Page not found – ZUKIWORLD Online – Everything Suzuki https://www2.zukiworld.com Your Complete Suzuki Automotive Resource for Editorial, Tech, Events, Adventure, Racing, and Forum Mon, 07 Mar 2022 01:24:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.3 Jarbidge Nevada – An oasis https://www2.zukiworld.com/jarbidge-nevada-an-oasis/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/jarbidge-nevada-an-oasis/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2022 01:23:15 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10946 JARBIDGE, NV – Several years ago, on one of our epic ZUKIWORLD adventures, long before the term “overland” was really anything other than the word after “Willys” we were on a journey along the northern edge of Nevada exploring ghost towns and abandoned mines. After days and countless miles of exploration on this rewarding trek we climbed into a far-away wonderland nestled in a majestic yet little-known mountain range. This wonderous place was called Jarbidge. At the time, we knew we wanted to come back to this area to explore but time passed as life, work, and whatever happens and we just never got back there. Well, now is the time. Let’s go.

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A small but hardy group of adventurers converged for a week-long adventure. Due to coming from all different areas of Oregon and having different schedules, we showed up at different times and place. Doug H. met us in Twin Falls, ID at a nice motel off of the freeway and we shuffled out to the desert earlier-ish in the morning while Matt had a job in Washington to finish up which had him joining us at camp just outside the town of Jarbidge that evening.

Jarbidge area in the early Fall

Jarbidge the town is really an anomaly of sorts. It is a very small community with only a handful of people staying year around. In spite of this though, they have a very nice restaurant, RV parks, Gas station and other amenities for the traveler. This place can serve as a jumping off point for many different types of adventures but it’s pretty clear that they support motorized recreation whole heartedly. We respect that!

There are miles and miles of outback style two-track trails in this area and one of the things that struck us was that almost every canyon had a good running and cold creek in it. There is a significant amount of water in the desert area, at least in the hills. Once you get to the flats, the party is over and it is very dry and barren. Doug’s X90 did wonderfully as a stock vehicle on highway tires but I think even he would recommend taking something with just a little more tire and ground clearance if you plan to go to the area. We enjoyed exploring during the day and hanging out in town at night. There was something going on called “Jarbidge Days” which afforded us even more fun things to do. One of which was a historical play about the local characters in the area done on a quaint stage in their ‘city park’. It was very informative and the costumes were amazing. The staff at the local bar were extremely friendly and even more so as they saw us throughout the week. The food and drinks are excellent and well worth NOT packing extra food and campfire cooking every night. (not that there is anything wrong with that, we’re just saying…)

There was even a community garage sale to support the local fire brigade being held at the city hall that was done in a clever way. It was an unmanned event and participants were encouraged to put the amount that ‘seemed appropriate’ for what they were buying in a lock box at the entrance to the hall. There were some very interesting items at this sale. We picked up a few gift items.

We did find some mines and other points of interest like the town of Metropolis. This was a planned community just east of the middle of nowhere that had some interesting building pieces left. The Clampers had left some nice signage to explain but basically, the whole town was developed and sold to easterners which once they got out there had a bit of a tough time making a go of it.

One of the cool things in this area to me was that it’s a step back in time. I don’t mean a step back in history but I do mean a step back to 20 or 30 years ago when people seemed to be more courteous in the outback. What I mean by this is that there are support items left out in the desert to help make your journey safe and fun that have not been vandalized or stolen. We used to see this all over the west last century but as people venture deeper into the wilderness, there seems to be less and less of this. Our best example on this trip was a canoe left at a very nice little pond that had everything with it and was ready for use. Our intrepid explorer Matt, took it for a spin on the lake. This was awesome and gave us good feelings all around.

No trip would be complete without a couple of equipment breakdowns. Fortunately for us, ours were minor. Matt discovered a cache of nuts in his air cleaner that we promptly planted next to a creek and have marked the location so we can go back some time in the future to see if a tree has grown.

I had a couple of ‘weird’ fixes the first was that my new electric fans stopped working on the highway which caused the transmission to boil over and spew. Fortunately, this was close to a gas station so I was able to find the problem (relay) and wash off the underside of the vehicle. The next fun thing for me was the body on the front driver started ripping apart from all of the high speed freeway driving and the hood pins yanking on the inner fender. I installed some glorious speaker wire to hold this down for the remainder of the trip. Genius!

This trip was amazing good fun and we plan to schedule another trip there in 2022. If you’d like to be a part of this, please check out our forum and stay tuned

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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

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Desert Life… Oregon, Idaho, Nevada in 3 days. https://www2.zukiworld.com/desert-life-oregon-idaho-nevada-in-3-days/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/desert-life-oregon-idaho-nevada-in-3-days/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2020 16:02:16 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10892

JORDAN VALLEY, OR – If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s the value of seizing the day and going forward with less planning to pursue with utmost vigor the things that make one happy. Appreciation for what may have been trivial before seems easier and has encouraged us to simply do something whenever we can because it’s the pursuit that causes happiness. 

   PHOTO: D. Hart, J. Curtis, H. Bewley
   VIDEO: n/a
   STORY/EDITOR: E. Bewley

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With only a couple days warning, a call was put out for hardy adventurers to go on a ‘greatest hits’ journey of the Owyhee area located in the extremely south east portion of Oregon. We’d end up spending some time in Nevada and a hour or two in Idaho over the long weekend but we had a great time revisiting some interesting sites and happened to stumble across a few things we hadn’t seen before. 

Areas of the drive were amazing. The above photo was taking in extreme northern Nevada as we dropped down into the valley below

There is a very cool hot spring located on the side of the Owyhee river at the ‘three forks’ recreational site. This is a definite recommendation BUT be a strong swimmer, have a boat, or wait until the early fall to go as you must ford the river to get to it. 

As the sun was setting, we found this ideal place to set up camp. The reward… a beautiful sunrise and mosquitos. 

The terrain varies greatly in eastern Oregon. These dry lake beds were just south of Burns near the “OO” ranch. 

Lining up for the group shot at a place called “windy gap” near some excellent ghost mines. This general area is one of our favorites as just over the hill from here is an amazing homestead and mine well worth exploring.

The placard said this place was perhaps the first “indoor mall” you could see there was an indoor promenade and store fronts lodged inside. A pity it was all locked up. 

Wide open spaces is what it’s all about.

The two ‘true’ Suzuki enthusiasts on the trip.

The Pillars of Rome is located just outside Rome, Oregon. Last time we were here, it was possible to walk all around them and explore but now there is a significant portion that is fenced off by a ranch. It is a better driving tour now than hiking spot.

The Suzuki Equator project truck is going strong after all these years. We are continually amazed at how rugged this pickup has been.

Mercury processing equipment in Oregon

A favorite location. To the right is the mining laboratory filled with core samples and records of all kinds. 

We visited the grave site of the world famous explorer Jean Baptiste Charbonneau just outside of Rome, Oregon. He’s buried on what was a Idaho to California wagon train route and early motor route that is now abandoned and mostly vanished. The grave site is well taken care of and there is a lot of mementos left behind by those that wish to honor this great person. 

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was a Native American-French Canadian explorer, guide, fur trapper, trader, military scout during the Mexican–American War, alcalde of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and a gold digger and hotel operator in Northern California. His mother was a Shoshone Indian known as Sacagawea.

If you’re interested in this type of adventure, please subscribe to our forum and look for events and adventure announcements there. We’d love to have you join us for an epic outback adventure!

note: slideshow should be playing below… If not, refresh your browser page for more images. 

 

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Last Minute Memorial Day Weekend Adventure 2020 ! https://www2.zukiworld.com/last-minute-memorial-day-weekend-adventure-2020/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/last-minute-memorial-day-weekend-adventure-2020/#respond Wed, 20 May 2020 01:44:16 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10886 BEND, OR – Planning be damned! We’ve got a ‘greatest hits’ route pulled together that encompasses some of the more interesting points of interest we have seen over our travels in SE Oregon, SW Idaho, and Northern Nevada. On this three day trip, we will probably see: Christmas Valley dunes (from afar), Double-O ranch and refuge, the pillars of Rome, Jordan Valley, three forks of the Owyhee (with hot springs visit), several ghost towns, the Cordero and Buckskin mines. This is a 3-day wagon-train or “overlanding” adventure where we will pickup camp and move on each day. One will need all of their stuff typically needed to be safe and happy in the outback, 200 mile range of fuel, some spares & tools, FM radio (Ham / GMRS), and a happy go lucky nature. Optional items are bicycles, fishing gear, bang bang sticks, and campfire accessories. This is a family friendly event free to all to be socially distant together. Suzuki Enthusiasts and friends of ZUKIWORLD encouraged to attend.

Meetup: Saturday 5/23/2020 9AM at the World Famous Gordy’s Truck Stop in Lapine Oregon.
More Info: direct message, email, or text Eric for a waypoint KML file to download.

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Fall Classic – Overland Adventure https://www2.zukiworld.com/2019-fall-classic-overland-adventure/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/2019-fall-classic-overland-adventure/#comments Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:43:00 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10872
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BEND, OR – Come and join in the camaraderie of the cold and explore some of the greatest examples of high desert life available in North America. Low key and fun based, The Fall Classic is on it’s 17th year of providing ‘good times’ to those that attend. This un-event will not feature any classes, there will not be any tents with cookware or flashy LED lights for sale (we love those things but there are better places and times for that). What there will be is plenty of driving, hiking, exploring, and campfire shenanigans. For example, this year we’ve added a Tomahawk Toss tournament for all to enjoy. If you own a Suzuki 4×4 and want to come hang out, read more below and then let us know by signing up here: Forum Sign-up

Read All about it… 

2017 – BEND, OR – It’s been 15 years now that we’ve been trekking to the central Oregon desert in mid-November to adventure, explore, and hang-out. Every year gives us a new opportunity to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company as we find new and exciting or fun to revisit points of interest in central Oregon and this year was no exception. From the magnificent Christmas Valley dunes, to the ancient rocks and caves near Cougar mountain, to over exuberant locals at the Waterin’ Hole Tavern in Ft. Rock, there was something for everyone this year.
https://www2.zukiworld.com/central-oregon-adventure-the-fall-classic-2017/

2016 – Bend, OR – A great long-weekend was had by all that attended this year’s Fall Classic. This year’s diverse group of trail riders and overlanders was rewarded with a broad cross section of what central Oregon has to offer. Driving took a back seat this year as more focus was spent on hiking the natural surroundings. With very mild weather and mostly clear skies, many of the area’s points of interest were explored.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/high-desert-overlanding-fall-classic-2016/

2015 – Bend, OR – We’ve been putting on this event since the early 2000’s and even though it’s held in the same general area, as a group we always seem to find and do new and interesting things each year. Weather is always a driving factor this time of year in the high-desert and we were lucky enough to have clear and beautiful skies for the whole weekend. This made the camping, adventure, and shenanigan all that much better.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/the-fall-classic-2015-this-time-with-extra-murica/

2014 – Bend, OR –   This year’s adventure was yet again another blast. There is so much to see in Central Oregon and it is always amazing to see just how much we can dig up and see while we’re out there. Highlights include: finding a different and easier way to view the A6 Intruder aircraft wreckage, hitting the Christmas Valley dunes at night and from a complete different direction, and finding an actual cache, not a geocache, but a 40 year old stash of money that a local group of friends but into the side of a mountain long ago.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/fall-classic-2014-wet-and-soggy-adventure/

2011 – CENTRAL OREGON – Bigger and better than ever best describes this year’s Fall Classic. A bigger crowd combined with more snow and lower than usual temperatures created a memorable and we think “better” experience for all Fall Classic participants. Excitement ensued even before we started as extremely treacherous road conditions forced a couple of participants into the ditch before the rendezvous point in LaPine. Dennie and Carolyn received the worst of it as their two door hard top Sidekick ran afoul of the icy roads and ended up on it’s side. Not to have their spirits dampened by the crash, they flipped their rig back over on the wheels and continued on and were not even late to the meeting spot.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_the-fall-classic-suzuki-4×4-adventure/

2010 – Fort Rock, OR – As stated by the immortal Bill and Ted, “Excellent!” would be the one word to describe this year’s event. There seemed to be a coming together of elements that made this adventure a real hootenanny. The weather as always was unpredictable but this year gave us a real treat by covering us in snow and staying cold enough so that we didn’t get too wet, the return of our good friend and Zukiworld Staff member, Zig, attempting and succeeding in one of his cross country road trips, the night-time adventures of Davey and crew, the geocache finding and the planting of new, and the land itself gave all who dared to join us a wonderful and memorable time.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_fall-classic-2010-suzuki-4×4-adventure/]
2009 – Christmas Valley, OR – As long as can be remembered, we have never been more blessed with the most mild and gentle weather than that which we had for this adventure. This year brought a lot of familiar faces and some new adventurers too that decided to join us for fun. They certainly weren’t disappointed as this weekend could not have been more perfect for adventure.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_fall-classic-suzuki-event-2008/

2007 – Fort Rock, OR – The fall classic always seems to be one of our favorite events every year. We always look forward to it and are never disappointed. We had a great turn out of hearty adventurers ready and willing to endure the challenging weather to experience the wonder and awe that this area provides. We ‘tweaked’ one of the aspects of the adventure to see if it would make it a little less daunting for the average thrill seeker. What we did was instead of having two camp spots over the weekend we decided to have a base camp and do a big loop on the second day for our fun. The benefit was to be two-fold, first we wouldn’t have to make camp twice and second we wouldn’t have to carry our camp gear in the vehicle.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_fallclassic-07/

2006 – FT. ROCK, OR – The “Fall Classic” more than just delivered on expectations with cold weather, open trails, and spectacular views it overwhelmed us with great views, extremely open trails and very cold weather. We were fortunate enough to have our good friend Zig along for the trail ride as well. The Christmas Valley dunes were quite welcoming as always and for the first time we were able to take the trail down to the center of the “hole in the ground” geological feature.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_fallclassic-06/


2004 – CHRISTMAS VALLEY, OR –  Last fall Eric invited me out to Oregon to ride in the season finale Adventure Series ride of 2004. He was planning a trip from LaPine to Christmas Valley in mid-November. I had read the Zukiworld article on a previous trip to the same area and definitely wanted to go along on this adventure.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_adventureseries_lapinetochristmasvalley_04/


2002 – LAPINE, OR -Our concluding adventure for the 2002 Adventure Series was an exciting event with several new faces signed up to brave the cold weather in hopes of seeing something new and interesting. We had a total of 11 vehicles for this ‘wagon train of discovery.’ Our plan was to visit South Ice Cave, Cabin Lake, Ft. Rock, Derreck Cave, Hole in the ground, Christmas Valley Dunes, The Lost Forrest, and Crack in the Ground. This was a pretty ambitious schedule considering we only had 2 1/2 days which were shortened by the winter season to about 8 hours of daylight.
http://www2.zukiworld.com/feature_adventure_christmasvalley02/


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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

 

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Trail Tough’s new Trail Savage Gear Set https://www2.zukiworld.com/trail-toughs-new-trail-savage-gear-set/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/trail-toughs-new-trail-savage-gear-set/#comments Tue, 01 Jan 2019 23:20:43 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10809 COTTAGE GROVE, MN – We’re extremely excited to tell you about Trail Tough’s new offering for Suzuki Sidekick, Geo Trackers, and Grand Vitara. What is exciting is not only that Brent and his fine crew in Medford have bridged the gap between the stock gear set and the 4.24:1 low gear set that may be too low for many applications. They have solved one of the fundamental issues that has plagued Suzuki enthusiasts since we started wheeling the Grand Vitara and Xl-7 or at least, began transplanting those engines and transmissions into Samurai and Sidekicks.

   PHOTO: M. Hagen
   VIDEO: N/A
   STORY/EDITOR: M. Hagen, E. Bewley
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Tansfer case gears, do you need them? This is a personal question to be answer either by experience or by asking your trusted wheeling buddies for advice. We do know though that, Trail Tough just made this a more difficult question to answer by offering an even more interesting additional option. Now the question isn’t do you want to have a lower low range it is, How low do you want to go?

For years t-case gear options have been 1.8 to 1 (stock) or 4.23 to 1.  But with Trail Tough’s new offering, the Trail Savage, 3 to 1 transfer case gear set we have a third ‘Goldilocks‘ option. We have always felt that 4.23 gears were too low, even in the first gen Sidekick/Tracker 1.6 5 speed days.  With our options being smoke the clutch, or put 4.23 gears in, we chose the latter and If we spent 100% of the time in a boulder field there was much happiness.

However, we spend 80% of our wheeling time in the Midwest in loose dirt hill climbs, mud, logs, rocks and snow. Once a year we travel out to Moab and wheel the slick rock. My current rig is a second gen Vitara that I have a 2.7 auto swapped into and to let you in on a little secret, I am not a fan of the 4.23 gear set in this application. It’s just unnecessarily too low.

The 4.23 gears coupled with an automatic transmission overpowers the brakes and pushes you down the hill. It also shifts though the gears too violently during hard acceleration and is hard on parts. The Trail Savage is the perfect, most natural feeling, gear set for all around trail riding. It is better than I expected; better than we expected.

We feel like we have not given up anything in the slow technical spots but gain so much more in the mud, snow, and hills. You also have more wheel speed in reverse than the 4.24:1 gear set a benefit you will be happy to have when you try to back out of that mud hole that was deeper than you thought. This is also a very quiet gear set. This may be because the small gear runs below the oil level. That fact also may be why the transfer cases seem to not run as hot as a 4.24:1 gear set in a similar situation and this may lead to them lasting longer. But only time will tell on that.

Installations easier! There’s only 2 gears so it’s also easier to install, as you don’t have to remove the input gear from the front of the case. Since the front input gear does not get replaced, this also means that it works in V6 5 speed applications as well. The Trail Savage 3 to 1 gear set, is the answer to the problem, many didn’t know needed answering. It’s low enough to crawl, yet fast enough that you don’t have to keep going back to high range to go anywhere. We couldn’t be happier with it and we’re looking forward to how much more enjoyable my future 4×4 travels will be without all the high and low shifting between obstacles. 

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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

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End of Summer Road Trip – North To Alaska https://www2.zukiworld.com/end-of-summer-road-trip-north-to-alaska/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/end-of-summer-road-trip-north-to-alaska/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2018 19:29:10 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10717 PRUDHOE BAY, AK – [Our writer-at-large Jeff Simons has taken another great adventure in his Suzuki and is back to tell the tale] It’s that time again. My end of Summer Road Trip. Previous travels have been Great! Scenic Route Tracker has taken me from Chicago to Los Angeles via Route 66 and I’ve seen all 48 States on One Lap of the United States. What could possibly top those? I think I need to go North, to the End of the Road… Alaska… This will be some serious miles, remote locations, confidence in my vehicle and confidence in myself and my independence.

   PHOTO: J. Simons
   VIDEO: N/A
   STORY/EDITOR: J. Simons / E. Bewley

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I have been preparing for this trip since returning from the last. I needed to preform maintenance from bumper to bumper. This has been such a reliable vehicle that my repairs and maintenance have been standard, fluids, inspections, cleaning, and for this, a new set of tires. No sense in pushing it knowing service may be miles and miles away.

I started out from Iowa with intentions of seeing a few things before I get too far into the wild. Kind of a high mile shakedown before I leave the US. I don’t have too much time for any of my extra sights, some of them I have already seen, as getting to Alaska will eat up most of the time I have. So, I passed through Yellowstone National Park, which is Awesome! After YNP, I went through Jackson Wyoming to get to Idaho. I was close enough to grab a quick couple of Napoleon’s house and Pedro’s house from the Movie Napoleon Dynamite. I find movie locations and tv show buildings amusing to see.

After that I hustled across to Southern Washington because I wanted to see Mount St. Helen’s. This was a historical event that happened in my lifetime. It is quite the sight. The Johnson Ridge Observatory is informative and displays items indicating how massive an explosion this was. Then quickly pass through Seattle for a couple landmark sights/pictures, then North.

I’ve never been in Canada for any reason, so this is a new experience for me. My passport was issued earlier this Summer, so I think a brand new passport and my reason for travel had me pulled inside for more questions. A brief Q&A and visual inspection of my vehicle contents, I was back on the road.

British Columbia Canada is Beautiful! It’s like all of the best parts of a model railroad, but it’s REAL!

BC leads to the Yukon Territory, then dips back into BC, before becoming Yukon again then into Alaska. I’ve made it! Almost. I still see roads ahead of me. I want to get to the end. That means continue North.

Alaska is Huge! I’m on the Alaska Highway and it leads to Fairbanks, AK, the end of the Alcan Highway. but I still see roads. I want to get to the end of the road.

Now we’re talking… Dalton Highway, 500 miles from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, the end of the road. But, Dalton Highway is No Joke. This is remote with only one gas station 250 miles away. No cell service. No services until you get to Coldfoot, Alaska, which is the halfway point from Fairbanks to Prudhoe.

I’ve never been in Canada for any reason, so this is a new experience for me. My passport was issued earlier this Summer, so I think a brand new passport and my reason for travel had me pulled inside for more questions. A brief Q&A and visual inspection of my vehicle contents, I was back on the road.

British Columbia Canada is Beautiful! It’s like all of the best parts of a model railroad, but it’s REAL!

BC leads to the Yukon Territory, then dips back into BC, before becoming Yukon again then into Alaska. I’ve made it! Almost. I still see roads ahead of me. I want to get to the end. That means continue North.

Alaska is Huge! I’m on the Alaska Highway and it leads to Fairbanks, AK, the end of the Alcan Highway. but I still see roads. I want to get to the end of the road.

 

   

Now we’re talking… Dalton Highway, 500 miles from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, the end of the road. But, Dalton Highway is No Joke. This is remote with only one gas station 250 miles away. No cell service. No services until you get to Coldfoot, Alaska, which is the halfway point from Fairbanks to Prudhoe.

I have been warned very clearly. Do Not start the Dalton Highway without two full sized spare tires. 8-10 hours from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, another 8-10 hours from Coldfoot to Prudhoe Bay. There is no room for error, such as being tired, or not staying alert of the road and it’s changes. I asked why so much time? I have a 4wd. I know how to off road drive. I have all 5 brand new tires before I left. The guy said, I don’t care. This is not your kind of driving back home. You need to be focused and prepared.

     

   

No kidding, I was now scared. I called my friend and explained, he shared his knowledge and experience, but he did not complete the first half, because of his limited time on his visit. After talking to my friend, I felt better, but still concerned. I stopped and picked up a few things, just in case. Most notable, a tire plug kit and cheap 12v compressor.

After shopping, I fueled up and started out. Genuinely concerned, yet I needed to get going. I started out cautious and slow, but thinking of the details my friend shared, I gradually became more comfortable. This is a very long, lonely stretch. I think my severe warning was accurate due to the loose terrain, large potholes, and the fact that it is washboard and at times hard packed gravel, with no room to pull off or get wide, such as a shoulder of the road.

Getting to Coldfoot took at least 7 hours. I fueled up knowing I would not get a chance to fuel again for another 250 miles. After refuel, I put on another hour and decided to get some rest. I needed it. A few hours later, I was on the way to Prudhoe, however, it had snowed overnight. This is August! I took my time and traversed Atigun Pass in 4wd high. Slow and steady, puts me through the stretch of about 10 steep, winding, snowy, miles. This pass could easily claim vehicles traveling it anytime of the year.

Back onto regular Dalton Highway terrain and I’m counting down the remaining miles. I can see the work camp. It’s getting closer and closer… I MADE IT!!!

I’m at the End of the Road! I can not go any farther, because there is no more. I have driven to the Arctic Ocean from Iowa! Now, I think I’ve almost seen it all!

What an Awesome Time I’ve had and Sights I’ve seen with this Tracker! It has been as simple as going prepared, being informed, and having a reliable vehicle that has been maintained as needed. I still have to get back home before we call this a success.

Heading home was just that, a long drive home. I did drive the Alcan Highway in its entirety from Fairbanks AK to Dawson Creek BC. I continued into Alberta, and Manitoba, before getting back into the US at North Dakota.

Some of the wildlife I had seen on this trip include deer, elk, moose, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyote, fox, wolf, black bear, caribou, musk ox, beaver, and grizzly bear.

9,100 miles in 13 days and I’m home. What an Adventure! All of which was not even a thought, when purchasing this Tracker from online classifieds 4 years ago. And yes, it is the exact engine, untouched, from the original online purchase. My Scenic Route Tracker has taken me through All of the 48 United States, through a large part of Canada, and into Alaska to the Arctic Ocean! I can check off the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico in these travels too.

Adventure is Out There!

 


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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

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SUZUKI SIDEKICK – TIGHTENING TORQUE FOR CRANKSHAFT TIMING BELT PULLEY – TSB https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-sidekick-tightening-torque-for-crankshaft-timing-belt-pulley-tsb/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-sidekick-tightening-torque-for-crankshaft-timing-belt-pulley-tsb/#respond Sun, 09 Sep 2018 23:59:37 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10707  

   DOCUMENT TYPE: Technical Service Bulletin
   SUBJECT: Modification of Tightening Torque for Crankshaft timing Belt Pulley Bolt
   SOURCE OF FILE OR DOCUMENT: kickfix.com

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This bulletin is to inform you of the modification of the tightening torque for the crankshaft timing belt pulley bolt which has been carried out since February 1996 production. When reinstalling the crank-shaft timing belt pulley bolt for 1989-1996 Sidekicks listed by VIN below, use the LATE tightening torque.

 

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Timing Belt Pulley Bolt


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SUZUKI SIDEKICK – MODIFICATION OF INTAKE MANIFOLD – TSB https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-sidekick-modification-of-intake-manifold-tsb/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-sidekick-modification-of-intake-manifold-tsb/#respond Sun, 09 Sep 2018 18:08:36 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10685  

   DOCUMENT TYPE: Technical Service Bulletin
   SUBJECT: Modification of Intake Manifold and Thermostat
   SOURCE OF FILE OR DOCUMENT: Unknown

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This bulletin is to inform you of the modification in the intake manifold and thermostat which has been carried out in the 2-door (June 1992 & later) and 4-door 16-valve (December 1991 & later) Sidekicks. The thermostat mounting surface and port on the intake manifold have been enlarged in diameter to accommodate a thermostat with a rubber 0-ring. Since the late-style rubber 0-ring is not interchange-able with the early-style manifold, use the late-style rubber 0-ring with the late-style manifold.

 

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TS 4-13 04063(R)


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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

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SUZUKI SUMMER ADVENTURE – PACIFIC NORTHWEST, CANADA, AND BEYOND https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-summer-adventure-pacific-northwest-canada-and-beyond/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/suzuki-summer-adventure-pacific-northwest-canada-and-beyond/#respond Sun, 09 Sep 2018 17:29:06 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10623 YELLOWSTONE, MT – An American experience, the road trip is something that we’ve taking part in and focus upon with the utmost enthusiasm. There are so many wonderful places to see, things to experience, and friends to meet all connected by dusty roads, gravel, trails, or even the dreaded pavement. With all this just outside one’s front door, a question arises… what are we waiting for? This year we took the opportunity to experience the NWOR held in Plain, Washington as part of our experience. The event was excellent and we’d recommend to anyone interested in over-landing or adventure to check it out. Our perspective is written here.

   PHOTO: S. Bewley
   VIDEO: n/a
   STORY/EDITOR: E. Bewley

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This year, we decided to add a couple things we normally don’t do with road-trips with amazing success.

Our first point of interest was a “rails to trails” bicycle trail near Princeton, British Colombia called Kettle Valley Rail Trail. Our time was cut short in the area by a shipping mistake by FrontRunner Outfitters so we decided to focus on the Othello Tunnels portion of the trail. What makes the KVR special is that there is a high density concentration of railroad trestles and tunnels. There are almost magical sections where one goes directly from tunnel to trestle to tunnel again in the span of a few feet. It was truly amazing and well worth the short trip across the boarder. If you look past the glamour shot below, you can see how the tunnels and trestles are nested so closely together.

ABOUT THE KVR

The Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail is the longest rail trail network in British Columbia extending from Hope to Castlegar. Once a comprehensive railroad system, the decommissioned tracks are now home to an extensive recreational trail providing almost 400 miles of connected pathways throughout the region.

After we got our “biking on”, we headed east through lower BC exploring along the way. As a special treat for the kids, (yes… just the kids) we decided to go to a local store and pick out every candy that we don’t see in the States. This was an experience that lasted for the rest of the trip as we would pick one a day to try at our camp spots. For my money, I got to say the Mr. Big candy bars are pretty good but the Smarties thing is shocking and wrong. Yes, I said it…

Next stop was the NWOR mentioned earlier. This was a great experience and our only regret was that we didn’t get to spend as much time there as we would have liked. Thanks again, FrontRunner Outfitters… Anyway, Ray Hyland’s event is a must do.


 

After we left the rally, our plan was to visit the Gran Coulee dam, head over to the ghost town of Garnett, Montana, through Butte, down to Yellowstone N.P. circling back through Soda Springs, Idaho with a loop back around through Atomic City to finally visit EBR-1 on our way home. So, here we go! The Grand Coulee Damn is the largest concrete structure in the free world. We learned that the Grand Coulee Dam was the key to the development of power on the Columbia River — the greatest potential source of hydroelectric energy in the United States. It was amazing to us to find out that Original plans considered ten dams on the Columbia River between the Canadian border and the mouth of the river. We took the guided tour that is now a mere shadow of the self-guided access prior 9/11 but we still got to see one of the power houses and learn some astonishing facts. The one that sticks for me is that the much more famous Hoover Dam is a mere tiny baby in generating power. The entire Colorado river’s flow would fit into one of the many penstocks that flow into just one of the power houses on the dam. I Also really dug the idea of a pump/generator combo and that they uses some of the units seen below to fill a reservoir when flow is high so that when water becomes scarce, they can reverse the flow and continue to provide electricity.

We followed this up with a visit to Garnett Montana. This is a really cool ghost town being managed in a suspended decay. The amount of buildings and furnishings in the buildings are amazing and at times, you can imagine you just stumbled onto the town as the residence rode over the hill, leaving for the last time. A true gem nestled away in the Rockies.

On our way to Butte. This town is truly special and for a thriving hustle-bustle place has amazing mining history. We took a self-guided tour at the World Mining Museum, the name of which seems quite boastful, located behind the College and saw some great examples of mining equipment, learned a lot about the local mining history, and got to climb all over a lot of, yet to be preserved, equipment and buildings. Truly a blast for the kids. The town has several almost complete examples of shaft mining and a large pit mine currently in operation.


After a restless night at the KOA campground of which we’d defintely recommend against, we headed towards Yellowstone through the northern entrance of Gardner Montana. This entrance has the famous Roosevelt Arch which is a typical example of a WPA project in my estimation. Out in the middle of a meadow where the road leaves the town towards the park a rock gate was built to welcome guests. There is no natural boarders around the gate making it functional and the idea of blocking off or slowing access to our national treasure is revolting to me personally. Anyway, it’s also too small suggesting a lack of planning and foresight. … moving along with smiles on.

We drove straight up to Mammoth Springs which is amazing in a few ways, the all to at ease Elk that roam the grounds of the camp slash headquarters area, the buildings and structures there, and the natural wonder of the springs themselves. We were treated to an active and beautiful display of springs and limestone structures. Onto the grand-daddy attraction, Old Faithful. Full of anticipation we were treated, along with 500 other guests to a spectacular show of water + magma + restriction = geyser mathematics. Impressive and well worth the journey, we walked the loop in the Geyser basin and had a small lunch at the lodge.

 

Fireworks and beyond as we approached July 4th. We were fortunate to spend another great weekend in Soda Springs, the site of where the Oregon Trail and the California Trail diverge. The fireworks display there is always fantastic and bespeaks of a much larger more civically financially affluent town. A great show well worth the time to investigate. A new welcome surprise was the new hotel that was opened. We usually stay at one of the historic and comfortable hotels like the Enders or the Caribou lodge. This time we stayed at the new Cobblestone Inn & Suites, which is a smaller chain that has no unique character but more than made up with excellent service, amenities, and a clean quiet room.

The final leg of the journey had us visiting one of my all time favorites. We’ve made several attempts on previous ZUKIWORLD adventure events to get to this attraction, but had failed. This time.. complete success. EBR-1 is the first nuclear reactor to generate electricity and is a national treasure in it’s own right. Located in the vastness of the Idaho desert, this facility is located on a government testing facility specifically located for its close proximity to nothing. We were able to get a guided tour of the building and grounds and learned so much. Our tour guide was so helpful and let our children play with so many cool displays. They learned so much and our older one, may have even been inspired.

 

Our Suzuki Equator worked flawlessly and enabled our family to see some of the most amazing and wonderful points of interest the Northwest has to offer. We are already planning next year’s adventure and think we’ll spend a little more time in Canada this time. Where will your Suzuki take you?


 

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NorthWest Overland Rally in Washington – Summer Adventure Staple https://www2.zukiworld.com/northwest-overland-rally-in-washington-summer-adventure-staple/ https://www2.zukiworld.com/northwest-overland-rally-in-washington-summer-adventure-staple/#respond Sun, 09 Sep 2018 15:16:13 +0000 https://www2.zukiworld.com/?p=10591 PLAIN, WA – Summer vacations are always a blast and ours was no exception. We were lucky this year and got to experience a part of the NW Overland Rally put on by Ray Hyland and his team. In the last 8 years, this rally has grown at an amazing rate from around 80 people to over 2,000 with more than 800 vehicles either on display or wandering the event grounds in a fantastic display of unique vehicles, personal innovation, and adventuring spirit. Located close to the unique Bavarian-village styled town of Leavenworth (A must see all by itself) the 2018 NorthWest Overland Rally or NWOR drew people and vendors from all over the Northwest, Canada, and beyond. 

   PHOTO: S. Bewley, E. Bewley
   VIDEO:
   STORY/EDITOR: E. Bewley

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A family affair. The NWOR does offer all the amenities such as classes, driving challenges, vendor displays, and a large raffle. All of which have become standard fair in over-landing event circles. But this event, we noticed immediately, is special. There is a real family vibe here and people are much more focused on reconnecting with or making new friends, having fun, and occasionally…. learning stuff.

The low all-inclusive entry fee gets you access to all of the best regional and national vendors that are supporting our sport. They have the time and want to talk with you about their ideas. We were truly impressed with how many newer vendors had awesome products and services on display and the depth to which they enjoyed talking about their creations was inspiring.

One of the cool parts that we personally enjoyed was the random free beers that were offered either by a group of people or a vendor. This seems to be a NW event (all kinds of events) extension of hospitality and is great. It give everyone standing around an easier chance to mingle and talk about casual things. The occasional slip into the technical dull-drums of our hobby can even be welcomed with open arms in this positive and friendly environment.

 

For us, the Suzuki enthusiast, there wasn’t a lot of specific attractions and there were only a few Suzuki at the event. We did get a chance to meet a wonderful couple from Washington state and learn about them and their blue Samurai as they walked the skills driving challenge. We hope to see them on the trail soon!

Another cool Samurai was this one serving as a toad. The idea of wrapping one with a TOPO map probably isn’t new but was done so well on this Samurai that we had to take note. Other ‘cool’ features were the steel rally wheels and interior modifications. We dug it a lot and this ride is making us think about getting a tin-top Samurai again.

Wishing we could spend more time at the event, our time table for our summer adventure compelled us to move along to the next. We really enjoyed the NWOR and plan on attending next year. If you are anywhere near Plain, Washington and enjoy the over-landing adventure lifestyle, you must attend this excellent event.

Onward to Summer Fun…

 

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About ZUKIWORLD Online: We are an enthusiast web site dedicated to the promotion of the Suzuki Automobile as the best and most capable vehicle on the planet. We offer product reviews, Tech tips, DIY, Travel and Adventure, Forum, Technical information, Life Style, and so much more! 

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