We just got back from Eureka Colorado where we boondocked for several days while we drove jeep trails. On our first ascent of Engineers pass, we left camp way before daylight so we could be there for sunrise.

Since we had never been there before, the first experience being in the dark was something !
We ate a late breakfast in Lake City then returned to Eureka by way of Cinnamon Pass.
Our skid plate under the transfer case only "tapped" on rock ledges three times going over Engineer Pass. The "little stocker" seemed to handle altitude and terrain well. We pulled a camping trailer with it, both to and from Eureka:

We were above the actual pass looking down on it as the sun rose. It was magnificently breath taking, litterally ! Here is a video that I shot at the time and the altitude must have been working on me somewhat, for I missed the actual altitude by about a thousand feet ! He, he, what can I say. Another flatlander got the big eye at altitude I guess ! Here is a link to the video:

 

MB,

How did your "rock stock"-"X" do towing the trailer? What R&P axle ratio do you have? Did you install a transmission cooler? How much does the loaded Oliver weigh? What was your MPG while towing? In general, what has been your towing experience to date?

 

The X has only the factory xmission cooler. When we headed back to Arkansas we went by way of Carlsbad Caverns and I 20. The speed limit is 80 MPH there and it is easy to do 90 if passing. We caught our selves doing 90 a couple of times. No sign of sway or any other negative characteristic.
The loaded Oliver weighs 2400 pounds dry. Our mileage at it's best was 17.2 mpg, at it's worst 12.4. Our normal mileage was 15.5 to 16.0 mpg.
We have the tongue all of the way out, it has an extensible tongue, to carry a Yamaha 3000 watt gen set.
We have experienced no problens with towing and have towed it about 9,000 miles so far.

 

Nice pics, sounds like a great trip!

 

We were boondock camped at the old ghost town of Eureka and spent time at a couple of other ghost towns as we got near to them. It is a great trip. Because of the excess snow they had this past Winter all of the passes werent open yet. There were times when we had walls of snow 20 feet high on both sides of us as we passed through a narrow cut.
You get to see off road vehicles of all descriptions out on the trails. There was a home made VW dune buggy that said they came there every year ! We came across them on the top of Cinnamon Pass. There was a cloud burst coming our way so we cut our visit short and headed on towards the ghost town of Animas Forks.

 

We've been on part of the Alpine Scenic Loop road but haven't gone over Engineer Pass yet. That is on our short list. It's a "must do". Thanks for the pics.

 

That makes me want to go now!! You must of had a great time

 

I was on the West side of Engineer a week ago. Came down from the top down the west side to highway 550 near Ouray. Great trail. Actually was a little bit behind an 08 stock Liberty going down. Impressed he was getting down but saw several scratch marks on rocks in the trail the Liberty hit. These weren't just little taps on rocks. We eventually caught him when he was on the side fixing a flat. He was alright and almost down. Told him I was impressed with his driving as I could see the lines he was taking down. His response was that he's "done a lot of wheeling, but never in a rental"

The fastest, most capable off road vehicle ever: A Rental

A couple of pics from my ride over on 6-26-08.

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Looking down the trail.

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Pic with my brother-in-law to give it scale.

Didn't mean to hijack, but had to share some pics and didn't see a need for a new thread.