Ten degrees F. That's what the outside temperature gauge said about the weather at Means Dry Lake. Bundle up or be miserable. No problem: Veteran off-roaders pride themselves on showing up ready for hell, high water, and everything in between. Hats were donned, and jackets zipped into place. It takes more than a little frigid weather to keep enthusiasts off the trails.
The 100 rigs that attended the 2007 All-Pro Jamboree ranged from stone-stock daily drivers to hardcore trail rigs that had left street legality behind eons ago. The trails were as varied as the rigs: Fissure Mountain is a tricky route if you're a newbie or are piloting a rig with stock-size tires and open differentials, while Wrecking Ball is a true test of driving prowess and vehicle strength, even for grizzled trail veterans with fully built rigs.
Even though all rigs are welcome to attend the All-Pro Jamboree, you'll have more fun in Johnson Valley if you show up with a rig that's prepared for the hardcore nature of these trails. There's a reason, after all, that the Hammer Trails got such a name. The Fissure Mountain Trail calls for at least 33-inch tires and a locker in the rear differential. Anything else in Johnson Valley calls for 35s, minimum, and locked differentials at both ends. Most rigs running Johnson Valley trails such as Sledgehammer and Wrecking Ball run on 37-inch-or-larger tires. Big tires and dual lockers aren't the end of the suggested mods: Low T-case gears or a double transfer case, low differential gears, rollover protection, a well-stocked tool bag, and spare axle parts should also be along for the ride. There's little to no room for passing on the Johnson Valley trails, so if you break down the odds are that you'll clog up the trail for those behind you. Show up prepared, or prepare to be shown up.
Photographing a trail run involves a ton of hiking and rock scrambling. As such, this writer opted to ride along with All-Pro's Jon Bundrant, hopping out of Jon's FJ Cruiser when a photo op presented itself during our run on the Fissure Mountain Trail.
All-Pro's Jamboree is an annual event. Check out the "Make Plans" sidebar at the end of the story. Bring your trail rig, tools, spare parts, raffle-ticket money, and a jacket. Good times and tough trails await in '08.
Make Plans
All-Pro's Jamboree is an annual event held in Johnson Valley. At press time, the final date for 2008 had not been set but was projected for mid-January. As with past years, participants will be able to choose from guided runs on Johnson Valley's famous and infamous rockcrawling trails. A free dinner will be provided by All-Pro. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase.
For final details about All-Pro's 2008 Jamboree, check out www.allprooffroad.com or call (951) 658-7077.
No snow and plenty of sunshine. How can it possibly be cold? | 
Numbers don't lie. | 
How'd that Jeep get in there? Rigs of all kinds are welcome at the All-Pro Jamboree. Expect to be surrounded by Toyotas. |
Kevin Lutes demonstrated that a deft clutch foot can stand in for a double transfer case if necessary. Kevin's single-cab shortbed has an ideal wheelbase for tight technical trails. Soon, the ideal wheelbase will be joined by ideal vehicle mods for trails like Fissure Mountain and the nearby Hammers. A solid axle will replace the stock IFS for better articulation and simplicity. The single transfer case will be swapped for a dual-case setup, and the 31s will be ditched for a set of 35s. | 
This writer took his camera to the Fissure Mountain run. All-Pro's Jon Bundrant gave the group a brief synopsis of the trail before we motored on up. Jon also pointed out who the magazine guy was. Even though I was grateful for the introduction, "I'm just a fly on the wall," was my reply. If you're trying to navigate a trail the last thing you want to concentrate on is the photographer. You'll get distracted and invariably do something that will damage your wallet or your pride. Trust me, I'll be sure to snap a frame of each misstep. Just drive. | 
Brent Akers' FJ Cruiser was fresh from the dealer lot, and fresh from a trip to All-Pro. The first hundred yards of Fissure Mountain netted Brent more than a few scratches. The response? "This is cool! Today, I got to try out everything I bought, from the rock sliders to the winch." We're guessing a meatier set of tires showed up on Brent's FJ shortly after the Jamboree, hopefully combined with a lower set of axle gears. |
The upper sticker on Rex Thompson's Tacoma tells a familiar tale. The positive side to wheeling your daily driver is that you're forced to keep it in running condition all the time. Way, way too many trail-only rigs sit constantly in various stages of disrepair. | 
Here's the body-panel protection and the dent that inspired its purchase. Rock stacking, careful spotting, and a Hi-Lift jack got the blue stocker through the trail. There wasn't a single DNF on this trail run. | 
The toughest part of the Fissure Mountain Trail is also the first part of the Fissure Mountain Trail. After the technical creepy-crawly section is successfully negotiated, several steep climbs and descents keep drivers honest until the very end. |
After the sun disappeared, the mercury sank quickly. Campfires are great for warming from the outside in. All-Pro provided a free dinner to warm us from the inside out. | 
The exit chute was steep, off-camber, and loose. The good line hugged a jagged wall before plunging into a wide clearing. Several rigs lifted tires on the way down. Stay calm, keep the nose pointed down the hill, and don't lock up the brakes. You'll be fine. | 
Raffle tickets were available for purchase before heading out to the trails. After dinner, the winning tickets were drawn and announced. You won't find lame raffle prizes here. Winners looked forward to dual transfer-case adapters, Power Tanks, leaf-spring packs, and other valuable real-world trail hardware. |