Just got back from the annual Elk hunting expedition, and thought I'd report on how the new KO2's did vs. the typical snot found up in the Oregon Coast Range.
First, a little background. TJ SE, no lockers, mild lift, new KO2's in 31x10.50's vs. Nissan full size pickup with essentially the same size Duratracs about half worn out and a locker in the rear vs. Oregon Coast Range snot.
First off, nobody got stuck. We both had to work at it a little once or twice, but the needed traction was there when required. The worn Duratracs gummed up occasionally, but the rear locker in the pickup made up for it. The KO2's cleaned very well for the most part. The center ribs filled up once in awhile and the edges stayed clean. The center ribs cleaned out once you got a little speed / RPM on the tire. This could be a problem as I spent almost the entire two days in Lo range and second or third gear. On most of these trails spinning a tire is instant death. If you dig in, you are done. Both the Dura's and the KO2's dig when spun. The biggest challenge experienced was going up steep grades on tight, untraveled trails. These have to be navigated at just under or at a walking speed to avoid blowdown, holes, trees, brush and all the normal obstacles found in the area. When you come to something that requires a little more skinny pedal, you have to be very judicious or you spin, dig in and slide off one side or another. One side is likely a nice ditch or wall, the other side is likely a near vertical drop of "Oh Shit!" magnitude. The KO2's give the needed control at low speed to navigate this terrain.
So far the KO2's are performing equally with the Duratracs in all of the conditions they have been exposed to. Both of the SIL's have Duratracs on their rigs, and the only discernible difference observed so far can be attributed to driver skill and the presence or absence of lockers.
First, a little background. TJ SE, no lockers, mild lift, new KO2's in 31x10.50's vs. Nissan full size pickup with essentially the same size Duratracs about half worn out and a locker in the rear vs. Oregon Coast Range snot.
First off, nobody got stuck. We both had to work at it a little once or twice, but the needed traction was there when required. The worn Duratracs gummed up occasionally, but the rear locker in the pickup made up for it. The KO2's cleaned very well for the most part. The center ribs filled up once in awhile and the edges stayed clean. The center ribs cleaned out once you got a little speed / RPM on the tire. This could be a problem as I spent almost the entire two days in Lo range and second or third gear. On most of these trails spinning a tire is instant death. If you dig in, you are done. Both the Dura's and the KO2's dig when spun. The biggest challenge experienced was going up steep grades on tight, untraveled trails. These have to be navigated at just under or at a walking speed to avoid blowdown, holes, trees, brush and all the normal obstacles found in the area. When you come to something that requires a little more skinny pedal, you have to be very judicious or you spin, dig in and slide off one side or another. One side is likely a nice ditch or wall, the other side is likely a near vertical drop of "Oh Shit!" magnitude. The KO2's give the needed control at low speed to navigate this terrain.
So far the KO2's are performing equally with the Duratracs in all of the conditions they have been exposed to. Both of the SIL's have Duratracs on their rigs, and the only discernible difference observed so far can be attributed to driver skill and the presence or absence of lockers.
