Planning spring break trip to moab (trail advice and possible meet up)

Black798

New member
Tried posting in the offroading section but wasn't getting any traffic so figured Ill give it a shot here.


Just like the title states. Im currently looking to head down to Moab over spring break for some wheeling. Currently the plan is to drive down to Moab on the 11th of March, wheel on 12th,13th,14th, and head home on the 15th.

The top three trails on my hit list currently are Hell's Revenge, Top of the world, and Fins n Things. Im open to any other trails, Im looking for moderate difficulty that will test me and my rig but isnt going to just beat on it and break stuff. So to those of you that have been and ran these trails, are these three trails within the capability of my rig?

Also looking to see if anyone else is going to be in town or would like to come out and join to run these trails. Having another vehicle and meeting some forum members would be awesome.
 
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Tried posting in the offroading section but wasn't getting any traffic so figured Ill give it a shot here.





Just like the title states. Im currently looking to head down to Moab over spring break for some wheeling. Currently the plan is to drive down to Moab on the 11th of March, wheel on 12th,13th,14th, and head home on the 15th.



The top three trails on my hit list currently are Hell's Revenge, Top of the world, and Fins n Things. Im open to any other trails, Im looking for moderate difficulty that will test me and my rig but isnt going to just beat on it and break stuff. So to those of you that have been and ran these trails, are these three trails within the capability of my rig?



Also looking to see if anyone else is going to be in town or would like to come out and join to run these trails. Having another vehicle and meeting some forum members would be awesome.



I did hells and fins in my last trip. Hells is a lot more technical. Had a blast. Proved to me that the runner is way more capable than I could have hoped for. I have some pics on my thread.
 
I'm jealous, Moab is a great place to visit.

- What tires are you running?
- Do you have a rear locker?
- How much offroading experience do you have?

Knowing those things will help people recommend some trails for you.

Fins N' Things is doable in a stock 4Runner as long as you have decent tires, you might scrape a bit on the approach and departure angles on some of the steep climbs. This is a good first trail to run to get the feel for driving on the slick rock.

Hell's Revenge might be a bit too difficult, I'd highly recommend seeing how Fins N' Things goes and then deciding if you want to try Hell's Revenge. Tires can be a big limitation here, and there are parts where you would want to have another truck along in case you get stuck.

Elephant Hill in Canyonlands is a great trail and worth exploring. Parts get remote, so again it would be good to have another rig along.


Here's a list of some of the Moab trails with ratings.
Cruise Moab - Trail rating system

I've driven Hell's Revenge and Golden Spike (among others) in an XTerra with 285/75R16s and a rear locker. Hell's revenge took concentration but was not overly difficult. Be sure to stay between the lines marked on the trail. Golden Spike definitely had some very difficult sections and requires a well built rig.

- Matt
 
All three of those are easy even with a stock 4Runner on street tires.

I've seen the guy who lives in Moab on Hell's in his Ford Crown Vic sedan and a friend unknowingly ran it in his CJ7 with the hubs unlocked. The only tricky places are either spurs off the main trail (Hells Gate, Escalator) or have bypasses (Tip Over Challenge).

They're great trails to learn your rig and get familiar with 4wheeling if you lack experience. Just don't expect the kind of traction you get there in most other places.
 
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I'm jealous, Moab is a great place to visit.

- What tires are you running?
- Do you have a rear locker?
- How much offroading experience do you have?

Knowing those things will help people recommend some trails for you.

Fins N' Things is doable in a stock 4Runner as long as you have decent tires, you might scrape a bit on the approach and departure angles on some of the steep climbs. This is a good first trail to run to get the feel for driving on the slick rock.

Hell's Revenge might be a bit too difficult, I'd highly recommend seeing how Fins N' Things goes and then deciding if you want to try Hell's Revenge. Tires can be a big limitation here, and there are parts where you would want to have another truck along in case you get stuck.

Elephant Hill in Canyonlands is a great trail and worth exploring. Parts get remote, so again it would be good to have another rig along.


Here's a list of some of the Moab trails with ratings.
Cruise Moab - Trail rating system

I've driven Hell's Revenge and Golden Spike (among others) in an XTerra with 285/75R16s and a rear locker. Hell's revenge took concentration but was not overly difficult. Be sure to stay between the lines marked on the trail. Golden Spike definitely had some very difficult sections and requires a well built rig.

- Matt

Im running a new set of 265/70/16 falken wildpeak at3w's for tires.

I unfortunately dont have the rear locker, looking to add an arb in the next year or so.

In the runner I dont have much experience offroad, but Ive grown up doing it in other rigs so I understand the importance of tire placement and all of that.

Currently the plan is to have at least one other rig along for the ride. My parents are either bringing their dual locked full size chevy or renting a jeep
 
The absolute most scenic trail I've driven in my life is The White Rim trail in canyon lands. If you leave Moab by 7:30am you can drive it all in one day, assuming it is spring or Summer.

This trail is incredible. Many people take multiple days. Camping reservations are very hard to come by. The is no permit needed to just drive the trail.

So much scenery. It's life changing and worth the full day.
 
Tried posting in the offroading section but wasn't getting any traffic so figured Ill give it a shot here.


Just like the title states. Im currently looking to head down to Moab over spring break for some wheeling. Currently the plan is to drive down to Moab on the 11th of March, wheel on 12th,13th,14th, and head home on the 15th.

The top three trails on my hit list currently are Hell's Revenge, Top of the world, and Fins n Things. Im open to any other trails, Im looking for moderate difficulty that will test me and my rig but isnt going to just beat on it and break stuff. So to those of you that have been and ran these trails, are these three trails within the capability of my rig?

Also looking to see if anyone else is going to be in town or would like to come out and join to run these trails. Having another vehicle and meeting some forum members would be awesome.

Be prepared for inclement weather than time of year though....you could easily run into freezing rain, ice or snow....which will make the trails impassable.

I agree with everyone else....(though I haven't done Top of the World)....you shouldn't have too much trouble on the other trails. Start with Fins N Things first to get a feel for slickrock. The lack of a rear locker may limit you a bit....as someone else mentioned side obstacles on Hell's Revenge like Mickey's hot tub, Escalator, Hell's Gate, and "Devil's Highway" hot tub (or just the big hot tub)....are something you probably shouldn't attempt without at least one locker.

Hell's Revenge isn't hard, but it is one of the most iconic if you're looking to experience Moab's slickrock. It's one of my favorites for the scenery and side obstacles.

Have fun and make sure you dress in layers and be prepared for cold weather.
 
Be prepared for inclement weather than time of year though....you could easily run into freezing rain, ice or snow....which will make the trails impassable.

I agree with everyone else....(though I haven't done Top of the World)....you shouldn't have too much trouble on the other trails. Start with Fins N Things first to get a feel for slickrock. The lack of a rear locker may limit you a bit....as someone else mentioned side obstacles on Hell's Revenge like Mickey's hot tub, Escalator, Hell's Gate, and "Devil's Highway" hot tub (or just the big hot tub)....are something you probably shouldn't attempt without at least one locker.

Hell's Revenge isn't hard, but it is one of the most iconic if you're looking to experience Moab's slickrock. It's one of my favorites for the scenery and side obstacles.

Have fun and make sure you dress in layers and be prepared for cold weather.

I'm definitely planning for the quick weather changes but I just follow the better to have it and not need it rather than need it not have it for when I'm packing my gear. I've definitely been going back and forth on hell's because of the lack of rear locker. But I'm also not planning on doing hell's gate or escalator with my daily driver. So I feel as long as I know when to take the bypass I should be ok.
 
Moab is awesome, you'll have a great time!! I spend a lot of time there every year and have some suggestions and probably too much info for you lol...

1. Get the "Charles Wells Guide to Moab" book. It will list the majority of the trails with locations, distances, trail markers, difficulty ratings and other info that will help and has pictures of trails and obstacles to help keep you on track, some of the trails can be difficult to follow and its pretty easy to get turned around your first cpl times on a trail. His difficulty ratings are based on stock to mildly built rigs so i would think you could follow his recommendations pretty closely as he's pretty conservative with them (his estimated times to run the trails is always high, especially if its just one or two trucks, we can usually cut his times in half).

2. Get some rock sliders on your rig before you go!! (didnt look at your build thread, disregard if you already have them lol) Moab trails ALL have ledges that you will have to climb or drop down with no bypasses, if you are stock height or close to it, you will be all over your lower rockers even on some of the easier trails. Seriously, if you like your rockers being straight, get sliders.

3. Air down. The difference in traction you get in Moab from running low tire pressure is crazy. With my beadlocks i usually run between 6-12 psi, without beadlocks i would run something around 15 psi or so, it will help tremendously without having a locker. Can be kind of annoying if you dont have a portable air source and are driving back to town on low pressure but i've done it a million times if im not driving 20+ miles out of town on pavement. I carry a powertank with me but pretty much air down day 1 and air back up before we leave town, exception being if I'm running a trail thats really far away like Elephant Hill or something, then i'll air back up for the pavement trip.

4.Spinning the tires isnt a bad thing, when the tires start to spin, stay there and let them work for a bit. The slickrock is real "chirppy" and usually has a little bit of sand on it, tires like to spin alot if you dont have lockers and real low gearing. When they start spinning, work the wheel back and forth and let the tires get warm, alot of times after 10-20 seconds of spinning you will get traction and start climbing again. Be careful though, its easy for the front end to come around sideways when the tires are spinning and you're stuck on a climb as the front end gets light, seen a few flops caused by this, so keep the spinning slow and controlled, youre just trying to get the tires warm and grippy and move some of the small sand and dust off the rock to get you traction.

5. Pack a cooler and bring lunch with you on the trail. Like mentioned before some of the trails get pretty remote, bring lots of fluids/water (and chaptsick!!), its the desert and you will get dehydrated quick even though it wont be that hot during that time of year, and pack a lunch at a minimum, we always bring enough food for dinner also just in case you have trouble and get stuck out there longer.

The three trails you listed are good choices for your first time out. Fins and Hells are in a "fee use area." Its cheaper if you have cash instead of a card, and you can buy a multiple day pass if you arent going to do both trails on the same day. If you are wanting to get more trails in, you should have time to add at least one more on the day you do Fins if you dont sleep in until noon!

Fins is probably the easiest trail in Moab that isnt a dirt road but is great for "getting the feel" for the slick rock and some of the angles/steepness/tippyness that you will experience out there. Should only take a cpl hours at most to run the trail and that accounts for going slow and taking pics and stuff.

Top of the World isnt bad at all, most of it is dirt/rocky road with a few ledges to get over once you start the climb to the top. The view at the top is unreal. Its not a 12hr day to get up and back but can take most of the day if you're taking your time.

Hells is completely doable in a stock rig if you dont attempt the big obstacles. Momentum is key to alof of Hells Revenge...not speed, momentum. Where rigs without lockers have trouble is when they are trying to climb and lose their momentum then try to get moving again and the tires just chirp and spin and they have to back off and try again.

Kane Creek is another fun one in mild vehicles as it has a TON of water crossings and sand washes to play in, however I hadnt been on it in years until this past Thanksgiving when i was out there on my dirt bike and the ledges on the "exit" have gotten pretty big and dug out, might be a bit much for a "stockish" vehicle without a locker, if you attempt that one I would walk the shelf road that starts climbing the canyon at the end and check the ledges before going up to make sure you are ok doing them, theres a pulloff on the right as you start to go up the shelf road where you can park and walk up.

I would recommend checking out the area around Gemini Bridges/Gooney Bird rock, fun and scenic area with lots of trails to explore and its only 10ish miles north of Moab. Porcupine Rim, Secret Spire, Tusher Tunnel, Longs Canyon, Hey Joe Canyon, and/or anything else up along Hwy 128 north of town would all be great areas to check out before you get some lockers/armor/more rigs to go with you.

Grab a burger at Milts, eat some breakfast (they serve it all day) at the Moab Diner, and go see the guys a M4O (Moab 4x4 Outpost) if you run into any trouble with your rigs, they are great guys and always willing to help without bending you over! They even have a "trail recovery" gig which isnt cheap but in an emergency can help get you back to civilization.

I could keep going on and on about that place, one of my favorite places on the planet, but I'll spare you lol.
 
Moab is awesome, you'll have a great time!! I spend a lot of time there every year and have some suggestions and probably too much info for you lol...

1. Get the "Charles Wells Guide to Moab" book. It will list the majority of the trails with locations, distances, trail markers, difficulty ratings and other info that will help and has pictures of trails and obstacles to help keep you on track, some of the trails can be difficult to follow and its pretty easy to get turned around your first cpl times on a trail. His difficulty ratings are based on stock to mildly built rigs so i would think you could follow his recommendations pretty closely as he's pretty conservative with them (his estimated times to run the trails is always high, especially if its just one or two trucks, we can usually cut his times in half).

2. Get some rock sliders on your rig before you go!! (didnt look at your build thread, disregard if you already have them lol) Moab trails ALL have ledges that you will have to climb or drop down with no bypasses, if you are stock height or close to it, you will be all over your lower rockers even on some of the easier trails. Seriously, if you like your rockers being straight, get sliders.

3. Air down. The difference in traction you get in Moab from running low tire pressure is crazy. With my beadlocks i usually run between 6-12 psi, without beadlocks i would run something around 15 psi or so, it will help tremendously without having a locker. Can be kind of annoying if you dont have a portable air source and are driving back to town on low pressure but i've done it a million times if im not driving 20+ miles out of town on pavement. I carry a powertank with me but pretty much air down day 1 and air back up before we leave town, exception being if I'm running a trail thats really far away like Elephant Hill or something, then i'll air back up for the pavement trip.

4.Spinning the tires isnt a bad thing, when the tires start to spin, stay there and let them work for a bit. The slickrock is real "chirppy" and usually has a little bit of sand on it, tires like to spin alot if you dont have lockers and real low gearing. When they start spinning, work the wheel back and forth and let the tires get warm, alot of times after 10-20 seconds of spinning you will get traction and start climbing again. Be careful though, its easy for the front end to come around sideways when the tires are spinning and you're stuck on a climb as the front end gets light, seen a few flops caused by this, so keep the spinning slow and controlled, youre just trying to get the tires warm and grippy and move some of the small sand and dust off the rock to get you traction.

5. Pack a cooler and bring lunch with you on the trail. Like mentioned before some of the trails get pretty remote, bring lots of fluids/water (and chaptsick!!), its the desert and you will get dehydrated quick even though it wont be that hot during that time of year, and pack a lunch at a minimum, we always bring enough food for dinner also just in case you have trouble and get stuck out there longer.

The three trails you listed are good choices for your first time out. Fins and Hells are in a "fee use area." Its cheaper if you have cash instead of a card, and you can buy a multiple day pass if you arent going to do both trails on the same day. If you are wanting to get more trails in, you should have time to add at least one more on the day you do Fins if you dont sleep in until noon!

Fins is probably the easiest trail in Moab that isnt a dirt road but is great for "getting the feel" for the slick rock and some of the angles/steepness/tippyness that you will experience out there. Should only take a cpl hours at most to run the trail and that accounts for going slow and taking pics and stuff.

Top of the World isnt bad at all, most of it is dirt/rocky road with a few ledges to get over once you start the climb to the top. The view at the top is unreal. Its not a 12hr day to get up and back but can take most of the day if you're taking your time.

Hells is completely doable in a stock rig if you dont attempt the big obstacles. Momentum is key to alof of Hells Revenge...not speed, momentum. Where rigs without lockers have trouble is when they are trying to climb and lose their momentum then try to get moving again and the tires just chirp and spin and they have to back off and try again.

Kane Creek is another fun one in mild vehicles as it has a TON of water crossings and sand washes to play in, however I hadnt been on it in years until this past Thanksgiving when i was out there on my dirt bike and the ledges on the "exit" have gotten pretty big and dug out, might be a bit much for a "stockish" vehicle without a locker, if you attempt that one I would walk the shelf road that starts climbing the canyon at the end and check the ledges before going up to make sure you are ok doing them, theres a pulloff on the right as you start to go up the shelf road where you can park and walk up.

I would recommend checking out the area around Gemini Bridges/Gooney Bird rock, fun and scenic area with lots of trails to explore and its only 10ish miles north of Moab. Porcupine Rim, Secret Spire, Tusher Tunnel, Longs Canyon, Hey Joe Canyon, and/or anything else up along Hwy 128 north of town would all be great areas to check out before you get some lockers/armor/more rigs to go with you.

Grab a burger at Milts, eat some breakfast (they serve it all day) at the Moab Diner, and go see the guys a M4O (Moab 4x4 Outpost) if you run into any trouble with your rigs, they are great guys and always willing to help without bending you over! They even have a "trail recovery" gig which isnt cheap but in an emergency can help get you back to civilization.

I could keep going on and on about that place, one of my favorite places on the planet, but I'll spare you lol.


Great post.....lots of good, relevant info for Moab.
 
You're fine without a rear locker.

Countless thousands of bone stock SUVs run all three of those trails without issue every year. People make this way more of an issue than it needs to be, including airing down. Traction is the one thing you will not have a shortage of in Moab. I go several times a year and have since the 1980s.
 
Moab is awesome, you'll have a great time!! I spend a lot of time there every year and have some suggestions and probably too much info for you lol...

1. Get the "Charles Wells Guide to Moab" book. It will list the majority of the trails with locations, distances, trail markers, difficulty ratings and other info that will help and has pictures of trails and obstacles to help keep you on track, some of the trails can be difficult to follow and its pretty easy to get turned around your first cpl times on a trail. His difficulty ratings are based on stock to mildly built rigs so i would think you could follow his recommendations pretty closely as he's pretty conservative with them (his estimated times to run the trails is always high, especially if its just one or two trucks, we can usually cut his times in half).

2. Get some rock sliders on your rig before you go!! (didnt look at your build thread, disregard if you already have them lol) Moab trails ALL have ledges that you will have to climb or drop down with no bypasses, if you are stock height or close to it, you will be all over your lower rockers even on some of the easier trails. Seriously, if you like your rockers being straight, get sliders.

3. Air down. The difference in traction you get in Moab from running low tire pressure is crazy. With my beadlocks i usually run between 6-12 psi, without beadlocks i would run something around 15 psi or so, it will help tremendously without having a locker. Can be kind of annoying if you dont have a portable air source and are driving back to town on low pressure but i've done it a million times if im not driving 20+ miles out of town on pavement. I carry a powertank with me but pretty much air down day 1 and air back up before we leave town, exception being if I'm running a trail thats really far away like Elephant Hill or something, then i'll air back up for the pavement trip.

4.Spinning the tires isnt a bad thing, when the tires start to spin, stay there and let them work for a bit. The slickrock is real "chirppy" and usually has a little bit of sand on it, tires like to spin alot if you dont have lockers and real low gearing. When they start spinning, work the wheel back and forth and let the tires get warm, alot of times after 10-20 seconds of spinning you will get traction and start climbing again. Be careful though, its easy for the front end to come around sideways when the tires are spinning and you're stuck on a climb as the front end gets light, seen a few flops caused by this, so keep the spinning slow and controlled, youre just trying to get the tires warm and grippy and move some of the small sand and dust off the rock to get you traction.

5. Pack a cooler and bring lunch with you on the trail. Like mentioned before some of the trails get pretty remote, bring lots of fluids/water (and chaptsick!!), its the desert and you will get dehydrated quick even though it wont be that hot during that time of year, and pack a lunch at a minimum, we always bring enough food for dinner also just in case you have trouble and get stuck out there longer.

The three trails you listed are good choices for your first time out. Fins and Hells are in a "fee use area." Its cheaper if you have cash instead of a card, and you can buy a multiple day pass if you arent going to do both trails on the same day. If you are wanting to get more trails in, you should have time to add at least one more on the day you do Fins if you dont sleep in until noon!

Fins is probably the easiest trail in Moab that isnt a dirt road but is great for "getting the feel" for the slick rock and some of the angles/steepness/tippyness that you will experience out there. Should only take a cpl hours at most to run the trail and that accounts for going slow and taking pics and stuff.

Top of the World isnt bad at all, most of it is dirt/rocky road with a few ledges to get over once you start the climb to the top. The view at the top is unreal. Its not a 12hr day to get up and back but can take most of the day if you're taking your time.

Hells is completely doable in a stock rig if you dont attempt the big obstacles. Momentum is key to alof of Hells Revenge...not speed, momentum. Where rigs without lockers have trouble is when they are trying to climb and lose their momentum then try to get moving again and the tires just chirp and spin and they have to back off and try again.

Kane Creek is another fun one in mild vehicles as it has a TON of water crossings and sand washes to play in, however I hadnt been on it in years until this past Thanksgiving when i was out there on my dirt bike and the ledges on the "exit" have gotten pretty big and dug out, might be a bit much for a "stockish" vehicle without a locker, if you attempt that one I would walk the shelf road that starts climbing the canyon at the end and check the ledges before going up to make sure you are ok doing them, theres a pulloff on the right as you start to go up the shelf road where you can park and walk up.

I would recommend checking out the area around Gemini Bridges/Gooney Bird rock, fun and scenic area with lots of trails to explore and its only 10ish miles north of Moab. Porcupine Rim, Secret Spire, Tusher Tunnel, Longs Canyon, Hey Joe Canyon, and/or anything else up along Hwy 128 north of town would all be great areas to check out before you get some lockers/armor/more rigs to go with you.

Grab a burger at Milts, eat some breakfast (they serve it all day) at the Moab Diner, and go see the guys a M4O (Moab 4x4 Outpost) if you run into any trouble with your rigs, they are great guys and always willing to help without bending you over! They even have a "trail recovery" gig which isnt cheap but in an emergency can help get you back to civilization.

I could keep going on and on about that place, one of my favorite places on the planet, but I'll spare you lol.

Thanks for the reply. Lots of good info in there. I should be set for airing down since I have a hard mount arb ckma12. Quick question on Hell's revenge, I know there are three major hotubs on that trail, Mickey's, Carwash, and one more. Wondering are these doable with open diffs? I saw a video of a stock land rover doing carwash but I couldnt find if it had factory lockers or not.

I might be up for joining you on the 12th. I'm on a stock rig as well (for now) and will be a few hours away in Durango.

We'll have to stay in touch and see if we can make that happen. Ill send you a pm as I get more of the details worked out and the trip comes closer.
 
Thanks for the reply. Lots of good info in there. I should be set for airing down since I have a hard mount arb ckma12. Quick question on Hell's revenge, I know there are three major hotubs on that trail, Mickey's, Carwash, and one more. Wondering are these doable with open diffs? I saw a video of a stock land rover doing carwash but I couldnt find if it had factory lockers or not.



We'll have to stay in touch and see if we can make that happen. Ill send you a pm as I get more of the details worked out and the trip comes closer.

Car wash is easy....drive in, drive out. Open diffs are fine.

You're not getting out of Mickey's or Devil's Highway without a locker IMO. I'm not saying it hasn't been done....but I'd have a hard time believing it without proof.

Mickey's is really small. The passenger side gets very close to the wall on the exit particularly.

The Big Hotub (DH) is easy to get into.....but requires momentum (and IMO, all 4 tires pulling), good line selection and good suspension to get out (low CoG is a huge factor as well). If there's water in the bottom, it makes it MUCH more difficult. There's a bump towards the top (whole thing is probably a good 3.5 T4R lengths high)....there's a bump at the bottom that stops you from just hammering down and the one towards the top (about a car length away from making it) that will send both tires off the face while you climb if you hit it with too much momentum, causing lots of guys to go over backwards. It's a fine line. For a long time, only 1 in 10 rigs made it out....and anecdotal evidence would say 1 in 10 rigs that went in, rolled trying to get out. Now that suspension design has improved and people have their AS and RCs figured out.....I'd say that ratio is now pretty high (of people making it out under their own power)....like 7 out of 10....but you also mainly see built rigs even trying it. It gets a LOT of traffic and there are usually people waiting around to watch.

This is an old video....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwn247W35WY



You only need to really watch the first 12 seconds.....to get an idea of the steepness.

Pretty sure this is a member here in a 3rd Gen attempting Mickey's (33's, OPEN diffs, armor, 4" lift):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5GNgQy1rAY

At 2:35....looks like the departure angle has him hung up. Hard to say, but with a little more clearance, he may have made it.
 
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Car wash is easy....drive in, drive out. Open diffs are fine.

You're not getting out of Mickey's or Devil's Highway without a locker IMO. I'm not saying it hasn't been done....but I'd have a hard time believing it without proof.

Mickey's is really small. The passenger side gets very close to the wall on the exit particularly.

The Big Hotub (DH) is easy to get into.....but requires momentum (and IMO, all 4 tires pulling), good line selection and good suspension to get out (low CoG is a huge factor as well). If there's water in the bottom, it makes it MUCH more difficult. There's a bump towards the top (whole thing is probably a good 3.5 T4R lengths high)....there's a bump at the bottom that stops you from just hammering down and the one towards the top (about a car length away from making it) that will send both tires off the face while you climb if you hit it with too much momentum, causing lots of guys to go over backwards. It's a fine line. For a long time, only 1 in 10 rigs made it out....and anecdotal evidence would say 1 in 10 rigs that went in, rolled trying to get out. Now that suspension design has improved and people have their AS and RCs figured out.....I'd say that ratio is now pretty high (of people making it out under their own power)....like 7 out of 10....but you also mainly see built rigs even trying it. It gets a LOT of traffic and there are usually people waiting around to watch.

This is an old video....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwn247W35WY



You only need to really watch the first 12 seconds.....to get an idea of the steepness.

Pretty sure this is a member here in a 3rd Gen attempting Mickey's (33's, OPEN diffs, armor, 4" lift):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5GNgQy1rAY

At 2:35....looks like the departure angle has him hung up. Hard to say, but with a little more clearance, he may have made it.

I beleive the one I saw the range rover go through was car wash, and that would probably be the one I would be willing to attempt. Mickey's is just too small.

But in that last video of the 4runner I dont know if he had them at the time, but currently he has front and rear arb's.
 
I beleive the one I saw the range rover go through was car wash, and that would probably be the one I would be willing to attempt. Mickey's is just too small.

But in that last video of the 4runner I dont know if he had them at the time, but currently he has front and rear arb's.

Just going off what the end of the video listed as his specs.

Like I said....Carwash is no problem. It's right by the Big Hotub....Mickey's is just down the hill from the Big one....and Escalator is just around the bend on the trail...JFYI.
 
Do you go to Montana State? I went there for a year. I'd move back to Bozeman in a heartbeat.

As others have said, you will be fine on those trails. Lots of harder/easier lines. You don't need a rear locker.

Fins n' Things you will scrape bumpers/hitch for sure. No big deal.

Hell's Revenge same story. Ran it with an older stock height GMC 1500 pick up and a stock 98 Tacoma. They did fine.

Top of the World keeps getting worse, but it's not hard. Did it with that stock 98 Taco as well.
 
On Hellz Revenge there are bypasses for the hard spots. By all means use your 4runner to do the trails. But...
May I suggest renting a RZR? It will be a lot more fun, you will be able to do all of the hard lines with them and scare the poop out of yourself while doing it. No need to worry about destroying your 4runner.

Use your 4runner for White Rim, use RZR for Hellz Revenge and Fins and Things.
 
Do you go to Montana State? I went there for a year. I'd move back to Bozeman in a heartbeat.

Im not going there yet, Im currently finishing my senior year in highschool. But Im planning on going there next year for a major in Mechanical Engineering and probably a minor in business management.

Im also no too worried about scraping tow hitches or bumpers on the trails. As long as all the flares stay on I dont really mind sense Im planning on replacing the bumpers as my next major mod. Ive been going in between bumpers and a rear arb for a while so it will kind of depend on how this trip goes.

On Hellz Revenge there are bypasses for the hard spots. By all means use your 4runner to do the trails. But...
May I suggest renting a RZR? It will be a lot more fun, you will be able to do all of the hard lines with them and scare the poop out of yourself while doing it. No need to worry about destroying your 4runner.

Use your 4runner for White Rim, use RZR for Hellz Revenge and Fins and Things.

I have kind of looked into renting a rzr but the cost is just a bit too much and I feel they're better suited for bombing through the desert rather than rock crawling. The ones Ive driven just get tippy way to easy and the gearing wasn't low enough for my liking
 
Just saw this now, but I've been thinking about headed to that area for my spring break as well. I'd be coming from Alabama though, leaving on the 10th (two days of 12 hours driving), and hopefully wheeling by the 12th.

I've got a pretty well built rig, minus a rear locker. It's the only time I'll have a long enough break to go out west until spring break next year. I still need to think about it and plan out the logistics, but I may be out there around the same time as you if I do go.

Lots of good information in this thread, thanks for all that responded. You're helping more than just OP.
 

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