Cleghorn Ridge Trail – The entire trail is a fire road with a more challenging trail winding back and forth across the fire road.  It starts at the Cajon Pass, 15 fwy and Cleghorn Rd and runs to highway 138 by Silverwood Lake.  This dirt trail is about 14 miles long each way. The trail starts at about 3,000 feet and peaks out about 5,200 feet and has lots of side trails that criss-cross the main easy road.  The roughly graded route in this trail is suitable for medium clearance 2WD in dry weather. The trail is considered extreme when very wet.  The US Forest Service has designated this trail as 2N47.

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During our drive out there, the rain got worse and worse.  Cleghorn is at the base of the foothills and traverses up the mountains.  It happened to be in the path of the storm.  Before we even got there, we had strong winds, rain and hail.  We got there with a little time to spare so we hit McDonald’s for breakfast before we met up with the club down on Cleghorn Road.

We pulled in under the freeway overpass to air down the tires.  We were the first ones there.  It was pretty cool to see other Hummer owners pull up and to the side to air-down to get ready to go wheeling.  We finally got to meet a few from the club and exchanged names.  Our good friends Laura and Sheldon H. with their kids Jewel and Ethan showed up in their Jeep.  Seth, our group leader, gave a short meeting on rules and what to expect, before long everyone was ready to hit the trail.

We took the trail headed east towards Silverlake.  The trail snaked its way up the side of the mountain crossing pools of water as he kept heading up.  Off our left shoulder was a valley with a small rainbow sitting in it.  Our first optional play area was  Powerline Hill.  Basically it’s just a hill climb to the top where sits a power line tower.  This was the first time stepping out of the vehicle since ascending.  As I placed my foot down, the ground beneath felt like melted chocolate.  I didn’t realize how much mud we were driving through.

ChasH3

It became more apparent as some of the guys were trying to go up the steep incline only to loose traction and slide back down.  After a while of playing there we continued on.

This is where it got interesting.

We headed up a rather steep incline as the rain begin to intensify.  The lead H3, Seth, got to a point where he couldn’t keep his momentum going and began to loose traction.  Before too long Seth could go no further.  We got out and stacked some rocks to help keep the rear passenger tire from dropping into a deep rut and bottoming out.  He was able to reverse out, turn a round, and head back to the main fire-road, upon which we all followed behind.

Later on down the road I took a wrong line and kept getting sucked in to a rut.  The mud made for a huge amount of grief.  I eventually tried to turn the rig around and got high-centered on a berm.  After a quick strap yank we were headed back up the mountain.  The rain and hail made even the easiest parts of the trail challenging.  Going up and around corners in the mud and driving rain was almost like slow speed drifting, with the exception of the mountain cliffs on the side.

Sheldon's Jeep

"BeHummer2" Ben, "Family Jeepster" Sheldon, "Slogger" Adrian.

H3Play on Articulation Hill

We had a great day out on the trails, a new trip is being planned to explore this trail once again in dry weather.  This way we will be able to get a better view from up on top instead of driving through the clouds.  Although the views that were presented to us were quite spectacular, I’m sure on a clear day it will be much more grand, especially when there is not the worry of getting stuck, cold wind and driving rain.

AlanM

JeffH3

H3Ing

Slogger

Until next time.

Feel free to leave comments!

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I got home and installed the battery as fast as I could.  My son was with my wife at “My Gym” so I had about 45 minutes to get this battery in.

Installation should take about 15 minutes, it took me about 30 minutes, mainly because I double checked everything and took pictures along the way to make sure I didn’t forget anything.  It was dark.

It’s really quite easy.  The battery I installed was a Bosch PremiumPower.  (about $75 USD)

This summer when I have time, I’ll probably install an Optima Red Top and keep this guy as a backup.

Here is what it says on the top:

• CCA @ 0^F : 630
• CA @ 32^F : 785
• RC Mins @ 25 Amps : 90
• Part Number: 86-630B
• Group Size: 86

Uninstallation of Old Battery:

Click open the battery’s negative (black) cover to access the post and nut.  Loosen the negative battery cable nut.

I used a 10mm socket wrench for this.  Pull it off the post and set aside.  Make sure it doesn’t touch anything.

Click open the battery’s positve (red) cover.  Loosen the positive cable nut.  Work it off the post and set aside.  Again make sure this doesn’t touch anything.  Even though it’s not connected to anything it’s just a good habit to keep when working with electrical stuff.

Remove battery vent hose.  It slides right off.

Remove the battery upper box.  Press the locking tabs inward and lift up.  It might be easier to do one side and angle it up to release the other tab.  The tab closest to the fender is a little tight to get your hand in to push the tab.  Angle it out.

Disengage the battery strap.

I used a 13mm socket wrench for this.

Loosen and take off the nut.  Slide strap end up.  This will create the slack you need to take the strap off the other side of the battery’s lower tray’s restraint.  Also this exposes the cleat that holds the base of the battery down.
The cleat fits over a groove that is in the battery and wedges it down.  Remove the cleat by pulling it straight up along the bolt that it sits on.

Here is a picture of the cleat.

You must remove the cleat before you remove the battery.  The 2 pictures above where shot just to show the cleat.  I had already taken the battery out so you can see how it wedges the battery down. Just imagine the battery sitting in the tray. You’ll see in a couple of photos below with the new battery installed.

Remove the battery.

Installation of New Battery:

Note the groove toward the bottom backside of the battery.

Place new battery into lower half of battery tray.  Notice there is no cleat yet.  Make sure, if you are installing a battery intended for a Hummer H3, the groove on the back of the battery is closest to the firewall of the engine compartment.  This is where the safety cleat will clamp down on.

Place safety cleat over bolt and slide down into position.

Place battery strap on the front side, hook into position.

Place end of battery strap over bolt on top of the safety cleat.

Install the retainer nut.  Use that 13mm socket and tighten down.  If the battery you are installing sits a little shorter, wedge it with some material that can take some heat, it gets hot in there.

Install the battery upper box and make sure the tabs click.

Make sure your Positive and Negative battery cables are free from corrosion.  Use a wire brush to clean.  Install the positive (red) cable.  Use the 10mm socket to tighten nut.  Install the Negative cable, tighten the nut.  Close the plastic covers.

Connect the battery vent hose.

All done.  Start her up!

Hey, Leave a comment.  Let me know if you stopped by!  Thanks!

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There has always been that marketing/sales quote. “If a customer receives good service he’ll tell 1 other person, customer received bad service he’ll tell 10 others.” I’m out to change that in this post.

This week I was pleasantly surprised. I feel, especially with today’s economy, customer service is a differentiating factor I have come to place more weight upon. If I am going to spend my hard-worked money for a product or service there are a few things I expect: knowledge of the product or service that is being provided, mutual respect and a fair price. That being said, the first two criteria can influence the third. Earlier this week I took my H3 in for service. I took it in the Cerritos Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Hummer Service Center where I met Robert D. I was having a “Serv 4WD” in the DIC light up and then go away occasionally. I was due for an Oil Change so I thought I’ll take it in to get the 4WD serviced. I feel, had I taken it somewhere else, I would have had to pay for an oil change and a 4WD service and still not have solved the problem. It ended up being electrical and not a 4WD problem. Nice catch on Robert D’s part to diagnose the problem instead of treating just the symptom.

So here is my plug for Robert D. <plug> If you are in the Los Angeles/Orange County area and need to get your Hummer or any other GM vehicle serviced take it to the Cerritos Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Hummer Service Center, ask for Robo or his real name, and you won’t be disappointed. He knows what he is doing, doesn’t talk down to you when explaining some basic things and a pleasant cool guy.</plug>

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A couple of weeks ago I received, in the mail, the invitation to this year’s “Hummer Happening” set for April 12th, 2008. The only difference is that we will not be crawling up Rincon Box Fire Trail.

Experience the excitement of off-roading in you very own Hummer….After breakfast of coffee, juice and breakfast breads we will caravan together to the Azusa Canyon Rincon Fire Station. We will join our hosts from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team and the US Forrest Service Fire Department for a short classroom program of rules and regulations. We will then caravan back down to the Azusa Canyon OHV area for some fieldwork. You will experience first hand different types of terrain including river crossings, rock crossing, side slopes, hill climbing, rocky hill inclines and moguls. Around noon we will break for a delicious lunch back at the Fire Station. This will conclude our program; however if you wish you might use your day permit to go back to the riverbed for more fun on you own.

We have a limited amount of space, just 25 vehicles and registration is on a First Come First Serve Basis.

Well needless to say, I’ve already RSVP’d. This time Skye is coming along but not Skyler, it might be a little boring for him in his backward facing car seat. Maybe next year he’ll be ready…  Sam and Susie are headed out with out too.  It should be fun.

Photos to be posted…

Just a little more than two weeks out now. Fun Stuff.

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Patsy III

Experience the excitement of off-roading in you very own Hummer….After breakfast of coffee, juice and breakfast breads we will caravan together to the Azusa Canyon Rincon Fire Station. We will join our hosts from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team and the US Forrest Service Fire Department for a short classroom program of rules and regulations. We will then caravan back down to the Azusa Canyon OHV area for some fieldwork. You will experience first hand different types of terrain including river crossings, rock crossing, side slopes, hill climbing, rocky hill inclines and moguls. Around noon we will break for a delicious lunch back at the Fire Station. After lunch we will then muster and head off for our off road adventure up the Rincon Red Box Trail to Panther Point and then return, at the end of the day, to the Fire Station.

We have a limited amount of space, just 25 vehicles and registration is on a First Come First Serve Basis.

How cool does that sound? I’ll be taking pictures and maybe some video. Unfortunately Skye won’t be able to make it this time. The road will be a little too bumpy for little Skyler.

Sammy’s stepping in to be my spotter and Nav-man on this journey. Hopefully I’ll get him hooked to come out more often…to be continued…

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