Our '10 Dodge 3500 Project White Truck was on hand with its new Caravan Campers off-road shell, which is perfect for two people and one dog to sleep in. Find out more about it and the other upgrades in current and future issues. (Our truck also has six-speed manual transmission.)Our '10 Dodge 3500 Project White Truck was on hand with its new Caravan Campers off-road s There was no deep mud. No death-defying rocky climbs. No high-speed jumps. No days on end without civilization. But there was four-wheeling, low range, and a good time had by all. Our troop of four white fullsize trucks met up in Ridgecrest, California, the day after Thanksgiving and then convoyed out to Ballarat, California. Ballarat is a blip on the map and the last place to find any supplies before heading into the western side of Death Valley National Park. We opted to skip DV and instead explore the mining areas west of the park for easier camping.Our troop of four white fullsize trucks met up in Ridgecrest, California, the day after Th We're talking about the inaugural White Truck Road Trip. While assembling our Project White Truck Dodge 3500 we've noticed that quite a few of our friends also own white 4x4 pickups, so we put out an invite to a fun camping weekend in fullsize white 4x4s. If you're hardcore and you only like buggies, Boggers, and high-speed fiberglass, then this may seem boring to you, but if you're like most of us who could use a weekend out in the dirt to relax and just explore, then consider having your own White Truck Road Trip. We're already looking forward to the next one. Our first night was at the base of Surprise Canyon. This is the site of the Chris Wicht/Novak camp, a mining camp that burnt down a few years prior. Surprise Canyon was one of the preeminent rockcrawling trails 10 years ago, with many technical waterfalls that required extensive winching leading up to an old mining site known as Panamint City. This trail was shut down due to misguided environmental concerns.Our first night was at the base of Surprise Canyon. This is the site of the Chris Wicht/No We got up the next day and hiked up the old trail. The brush was so overgrown and the rocks so clean that you would never believe a 4x4 had been up this trail. People will argue that vehicles do lasting damage, but it's amazing how quickly the desert takes back its surrounding.We got up the next day and hiked up the old trail. The brush was so overgrown and the rock We did find an old mining truck up the canyon and began debating how much time and money it would take to hike in parts and drive the old 4x4 out of the canyon. Hmm, we wonder if the Bureau of Land Management would want to hire us for vehicle removal.We did find an old mining truck up the canyon and began debating how much time and money i John Reynolds is a semiretired fisting trumpet player who also dabbles in desert race buggy fabrication. His '991/2 Ford Super Duty had the biggest camper in the group, so we sent him up the trail first. John's truck is a bare-bones XL model with rollup windows, manual transmission, firestone air bags, and a Powerstroke diesel spruced up with chip, exhaust, and K&N air filter.John Reynolds is a semiretired fisting trumpet player who also dabbles in desert race bugg Brett "The Barbarian" Porter came on the trip with his '04 Dodge 2500 diesel truck (also running manual transmission). Brett and family Desiree, Kaeley, and Austin all packed into their new low-buck SixPack camper for this inaugural trip. The Dodge is fitted with 35-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires, a Banks Six Gun kit, and a Pacific Truck utility bed.Brett "The Barbarian" Porter came on the trip with his '04 Dodge 2500 diesel truck (also r Harry "The Gunslinger" Rawlins was our lightweight scout truck. His '02 F-250 was equipped with the only gas engine of the group (a V-10) but was also the best equipped for wheeling with a Warn 16.5 winch, 4.30 axle gears, 35-inch BFG KM2 mud tires, Bilstein shocks, a Detroit rear locker, a TruTrac up front, and diesel-snow-plow-equipped front springs for added clearance and support. Harry didn't disappoint; he also has six-speed manual transmission.Harry "The Gunslinger" Rawlins was our lightweight scout truck. His '02 F-250 was equipped On the second day we headed up Pleasant Canyon, and our big trucks quickly began squeezing their way through thick brush. We sent John in first, figuring that if his big camper could fit, we all could. He quickly tore one of the camper jacks off the side.On the second day we headed up Pleasant Canyon, and our big trucks quickly began squeezing We eventually camped at one of the deserted mining camps where ages before they had dug for gold. It was getting cold and windy as we circled up our white-truck wagon train.We eventually camped at one of the deserted mining camps where ages before they had dug fo These areas are very interesting, with lots of dilapidated historic buildings and old equipment. For example, check out this old thing that was either a homemade power generator or the start of some age-old rock buggy.These areas are very interesting, with lots of dilapidated historic buildings and old equi John's camper had a little issue where it started to slide out the back of his truck on the steep climbs. But with the one busted jack, we had to improvise. We used a Hi-Lift atop a precarious stack of rocks to raise the camper enough for him to back the truck under it and resecure it for the drive home.John's camper had a little issue where it started to slide out the back of his truck on th Mining areas are very interesting, but caution should be used when exploring them. The campsites have lots of broken parts and boards with rusty nails sticking out. The mines themselves are not to be entered without good reason, as a collapse could happen any time.Mining areas are very interesting, but caution should be used when exploring them. The cam We didn't have to winch, barely needed low range, and other than one camper jack and a CB antennae, had no carnage. It may not have been the most extreme trail ride, but it was still an adventure and one any of you could do in your 4x4. So round up your friends and go have your own white, red, blue, green, or whatever color truck road trip. And don't forget to send us your funny hat photo.We didn't have to winch, barely needed low range, and other than one camper jack and a CB By Fred Williams Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
