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Tierra del Sol 44th Annual Desert SafariFun Under the Sun From the July, 2006 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Jerrod Jones Photography by Jerrod Jones
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The best mud in SoCal probably... The best mud in SoCal probably resides in Azusa Canyon, so it's always a good chance that if you see big Boggers, there are probably some Azusa locals not too far away. This cab truck was making a heck of a dust cloud trying to weasel his way up this climb out of the Nachos with only his rear differential locked. Every year we try to make it out to the Tierra del Sol 4x4 Club's annual Desert Safari for a weekend of fun in the sun. Our plans for this year's 44th event were no different, and we joined a good portion of the 4Xcommunity for dry and dusty times at Truckhaven Hills near the Salton Sea of California. Good times were to be had by most everyone, with 4x4s, motorcycles, ATVs, motorhomes, Rhinos, and just about every other type of motorized fun you could imagine, even some with wings! One of the first things we did this year was to run and register for the event, not so much to be eligible for the Desert Safari trailride or the late-night raffle that gives away more prizes than you can shake a stick at, but really to show our support for what the Tierra del Sol 4x4 Club does for the off roading pastime. The money they take in goes towards planning the next year's event, cleaning up after this year's, and towards keeping areas open that you are able to play in all year round. It's not required that you pay to be out in Truckhaven Hills during the event since it's public land, but it sure is respectful, not to mention a good show of your support for what this hard-working club is doing for you. If you haven't been before, you should check out next year's event, and remember to bring a little ching to pitch in to keep your wheelin' spots open.  Some people have the coolest...  Some people have the coolest haulers. This 2 1/2-ton derived RV carried this owner's 4x4 in the back and was more than equipped for almost any situation he could present his hauler with.  This is what's left of a first...  This is what's left of a first generation Bronco that Steve "Sunday" brought out for some cheap truck fun. It just goes to show that you can have just as much fun pulling a whole bunch of stuff off your truck instead of bolting a whole bunch of things on.  It's funny how 'Zuki owners...  It's funny how 'Zuki owners always stick together. And boy were there a lot of 'em out at TDS's Safari this year! No matter if they're mildly modified or have the full-blown works, they're always willing to run with each other and help each other out. Heck, they even like doing climbs at the same time.  We love seeing intelligence...  We love seeing intelligence and responsibility displayed by off-roaders in times of action. This member of Club Zopilotos got into this precarious position, and instead of listening to the crowd's taunts and encouragements to jam on the gas, he patiently waited for some other club members to come take care of the situation. Someone first ran to the Jeep to pull the child out of the passenger seat, then a winch line was run to the right front corner while a spotter directed the driver to turn the wheel and accelerate so as not to rip the knuckle off the axle while pulling the tire over the berm.  There is always a little vehicle...  There is always a little vehicle carnage at events like this. For Tommy Medina, his new suspension paid the price...  ...A welded bracket that held...  ...A welded bracket that held the front four-link popped off the axle, letting everything go haywire up front, and in the process bending both shafts of his front 16-inch coilovers. D'oh!  TDS's safari trailride starts...  TDS's safari trailride starts at around 8 a.m. and goes all day. This year they split the crowd of more than 1,000 vehicles into three different groups so the lines would not be so long. We still think 300 vehicles might be a little too long of a line for us, but like we stated earlier, there is something for everyone out here.  Here's one of the cleaner...  Here's one of the cleaner examples of compact body on fullsize frame that we've seen. Maybe you remember the Tonka 1-ton Ford that made it into this magazine a few years back? It looks like Joey Sotomayor got tired of his well-working truck and decided to make a little change, if for nothing else just for the sake of change. The fiberglass bulged fenders really help offset how wide the wheelbase is and help give this truck a unique look.  This YJ wasn't being babied...  This YJ wasn't being babied by any means, and shortly after we snapped this picture, he broke his rear C-clipped axle. But instead of trying to fix it at the bottom of the gully in everyone's way, he drove it out making sure to lean the vehicle onto its left side every time the wheel and axleshaft would start to walk out on him. The axle would simply slide back in and kept him rolling until he could get to a place to work on it. Does Tierra del Sol sound like fun to you? You can join in the fun at next year's 45th annual event. Check out www.tds4x4.com for registration information and directions. The event takes place in Truckhaven Hills the first weekend in March, and isn't too far from the Salton Sea on Highway 86 in the San Diego County desert. Bring your own food, water, firewood, and bags to clean up with. You can find food at a couple Salton City establishments, but don't count on any fine cuisine or quick meals, since lines will be out the door. Most motorhomes can make it into the campsite area no problem, and any 4x4 from a stock Montero to a monster truck can have fun in the terrain of Truckhaven Hills.
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