"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
12/06/2018 at 14:10 • Filed to: project golf ball, whitewater orv
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"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
12/06/2018 at 14:10 • Filed to: project golf ball, whitewater orv | 10
| 14 |
Anyone who has read my recent articles knows that it was only a matter of time before I took my poor, neglected Wagovan to the ORV park. That was this weekend.
The trip did not start well, with the Wagovan having some serious issues that I think I’ve figured out...
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
So against my better judgement, I made it to the ORV park, engaged 4WD, and crossed my fingers.
Honestly the little guy did alright... at first. It had rained recently, so the sand was pretty grippy and not very sinky. The locked center “diff,” low weight, moderate clearance, and solid rear served me well. When the going got rougher, I engaged the Wagovan’s “Super Low” gear, which kept me plugging along nicely.
However as we got further and further into the park we hit an extremely deep patch of sand and... that’s all she wrote.
I was stuck.
We tried rocking it, pushing it, pulling it, and sand ladders all to no avail. I did manage to let some major smoke out of my clutch, however.
Eventually, we used the Suzuki and the Jeep to pull it out and we were on our way again. I cut onto the river bed, thinking the rocky surface would be better for not sinking.
That was only sort of true. While I didn’t sink, all I could hear is rocks hitting the underside. It was... unpleasant. But pretty.
After that, we decided to do “the hill”. I’ve covered it before, but the hill is an incredibly steep and rocky hill with two ways up: hard and impossible. We took turns going up and eventually it was my turn.
This seemed like a very bad idea but...
Yeah. I did it. Twice.
Honestly the little Honda did better on the hills then it did on the river bed. The “Super Low” gear was just slow enough I could deliberately pick my lines without killing the car, in either sense of the word. I do wish it was slightly lower, but alas.
Due to recent rains, the impossible side was more impossible than usual. I don’t think I would have attempted it in the Land Rover. Naturally this meant the Renegade had to give it a go.
He made a valiant attempt, but couldn’t clear the large rock mid-way and eventually (very eventually) gave up.
W e messed around a bit more, but with daylight almost gone, I opted for a slow, slow drive home, steaks, sweet potatoes, brussel(s) sprouts, and a whole bunch of wine.
The rest of the gang stuck around to see if the Renegade could kill itself (it did not) and to get some epic photos.
Overall I deem the trip a success. I do with the Wagovan had more clearance and more aggressive tires, something I plan on addressing soon . However, in fully stock form I am impressed with how well it did. Plus it gets way better gas mileage than the Land Rover...
One of these things is not like the others...
(Nearly) All Photos c redit to Tay lor; Do not reproduce without permission
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 14:17 |
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Looks like a fantastic time! Make me miss me back raid adventures in the Galant. The BMW is just a bit too big and too low for these shanangins
Berang
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 14:26 |
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Just needs some bigger tires.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 14:49 |
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Looks like you had a blast! Your Wagovan makes me want to import a first or second
-gen FIAT Panda 4x4...
arl
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 15:24 |
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Man, looks like fun!
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 15:39 |
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“T he hill” in the Wagovan?! Impressive!
winterlegacy, here 'till the end
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 16:07 |
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Jeez, I never realized the Renegade is almost as big as the Xterra.
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Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> Berang
12/06/2018 at 17:22 |
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As you’ve likely discovered with your Saab(s) it is really difficult to find A/T or A/Tish tires in small sizes. The Civic stock has 175/70R13, which i a 22.6" OD, and I’m looking at switching to 14 or 15 inch wheels and maybe add an inch or so to the tire OD. Despite this, I can’t really find a tire that’ll like... work.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 18:32 |
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I’d look seriously at some all season tyres then. The Civic probably isn’t going to get the most out of A/T tyres anyway but it should be able to exploit a lighter and softer all season carcass.
If the guard allows the extra width plus the taller OD ...why not try 185/70R 13?
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Berang
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 21:47 |
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Luckily, for me, the Saab was designed in the era of 15" wheels and bias ply tires, so it will take a very tall tire easily - but it needs a narrow tire, which is a huge hang up in the U.S. since tire companies have been selling the wider = better for off road line for decades at this point and don’t stock or even bother to make any of the old narrow sizes anymore (even though they are easily obtained on any other continent)
.
You’ll probably need to measure the wheel wells to figure out max diameter that will fit. There’s a number of A/T tires that are around 27" overall diameter, or slightly smaller.
Also, I’m reminded of this youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYUSnXeU_BSGg94Mvifz8aQ
which may have some helpful ideas?
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Berang
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/06/2018 at 21:57 |
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I did see these:
just 25.5" outside diameter, fits 14" wheels, might just squeeze under the fenders without having to cut anything back.
JMKarstetter
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/07/2018 at 02:36 |
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Where is this at? I’m in Norman, OK
and would love to go a couple of places to do some light off-roading in my daughter and
new (to me)
Land Cruiser!
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Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> JMKarstetter
12/07/2018 at 10:05 |
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This is the Whitewater ORV park below Keystone dam. It isn’t the lightest of offroading. You might also check out the Oklahoma Adventure Trail. Light overlanding but a lot of fun.
https://goo.gl/maps/bYQMJH93nt52
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oklahoma-adventure-trail-west-1821605232
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Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> Berang
12/07/2018 at 21:08 |
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Any suggestions on how about how to determine how big of tires can fit under the car?
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Berang
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/07/2018 at 21:51 |
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Get a tape measure. Measure the full width of the wheel well. Turn wheels to full lock, measure distance between tire and inner fender. Use the section width of the current tire, and compare it to the section width of the tire you want to use. If the there’s not enough space, you’ll need a wheel with less backspace (therefore mounts further out from the body of the car). Keep in mind this distance will decrease slightly as the suspension drops (not terribly important if you’re not doing jumps/driving like a maniac).
Measure the distance from the top of the tire to the top of the wheel well, get somebody to sit on the fender, and measure again to see how much room you have with the suspension compressed.
Beyond that you’re just going to have to fit things and see what happens.
https://tiresize.com/comparison/
is useful for comparing nominal section widths and heights of different tires. Keep in mind if the wheel is narrower than recommended (by the manufacturer)
the section width will be pinched narrower somewhat.