Our Thanksgiving trip to the desert

[eDUBz]

First off want to thank Nayther for giving us some directions to setup camp in Spangler Hills - Mojave Desert. We setup camp about 2 miles north of Teagle wash, it was a lil packed down there. We left home Tuesday around noon, it's a 3-4 hour drive one way for us.

Camp setup.



A beautiful sunset in the desert. The weather was perfect about 50ish degrees and dead calm with plenty of sun.


Smile! Family photo time haha! All pics were shot with my wife's iPhone, mine has no more storage over 3k pics, I'm a phone hoarder.


Next day the wind kicked up and was blowing pretty good most of the day but that didn't stop us from exploring around. Wednesday was the only day it was windy after that it was awesome weather.



Our youngest daughter and the dog going for a ride.


Another reason why we like BLM land so the kids can roam free drive the RZR and shoot their pellet guns.



Friday around noon we decided to make a run down to the Pinnacles in the truck. I wanted to take the RZR but the rear pinion nut needs to be addressed before we take it on a long run. In the 2012-2014 RZR 800 The pinion nut backs out because of the nylon washer getting to hot and loosening up and blowing out the rear gear case. I didn want to take any chances in the desert riding solo.






We headed home Saturday Morning, when we got Santa Clarita area the weather was looking crappy, when we got to Simi Valley it was pouring rain all the way home.

[eDUBz]

mrw8i wrote:

eDUBz wrote:

mrw8i wrote:
We left Moorpark around 9AM Saturday, got to Cal City around noon. Weather was nice for about another 2 hours after arriving at Cal City. You did well leaving when you did. Get the pinion nut done, there are a lot of neat destinations around that whole area, some might be 100 mile round trip rides.

Yeah, worked out perfect. We dropped into Moorpark to eat an it was pouring around 2.
Getting it done before we take it out again, also gotta get a GPS to download the MAPs. Don't know anybody else with a SXS so we gotta get comfortable with the area.

Wife and I are bit older (in our 50's) than you guys, but we try to make it out to the Cal City 3 - 5x per year. Next will be week after Xmas. Weather can be quite cold then, so have to be prepared for that, especially if on a long ride.

We have a turbo'd RZR 800S. It's just the two of usually.

I use a Garmin Montana and my iPhone for GPS. I can help you with maps and routes for both.

I took the rear end out of my 800 and put another one in built by ??? (I'll have to look it up).

Next up for your family, and we just started. Geocaching.

Mike

That's awesome! It's funny most of our friends are older than us, we just turned 30 🙂 but none have toy haulers or dirt toys. That would be great to get some maps and routes. We are thinking of going back out maybe New Years if I can figure this rear end out.

[mrw8i]

eDUBz wrote:

mrw8i wrote:
We left Moorpark around 9AM Saturday, got to Cal City around noon. Weather was nice for about another 2 hours after arriving at Cal City. You did well leaving when you did. Get the pinion nut done, there are a lot of neat destinations around that whole area, some might be 100 mile round trip rides.

Yeah, worked out perfect. We dropped into Moorpark to eat an it was pouring around 2.
Getting it done before we take it out again, also gotta get a GPS to download the MAPs. Don't know anybody else with a SXS so we gotta get comfortable with the area.

Wife and I are bit older (in our 50's) than you guys, but we try to make it out to the Cal City 3 - 5x per year. Next will be week after Xmas. Weather can be quite cold then, so have to be prepared for that, especially if on a long ride.

We have a turbo'd RZR 800S. It's just the two of usually.

I use a Garmin Montana and my iPhone for GPS. I can help you with maps and routes for both.

I took the rear end out of my 800 and put another one in built by ??? (I'll have to look it up).

Next up for your family, and we just started. Geocaching.

Mike

[eDUBz]

mrw8i wrote:
We left Moorpark around 9AM Saturday, got to Cal City around noon. Weather was nice for about another 2 hours after arriving at Cal City. You did well leaving when you did. Get the pinion nut done, there are a lot of neat destinations around that whole area, some might be 100 mile round trip rides.

Yeah, worked out perfect. We dropped into Moorpark to eat an it was pouring around 2.
Getting it done before we take it out again, also gotta get a GPS to download the MAPs. Don't know anybody else with a SXS so we gotta get comfortable with the area.

[eDUBz]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Enjoyed your pics. Polaris should fix the defective nuts they sold us.

Agree. should be a recall. Gotta make room in the garage to start tearing it apart. I have the PDF on what needs to be done from a RZR forum member, just need to rent the tool and make time.

[mrw8i]

We left Moorpark around 9AM Saturday, got to Cal City around noon. Weather was nice for about another 2 hours after arriving at Cal City. You did well leaving when you did. Get the pinion nut done, there are a lot of neat destinations around that whole area, some might be 100 mile round trip rides.

[coolbreeze01]

Enjoyed your pics. Polaris should fix the defective nuts they sold us.

[eDUBz]

Murphsmom wrote:
This brings back old memories...Barstow to Vegas race over many Thanksgiving weekends.

Awesome!

[eDUBz]

ppine wrote:
I love the desert in winter. The lower the better. It is easy to escape the people if you know where to go.

We enjoyed it as well. So much land and so much spots to camp, we need to hit up the Desert more often.

[eDUBz]

nayther wrote:
Looks like you were close to Wagon Wheel/Charlie's Place, that's where the big rocks are and yes, lots of people camping in/around that area. Had a couple of club members and families out there this weekend too.

Yeah I believe so, was a nice spot also. Wasn't too bad, definitely better than all the chaos that happens up in Hungry Valley for the holidays.

[Murphsmom]

This brings back old memories...Barstow to Vegas race over many Thanksgiving weekends.

[ppine]

I love the desert in winter. The lower the better. It is easy to escape the people if you know where to go.

[nayther]

Looks like you were close to Wagon Wheel/Charlie's Place, that's where the big rocks are and yes, lots of people camping in/around that area. Had a couple of club members and families out there this weekend too.

[eDUBz]

azdryheat wrote:
Nice pics.

Are helmets required for everyone or just children in Cali (in a SXS)?

Everyone.

[eDUBz]

gbopp wrote:
:C Thanks for sharing your camping trip.

🙂 always enjoy Sharing our trips, thanks for checking it out.

[eDUBz]

RoyB wrote:
Looks like you all having fun...

Love your trailer setup with dual axles... I could mod that up just great for my Emergency comms Radio setups... Make a patio out of the dropped rear door.

Perfect size....

Roy Ken

Thanks. We are thinking about getting a bigger one maybe 24ft as the one we got is 19'. But it so perfect In size I can get into almost any shopping center / gas stations and make reservations at state and national parks with out worrying to much on size. We always put the tamp down at the beaches and hang out on it works perfect.