Colby Emergency Valve Stem – in use

Posted: May 21, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: Travel | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Everyone should carry one or more of these on your rig.

I touted these in the past when they first hit the market. See link below. That was 5-years ago and until the other day, I hadn’t needed one.

Colby Emergency Tire Valve | The ‘Other’ Rubicon (theotherrubicon.com)

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I tore a valve stem on my Jeep. I knew immediately it had happened. You can’t miss the sound of air rushing out. I’d love to tell you a story of the difficult terrain I was in that resulted in a rock reaching in to my wheel and ripping off my valve stem. The truth is, I was in my driveway washing my Jeep.

So, yes, the valve stems were probably ten years old. Yes, the tires are almost ten years old. New ones are on order but 2-months out. I actually hit the valve stem with the brush I was using and tore it at the base.

I tried to pull off the torn valve stem and the whole thing came out. The usual procedure is to push the remaining bits in to the wheel.

Since I heard it immediately, I threw a jack stand under the axle and finished washing the Jeep.

In comes the Colby Valve stem. Nothing like an unsolicited trail by fire.

The Colby valve stem slipped right in. This is the “emergency” version so it doesn’t require tools. The wingnut is turned to tighten the stem in to place.

Once tightened, is works like a normal valve stem.

After tightening it up, since I was in my driveway, I ran the hose from my air compressor reel out to the rig and filled it up. Now I have to wait for my tires to come in so I can retrieve my emergency valve stem!

Again, everyone should carry one of these. If not for you, then for the guy you’re wheeling with or the guy who broke in front of you.

Available everywhere, here’s a link to Amazon. I was not compensated in any way by Colby or Amazon.

AmazonSmile: Colby Valve Emergency Valve Stem Replacement (Black): Automotive

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Rubicon Ronin

The Rubicon is WET!

Posted: May 18, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

A small group of Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s and a few others, ventured out on to the Rubicon last weekend (5/15-16) and it was still very wet. Our objective was make sure the Long Lake Trail, at the base of Cadillac Hill, was clear of dead fall and was safe to travel. It’s now clear. Please remember the trail ends at the 0.91 mile mark from the Rubicon and that camp ground is NOT a drive through loop.

So, yes, we are at the height of the snow melt. But with the amount of water on the trail, we need to Tread Lightly!

The word from those who are supposed to be maintaining the trail is that no work will be done on the Tahoe National Forest this year (2021) to prevent future water holes on the trial. The 2021 focus will be paving the staging area and rebuilding the rolling dips within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

On the way out, we documented the current trail conditions.

There were a few spots that we had to drive over snow. One spot was a large berm in a pool of water. A couple of people with a few shovels and it could be knocked down rather quickly.

Again, please Tread Lightly!

Stay on the trail.

Drive slowly through all water.

Be safe.

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Rubicon Ronin