New member/Trip to Moab

[fpdavis4]

Hello fellow 4Runner owners. I am posting this to inform you that as of about 6 months ago I am another proud owner of a 1999 4Runner Limited. I felt as though this post didn't belong in the introduction section because the primary purpose is to get advice on an upcoming Moab trip.

But first, as I previously stated, about 6 months ago I purchased a 1999 4Runner Limited with 175K miles. It has the factory E-Locker and a 2 inch lift. I recently purchased some GY Duratrac 265/75/16's. I also removed the running boards.

I will be leaving this Friday to Moab (I live in Utah) with a group of family and friends. I will be the only one representing the Toyota community, my dad and brother are both Land Rover fans, my friend has an Xterra, and others will be renting a Jeep. I would like to receive some advice on the upcoming trip (suggested easy mods, fun trails, recommended tire pressure, etc.) I may do the rear axle breather mod before leaving as I have read that there are some water crossings on various trails.

I will attach a photo of the 4Runner I took after having taken off the running boards (it's the most current, sorry for the dirty/blurry pic). Also please ignore the missing fender trim. It fell off shortly after purchasing the new tires due to the tires rubbing because of the bent bumper.

 

[BrianSD_42]

* Milt's Stop & Eat burger joint was amazing

* Slick Rock Mountain Bike trail is a beast! That should be labeled a double black diamond. We only made it to mile 2/10.

* Elephant Hill was awesome but you will want a lift at a minimum. Probably a 6/10 trail. I went with someone who knew the way.

* Bull Canyon & Gemini Bridges 4x4 trails were great green/blue offroad trails that can be done with a stock 4x4. Together it was about 3 hrs round trip.

* Arches national park is amazing. Spend half a day there at least. No 4x4 needed.

* Mill Creek water hole is a great local, natural river swim spot worth checking out.

 

[fpdavis4]

Thanks! I will look into those trails, and especially the burger joint.

Would you recommend doing the rear axle extended breather mod for the water crossings? Or are they pretty small crossings?

 

[Fishwerks]

Are you camping or staying in town somewhere?

What kind of wheeling experience do you have? That will help on trail recommendations. The set-up you have will get you pretty far on a lot of trails, it just depends on how comfortable you are behind the wheel and if you have good spotters.

I will go ahead and second Mill Creek though. That's a cool spot.

 

[KidVermicious]

Utards unite! You're going to love Moab, you just missed a couple of T4R.org gatherings down there.

Get the Charles Wells Moab guidebook from Fun Treks, it's the Moab bible. Start with a likely three or four-rated trail, and adjust to easier or more difficult trails as necessary. I recommend Chicken Corners, Bull Canyon, and Fins & Things - all great trails and doable by a stock truck, but with varying levels of pucker-factor. Keep your finger off that elocker button - I know it's tempting, but if you rely on it early it'll turn into a crutch and you won't be as good at picking lines.

Not much in the way of water crossings down there, and what creeks there are won't be running very high. If you have time, do the mod, and if you don't, don't sweat it. Pack lots of water (1 gallon per person per day is the recommendation), make sure everybody has a full size spare and the tools to change it, you know all that drill.

You cannot miss eating at the Blu Pig (get the deepfried green beans) and Moab Brewery (get the beer-cheese soup).

 

[fpdavis4]

Are you camping or staying in town somewhere?

What kind of wheeling experience do you have? That will help on trail recommendations. The set-up you have will get you pretty far on a lot of trails, it just depends on how comfortable you are behind the wheel and if you have good spotters.

I will go ahead and second Mill Creek though. That's a cool spot.

We will be staying in town somewhere (I'm not sure where).

I have been wheeling quite a bit on trails and such. Although I have only been twice on slickrock (not in moab). The spotters I have are more experienced than I. I feel pretty comfortable, I guess what I was wondering is how capable my setup is. I have been looking at Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. - for the trails/ratings. I figure a 6 rated trail would be pushing it, but I think I could pass it (such as poison spider mesa).

 

[fpdavis4]

Utards unite! You're going to love Moab, you just missed a couple of T4R.org gatherings down there.

Get the Charles Wells Moab guidebook from Fun Treks, it's the Moab bible. Start with a likely three or four-rated trail, and adjust to easier or more difficult trails as necessary. I recommend Chicken Corners, Bull Canyon, and Fins & Things - all great trails and doable by a stock truck, but with varying levels of pucker-factor. Keep your finger off that elocker button - I know it's tempting, but if you rely on it early it'll turn into a crutch and you won't be as good at picking lines.

Not much in the way of water crossings down there, and what creeks there are won't be running very high. If you have time, do the mod, and if you don't, don't sweat it. Pack lots of water (1 gallon per person per day is the recommendation), make sure everybody has a full size spare and the tools to change it, you know all that drill.

You cannot miss eating at the Blu Pig (get the deepfried green beans) and Moab Brewery (get the beer-cheese soup).

That's too bad I missed the gatherings! I will have to go next time, I bet it was a blast. Yeah I usually avoid having to use the locker, I only engage it before attempting a hill that looks a little too intense to back down if I were to not make it :barf:

I have heard from several people that fins & things is a must-drive trail.

I will probably put off the breather mod for a while longer.

 

[KidVermicious]

You will mangle the heck out of your rear bumper and maybe your rocker panels too if you try Poison Spider in a stock truck. You can do it, but you won't come out clean.

Breakover and departure angles are what limit a stock 4Runner. You'll drag hitch on Fins and Things, and that's a 4.

 

[tee-bone]

I haven't done any wheeling around Moab (just went there for the first time recently) but I heard great things about the trail that heads along the river up to Dead Horse Point, past the evaporation ponds (the name is escaping me). Heard it is crazy easy, as long as you are prepped for the pucker factor.

 

[fpdavis4]

You will mangle the heck out of your rear bumper and maybe your rocker panels too if you try Poison Spider in a stock truck. You can do it, but you won't come out clean.

Breakover and departure angles are what limit a stock 4Runner. You'll drag hitch on Fins and Things, and that's a 4.

My truck isn't quite stock. It is lifted and has slightly larger tires. I am not too worried about departure angles because I figure the indestructible tailgate will take the blow :cheers: I'm also not worried about the front bumper because it is already messed up and I look to be replacing it sometime soon.

The rocker panels worry me a bit since I don't have sliders. Do you think I'll be okay since I'm lifted? Or maybe I should avoid that trail.

 

[KidVermicious]

I haven't done any wheeling around Moab (just went there for the first time recently) but I heard great things about the trail that heads along the river up to Dead Horse Point, past the evaporation ponds (the name is escaping me). Heard it is crazy easy, as long as you are prepped for the pucker factor.

Schafer Switchbacks.

My truck isn't quite stock. It is lifted and has slightly larger tires. I am not too worried about departure angles because I figure the indestructible tailgate will take the blow :cheers: I'm also not worried about the front bumper because it is already messed up and I look to be replacing it sometime soon.

The rocker panels worry me a bit since I don't have sliders. Do you think I'll be okay since I'm lifted? Or maybe I should avoid that trail.

Personally, I would want 33s on before taking my 3rd gen on a 6 rated trail, but I'm kinda a wimp too. It sounds like you know your truck fairly well, I say go for it if you want. If it gets too hairball, turn around.

 

[fpdavis4]

I guess we'll see how it goes. Like you said I'll start off with a 3 or 4 rating and see how it goes from there. If I'm feeling ambitious I'll try it, if I do I'll let you know how it went. It'll be hard not to though because I have to show the land Rover guys how it's done :whip2:

 

[ARC]

Utards unite! You're going to love Moab, you just missed a couple of T4R.org gatherings down there.

Get the Charles Wells Moab guidebook from Fun Treks, it's the Moab bible. Start with a likely three or four-rated trail, and adjust to easier or more difficult trails as necessary. I recommend Chicken Corners, Bull Canyon, and Fins & Things - all great trails and doable by a stock truck, but with varying levels of pucker-factor. Keep your finger off that elocker button - I know it's tempting, but if you rely on it early it'll turn into a crutch and you won't be as good at picking lines.

Not much in the way of water crossings down there, and what creeks there are won't be running very high. If you have time, do the mod, and if you don't, don't sweat it. Pack lots of water (1 gallon per person per day is the recommendation), make sure everybody has a full size spare and the tools to change it, you know all that drill.

You cannot miss eating at the Blu Pig (get the deepfried green beans) and Moab Brewery (get the beer-cheese soup).

We will be staying in town somewhere (I'm not sure where).

I have been wheeling quite a bit on trails and such. Although I have only been twice on slickrock (not in moab). The spotters I have are more experienced than I. I feel pretty comfortable, I guess what I was wondering is how capable my setup is. I have been looking at Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. - for the trails/ratings. I figure a 6 rated trail would be pushing it, but I think I could pass it (such as poison spider mesa).

Moab Brewery makes a mean hamburger too. It's hard to beat.

Remember your rear bumper is mounted to the body of the truck, not the frame. So any hits the bumper takes is going to be transferred right into the precious sheet metal. Have fun!

 

[Fishwerks]

We will be staying in town somewhere (I'm not sure where).

I have been wheeling quite a bit on trails and such. Although I have only been twice on slickrock (not in moab). The spotters I have are more experienced than I. I feel pretty comfortable, I guess what I was wondering is how capable my setup is. I have been looking at Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. - for the trails/ratings. I figure a 6 rated trail would be pushing it, but I think I could pass it (such as poison spider mesa).

No recommendations on in-town stuff from me, I have only been twice and camped both times so I used the town as a gas stop.

I had open diffs, a 3" lift and 32s last year and we ran Hell's Revenge, Fins n Things and Top of the World. I drug my hitch a lot and my rear bumper corner once when I took a bad line on Fins.

Poison Spider would be do able I think, but be prepared to hit your bumpers if you do go.

Top of the World keeps getting nastier, especially the ledge sections on the way down, but that's a good trail.

Post pictures when you're back!