Southwest tour - May 2013

[slayman]

I'm not sure if this should be here or in the offroading section.... Anyway. I am working on plans for a two week family vacation in the desert southwest. originally I was planning to fly us all to Vegas, rent a Grand Cherokee and hit the road with some dirt road in the mix but probably not any serious off roading since I have no experience. From what I've read Shafer Trail and some others should be doable for a noob. However after looking into costs I am think about taking the T4R and driving out with my son (20 yo) from Central PA. Meeting wife and daughter (22yo) in Denver and progressing toward Vegas. My T4R is a 99 Highlander with @125K. I know it will need tires before the trip. The TB has been replaced and I had an external trans cooler installed. Other than that I don't think much has been done (I've owned it almost 2 years). Looking at the costs I can probably save some $ by driving out. A jeep for two weeks would be at least 900 probably more considering the insurance adder and two fewer airfares start adding up.
Two types of questions:
Vehicle prep: Shocks? LBJ's? suspension bushings?
Places and trails: Thoughts on trails/roads. We want to see Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce, and we'll probably do a ranch stay on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, maybe visit South Rim.
TIA

 

[downpour11]

If you're looking for a place to stay around there my parents have a vacation rental for really cheap. It's verrry nice too. It's in Kanab. I think its 30min from Zion national forest and an hour from the grand canyon. Bryce Canyon is right there too.

Check it out! Read the reviews and check out the pics. I'm still trying to figure out a time to visit I want to go there so bad!
Kanab Vacation Rental - VRBO 418706 - 3 BR UT House, Red Rock Canyon Retreat

May is completely open too

 

[slayman]

If you're looking for a place to stay around there my parents have a vacation rental for really cheap. It's verrry nice too. It's in Kanab. I think its 30min from Zion national forest and an hour from the grand canyon. Bryce Canyon is right there too.

Check it out! Read the reviews and check out the pics. I'm still trying to figure out a time to visit I want to go there so bad!
Kanab Vacation Rental - VRBO 418706 - 3 BR UT House, Red Rock Canyon Retreat

May is completely open too

Thanks downpour I'll check that out.

 

[downpour11]

No problem. Lol I read your post and thought, that house is in the middle of everything he wants to see! Prob just as cheap than to buy 2 hotel rooms for a couple nights for your family, and 1 million times nicer than a hotel haha.

 

[hrt4me]

you will save $ by investing in the $80 annual National Park pass, as my wife and I visited those same parks (and a few others) last Fall

 

[Quetico]

If I were you, I would drop the cash to fly out and rent a Jeep. That would be a ton of driving for a two week trip. Per Google Maps, from your city to Vegas round trip is 70 hours of driving. And then you have to add all of the sight seeing driving / trails in between. That's a ton of time behind the wheel for a family vacation, IMO.

If you want to stay in Vegas at all, you could delay your car rental for a few days while you do that (and save some rental $). Then grab the Jeep, head up towards St. George, Utah and do Zions and Bryce. From there I would go further NE to Moab, Utah and do Canyonlands and Arches. Then maybe fly home from Salt Lake City, or even continue on to Denver.

Also, buying the National Parks pass is a great tip. If you are going to hit at least three of them, then the pass pays off.

FWIW, I like Canyonlands and Arches more than Zions. So do not miss Moab.

 

[slayman]

Thanks Quetico. Mrs Slayman will definitely by flying. The kids 20 & 22 are into the road trip part. They've never seen the heartland other than from 35,000 feet. I did the Google loop it adds up to 6K not including the side trips. I have booked our stay at a ranch on the North Rim. 80 miles of dirt to get there. High clearance recommended.
And thanks for the park pass heads up hrt4me.