2019 Wheeling Goals
- Thread starter smallfry
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Oldmanb777
New member
Bust all the plastic CRAP Toyota put on the wife's GX so I have an excuse to replace that stuff with some real nice bumpers and running boards. :naughty:
4Reak Show
New member
Poker flat
Strawberry pass
Then find an excuse to use the winch when that's all done.
Strawberry pass
Then find an excuse to use the winch when that's all done.
Folsom4Rnr
New member
Tag me when you guys plan these ... would like to run (run-again) all these.... plus maybe Ellis Peak
rochmpr
Senior Member
Once the snow breaks, you know where to find out about adventures!
MAST4R
New member
Is there any guide for Northern New Mexico? I use Trail Damage, Charlie Wells and Peter Massey, but I have no coverage of New Mexico whatsoever.
Required mods for light--and in fact not just light--wheeling are none though I always strongly recommend proper tires, specifically P-metric or LT-C ATs. Which ATs depends on preference and actual use.
If you go west, Charlie Wells has great guides and they are more or less up-to-date though trails change all the time. Peter Massey's guides are long in the tooth now, though the dirt roads and easiest trails (rated 1-3) are pretty much the same since they are regularly maintained.
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p4.runner
New member
I just moved to NM recently and the only trail infor I've found so far are on all trails and trails offroad. Need to do a bit more searching, maybe check out gia GPS. Never had the runner while I lived in AZ so plan to check out a few trails there whenever i go visit family.
MAST4R
New member
Yeah, it seems like no one makes it to New Mexico. We have been there once vs plenty of times to Utah, not even Peter Massey who has so many guides for different parts of CA, NV, AZ, CO, and UT has anything for NM. There have to be some good trails there...
This is a good site with some NM trails, but even on their site NM is an afterthought: Jeep the USA - Best Jeep trails in the Western U.S.
This is a good site with some NM trails, but even on their site NM is an afterthought: Jeep the USA - Best Jeep trails in the Western U.S.
smallfry
New member
I use google and the benchmark maps.
MAST4R
New member
I have two problems with Google. First, it misses a lot of legal routes while featuring routes closed long ago--many, many such routes. I have a Magellan 5 which is great for showing what's out there and it is great for downloading GPX tracks, too. There is no voice on trail, but I do get turn-by-turn visual which is great for trails with difficult route finding.
Second, I prefer to know about the trails beforehand, including scenery, length, surface, and, given the extensive custom Sonoran pinstripping I got in Week 3 of ownership, I started paying more attention to scratchy spots warnings than I used to!
I also use MVUMs but we found none available in Montana which was a bummer. There, I had to get out of two trails as they got too narrow and scratchy. On one of them, I barely turned back after a full mile and had an almost nightmare passing experience with a UTV and two ATVs on the way back. I am glad I got out without body panel damage. I actually got that trail from a local 4wd guide but it was written for dedicated trail rigs so did not square well with having a vehicle with a shiny paint.
Another thing I want to know about is traffic. Trails like the Alpine Loop, Backaway to Crown King, or some dirt roads can feel like Manhattan at times.
Last but not least, in forested parts of the west, Google offers a ton of in-the-forest dirt road drives, which are very pleasant but not something I would plan a day around.
This even happens in Colorado. Say, Piedra road north of Pagosa Springs, driven to the very end, is a very pleasant, longish drive. But it is inside the forest except for one section towards the end, which is scenic. I am very happy I drove it once (while family was still sleeping). Would I drive it again? I don't think so. Would I plan a day around driving it? Absolutely not. It is nothing like the Silverton trails and it ends abruptly at a barrier in the middle of a meadow, so there is no particular destination either.
For all these reasons--scenery, time, difficulty, traffic--I prefer to work from a guide. But I do understand that others may prefer to feel like exploring and figuring things out for themselves. Both ways are fun, but I prefer the former (for now).
Second, I prefer to know about the trails beforehand, including scenery, length, surface, and, given the extensive custom Sonoran pinstripping I got in Week 3 of ownership, I started paying more attention to scratchy spots warnings than I used to!
I also use MVUMs but we found none available in Montana which was a bummer. There, I had to get out of two trails as they got too narrow and scratchy. On one of them, I barely turned back after a full mile and had an almost nightmare passing experience with a UTV and two ATVs on the way back. I am glad I got out without body panel damage. I actually got that trail from a local 4wd guide but it was written for dedicated trail rigs so did not square well with having a vehicle with a shiny paint.
Another thing I want to know about is traffic. Trails like the Alpine Loop, Backaway to Crown King, or some dirt roads can feel like Manhattan at times.
Last but not least, in forested parts of the west, Google offers a ton of in-the-forest dirt road drives, which are very pleasant but not something I would plan a day around.
This even happens in Colorado. Say, Piedra road north of Pagosa Springs, driven to the very end, is a very pleasant, longish drive. But it is inside the forest except for one section towards the end, which is scenic. I am very happy I drove it once (while family was still sleeping). Would I drive it again? I don't think so. Would I plan a day around driving it? Absolutely not. It is nothing like the Silverton trails and it ends abruptly at a barrier in the middle of a meadow, so there is no particular destination either.
For all these reasons--scenery, time, difficulty, traffic--I prefer to work from a guide. But I do understand that others may prefer to feel like exploring and figuring things out for themselves. Both ways are fun, but I prefer the former (for now).
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MAST4R
New member
The Ouray/Silverton area is quite mild in terms of surface. There is one actual obstacle in the entire area and I think a legal bypass was recently built (the Wall on Paughkeepsie Gulch). The difficulty there comes from the narrow shelf roads and the sometimes extreme traffic. Certain trails must not be driven in rain.
Also, there is a new edition of the Charlie Wells Colorado 4-Wheel Drive Trails guide in the works. Wait for late spring, it should be out by then. Great guide. The Latitude 40 map of the area is the best I have seen.
If you are getting that lift to get further offroad, maybe worth considering a 1.5-2" lift? And you are already 0.8 up in front. I don't plan on anything beyond 1.5 and even that 1.5 won't have any bearing on what I drive (but yes I am fully armored except for that rear diff skid). I am happy to discuss specific trails, but here in AZ, in UT, and in CO there is a very clear line between regular difficult trails and extreme trails with very few in the grey area in between. I would drive any regular difficult trail in the area in mine with 1.5 lift or less, if any (but no tight brush, thanks!). An SR5 will need more clearance to compensate for the lack of locker (or an ARB locker). A tiny lift always helps, but the closer to stock the better the dependability and the balance between up and down travel.
Let me know what you think of the FJ Summit
I once let a Summit column pass my Outback while climbing the rockier, east side of Cinnamon. Considering that the 6 cyl OB was a proficient climber and that the column turned out to rival BNSF trains in length, I regretted it
But yeah it is a phenomenal area, gotta be one of the best places on the entire planet for both scenery and 4x4. Have fun and be safe.
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Bayou_Pro
New member
Thanks for all of that info. I'm looking so forward to going. I'm especially looking for to getting out there with my son. He just turned 6 so this will be his first real offroad experience.
I've decided on the Fox COs with the adjustors. I'll be going with about a 2.5" lift. I like the look as well as the add ability. I also tend to overdue everything. It's a sickness. LOL
I've decided on the Fox COs with the adjustors. I'll be going with about a 2.5" lift. I like the look as well as the add ability. I also tend to overdue everything. It's a sickness. LOL
I live in Northwestern Kansas. please post pics after you have been to Western KS for off roading.
I would like to know where would it be
MAST4R
New member
My older one was not a fan for years until finally becoming one thanks to the 4Runner. My little one has always been a fan.
I would put him in the middle seat in the rear so he can see well. Rear seat comfort rules. Airing down, whatever it takes. Plus enough fun time outside. My little one has a Tonka truck that has been offroaded in 6 states between the Mexico and Canada borders. I have no idea how we have not yet lost it. It would be cool to take it abroad, actually, come to think of it!
You will have heaps of good time. Especially if you drop the Summit trains and do some of the fun trails that see little traffic just with your son. I am a big fan of Porphyry Gulch. Amazing drive and short but spectacular hike at the end to a lake. It is very narrow for extended distance which makes it off limits to big groups. A bit more out of the way but also very narrow and quite scenic is Governor Basin (nearby overcrowded Yankee Boy is not as interesting, though I have not done it to the end). The good news is that all trails there are short yet most are truly spectacular. This helps with the family. The road between Ouray and Silverton can take a lot longer than the mileage may make you think, especially during Summit time, so that's good to plan for. The last section of the Silverton to Animas Forks dirt road from which many trails start is among the most annoying anywhere. Please report on how comfy the Fox 2.5 is there!
Good for you on the quality lift (new UCAs, I guess, too).
If you cannot stop, maybe get quality brake pads
With low range the 4R is fine, but I suppose that good brake pads will still make a difference there.
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Bayou_Pro
New member
I'm thinking he's going to love it. He seems up for adventure. Middle seat seems like the best bet. I'll have the 285s on by then and will take them down to about 20psi.
Well from what I'm hearing I hope I make the summit at all. People are saying all of the spots will filled last year in less then a minute. I guess they keep the numbers low for a better experience. I've been doing a lot of trail research and have looked at all of the ones you listed, plus Black Bear. Not sure what I'll do if I don't make the Summit. Definitely not making that trip alone.
I'm worried about the Fox Suspension at this point. Mainly due to one persons nightmare experience with fitment and their customer service. Not sure if this was an isolated case with the 5th gen or not. His pics was pretty scary. Confused at this point. Also looking into the King suspension as well.
Yes I'll be doing the SPC UCAs.
Thanks again for the info.