Coney Flats

[JandDGreens]

We had about twelve rigs for todays run , I had a very good time and it was nice to met new people. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did. I must say the it was a lot tougher trail than I expected cause some had said "it is a good beginners trail". In the trail planning thread. But none the less this trail is in the top five as my all time favorite.
I would like to thank everyone I look forward to the next time we can join in. A few pics we got of our group.

[JandDGreens]

I only got shots of people near me but here are a few more.

[Funrover]

FUN FUN!!

[newracer]

Just FYI you started on Middle St Vrain, Coney Flats starts at the hard left turn up hill at the end of MSV.

[JandDGreens]

Yeah, MSV, Coney Flats Thanks

[JGRubicon]

It seemed a bit more washed out than it was last year this time. I had a harder time with much more experience.

I really enjoyed the CB chatter, I've never had hours of polite uninterrupted proper cb use until today. How refreshing.

It was nice to take some if the harder routes that I still couldn't pass this year. As the gentleman in the power wagon said, I turtled it a time or two.

Craig, my guest had a great time and was impressed with the group. He was glad he didn't bring his KTM though with just how many deep rocky puddles there were.

That was a LOT of water.

[Java]

I had a good time, it was nice see some familiar faces and meet some new ones, and really good to see Chris and Heather again. Coney Flats and MSV have both changed a LOT in the last few years. I'd say a combination of traffic and millions of gallons of water have stripped a lot of the dirt away, and the whole thing is rocks now. I'd guess that 1/4 - 1/3 of the trail was wet or underwater, much more than any other time I've run it, and the tippy-est spot is in the middle of a pretty deep puddle. The gatekeeper rocks are not at all the biggest rocks anymore, I gave my skidplates a workout, hit hard atleast 5 times. Even MSV is moderate / difficult now, and the trail after the lake on Coney is now just as rough as the trail up to it. I like it better!! It was a fun run but a slow one, it took about 3 hours to get to the lake. I have a few pics but have to resize them later.

[Heather]

I was the one that said it's a good beginners' trail (sorry!!) and still do think it is - everyone made it through, and some people pushed their comfort zone, which equates to development (or so I've been told!). Definitely have to agree that it's changed with the rutting and water. SO glad our self-lowering LR3 friends had the great attitude they did. With a group so big, it was pretty much impossible to mingle with everyone. Everyone seemed really great, we had a couple of super cool pups along, and the part of the group that I was able to spend the most time with were wonderful. Paul, I'm SO glad you made it - was so great to see you again, even if briefly! Will post what pix we got, later today.

[Java]

I got rained on on the way home anyway, I did not beat the big black cloud. Thanks again for setting it up, and it is a good step-up trail for a beginner: so easy even a Land Rover can do it...

[TNTJ05]

This trail was certainly a tough one to 'cut my chops' on, but overall nothing broke and I learned some valuable vehicle placement techniques.

[JGRubicon]

The LR3 definitely took it in stride, I was actually shocked the group of 4 wheelers that was stuck in our group took it as well as they did, the lead guy even helped move rocks. They were pretty nice about it, it comes with the territory, but not everyone understands that.

[Jamie]

Thanks for the pics! We had a great time! It was fun to meet everyone. Thank you Diesel Doc for your advice, help, and encouragement. Thank you Heather for organizing. My daughter laughed, and laughed. She said I had no idea people did this **it! I thought we would be driving down some dirt roads lol. Props to the young lady in the Cherokee, behind me after lunch. Excellent driving, my kids were teasing me, Mom the teenager behind you is taking harder lines than you! My son said he might have to get a Jeep. All in all a great day!

[toycoma97]

Fun day on the Trail! The weather was great, the guardian was uneventful and there was alot more water(deep) on the trail than I expected. All in all a great day!

[Titus]

Thanks all for the great run. The Rover made it home with no issues. I appreciate all of the help throughout the day, especially on that one obstacle. I checked underneath today and other than some scratches and dents, everything is still there and working great! I have absolutely no idea where that one piece we found on the trail came from. This was only the 2nd time I have wheeled with this car. I have wheeled countless times with my previous vehicles so there is always something to learn.

A learning point for me and I think everyone there. If you are wheeling with a rover with air suspension and it looks like the car is all of a sudden lower (especially on a hard obstacle), ask them to make sure there are no suspension faults. Some time during my attempts to get up that obstacle I got a fault and the car lowered. I did not see the fault message until I finally made it up. A few extra inches of clearance would have been nice .

[JandDGreens]

Here are links to a few short videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfsr...ature=youtu.be David and Paul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wik7B-5guzg Paul/ water crossing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaF6...ature=youtu.be Therese driving Obstacle and then David

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7OUfzi8YF8 Jason on the same obstacle

[JGRubicon]

Here's a link to some of the pictures Craig took. He got a few really good ones.

http://imgur.com/a/VfzXk

[Brad]

The only issue with LR3 is the suspension faults. Did you use extended height mode? I keep a tablet with software on board in case my rig faults. I also run Johnson rods and bigger tires.

[Max]

lol johnson rods

[TJS86TOY]

Who was the guy in the blue CJ?

[dieseldoc]

ok so I have been supper busy!

now for the back of the group report.

we had a great run. we ran with the folks we know and enjoyed the time with few know folks.
after a short drivers meeting off to the races.

gate keeper ha!
this this is nothing like it used to be.
then again the jeep is taller ans better protected.

After clearing the gate keeper I decided to ride along for the day.

Therese needed some trail time.
and the jeep is very different now so I needed the chance to listen to it and watch what it was doing.

MSV is about as wet as it was the last time we ran it.
our first trip it was snow covered and icy at the top.
Therese had a good time learning tire placement and diff alignment.

Jamie, I am impressed that you gave a try at a line that not used by many.
you trusted me, the spotter to guide you up and try the hard stuff.
I look forward to taking you to little Moab to play and get you comfortable in that rig of yours.

The water was still running swift and cold.
the rocks are still in the same places in the muddy waters.

We didnt stop at the end of MSV as we planned to eat lunch at the top after the crossing.
At the turn we leap frog-ed one rig as he had the hood up.
dam crank sensor issues.
the climb was going well with little issues.
Therese listens and watches the rig in front of her so little direction was needed.
she is still learning the use if the different gears to jeep things running and under control.

the only big issue we had was a long stop. we waited for ten to fifteen minutes then I walked up to see what was going on.
turns out that LR3 suspension has some issues!
when I got up there things were not to horrible
a few shot back ups and some heavy right foot draging its lowered self over the rocks it was up and on through.
the rest of the group behind made it through with no issues.

Scott I think your turtle issue is you are taking harder lines.
this is what we do.
you got to push it to learn where to put it.
I think your little RUBI does just fine as it is.
you just need more time and then the turtle issues will be far less offten.
I was in the same boat with my TJ.
used to drag the skid over just about every thing.

the water crossing at the top was lower than some down on MSV.
lunch was enjoyable to sit and chat with every one.
we had a group coming up after us so we didnt stay to long.

the trip down to the lake was not to bad. it has had deeper water on it in the past.
but this was again uneventful.

we all got out to the slab at the spill way to air up and have a few minutes to chat and then off folks want.

we did get to enjoy the pressence of a lady moose on the other side of the lake.
the group behind up spotted her and had there binoculars
nice to see some wild life.


my only complaint, was the disco tech volume level out of the green Cherokee.
Sorry brother but as far back as we were we dont need to hear your tunes.


I have pics but need to resize them.

so nice to see familiar faces
nice to met the new ones.