Hello, I'm looking for a bit of advice. My TJ is nearly finished and I need to check it out. I caught the bug out in Moab last year and set it up with advice from a few friends that live in Utah, but the closest place to wheel around here is Attica. I'm basically looking for a trail you would recommend for a shakedown run or two, nothing to crazy, until I see what works and if anything needs to be changed. I'm eyeing a trip out to Moab maybe this fall after it cools down a bit there. My setup should be in my profile. No locker in the front yet, still trying to justify the cost since I have wedding coming up.
I've spent some time there on dirtbikes and quads but haven't seen the jeep trails. I saw the announcement for the JeepsGoneWild run but I'm not quite ready to go with a big group since I may break something 5 minutes out and hold everyone up....
Thank in advance
In order of ease. Play in the rock quarry, check out the creek run, and if it's been dry for a few days try the orange trail. I've done all three with my stock TJ on 31's.
With your setup listed in your profile I would go on and just do the orange trail; it will test all of the components that you have. Be sure to take along a buddy for recovery and of course any breakage. Depending on rain the orange trail will test your articulation with a few good sized mud holes too boot. I see no real issues with you being able to test your setup on that trail. Never been to Moab but the quarry will help see how the rig performs on rocks and rock walls. Being locked in the rear will help greatly. I have been on runs where stock tj's, xj's and yj's have made it thru the orange trail with limited bypasses. Oh yea with road terrain tires.
HTH
Chad
Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to convince my cousin to go, he's had his TJ lifted for several years, even has a winch. Makes me sick really, he bought the Warn 9.5TI and has never even used it, never been offroad. I've been trying to bribe him with free replacement parts for his D35 since mine is just taking up space on the garage floor.
Was really wanting the Aussie for the front end but think I'll spend the money on a engine/oil skid instead.
It's been a few years since I was there, but I assume its generally less busy during the week? My schedule rotates so I was going to try and go when it wasn't so crowded. I'm really gonna take it easy and check the articulation and locker function as much as I can. Don't want to be in people's way if I can avoid it.
I'm not sure (from what I've heard anyway) that I would go to the Cliffs to test out a new set up. There's penty of stuff in the quarry, and just around the edge, to test a new set up, at the Badlands....meaning if you do happen to break something, recovery would be easy.
I have plans to go to the Badlands this Friday with one other Jeeper, as long as it doesn't rain all week. You're more than welcom to join us. He'll be testing out a bunch of new mods too.
X2 Stay away from the cliffs. I've seen people escape without damage, but they are few and far between.
The prior recommendations are good ones. (orange,creek,quarry) Hitting the dunes is alot of fun too though. That will give you an idea of where you stand as far as a tire/gear combo. Just be sure to watch out for bikes/quads.
Thanks again for the advice. As far as Friday I'm not sure yet, I have the day off but I work Thursday night until 6 am Friday morning so I may be too tired. I hafta drive from Aurora so by the time I got some sleep and drove over there they would be closed...
Theeddie you may have seen my cousin around there, he grew up in Minooka, he has a blue TJ with about 4 inches of lift and MT baja claws. He's around there alot helping my aunt as she still lives in the area. If you see him cruising call him a poser for me..he's afraid to take his rig off the highway.
Theeddie you may have seen my cousin around there, he grew up in Minooka, he has a blue TJ with about 4 inches of lift and MT baja claws. He's around there alot helping my aunt as she still lives in the area. If you see him cruising call him a poser for me..he's afraid to take his rig off the highway.
I'll let you know what I know in hopes that others will add. Your Rubicon will handle the Orange and Creek trails pretty easily. Learn how to use your lockers in the quarry in case you need them on the trail.
Creek Run: Depending on where you start you will hit either a muddy rutted section with a few steep downhill descents and then a creek, or the opposite. Stock rigs (XJ,TJ,YJ) make this trail pretty easily. They may get caught up on their diffs in the rutty section if momentum ceases.
Orange Trail: More twists/turns than the orange trail, some blind hilltops, a slalom type descent that will flex your rig well and towards the bottom you hit the mud. There is a rock wall climb to get out of the trail at the very end. As IU98 (Hi Chad) said this trail can be done with a stock rig with a few bypasses (mostly dependent on the recent rain).
Green Trail: Lots of steep climbs and descents. Make sure you brakes work well. I'll have more on this after Saturday. :thumbsup:
Pea Gravel Hills: Keep as much momentum as you can. Depending on the rig's setup 4LO may work better that HI. (ex: big tires and stock gears) Back down straight and slow. If you start digging give up and back down.
I would say airing down (15PSI) and disconnecting swaybars is mandatory. Driving slow and watching trees will keep damage to a minimum.
After this last run, we found the green trail is a good bit different. We didn't go all the way through since we weren't real familiar with it. At least, that was my understanding.
Eddie the pumpkinator is referring to the green trail as you come down from the parking lot to the left of the road the first entrance to the green trail. We have done it before a year or two ago all the way thru it poured( the ark was almost a thought)then got cold then the sun came out typical Indiana weather. Steeep inclines with blind overs I personally thought it was a little more difficult than the creek. Probably because I had my children and the brakes faded real bad they cheered I shat my pants.
HTH
Chad
Thanks chad. I am heading out there Saturday and haven't run that green trail yet. Still debating whether or not I want to run it. I just got done swapping all new calipers/ceramic pads/ rotors. I should be able to stop. :2thumbsup:
Though there's one more I've been on that he hasn't listed. This goes for anyone; be weary of the red trail. There are bypasses on it, but then you're not really doing anything. If you want to do the obstacles, underarmor, rock sliders, and a nice lift and big tires is almost mandatory. Oh, if you don't have a good spotter, you might even tip over at one point.
Not trying to scare anyone, but that's my experience with red. I took the first bypass after watching a TJ with a 4.5" RE LA and locked rear struggle and come very close to the very side of a large drop-off... I tried the last ledge climb to get out of the trail, but I was hopping and spinning too much no matter what line I took, and with my D35 rear I didn't want to push it any further, so I had to take another bypass.
The pea gravel, I don't like it that much. Atleast, my rig doesn't... lol. Wide tires and poor gearing (or a 4 cylinder engine) don't do very well. To take on sand/pea gravel, the best combo is skinny tires and alot of speed. (Doesn't hurt to air down alot too though)
Xander, you'll be able to do Orange just fine with a stock Rubi' even.
I agree that everyone should check out the Quarry and get used to their vehicle in 4Lo in many different situations. Heck, I still love the quarry, one of my favorite spots at the Badlands.
Thanks for all the info guys. I'm going to try get over there in the next week or so. Maybe it won't be too muddy since it hasn't rained in the last few days. I ordered the Alloy axle seals considering you apparently can't avoid the mud so maybe they'll show up before I go. Also ordered the Aussie locker but they said it'll take a couple weeks...oh well. Seems to be a bit of everything over there so I'm looking forward to it.
TJtank I bet I have seen you..that infernal cubs sticker looks familiar. Here's my jeep, if it works. I have a swingout tire carrier bumper now, along with a cb antenna. This was from last fall: http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn2/jjhhuurrtt/jeep.jpg
TJtank I bet I have seen you..that infernal cubs sticker looks familiar. Here's my jeep, if it works. I have a swingout tire carrier bumper now, along with a cb antenna. This was from last fall:
Ok, 2 last questions: 1- Do they care if I bring my dog to ride along with me? 2- The rules on the Badlands website says something about all suv's having wristbands...what does that mean? Thanks again, think I'm gonna try it tomorrow, I talked my cousin into going
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