Choose your spotter carefully!

[p m]

Kris - in an Outback, you won't make it to the Squeeze - so you're looking into a several miles' walk

Pinyon Mountain trail is one of my favorites in Anza Borrego. Taught my kids to drive on it - before the rough part, of course.

 

[sideview]

If there's really a serious danger of flipping, why not rig a few towstraps together and have another vehicle advance behind you up above the obstacle, in case you start to roll, that way you have a safety net?

Not an expert, but that sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

[Ballah06]

If there's really a serious danger of flipping, why not rig a few towstraps together and have another vehicle advance behind you up above the obstacle, in case you start to roll, that way you have a safety net?

This comes to mind...

 

[KngTgr]

If the descent really called for a strap to keep the vehicle from rolling over, what would the last vehicle do?

 

[gmookher]

Not an expert, but that sounds like a bad idea to me.

dont do it

 

[knewsom]

was just curious... last guy could winch backwards?

Probably better to just be careful and have a GOOD spotter.

 

[Rover Mac]

Speaking of the driver "acting as a servo" - I am not sure whether it's good or bad.
One time in Death Valley, Will Selden from NorCalLR gave an exellent example of being a "servo" - following exactly the spotter's directions. And it worked remarkably well - good spotting followed by exact execution of directions.
In this case, Will knew the spotter and trusted him 100%; a good driver should also have a feeling of whether the spotter is good or not.

Will is a great bloke, and I watched him do a textbook climb of the optional waterfall obstacle on Defense Mine in Death Vally, however he did have a mishap later that day

 

[p m]

Will is a great bloke, and I watched him do a textbook climb of the optional waterfall obstacle on Defense Mine in Death Vally, however he did have a mishap later that day

We were on the same trail that day, remember? LOL

 

[Rover Mac]

Pinyon Mtn only has a couple of obstacles.
Window smasher in a full sized lifted LR is just a matter of picking your line carefully, and watching your rear drivers side window as your truck pitches over. Easy to indentify this one because of the broken glass on the ground.
The Squeeze is the major obstacle, depending on the width of your truck
Heart Attack Hill is steep, never used a spotter, just pick your line with care and be prepared to touch the gas if the rear end locks up and begins to slide sideways.

The trail is not especially difficult or technical, but i doubt any Subaru would make it through The Squeeze. First time i ran this trail in my P38 with 33's and diff guards, but open diffs and no sliders.

 

[Rover Mac]

We were on the same trail that day, remember? LOL

I remember, just not sure which trail you were referring to regarding Will's driving / spotting demonstration.

 

[p m]

Defense Mine it was.

I remember arriving to the Squeeze in a full-size Cherokee that was 80" wide sidewall-to-sidewall...

 

[Roverlady]

That entire video was an off-road nightmare!

She's very lucky it landed on the rubber and didn't tumble continuously down the hill.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

I cant help but laugh at the idiot spotters that stand in front of the truck while spotting down hill obstacles...dont they understand the gravity of the situation?

 

[knewsom]

...i doubt any Subaru would make it through The Squeeze. First time i ran this trail in my P38 with 33's and diff guards, but open diffs and no sliders.

No, mine certainly would not make it past that. This one, however, might stand a chance...

 

[MUSKYMAN]

No, mine certainly would not make it past that. This one, however, might stand a chance...

come on...all that thing has is some crappy spacers and the expo bolt ons.

that thing does not go up that spot the P38 is in...no chance!!

 

[p m]

Good 4x4s spoil us.
One friend followed me in his Legacy - he's got cross-axled and stuck in a shallow trough that I didn't ever know existed!

 

[Blue]

come on...all that thing has is some crappy spacers and the expo bolt ons.

that thing does not go up that spot the P38 is in...no chance!!

I love it when people buy a station wagon and then realize they really wanted a truck. Kind of like the Freelander.

 

[mjbrox]

No, mine certainly would not make it past that. This one, however, might stand a chance...

i think you shoudl have your rover revoked for even posting this.