Newbie
 

Hi folks,

Just want to introduce myself...never been here before...
check out some pics of my ML in actual offroading conditions...

cheers!
Tom

http://www.deckowski.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

FABULOUS pix!


http://www.deckowski.com/climbing_up_2.jpg

:cool:

Thanks...offroading and photgraphy...my two favorite hobbies...along with track days....backpacking, fly fishing...sailing...no wonder my wife says I have too many hobbies..hehe


http://www.deckowski.com/DV4/images/DSCN4384.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/Stanislaus/Dscn3471.jpg

As you can see I traded in my 2000 for a 2002. I love this truck!

Welcome to the forum! :)

No doubt about it...gotta upgrade to those newer headlights...what a difference!!!

Hi there Newbie ;)

What mods, temporary or otherwise, do you do to prepare your ML for off-roading?

The only upgrade are the tires....

I'm running BFG all terrain AT/KO 265/70/17's, they have been great for offroading...much better than the bridgestone dueler HL.

Cool, an ML owner not afraid to use his truck. The pics are great!

I would like to extend an invite to our little annual G-wagen gathering in Moab Utah. We have been looking for an ML owner willing to run some trails. I am interested to see how the two rigs compare in similar conditions. We would love to have you along for some trail running and MB 4x4 comraderie:D

We normally run in the fallover a long weekend. The weather cools off and the Jeepers are thinner by then.

Keep in in mind, it is FUN!

G-man & Tom
 

G-man:

What are some of the trails you do in Moab? Approximately, when do you go? I actually learned how to drive the M off road there: in fict my first off road experience. Would like to go back but I heard some trails are closed due to slides etc.

Tom:

Did you raise the front via torsion bar adjustments as per Harold? Also, do you recall the link to the wax tests

We have run just about a half dozen in the limited time we have had. The first year we started on "Fins and Things" followed by "Poison Spider Mesa" that afternoon. We then decided to try a tough one, we tackled "Moab Rim" which was an adventure. I was leading the group and was questioned as to a good turn around point early on:eek: We all made it through just fine but, the beginning of that one is pretty hairy.

Last fall we started out with "Steel Bender" a fun trail with one rather hairy section and lots of interesting obstacles. The next day we did "Golden Spike" which follows the beginning of "Poison Spider" before turning off. Golden Spike was downright nasty in places;) It took a full day and we were beat at the end of it. We tried "Metal Masher" the last day. It was raining pretty hard off and on and we had trouble finding the trail. I don't know if it was just the weather but I did not enjoy that trail much, and we cut out early.

I would love to have some ML's show up. I am going to try and bring the Unimog this year. We would have all three present then, it would be quite a sight. We have been going in September, though I am pretty flexible.

There are sooooo many trails out there that I haven't heard of any being closed. The clubs are pretty good with trail maint out there.

I would love some more company. I like to tackle the toughest ones but there are those who prefer some of the easier, something for everyone. If your are interested just stay tuned. I have always posted dates here. You can see my pics from last fall at http://homepage.mac.com/brentholm

G-man
 

Sound interesting. Suggest you post in late Aug or early Sept a reminder and a call for attendees. I'll see if I can come then. Having seen your Wolfie posts, I hope you will be content to let the trail beat me up.

The trail closed was in Canyonlands NP and was the back way in from Potash Rd. throug the Schafer switcbacks. I have not been on the trails you mentioned but would consider part of Poison Spider by Mt. bike, the rest by truck.

Hi Guys!

Small world...I looked through your pics and recognized Irwin from our trip to Death Valley with Harold P. I love those G-Wagons!

Moab?? No problem...I'm there!!! I've been wanting to go for years...

Detemple- I haven't played with my torsion bars because the last time I did it on my '00 ML, it made the ride worse. So I left it alone...I haven't done anything that difficult that the extra bit made the difference. I just add a little rock or something to raise the nose.

There's the man!!

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20283.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20287.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20361.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20359.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20368.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...hots%20377.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...s/DSCN5110.jpg

http://www.deckowski.com/DV3/lowres/...s/DSCN5111.jpg

mickey, Don't take too much from the Wolfie posts. He was just looking for some trouble. I am interested in wheeling with anybody that wants to. In one of his posts Wolfie put my type of off-roading "beneath him". I don't think we need to go beyond that.

Erwin, Yes, he is the MAN. There is one guy that is anything but shy about using that truck. I wasn't sure if I would have a companion on the tough trails in '02. Erwin came right out the first morning and told me he would try any trail I wanted:D We had a great time, as you know he is one heck of a good sport and an all around nice guy.

We would love to add an ML or two to the fray this coming year. Check out the pic of Erwin testing his G for roll-over resistance on Poison Spider Mesa trail. When he ran this route two years ago in front of a group of Jeep's you could hear them gasp:eek: Thier trail leader knew he would roll taking that route. Long live the mighty G!;)

Re: G-man
 

The Poison Spider climb is actually pretty mediocre due to the jeeper and ATVers and all of the oil that they leave behind on the slabs (not to mention Bud cans, empty jerky wrappers and Hoho boxes).

Once you top out though, you're rewarded with Portal, which gets the juices flowing:

http://www.petefagerlin.com/images/m...rtalCliff2.jpg

PSM
 

I was thinking of 4 wheelin to the top and then riding. Have heard that the 4WD trails on top are probably too rough for the M.

FYI, we did a small bit of Gooseberry Mesa last Oct.

Actually, getting TO the top of PSM is the tricky part. You end up coming back down the same way you went up. There are a few trick sections and it is rated at 3.5 out of 4 for difficulty. I think that with some patience and a good spotter we could easily get your ML through that trail. The 4 and 4+ trails are probably out of a stock ML's league. That leaves tons of tough, but do-able, terrain out there. I think one of the keys is to go with someone that has some experience. A good spotter will help take you places you never imagined:eek:

Moab has some nice features. There is normally very good traction, even though they call it "slickrock", it is grippy even when wet. There are also normally plenty of loose rocks you can pile up to avoid banging your rocker panels or bumpers. When I go on these trails, I don't want to see anybodys truck get damaged. So we have a good time but I avoid taking big chances out there, most of the time anyway;)

Below, Steps on PSM trail

G-man great pictures!!! did the G wagon in the top pic actually roll? im cringing looking at it

eric

Nope, In fact the driver couldn't figure out why I was so excited, it felt like a drive in the park to him;)

I suspect that the truck was still far from rolling. The pucker factor normally kicks in well before the danger of rolling presents itself. This was a very low speed manuver. A good bump at a higher speed could well cause problems though.