Labor Day - Florence OR

Posts: 1865

Day 5 of 6 and all is running well. Today the wind was whipping up and making white cap on the water. We headed downwind on beach and returned north in the shelter of trees of dunes.

Today I measured the paddles against the Pro Wedge II's. Although the Pro Wedge IIs are 22x11-8, they are taller and much wider than the 23x10.5-12 paddles. The Joyner loves to throw a roost with the paddles, but they are way too low and cause clearance issues on uneven trails. I think I may look for 12x8 rims with a 4x110mm pattern and try these tires on the Yerf. I'm glad these tires came with the Joyner - I would be disappointed if I paid new price for them.

Posts: 939

Glad your having fun. I wish I were closer to you it looks like a great place to ride. I have had the same problem here in AZ. Spend alot of time and money organizing something and then nobody shows. Oh well have a good time and keep us informed.

PS Is westcoast as big a donkey in person as he comes off on the sight or is it just an internet thing. Laughing

Just kidding WC

Posts: 1865

West Coast is big enough that I wouldn't provoke him.

Some people do come off poorly when they write, like Vanet...

Posts: 1865

Day 6 of 6 - I put the stock rear tires back on the Joyner to explore the trails. We hit a bunch of twisty banked-turn trails through high coastal reed grass. Since almost all the turns were banked, you could hit 90 degree turns at 30 mph with no worry of running off. The trails are bidirectional, so you do need look out for oncoming vehicles - This is where the Oregon requirement for 9' high flags starts to make sense. There are also many whooped-out trails through low evergreen scrub - Even if you have the ability to go faster, the terrain will hold you back to 30 mph before each whoop launches you into airborne chaos.

We ran the buggies hard without a single failure the entire trip. Today we ran through 1-1/2 tanks of fuel in the Yerf and half a tank out of the Joyner pushing them longer and more than any day this past week. It is a good feeling to know that after an oil change and filter cleaning they will be ready for the next ride.

A winch is a requirement for any buggy you cannot pick up and move on your own. There was not one day where I did not need to move the Joyner beyond what I could physically muster (wife doesn't drive clutch, so she was no help). Typically I would position the Yerf as my anchor. Since this buggy had no chance of anchoring the Joyner without some help, I would attach the winch and run the play out of cable until the Yerf would bury the rear tires down to the axle. While my wife sat in the Yerf with the brake depressed, I would winch the Joyner and apply power to the rear wheels if the winch started to stall. Once the Joyner was free, The Yerf typically just need a little a push from me while my wife hit the gas and it would pop out of the hole we had dug. This was an educational experience that took much longer at the beginning, but was performed like we actually knew what we were doing by the last day.

It sounds like I was always getting stuck with the Joyner - This is not case. If I had someone with me that knew how to operate a clutch or could push a buggy with my strength, the winch would have been used much less. The Yerf also had its share holes in the sand, but I can pick up either end of it without my wife getting out of the buggy. There is no way I will take the Joyner out alone since recovery requires at least two vehicles or people. On the other hand, the Yerf is easy enough for me to man-handle alone that I do take it for solo rides.

Posts: 4204

sounds like you had alot of fun. a winch does come in handy, even if you think you wont use it.

Posts: 939

Provoking WC is so much fun somtimes I cant help myself. I have been told before I come off bad when chating. Oh well maybe one day WC and I will meet and I can give him an a$$ whooping and then buy him a beer and swap buggy info. Glad to see your trip is going well. Good luck and keep using the winch, the fact that you use it alot meens your getting into some fun places. Very Happy

Posts: 1672

yah vanet you do come across wrong some times i know that the first thread that you responded to with me ended up in a debate lol but then i started talking to you about the 650 and man you were nice lol it would be cool to meet some of you guys lol

Posts: 1865

Posts: 939

I have to admit I do enjoy a good fight. But I am not trying provoke WC this was his Idea from another thread. I am probably bigger than he is and I spent several years fighting for a living so I dont think I would have any problem with WC. But its all fun for me. I dont mean to come off poorly on the net, it is probably just a personality flaw. Enjoy the rest of your vacation and maybe Ill look you guys up next time Im in oregon, most people who meet me in person actually like me (imagine that). Ive got a brother that lives in Medford, I get up there quite often but i usually fly, so no buggies. My brother has become somewhat of a tree hugger and doesnt approve of offroading. I dont know for sure but there are so many who have that veiw in Oregon it might be something in the water.
Van

Posts: 1672

hehehe lo you are funny

no fights Blast with glee!