Nothing Special home ('wheeling) movies

[Nothing Special]

We got our first video camera in between my first 'wheeling trip in 1987 and my second in 1993, so all of my 'wheeling trips other than the first one have been partly documented on video. However I've never had a good way to share them. This weekend I finally started a YouTube channel with the same name as my screen name here, Nothing Special.

That name REALLY fits my videos! The amateur nature of the camera work is only surpassed by the amateur nature of the editing! And the 'wheeling, especially at the beginning, is pretty mild by most YouTube standards.

Still, mild 'wheeling to some is over-the-top for others, so maybe some people will get something out of this. They certainly show that you don't need to be an expert (either at 'wheeling or at making videos!) to have fun. So if you're interested, I hope you like them. If they're not your cup of tea, that's OK too.

I started loading videos chronologically, so right now I only have two videos from my second 'wheeling trip. This was a trip out to Colorado in July 1993 with a pretty big group of friends but only two trail rigs, a pair of CJ5s. Mine (the red one) had a 258 six, close ratio T-18 4 speed, stock model 20 t.case, rear Dana 44 with 4.27 gears and a Detroit locker, stock Dana 30 front with an open diff and 235/85-16E BFG Mud-Terrains (~32" tall). I had just finished building it a few weeks before this trip and really didn't have the carb dialed in yet. I stalled it OFTEN from sloshing fuel out of the float bowls and flooding it out.

My friend's CJ5 had a 258 with a 3 speed, open diffs and 31" BFG M/Ts.

This first video is of Spring Creek Trail outside of Idaho Springs. It was pretty mild 28 years ago (not so much any more), but still a pretty good challenge for us as beginners.

This second video is of a trail called South Halfmoon Creek near Leadville. It was more of a scenic trail than a serious challenge (I haven't seen it in years so I don't know what it's like now), but it was a good trail for us at that time. I had figured out that dropping the float levels kept me from flooding out so often, but there's not much video of my Jeep in this one because my wife rode most of the way (we did get my friend's Jeep when we stopped to watch him go through the most interesting spots).

So anyway, there it is. I'll be adding the rest of my trips as I get around to it. Once I get caught up I'll be adding a lot slower as I actually do new stuff. Thanks for reading and watching!

edit: It looks like I must be doing something wrong with the embedded video, so try the links, they should work

edit 2: the embedded videos should work now, thanks Gary!

[Gary Lewis]

Bob - The links work, and are as good as embedding the videos here. But if you want to know how to do it I'll explain - in the morning. I'm headed to bed soon and have absolutely JUST gotten the forum back on line after fighting it all day.

But, I'll certainly watch them in the morning. Looking forward to it, for sure.

[Gary Lewis]

Bob - The links work, and are as good as embedding the videos here. But if you want to know how to do it I'll explain - in the morning. I'm headed to bed soon and have absolutely JUST gotten the forum back on line after fighting it all day.

But, I'll certainly watch them in the morning. Looking forward to it, for sure.

Ok, I'm watching the videos now. And some thoughts:

Your buddy's Jeep seems to be having a bit of problem right out of the chute getting over things. Is it due to the open diffs? And later, around the 10 minute mark on the first video he really struggles.

What power steering pump were you running, a C-II? And it is hilarious that you said "Don't stall it" right where you'd stalled.

Were both of you aired down? It sure seems like there is a lot of bouncing. But I do see that the trail was really, really rocky.

And did your buddy make it? The first video stops with him having problems! And so does the 2nd video!

Anyway, I like them! Keep them coming. And do you want to know how to embed?

 

[Nothing Special]

Ok, I'm watching the videos now. And some thoughts:

Your buddy's Jeep seems to be having a bit of problem right out of the chute getting over things. Is it due to the open diffs? And later, around the 10 minute mark on the first video he really struggles.

What power steering pump were you running, a C-II? And it is hilarious that you said "Don't stall it" right where you'd stalled.

Were both of you aired down? It sure seems like there is a lot of bouncing. But I do see that the trail was really, really rocky.

And did your buddy make it? The first video stops with him having problems! And so does the 2nd video!

Anyway, I like them! Keep them coming. And do you want to know how to embed?

I had written up a reply to all of your questions, but apparently hit the wrong button at the end and deleted it. I'll try again at lunch time. But for now, yes, I would like to know how to embed videos. I think that's a nicer way to see it than just a link.

[Gary Lewis]

I had written up a reply to all of your questions, but apparently hit the wrong button at the end and deleted it. I'll try again at lunch time. But for now, yes, I would like to know how to embed videos. I think that's a nicer way to see it than just a link.

On Youtube it is easy:

1. Open up the Youtube video you want
2. Click "Share"
3. Click "Embed"
4. Copy the Embed Video code you are shown, which starts with "
5. In the editing window here on the forum click the "Embed" button.
6. Paste the embed code between the "tags" that are inserted, as shown below

 

But here's a bit more on that. In your video's case the code says 'width="560"' and "height=315"'. But I find that too small so usually increase it to twice that, meaning 1120 and 630. And, if you tick the "Start at" box before copying the embed code there will be a "start=" parameter added to your code, and then you can hit Preview and play with that parameter to get it to start where you want. Or, set it to 0 to start from the beginning.

[Nothing Special]

On Youtube it is easy:

1. Open up the Youtube video you want
2. Click "Share"
3. Click "Embed"
4. Copy the Embed Video code you are shown, which starts with "
5. In the editing window here on the forum click the "Embed" button.
6. Paste the embed code between the "tags" that are inserted, as shown below

 

But here's a bit more on that. In your video's case the code says 'width="560"' and "height=315"'. But I find that too small so usually increase it to twice that, meaning 1120 and 630. And, if you tick the "Start at" box before copying the embed code there will be a "start=" parameter added to your code, and then you can hit Preview and play with that parameter to get it to start where you want. Or, set it to 0 to start from the beginning.

Thanks, I fixed it in my first postI'll get to your other questions now.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, I fixed it in my first post

I'll get to your other questions now.

And I removed it from my post. No hurry on the answers. Just curious. And, waiting on more videos.

[Nothing Special]

Ok, I'm watching the videos now. And some thoughts:

Your buddy's Jeep seems to be having a bit of problem right out of the chute getting over things. Is it due to the open diffs? And later, around the 10 minute mark on the first video he really struggles.

He was handicapped by open diffs, a stiff suspension and lack of experience. I had one locker and slightly more compliant suspension, but otherwise was similarly handicapped!

What power steering pump were you running, a C-II? And it is hilarious that you said "Don't stall it" right where you'd stalled.

It was actually a Saginaw. It was on the Jeep when I bought it. It always had that annoying whine, but it always worked, so I never got around to replacing it.

And he was (good-naturedly) jabbing at me every time I stalled my Jeep, so I had to take advantage of the one time he let me get back at him!

Were both of you aired down? It sure seems like there is a lot of bouncing. But I do see that the trail was really, really rocky.

I mentioned that we were both handicapped by inexperience! Tire pressure was a part of that. We also had quite a bit of highway driving to get to and from those trails, and had no way to air back up. I was running ~30 psi (or whatever full street pressure I ran in those tires). I don't know what he was running, but I'm sure it was a lot higher than I'd recommend now.

And did your buddy make it? The first video stops with him having problems! And so does the 2nd video!

He did winch twice on the first trail. The first time was to get up that little rough patch in the very first scene of the first video. That was due to him having an incompetent spotter! I was trying to get him up the same line I had taken, well to his left. That worked for me with a rear locker, but with his open diffs he needed to move over to the right side. (By the way, look at the picture below to see how much this trail has changed!)

I had intentionally stayed away from the right side because this was Lesley's first time on a shelf road and she was NOT amused at seeing I-70 1500 feet below her!

Steve's second winch was right after the end of the first video. I'm sure we could've got him up, but he was ready to get past that section and took the quick way.

At the end of the second video he wasn't stuck at all, but he was set up for a line I didn't like from my perspective. It looked like he was going to drop his left front off a rock while his right front climbed the bank. That's a good way to roll (like the FJ-40 in the Black Bear video) so I stopped him. He was able to back up and take a new line a little to his left.

Anyway, I like them! Keep them coming. And do you want to know how to embed?

Glad you like them! As I said, my plan is to get all of my 'wheeling trips to date loaded. I don't know how long that'll take me (it's not going to be a real high priority). But I'll get there.

That little climb that the green Jeep was struggling with in the first scene of the first video has changed over the years! The video shows it in 1993. 25 year later I ran that trail in my Bronco. I reported on it here in this thread, but here's a picture of my Bronco coming down that same section!

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n13166/DSC_7790_SpringCreek.jpg

 

[Gary Lewis]

Ok, I'm watching the videos now. And some thoughts:

Your buddy's Jeep seems to be having a bit of problem right out of the chute getting over things. Is it due to the open diffs? And later, around the 10 minute mark on the first video he really struggles.

He was handicapped by open diffs, a stiff suspension and lack of experience. I had one locker and slightly more compliant suspension, but otherwise was similarly handicapped!

What power steering pump were you running, a C-II? And it is hilarious that you said "Don't stall it" right where you'd stalled.

It was actually a Saginaw. It was on the Jeep when I bought it. It always had that annoying whine, but it always worked, so I never got around to replacing it.

And he was (good-naturedly) jabbing at me every time I stalled my Jeep, so I had to take advantage of the one time he let me get back at him!

Were both of you aired down? It sure seems like there is a lot of bouncing. But I do see that the trail was really, really rocky.

I mentioned that we were both handicapped by inexperience! Tire pressure was a part of that. We also had quite a bit of highway driving to get to and from those trails, and had no way to air back up. I was running ~30 psi (or whatever full street pressure I ran in those tires). I don't know what he was running, but I'm sure it was a lot higher than I'd recommend now.

And did your buddy make it? The first video stops with him having problems! And so does the 2nd video!

He did winch twice on the first trail. The first time was to get up that little rough patch in the very first scene of the first video. That was due to him having an incompetent spotter! I was trying to get him up the same line I had taken, well to his left. That worked for me with a rear locker, but with his open diffs he needed to move over to the right side. (By the way, look at the picture below to see how much this trail has changed!)

I had intentionally stayed away from the right side because this was Lesley's first time on a shelf road and she was NOT amused at seeing I-70 1500 feet below her!

Steve's second winch was right after the end of the first video. I'm sure we could've got him up, but he was ready to get past that section and took the quick way.

At the end of the second video he wasn't stuck at all, but he was set up for a line I didn't like from my perspective. It looked like he was going to drop his left front off a rock while his right front climbed the bank. That's a good way to roll (like the FJ-40 in the Black Bear video) so I stopped him. He was able to back up and take a new line a little to his left.

Anyway, I like them! Keep them coming. And do you want to know how to embed?

Glad you like them! As I said, my plan is to get all of my 'wheeling trips to date loaded. I don't know how long that'll take me (it's not going to be a real high priority). But I'll get there.

That little climb that the green Jeep was struggling with in the first scene of the first video has changed over the years! The video shows it in 1993. 25 year later I ran that trail in my Bronco. I reported on it here in this thread, but here's a picture of my Bronco coming down that same section!

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n13166/DSC_7790_SpringCreek.jpg

I guess thinking back on it, the suspension on both Jeeps was somewhat stiff. But I didn't catch that. Still, airing down would have been a big help, and your locker surely made a huge difference. However, glad to see he did make it through, albeit by winching a couple of times. Been there, done that, and it was due to the same kind of incompetence.

I've never heard a Sag pump make that kind of noise. Initially I thought it was the t-case. But it was obvious it was the pump as you were turning around.

As for stalling, both of you did several times. But it was funny that he stalled where you did. Seriously though, that is a big pain! Until I blew out the carb's idle circuits Big Blue stalled several times, and it is kind of scary to lose the power brakes and steering on the side of a mountain.

Speaking of the side of the mountain, I thought that looked like I-70 below. Janey wouldn't have liked that, either.

And wow, that section of the trail has really changed! I would never have recognized it. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the angle your Bronco is at, and it might be worse in Big Blue.

 

[Nothing Special]

I guess thinking back on it, the suspension on both Jeeps was somewhat stiff. But I didn't catch that. Still, airing down would have been a big help, and your locker surely made a huge difference. However, glad to see he did make it through, albeit by winching a couple of times. Been there, done that, and it was due to the same kind of incompetence.

I've never heard a Sag pump make that kind of noise. Initially I thought it was the t-case. But it was obvious it was the pump as you were turning around.

As for stalling, both of you did several times. But it was funny that he stalled where you did. Seriously though, that is a big pain! Until I blew out the carb's idle circuits Big Blue stalled several times, and it is kind of scary to lose the power brakes and steering on the side of a mountain.

Speaking of the side of the mountain, I thought that looked like I-70 below. Janey wouldn't have liked that, either.

And wow, that section of the trail has really changed! I would never have recognized it. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the angle your Bronco is at, and it might be worse in Big Blue.

Hey, we all had to start sometime! This is just a record of where I started!

I was never too scared by it stalling. With the relatively low gearing (but not low relative to my Bronco!) it just came to a stop. But it was really annoying. Still, finishing a build and taking it on a trip like that a few weeks later? I think I did pretty well to get through as well as I did.

I said this in my 2018 trip report, but I was disappointed to not be able to get through this trail in what is by far the most capable trail vehicle I've had. I made it in the Jeep twice, my bone stock '85 F-250 once, and a friend's bone stock '87 Wrangler once (although we didn't make it quit to where the video ends before turning around). But the place where we both stalled in this video was eating 37" tall tires in 2018. My 33s (with no rocker guards yet) didn't have a chance so we turned around.

As to the angle the Bronco was at in that picture, I didn't like it either! I got on the gas as hard as I dared there to get it to pull its way back upright. I probably wasn't THAT close to rolling over, but it sure felt TOO close!