SideXSide Action - November 2007 - (Page 33) [On The Trail: Rubicon] Move Over MacGyver: Trail Fixes That You Can Do Yourself On any extreme trail like the Rubicon, you have got to be prepared for different types of breakdowns. Unfortunately for Aaron Wedeking from PRP Seats, the Rubicon threw him a few curve balls. The good news is Aaron was prepared and had the skills to fix the breakdowns that could have left us in a very tough spot. Aaron’s first mishap came on the way down Cadillac Hill before we made it to camp. In a tough spot, he had forced the wheel to the side and ended up breaking the aftermarket steering wheel adapter. Since we were about ½ mile from camp, we decided the best thing to do was to get him to camp, then work on a fix. To do that, a few of us ran ahead and took a steering wheel and adapter off another Rhino, then ran it back up the trail. We bolted it on and got down to camp without a hitch. Now what were we going to do? Well, Aaron was prepared for just this type of scenario. With two other rigs, he combined three batteries with jumper cables and used a welding stick to weld the adapter back in place. (See the “Trail Welding 101” article in this issue to see exactly how this works.) All I can say is that I was completely impressed. The welding sounded good, looked OK, and got him back to the trailer on Sunday. And that is what a trail fix is all about. One thing Aaron forgot was proper eye protection. In the bind Aaron was in, he decided to go for it with one regular and three polarized sunglasses. This is not the recommended approach. >>> Sparks fly as Aaron gets to welding the steering column back on, using some basic tools and a couple batteries. <<< Aaron’s second mishap came on the way up Cadillac Hill on Sunday morning. The Arctic Cat Prowler that his dad and brother were in broke a rear CV, and then another. With the stress of trying to make it out with less traction and a few more “cowboy” type maneuvers, a tie rod broke. With only two-wheel drive and no ability to steer, the Prowler wasn’t going anywhere. With no other options, Aaron broke out the “welder” and went to work on the tie rod. There is no way a tie rod welded together at the break would hold, so a splint was fashioned to give the tie rod some strength. Aaron welded on a bolt and a screwdriver, and they were back in business. Still a few miles from the trailhead, they weren’t home free. Front-wheeldrive might get you out if you are on a logging road, but there were still plenty of boulders on this part of the trail that a UTV with two-wheel-drive just can’t climb. With a tow strap hooked from their Rhino to the Prowler, they were able to bang and bounce their way back to the trailer. One thing Aaron’s dad, Bruce, learned on the trip is too much air pressure in your tires may save you from blowing a bead, but the added stress of less traction will take its toll on other parts of the vehicle. After a broken tie-rod threatened the trip out, Aaron once again broke out the homemade welder and went to work. With a little help from a flat head screwdriver and the welding knowledge of Aaron, the tie-rod was structurally sound and good enough to get back to the trail-head. <<< DE X SIDE ACTION ADVENTURES SIDE X SIDE ACTION ADVENTURES SIDE X SIDE ACTION ADVENTURES SIDE X SIDE ACTION ADVENTURES 33 SIDE
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