C4x4.com

After a week of packing, tightening bolts and checking fluids, the rigs were all loaded onto the trailers. Half our group headed out early Friday afternoon and the rest came down after work.

Four hours of fighting traffic and road construction passed by before we rolled into Disney, Ok.. Even by arriving at 4:30 in the afternoon we still had to park the big trailers in a lot across the street from the camp grounds and pull the pop up camper in behind Nana’s YJ. After about 6 trips back and forth with loaded jeeps, we were able to start setting up camp back to the nice shaded camp sight that Russ Hogan had saved for us.

Even in the shade we were able to work up a real nice sweat, so upon completing the procedure we chose to head for the burger joint instead for firing up the grills.

By the time we got back, Andy & Brad had arrived so we kicked back and enjoyed the evening by the glow of the campfire and swapped stories. This was enhanced by an electrical failure that took until 1:00 in the morning for them to get fixed. Yep, we were roughin it. No a/c.

At the light of a new morning we rounded up a good breakfast and prepped the rigs for the rocks. By this time Judy’s brother and sister in law (Mike and Paulette Mobley) had arrived from Missouri on their new Harley. They choose to ride with us in the jeeps instead of letting their new hog play on the rocks and root in the mud.

We loaded up and headed off across the creek to the rock garden to play around on the big rocks. After a short time there our convoy headed up the river toward the water fall. Here the big Jeep tackled the big, bad right side of the falls.

Judy showed how she got the sticker on the back of her Jeep, (nothing is too steep for Nana’s Jeep) as she conquered the left side of the water fall. This is a real accomplishment in a stock wheel base, carburated Jeep.

From there the crew moved on around the corner to Nose Dive where the long wheel base rigs dig their way up and over and do a 180 and ease back down. The short wheel base rigs, sit this one out on the side lines. When attempted in a short wheel base, you soon understand where the name “Nose Dive” originates from.

Now on to Little Blue where there is always a big crowd of spectators. After quite a wait, to the delight of the crowd, Brad climbs up the big side just before the V notch starts. Next, Matt maneuvers the buggy into position and starts to power in. As he pushes a bit harder the air is filled with that sound we all hate to hear, a loud 'pop' from the under side of his rig. After he backed down the hill the inspection and diagnosis were made. The front output of the transfer case has given away. Well it looks like its 2 wheel drive for Matt for the rest of the weekend.

After the rest of the crew had manuevered through the cut and up the water fall, we pulled to the side and watched some other rigs. Todd Baker, a 4W4C member from Tulsa, brought his Wrangler through and put on a show for the crowd with his engine whining and tires spinning. He was greeted by a round of applause from the crowd.

After checking our watches it is discovered that its time to head for camp for lunch. After all, it is three o’clock! Time sure flies when your'e having fun. But wait,... we do have to climb up the Wailing Wall on our way back so the fun's not over.

After a quick lunch we head for the shaded trails to stay out of the heat of the day. We enjoyed some casual drives down the trails but stopped a couple of times to play on some of the steep, loose and rough hill climbs. After we were done tearing them up, we retreated back to camp and on to the swimming hole to cool off.

After a good supper we headed back out to watch the drunks play in the rock garden for awhile. When it gets late in the evening, this can get pretty exciting.

Come Sunday morning we had more company show up from Missouri. Our niece and nephew and their 2 kids (Kent, Michelle, Erin & Teddy) showed up to ride and watch. We took them out and made pretty much the same rounds as Saturday but with a whole lot smaller crowd so we were able to move on through with a little less waiting. By the time we got around to the trails and the big hill climbs, the hills were eaten up so much that almost nobody was able to make it to the top. After some other wheelers had rescued a Wrangler that had gotten into trouble, Brad lined up on the hill. With the correct gear selection from the doubler transfer case and the high winding small block Chevy motor, he powered over the top while slinging dirt high into the air. Next Big Yeller lined up and took several shots at it. We could never find the right gear selection to get enough wheel speed and not run out of power. Ohhh!!!! The agony of defeat, but hey, we made it up on Saturday, so I won’t cry too terribly much.

After supper we concluded the weekend of wheelin' with a night run up the river and to the water fall. Then a quick trip over to the rock garden for a little last minute wheelin before we called it a done deal.

Now I did set aside a little walkabout time to check things out in the campground. Yes, I got the tow rig pics, but for a little extra bonus, here are some pictures of some other rigs lurking in the area.

This is a Bronco buggy owned by Russ Hogan. Russ is the owner of the Hogan RV park in Disney. This tube chassis buggy sits on Unimog axles and 49” rubber. It is powered by a little old 460 Ford power plant.

Then there is one of his specialties: Its one of his Mazda rotary engine powered buggies. This one is a 5 seater also sitting on Unimog axles and 49” meat. Now these buggies will not sneak up on you because the high rpm turning rotary engine will drive you crazy with its high pitched scream. Last but not least is his Unimog recovery vehicle. He uses this to rescue busted up rigs that are stranded on the rocks or trails.

Then, also hid out amongst the other campers and rigs was this real slick military set up. Now let's have a little test. Who out there can identify this one and give us a make and model?

And for my very last selection, a stretched CJ 5. But wait, the CJ 5 is not stretched. Its just sitting on some other type of frame but that’s one way to get the extra wheelbase for these big Oklahoma rocks.