Moab Help/Advice/Opinions Please.....
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,362
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
Oof, over 18 hours from Sweet Home, and NOT a very scenic drive for most of that. Brutal.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 64
From: Sweet Home, TX
Originally Posted by resharp001
Oof, over 18 hours from Sweet Home, and NOT a very scenic drive for most of that. Brutal.
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: LaGrange, IL
A few friends and I will have our Jeeps out there in October, as well. We're leaving Indianapolis on the 18th and will begin the trip home on the 25th. We're doing the Rimrocker on the 20th and 21st, from Montrose into Moab, then do several days there before heading back. Right now, Hells Revenge and Finns N Things are a lock. We're still deciding on others. I'm trying to find out if it is possible to go out to Shafer's Trail and back in a day.
Maybe we'll see you out there!
Maybe we'll see you out there!
More imoortnalty, they have 40” tires, 1-ton axles and who know how much lift. Long story short, they will be doing very technical and tough trails.
My Jeep has modest mods (3.5” AEV lift w 35” tires, skid plates and winch). And hoping to get rock rails and CB installed by the end of the week.
The good old news is that I am going to Moab for Jeep Jamboree at the end of Oct (Thur, Oct 25 to till Sat, Oct 27th). My family will fly in for the 3 day event, but I’m planning to be in Utah for a full two weeks.
Am thinking Mon, Oct 15 till Wed, Oct 31. Fingers crossed i get to check out some nice trials/scenic routes in Colorado on my drive back to Chicago.
FYI. My experience off-roading has mostly been in the mud (in Insane Cliffs, Badlands, etc.) So this Moab trip will be new to me. I figure I will take it slow and do fairly easy trails. And once I get a better feel, progress to slightly more challenging trials (5 or 6 rated????)
One of my buddies might join me so that there will be at least two of us. But that will still mean only 1 Jeep.
Hopefully I’ll get to meet you and others out there. And get to explore Moab together. Cheers!
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: LaGrange, IL
Meeting up in Utah
So how'd your trip go?
My girlfriend and I are planning on going there towards the end of October. Her b-day is Oct. 21 and we are going to spend it in Rocky Mountain National Park and then head over to Moab the following day and be there about a week. First time taking the Jeep there and we are both pretty excited about it. Driving all the way from east of Cleveland Oh, and trying to make Estes Park in two ten hour days. Shouldn't be too hard to do as I've done it a few times in my work truck before.
My girlfriend and I are planning on going there towards the end of October. Her b-day is Oct. 21 and we are going to spend it in Rocky Mountain National Park and then head over to Moab the following day and be there about a week. First time taking the Jeep there and we are both pretty excited about it. Driving all the way from east of Cleveland Oh, and trying to make Estes Park in two ten hour days. Shouldn't be too hard to do as I've done it a few times in my work truck before.
If u see a black Jeep with Illinois tags, it will hopefully be me. : )
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: LaGrange, IL
thanks to the OP for the super detailed write-up.
Will plan my trip based on the research I have done + your experience.
I am debating whether I should just rent a Jeep. But part of me wants to drive my Jeep. Although I constantly have to remind myself that I have to drive my vehicle back (vs on the back of a trailer) so I need to be even more careful! : )
Will plan my trip based on the research I have done + your experience.
I am debating whether I should just rent a Jeep. But part of me wants to drive my Jeep. Although I constantly have to remind myself that I have to drive my vehicle back (vs on the back of a trailer) so I need to be even more careful! : )
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,362
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
Hey Drooler, your jeep sounds more than capable tbh. Most of the stuff out there isn't going to require D60s and 40s, and outside of a few extreme trails like Pitchett Canyon or a few things in the BFE area, your jeep is going to handle everything. It would be more about driver comfort if you're wheelin' has mainly been mud vs. technical stuff. The RR4W trail ratings were spot on (as everyone says), and the guide book was helpful in pointing out lines through obstacles and noting when there was not a bypass for something.
I move at a pretty brisk pace, with typical stops for photo ops and stuff. If the guide book was saying 3-5 hours, I was finding we were typically taking 3.75-4hrs of time to complete things, again, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. If you move slower, or you’re with a group, I think it’s pretty safe to plan on things taking the high end estimate of time to complete.
The only difference I saw in the rental jeeps vs. yours is that they seemed to be set up on 37" tires. That said, they were on 2.5" lifts vs. your 35's on 3.5" lift. I think that with what you have in mind doing, you should probably feel fine driving your own and saving $250/day.
I wish I had the time to get down to Canyonlands and the Needles district. That area is only an hour from Moab, so getting down to Shafer, running the trail, and getting back should be an easy day trip. Driving back to Hurrah Pass was really pretty. Going early morning or in the evening when you get that softer sunrise or sunset against the canyon walls is much more enjoyable and scenic than the harsh mid-day sun. I would think that the same would be true all the way down Chicken Corners or Shafer.
Pretty sure I said this above but haven't re-read everything. If you do Hell's Revenge, when you're coming back, take the shortcut out.....the last stretch of trail after the shortcut is not worthwhile IMO. Rocky, bumpy, not scenic. When looking at the trails, consider the terrain. I hate 5 hours of just rocking back and forth on trails that have rocks just big enough to jostle everything around. Hours of rocking ain't enjoyable to me personally. So, some trails are going to be like that (think Top of the World), and others like Poison Spyder that are up on mesas are much smoother.
I can't recommend enough.....wake up early one morning and go out to Delicate Arch. By early, I mean wake up 4am'ish, and get to the trailhead in that 5-5:30 time range. That should put you up to the arch for a great sunrise and some peaceful time before the masses arrive. It's ~1.5 mile hike up. In the dark it's a little tricky to spot the signs. At first the trail is as obvious as can be, but once you hit the flat rock it's less obvious. You'll head across some flat rock and then start going up a big expansive rock. When you get to the top, there is a sign that says "trail" and points you in the direction. Rest assured there are more "trail" signs.....so if you go to far without seeing one, you're off the mark. We missed the 2nd trail sign at the top, and that made for a frustrating experience trying to find where we were supposed to go. Take some water and granola or snack to sit and eat up top, and enjoy a relaxing morning.
Enjoy your trip!
I move at a pretty brisk pace, with typical stops for photo ops and stuff. If the guide book was saying 3-5 hours, I was finding we were typically taking 3.75-4hrs of time to complete things, again, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. If you move slower, or you’re with a group, I think it’s pretty safe to plan on things taking the high end estimate of time to complete.
The only difference I saw in the rental jeeps vs. yours is that they seemed to be set up on 37" tires. That said, they were on 2.5" lifts vs. your 35's on 3.5" lift. I think that with what you have in mind doing, you should probably feel fine driving your own and saving $250/day.
I wish I had the time to get down to Canyonlands and the Needles district. That area is only an hour from Moab, so getting down to Shafer, running the trail, and getting back should be an easy day trip. Driving back to Hurrah Pass was really pretty. Going early morning or in the evening when you get that softer sunrise or sunset against the canyon walls is much more enjoyable and scenic than the harsh mid-day sun. I would think that the same would be true all the way down Chicken Corners or Shafer.
Pretty sure I said this above but haven't re-read everything. If you do Hell's Revenge, when you're coming back, take the shortcut out.....the last stretch of trail after the shortcut is not worthwhile IMO. Rocky, bumpy, not scenic. When looking at the trails, consider the terrain. I hate 5 hours of just rocking back and forth on trails that have rocks just big enough to jostle everything around. Hours of rocking ain't enjoyable to me personally. So, some trails are going to be like that (think Top of the World), and others like Poison Spyder that are up on mesas are much smoother.
I can't recommend enough.....wake up early one morning and go out to Delicate Arch. By early, I mean wake up 4am'ish, and get to the trailhead in that 5-5:30 time range. That should put you up to the arch for a great sunrise and some peaceful time before the masses arrive. It's ~1.5 mile hike up. In the dark it's a little tricky to spot the signs. At first the trail is as obvious as can be, but once you hit the flat rock it's less obvious. You'll head across some flat rock and then start going up a big expansive rock. When you get to the top, there is a sign that says "trail" and points you in the direction. Rest assured there are more "trail" signs.....so if you go to far without seeing one, you're off the mark. We missed the 2nd trail sign at the top, and that made for a frustrating experience trying to find where we were supposed to go. Take some water and granola or snack to sit and eat up top, and enjoy a relaxing morning.
Enjoy your trip!
Last edited by resharp001; Sep 13, 2018 at 06:38 AM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: LaGrange, IL
Thank for all the advice. Logged some time in the mud, but never done any rocks before.
And with my mom and 5yr old son with me, I’m gonna take is super nice and easy when they are with me.
The question is is what do I do when they aren’t around. : ).
1. GOING NICE AND EASY
Will likely have a buddy with me, but that still means one solo vehicle which is not a great thing. At least when I go mudding, there are lots of tree that I can winch myself out of trouble. No experience winching off a rock!
Will likely go on easy trails that are scenic. And if we like it a ton, we can always go back next year.
2. PACE
Rhanks for the heads-up re pace and estimated timing. I will budget more time. I like to slowly enjoy the view and stop for lots of breaks and pics/videos.
3. RENTING IN THE FUTURE
$250 a day ain’t bad especially if it cost me $1,600 to ship it both ways to Colorado (and drive the last 5hrs from Denver to Moab vs drive 20hrs from Chicago and spend $500 on gas).
The round trip flight will equal the price of gas to drive there and back. Not counting wear and tear.
Maybe the right way way to go long term is rent. But I really want to drive my own rig for now. And rental is something I really need to consider long and hard next time.
4. TRAILS
I think I will have 10 full days. So hopefully I can do all the trails you recommended (and none of the ones you didn’t). Plus Canyonlands and the Needles district.
5. SKIP LAST PART OF HELL’S REVENGE
Gotcha. Rocky and bumpy is not something I care about as well.
I don’t normally get headaches, but I can see myself getting one. : )
Jokes aside, I am hesitant to do Top of the World now since it is supposedly super rocky. I heard the view is breadth taking. But if there are other trials where folks in the car don’t want to throw up (and the view is almost as good), that will be better
6. WAKE UP EARLY FOR DELICATE ARCH
Thanks for the advice. Will do so. I am
usually up early with 3 kids yelling at me anyhows. So heading out on a trial at 5am works for me.
Thanks agian for all all your advice. Greatly appreciated!
And with my mom and 5yr old son with me, I’m gonna take is super nice and easy when they are with me.
The question is is what do I do when they aren’t around. : ).
1. GOING NICE AND EASY
Will likely have a buddy with me, but that still means one solo vehicle which is not a great thing. At least when I go mudding, there are lots of tree that I can winch myself out of trouble. No experience winching off a rock!
Will likely go on easy trails that are scenic. And if we like it a ton, we can always go back next year.
2. PACE
Rhanks for the heads-up re pace and estimated timing. I will budget more time. I like to slowly enjoy the view and stop for lots of breaks and pics/videos.
3. RENTING IN THE FUTURE
$250 a day ain’t bad especially if it cost me $1,600 to ship it both ways to Colorado (and drive the last 5hrs from Denver to Moab vs drive 20hrs from Chicago and spend $500 on gas).
The round trip flight will equal the price of gas to drive there and back. Not counting wear and tear.
Maybe the right way way to go long term is rent. But I really want to drive my own rig for now. And rental is something I really need to consider long and hard next time.
4. TRAILS
I think I will have 10 full days. So hopefully I can do all the trails you recommended (and none of the ones you didn’t). Plus Canyonlands and the Needles district.
5. SKIP LAST PART OF HELL’S REVENGE
Gotcha. Rocky and bumpy is not something I care about as well.
I don’t normally get headaches, but I can see myself getting one. : )
Jokes aside, I am hesitant to do Top of the World now since it is supposedly super rocky. I heard the view is breadth taking. But if there are other trials where folks in the car don’t want to throw up (and the view is almost as good), that will be better
6. WAKE UP EARLY FOR DELICATE ARCH
Thanks for the advice. Will do so. I am
usually up early with 3 kids yelling at me anyhows. So heading out on a trial at 5am works for me.
Thanks agian for all all your advice. Greatly appreciated!
JK Jedi
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 107
From: missoula,mt
I have been to Moab many times and an aev 3.5 with 35's will have no issues on any trails short of BFE. For sure do Top of the World as the photograph at the top is iconic. Trails that I would do if you are not getting back anytime soon would first day do fins and things and Hells revenge. Fins and things will give you confidence in what your rig can do. You can easily do both in a day. We did Fins and Things, HR and Kane creek in a long day. As far as winching we have never had to winch ever in Moab but we don't do BFE. We all run 35's or smaller and do behind the rocks, golden spike etc. I believe once you do fins and things and hells revenge your confidence will be up and you will see that your rig is uber capable.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,362
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
Agree that you need to do TOW. It's rocky/bumpy, but it's worth it. I move little fast, so the rocking back and forth is really accentuated for me...LOL. Might not be everyone's experience though.....but there were several times I was apologizing to passenger(s) for hitting something pretty quick and bouncing everyone around in a rough manner. That one is worth the rocking around though.
Go all the way to the end on Hells Revenge too. That Colorado Overlook was one of the best highlights. Again, for the real scenic things like an overlook, earlier in the morning or in the evening are going to have much better lighting. That sun was so harsh. Both HR and FnT are only really technical in the fact that you COULD drive right off the side of a fin I guess if you freaked out bad enough. LOL. There are a couple of very steep declines on HR, but keep in mind you can hit your hill descent button for a little peace of mind if you need to, and make sure you're in 4Lo so the TC helps.
Go all the way to the end on Hells Revenge too. That Colorado Overlook was one of the best highlights. Again, for the real scenic things like an overlook, earlier in the morning or in the evening are going to have much better lighting. That sun was so harsh. Both HR and FnT are only really technical in the fact that you COULD drive right off the side of a fin I guess if you freaked out bad enough. LOL. There are a couple of very steep declines on HR, but keep in mind you can hit your hill descent button for a little peace of mind if you need to, and make sure you're in 4Lo so the TC helps.