Ron,
The only reason I really worry about dropping the 109s rear end coming
off ledges is that it's a SW and therefore has the fuel tank there. If
yours is a 109 reg. you shouldn't have that worry. I've dropped mine
pretty hard and not damaged anything at the rear end. If you go slowly
enough--easing off ledges w/ the wheels almost locked, you can easily
scrape off anything w/ no damage. I went off some really tall drops at
Moab.
Speaking of Moab I was only limited there by my own fear (visions of once
again rolling the truck, this time off of that 200 ft. drop to my
left--man, once that's happened unexpectedly the trauma can last and
last), and my engine (ahem--pontiac). I think my engine was running too
lean for the altitude there (much lower than CO) but I just don't know
for sure. All I know is that it bogged down on more than one steep face.
Though military shackles and frame look super-groovy they can't have much
affect on the breakover angle and departure angle. They do, of course,
add a bit of regular ol' clearance, but angles are tough to change w/o
chopping the ass of the truck off.
That said, you can neatly get off lots and lots of ledges by taking them
at an angle. Get the front wheels off going straight, then just turn and
let your rear wheels take it at an angle. Not always possible, but often
possible and quite beneficial. I did some trails at Tellico a few years
ago and, though I doubt I did any of the crazy tough ones, I don't think
I had any problems on the trails I did do, which were not the easy ones,
and were done in the company of a lot of very tricked-out (and
occasionally very stuck) D-90s with very surprised owners (who really
were just not very talented drivers).
bill, wishing it would warm up soon.
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