy for the work that it entails outside of just racing...so a rec wheeler for me as well.

Overall it was a blast, another bucket list notched!

[6DoF]

i guess we lucked out and the dust was basically nil the year before. had some when out on the UTV rides, but that was it.

i know i'll go back! i'll never have the focus to pick just one hobby and race, but i'd crew for someone or just spectate again.

Get off my lawn! :lol:

:( but that's so part of the experience!

[nblehm]

The whole experience has really piqued my interest in shock tuning though. I'm soaking up all the info I can get on that right now. Cool stuff.

Yes, I've been passively reading about shock tuning for about a year now. I dont really have anything I can use at the moment for it but its something I find super interesting. Next set of shocks for the truck I want to get some rebuildable ones, and fart around with it.

[bbaCJ8]

Yes, I've been passively reading about shock tuning for about a year now. I dont really have anything I can use at the moment for it but its something I find super interesting. Next set of shocks for the truck I want to get some rebuildable ones, and fart around with it.
It's pretty fun. Rebuilding shocks is fun and really easy, just knowing what to tweak is tricky. Especially on a vehicle with awful mass ratios that sees a huge mix of uses and terrain. I did lots of research then lots of testing on my own rig. I think I've been through 4 iterations of tunes on my TJ or maybe only 3. I dunno, been a couple years and I don't have the sheets in front of me. It's still not 100% but it's night and day better than it used to be. Good enough that I haven't felt a need to tear into it in 3+ years. I've gotten some shocked thumbs up from a few long travel and sand rail guys after running with them through the dunes and across terrain that a stupid rock crawler never should have been able to do with speed.

Since doing all the work I've spent a bunch of times with a couple phenomenal tuners from AEV and Bilstein. Picked up a bunch of info from them and actually had some good feedback that helped them improve the packages we were working on too. So that was some nice validation for me to actually be helpful with the pros. After some of the testing sessions I took my TJ through some of the same stuff to see how bad it was in comparison and it was like butter. I was really happy with myself after doing that.

[nblehm]

It's pretty fun. Rebuilding shocks is fun and really easy, just knowing what to tweak is tricky. Especially on a vehicle with awful mass ratios that sees a huge mix of uses and terrain. I did lots of research then lots of testing on my own rig. I think I've been through 4 iterations of tunes on my TJ or maybe only 3. I dunno, been a couple years and I don't have the sheets in front of me. It's still not 100% but it's night and day better than it used to be. Good enough that I haven't felt a need to tear into it in 3+ years. I've gotten some shocked thumbs up from a few long travel and sand rail guys after running with them through the dunes and across terrain that a stupid rock crawler never should have been able to do with speed.

Since doing all the work I've spent a bunch of times with a couple phenomenal tuners from AEV and Bilstein. Picked up a bunch of info from them and actually had some good feedback that helped them improve the packages we were working on too. So that was some nice validation for me to actually be helpful with the pros. After some of the testing sessions I took my TJ through some of the same stuff to see how bad it was in comparison and it was like butter. I was really happy with myself after doing that.

:rock:

I used to know a dude that worked at poison spider when it was in denver. He had a TJ on coilovers and that thing drove like a dream especially compared to my Tj with f350 es3000 shocks and 2" of up travel. That was my first experience with a actually tuned suspension. I want to get to that point someday :lol:

Hell my J10 had the rear ranchos 5000 shocks on upside down in the back when I got it. I couldn't even look at speed bump without hitting my head on the ceiling, just flipping them over made a huge difference.

[6DoF]

i've never played with any valving, but i was shocked by just how much change the dual rate stops alone made. ran them all the way up and the jeep felt like it was going to just fall over, plus bottomed out super easy. ran em down to about 1/2" off the coil separator at ride height and she's on rails and soaks up anything. i still need to get the bumps in there though ...

[Cobound]

https://scontent-msp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/87263496_10213437459405984_821640407799562240_n.jp g?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=8qkMeYhcrbAAX_UdwSp&_nc_ht=scontent-msp1-1.xx&oh=c35e9c69ce5feb7ae98618648cc754f5&oe=5EBE83F7

[myjeepsbigger]

i was shocked

I see what you did there. :roflmao::roflmao: