2013 - Honey Badger's Trip To The Moab

[RiFF RaFF]

I know you're back. Pictures!!!!!! LOL! How was it?

FoG - amazing! It's something one has to see for themselves. Pictures just don't do it justice.

Saw ur picture u took outside the tent... Beautiful! Can't wait to see more. Glad u made it home safe n sound. :couch2:

Just finished going through around 3,000 or so pictures. Now the fun part - picking which ones to upload to Google+. Hope to have the first of many uploading today.

All in all a great adventure! If you are planning a trip to Moab, and you think you've packed enough water. You still haven't packed enough! Leave out extra stuff, and pack more water! 111F when we were there, and dry just doesn't describe it. The saying goes - if you ain't pissing drink more water!

:bounce:

 

[KidVermicious]

fog - amazing! It's something one has to see for themselves. Pictures just don't do it justice.



Just finished going through around 3,000 or so pictures. Now the fun part - picking which ones to upload to google+. Hope to have the first of many uploading today.

All in all a great adventure! If you are planning a trip to moab, and you think you've packed enough water. You still haven't packed enough! Leave out extra stuff, and pack more water! 111f when we were there, and dry just doesn't describe it. The saying goes - if you ain't pissing drink more water!

:bounce:

less posting more pics plz

 

[RiFF RaFF]

less posting more pics plz

Okay then.... (All the pictures can be seen at this link --- Moab 2013 Photo Album

This is the first night on the road. Some KOA in Tennessee. There was some complaining about it being hot and humid. Little did we know....

Now this is starting to feel hot and dry. The Painted Desert / Petrified Forest in Arizona. Not too bad. Only in the 90s.

My wife Robin and I at The Painted Desert / Petrified Forest.

The Honey Badger - same place. Gotta love airconditioning!

Went over 100,000 miles on the odometer at the Petrified Forest!

First view of the Colorado River!

This is just the start. Next pictures - North Rim of The Grand Canyon.

:wave:

 

[Footofgod]

All in all a great adventure! If you are planning a trip to Moab, and you think you've packed enough water. You still haven't packed enough! Leave out extra stuff, and pack more water! 111F when we were there, and dry just doesn't describe it. The saying goes - if you ain't pissing drink more water!

:bounce:

Reason #1 why I am planning for October. Last year it was in the 40's at night and mid 60's to mid 70's during the day.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Next stop - The North Rim National Park. If you're thinking of camping at the National Park make your reservations WAY in advance as they are always booked solid!

Here I am at the lodge taking a much needed break.

The view from close to our campsite - North Rim of The Grand Canyon. By the way - the weather forecast was for a zero percent chance of rain. Guess what? When I camp - it will rain, and it did! To the amazement of all.

Next up -- MOAB!

:wave:

 

[BucknutBob]

What's the Grand Canyon? Is that near Moab?

 

[ToyoTech]

looks like a fun trip. a little warm around this time isnt it? i know its been over 100 where im at for a week long so far... looks like we have the same tent. from costco? haha

 

[RiFF RaFF]

looks like a fun trip. a little warm around this time isnt it? i know its been over 100 where im at for a week long so far... looks like we have the same tent. from costco? haha

You got it. We bought it right before we left. Glad we did! Worked out great in the desert.

Time to work on more pictures. After I finish the yard work....sigh.

:rain:

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Here's the pictures everyone's been waiting for --- Moab!

NOTE: The pictures I've been posting were just from my camera. There are over a 1,000 alone from my wife's camera.

The lineup for the trip down into Canyon Lands National Park.

Some of the first of many breath taking views of the Canyon Lands.

Team Honey Badger - ready to roll!

The trail followed the Colorado River down and through the Canyon(s).

One of the first casualties of Moab. Over heating problem. Go figure. It was only in the hundreds.

Here's the whole group. Of the group guess which rig didn't have any problems in the desert? If you guess the 4Runner you're a winner!

...More to follow

op2:

 

[thtfjjdyjfgyjhu]

Man what a sweet Toyota. Hope you have fun!

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Along with all the fun comes the dreaded "Trail Fix". In this case my factory roof rack could not stand up to the load I put on it. Little did I know that the stock cross member only had plastic at the end, and that's where it failed.

To get us back on the trail, and a little ingenuity here's what I came up with. Couple pieces of firewood (yes I know - no fires allowed in Moab! It was extra from the Grand Canyon), zip ties (lots of zip ties!), and of course - cinch straps.

Here's the fix pics ...

Now that I'm home I ordered Rhino Rack heavy duty footings, and cross members. The Aussies know how to build things TOUGH! These are rated at 220 pounds so can easily take the loads I put up there. Not like the wimpy stock ones.

The stock POS cross member. JUNK!

And the Rhino-Rack!

The footers will work with the OEM track. Just remove the end caps and go from there.

If you are thinking of adding a cargo rack - replace the stock footers and cross members at the same time!

:roadkill:

 

[KidVermicious]

STICKER SLUT DETECTED

stupid all caps filter...

 

[RiFF RaFF]

STICKER SLUT DETECTED

stupid all caps filter...

HELL YEAH! Didn't you get the memo? The more stickers on your 4Runner - the better your gas mileage.

:car:

I still have a couple more from the trip to add to the collection. Got them from 'Big-O Tire Company' when I stopped there to fix a flat. Seems I picked up a 4" wood screw that went through a lug all the way into the inside.

Oh what fun we have on the road.

:becky:

 

[Footofgod]

How does thr Rhino Rack attach to the roof?

 

[RiFF RaFF]

How does thr Rhino Rack attach to the roof?

The footers use two octagon shaped discs that screw into the top of the foot using the original OEM tracks. If you don't have a roof rack Rhino-Rack sells an aftermarket track.

http://www.rhinorack.com/BarType_Heavy-Duty_1.aspx

I took off the plastic end caps from the OEM track - pre-assembled the footers, and slide the discs into the track. Installed the Rhino-Rack cross member, and after aligning the whole thing to the cargo rack tightened everything down.

I can take some close-ups if you need more visuals.

It's note-worthy that if you slide the discs in first the screws are too short. You really have to pre-assemble the footers before sliding them into the OEM track. The Rhino-Rack tracks may be slighting lower, but I don't know for certain.

I do like the quality of the Rhino-Rack's footers and cross members. These suckers are built tough! Wish I had gone with these BEFORE I went to Moab.

:thumb:

 

[Footofgod]

Close ups would be great!

I obviously don't have the OEM tracks since the back half of my roof is gone. I'm looking for something to use over my sunroof so I can put my roof rack back on and hand my Hi Lift and tools on.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Close ups would be great!

I obviously don't have the OEM tracks since the back half of my roof is gone. I'm looking for something to use over my sunroof so I can put my roof rack back on and hand my Hi Lift and tools on.

No problem - I'll take some tomorrow.

:keyboard:

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Close ups would be great!

I obviously don't have the OEM tracks since the back half of my roof is gone. I'm looking for something to use over my sunroof so I can put my roof rack back on and hand my Hi Lift and tools on.

No problem - I'll take some tomorrow.

:keyboard:

[MENTION=75090]Footofgod[/MENTION] - here's the close ups. The OEM tracks are held in by screws with inserts set into the roof of the 4Runner. I believe the after market Rhino-Rack tracks are pop riveted to the roof along with 3M double sided tape.

I'll bet you could get the OEM tracks from a junked 4Runner, and cut them to fit your roof. If you go that route - don't forget to yank out the screw-in inserts!

Hope these help --

:driving:

 

[KidVermicious]

Yeah yeah yeah, nice rack. Where's the rest of the Moab pics???

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Yeah yeah yeah, nice rack. Where's the rest of the Moab pics???

Right.

All the ones I've uploaded (so far) can be seen here ..

https://plus.google.com/photos/117502179765560720543/albums/5896036088719425873

Here's some more --

hoto: