Need advice for off road trip.

Clifford

Clifford

Member
I am going to drive the Mojave Road over 2 or 3 days and have some questions. I'll be going solo and although the road is travelled fairly regularly I know enough not to depend on others out there.

1. Jack- is assuming I will be able to replace a tire using the factory jack a really bad idea like I think it might be? The road is mostly level with some deep sand on occasion- with a flat tire might be able to make it to solid ground to change the tire but if not? Bring wood?
2. Parts/tools. Any input on spare parts/tools you have found essential?
3. Air in tires- input on how/when to run with lower tire pressures.
4. Road is 140 miles- assuming I'll take some short side trips is there any reason to assume I would need extra gas?

I have camped and hiked the deserts for 20 years so I know about water/food, etc. I would just like to get any experience from you guys that might be helpful. Thanks.

Clifford

Mojave Road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This site has a neat Google Earth file:
Mojave Road - Dirtopia, the Off-Road Encyclopedia
 
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Looks a fun and intersting little trip. Hope it all goes smoothly. Here's some input to your questions for consideration.

1. Jack. The factory jack should be fine. If you haven't already, get it out and make sure it works properly. I would recommend taking a 'base plate' of some sort to assist in getting a good fotting should you need to use it. I carry a 12"x12"x.75" piece of wood which has worked well on soft surfaces like sand and mud. Wood, steel, plastic, whatever you prefer.

2. Tools. 'General' tools will often do the trick. A socket set, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer. Also, WD40 or similar, electrical tape, wire ties, rope, old rags, plastic bag. Spares is an interesting topic. For the length of time you are going I wouldn't think anything in particular is important to take. It doesn't sound like you'll be doing crazy 4 wheeling so you will probably not break stuff, and the place is not super remote either.

3. Air pressure. Hard to say without having seen the terrain first hand but from what I read and saw in pictures then I would drop down to about 25 psi.

4. Extra fuel. I would say yes, carry extra. If you are using 4wd alot and do side trips I could easily see you coming close to empty. To close for comfort anyway. Don't let stress from worrying about running out of gas ruin the time out there.
 
steezemcqueen said:
i would think about bringing 2 spare tires. also bring a good complete tool set (sockets, wrenches, hand tools etc.)
Click to expand...

2 spares? Really? Is the road really that bad? Seems a bit like overkill for a 140 mile off road trip.

Might be better off with a plug kit and a compressor. May not even need the plug kit - is it within cell phone coverage? I've been impressed at how many remote places in Utah and Colorado I could use my cell phone.
 
i figured he is going by himself so it would suck if he gets 2 flats. yeah its probably not likely but there is the chance. i know someone who got 3 flats in 10 minutes...i won't say who :D
 
When I run the sand in SoCal, I air down to 15 to 20 PSI. I don't know what tires you have, but I have always had good luck doing this on AT's, and I run even lower (10 to 12 PSI) on MT's. If your trip takes you anywhere near Amboy, there is a neat little volcano that is worth the hike to see.
Word of advice, if you hike the volcano, take the trail out that you took in. Don't try to shave the hike by going down the side of the volcano. The cinders are loose and very sharp. You will slide and the underlying dust is very harsh on your nose.
Also, I saw no mention of a GPS. My experience is tha the dunes will shift quite a bit and be inrecognisable if the wind is blowing. Have fun!
 
steezemcqueen said:
i figured he is going by himself so it would suck if he gets 2 flats. yeah its probably not likely but there is the chance. i know someone who got 3 flats in 10 minutes...i won't say who :D
Click to expand...

I almost always travel by myself. :shrug: To me, 2 spares is what you carry if you're going across Namibia or Mongolia, where the nearest help might be days or weeks away.

The chance of getting even 1 flat is pretty low in most driving conditions. And the rest of the time, that second spare is a whole lot of unneccessary weight to carry around.

For 140 miles I might carry maybe 2 gallons of gas in a can, just to be on the safe side, depending on how close to the beginning and end of that 140 miles the gas stations were located.
 
Thanks for all the great input guys.

I will def bring some extra gas.
I am running reg tires right now and am def considering a DC or AC compressor (I keep an 1000W inverter in the glove box)
I will get some sort of footer for the jack and test it before I go.

I only have GPS on my Blackberry and was not going to rely on it though I can see how it would be -very- good to have along. As far as I can tell it is nowhere near any cell towers and will have no cell service. I am more interested in getting the parts for my CB before I go- I would expect to have better chances of reaching a fellow off roader that way. And I can talk to the truckers on the highway and keep a locate on smokey! :p

Prob 50 miles from Amboy- the Google Earth file is really cool on the Dirtopia link in my orig post. I can see the volcano you mention. I am looking very forward to start exploring Mojave preserve as I have dreamed of it since before it was even a preserve.

Holy shit 3 flats in 10min- that is a bummer!

Maybe a plug kit wouldn't hurt. heh

Thanks!!

Clifford
 
Well, I would add a tow strap or recovery strap and a folding shovel. Along with a 12" x 12" base, that's what the Feds require out here for 4x4's in sandy areas like Assateague. Makes sense to me. Even solo--you might find someone who is willing to pull you out of a jam or if you break--but you need a way to do it.
 
TRUST ME ON THIS

DUCT TAPE
FOLDING SHOVEL OR SHOVEL
TOW STRAP
JACK BASE
2 WORM CLAMPS
COUPLE FEET OF HOSE [CHECK HOSES ON VEHICLE FOR SIZE] Trust me, I broke down in the middle of a national forest recently. Transmission Cooler line sprung a leak. BAD LEAK. I believe some type of sealant putty [mighty putty?] Might work as well.
Little Transmission Fluid
Little Engine Oil
WATER and anything you might need to camp over night [trust me agian] I had to hike 20 miles out of the woods, after filling my truck with 5 quarts of transmission fluid and driving it dry twice untill she wouldn't go anymore. Pitching a tent halfway on the way out can be a real lifesaver if you cant make it by night fall]
Flaslight
Lug Nut Wrench Dont make the mistake I did and forget this
GPS [NOT PHONE] COMPASS/MAP CAN BE A REAL LIFE SAVER.
Solar charger [got one for 50$ from cabellas. Charges anything from cell phones to car batteries.]

YOU CAN ALMOST NEVER BRING TOO MUCH STUFF.
 
yeah, anything you think you might need... bring it. Some things you really need, you probably should bring two. Two spare tires seem like a bit much... but when you're in the middle of no where with two flat tires, you'll be sorry. I'd also bring a basic first aid kit, some canned soups, plenty of water, sun screen, lights, a jumper pack/ cables, flares, basic shovel, matches, lighter fluid, warm clothes, a big hat/ white shirt to wrap around your head (for shade and dust purposes), sturdy gloves, a snatch strap, two gas cans, bear mace. Things to keep the car going are first priority. So fluids, 2nd spare, compressor, sand ladders... things like these are priceless. 2nd tier (and argueably just as important) is food and water. 3rd tier are things that would make life easier like coolaid mix, sun screen, snacks (peanuts is what I carry), portable shower, toilet paper / tissuebox ( people always forget this one),, latex gloves (for getting dirty/greasy), pumace soap, towels... things like that. Thats already a huge list and I know there is alot more that I'm missing.
 
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I think you should buy that silicon tape that has been on infomercials lately. I saw it at a home show in atlanta....that stuff is awesome.

I had a radiator hose get a hole in it (A METAL line on my mom's pt cruiser when I was borrowing it.) If i had that tape I could have just taped it up, filled the radiator and drove on. Instead I had to call a tow truck and then wait 3 days for chrysler to get the part in.
 
More great suggestions- thanks. Shovel for sure and a tow strap also.
I know to bring LOTS of water- and I always keep a roll of TP and a box of tissues in my car!

I scored a GPS device today for free- an older TomTom ONE, now I am trying to figure out how to load this map onto it. I converted it using this tool but have not figured how to get the GPS to load it.
map- http://www.travelbygps.com/guides/mojave/road.php
coversion tool- POIConverter

Thanks again for all the great advice-

C

PS- I found there is a Walmart in Laughlin, NV where I will be starting the trip- loaded it on my new GPS- and did figure out how to get the Mojave map loaded too- or rather POI or whatever
 
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yeah, sounds dangerous!

I would bring 6 days food/water, extra air, 4 spares, 4 days spare clothes, 2 women that like you (1 might perish)

3 bottles of motor oil, 1 bottle of transmission fluid, some sort of external shelter(the windows in your car may break)

a hunting dog to find desert game, a gun to shoot anything you may find, a shaman to find any water available in the desert, a front loader to dig up any water in the desert your shaman finds,

another dog to keep you company if (god forbid) both your women perish, and a secret survival kit to hold you over in case your dogs or women turn on you in the process of survival!


LOL, now... if you havent figured out that was satire, watch a few episodes of Man vs. Wild or Survivorman to make it thru a desert and chill a bit, its only 140 miles, and your 4runner is more than equipped to make it all of them, no problem! :cheers:

heres to a GREAT TRIP!! :cheers:
 
Duhockey said:
yeah, sounds dangerous!

I would bring 6 days food/water, extra air, 4 spares, 4 days spare clothes, 2 women that like you (1 might perish)

3 bottles of motor oil, 1 bottle of transmission fluid, some sort of external shelter(the windows in your car may break)

a hunting dog to find desert game, a gun to shoot anything you may find, a shaman to find any water available in the desert, a front loader to dig up any water in the desert your shaman finds,

another dog to keep you company if (god forbid) both your women perish, and a secret survival kit to hold you over in case your dogs or women turn on you in the process of survival!


LOL, now... if you havent figured out that was satire, watch a few episodes of Man vs. Wild or Survivorman to make it thru a desert and chill a bit, its only 140 miles, and your 4runner is more than equipped to make it all of them, no problem! :cheers:

heres to a GREAT TRIP!! :cheers:
Click to expand...

hahahahahahahahahha...can't stop laughing
 
Clifford another great source for some helpful things to carry would be www.CA4WD.com look at their safety checklist. I carry at least one spare bottle of each vital fluid even for the 14 mile fire road trips like Cleghorn. 2qts-motor oil, 1-2qts trans, 1 large brake fluid 1 steering fluid, 1 gal. Antifreeze. and all recovery equipment.
 
Well I made it! Epic trip- then I went to Joshua Tree after and did all the wheeling I could do there too- 6 days of just great times. I will be making a photo album online and also posting about some of the things I learned and have questions about (center lock=mandatory, water crossings, control during sand sliding, etc.)

Nothing broke- and I didn't break anything although there were a couple of times when deep soft sand was involved I gunned it and almost caught air on the dips before the sand. Also biggest risk by FAR (I'm really careful actually) was crossing the Mojave River itself- could not see how deep it was in the middle- put in my deck plate and about halfway across it seemed really deep and I freaked and hit the gas- water coming over the hood I was AMAZED it made it- opened the hood right after- no water at airbox level but had to ask myself what would happen if the alternator gets submerged etc.

Anyway- there will be comments on the photos when I get them up. Lot's to share. I had spare fluids, tools, gas, food, water, etc. Carried me 6 days and still had leftovers.

I really loved that Mojave Road- incredibly dynamic and fun. Rocky, wide open, narrow slots, sand, dips, washes, massive vistas, volcanic, joshua trees, pines, dunes, canyons, etc. KILLER way to gain huge wheeling experience and have a GREAT time doing so.

More to come- just got back and wated to check in and say thanks again for all the help.

Clifford
 
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