Infectious Off-Road.com

We spent last week in Moab, which could easily be called the 4wheeling Mecca of the universe. Every time I go I wonder why I don't go more often. Well, time and money might be a problem, but this place and the scenery are priceless. Three of us from Bakersfield went in our XJ's including myself, Jeremy Rowell, and Mike Gray. We ran some of our favorite trails, like Hell's Revenge and Moab Rim, but also tried to run some trails we hadn't run before. This was Mike's first time to Moab so everything was new for him.

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During the week we ended up running Chicken Corners which is a great mostly 2wd trip into the south side of the CO River canyon, we ran the Pickle and Tusher Tunnel, Hell's Revenge, Flat Iron Mesa which has great views of the surrounding area then runs along the edge of a beautiful deep canyon, Poison Spider Mesa, Moab Rim which is probably my favorite Moab trail with lot's of off camber ledges along the edge of the CO River canyon, then Sat we went into Arches National Park.

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It rained on Thursday which gave us a few waterfalls while we ran Poison Spider.

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Awesome!!!! That place is on my bucket list. Any problems with the XJ?

That looks awesome. How long is the drive to/from?


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[quote="Zak.Taylor"]That looks awesome. How long is the drive to/from?


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13 hours or so depending on stops. Well worth the drive.

Such a great place!

great pics

that trip should be a total tax right off with your co. logo on the side window

[quote="munepit"]Awesome!!!! That place is on my bucket list. Any problems with the XJ?[/quote]


I guess I should have included a damage report. Mike had his rear driveshaft come apart on the highway driving to the trailhead for Flat Iron Mesa. It looked like the rear springs were collapsed and the pinion had wrapped up and broken the tab off the yoke that holds the u-joint cap in. We left the XJ on the side of the road and he jumped in with the trail leader for the day. One of the guys called Moab 4x4 and ordered an 8.25 yoke. After running the trail we dropped the XJ off and they put the new yoke on the next day. We're thinking Mike didn't help the springs or the yoke when he successfully climbed out of Mickey's Hot Tub the day before.

On the same day, near the end of the trail, Jeremy ripped the bolts out of his steering box. One of the bolts broke and the other two stripped the threads out of the box. We couldn't get the broken bolt stub out of the box, and one of the bolt holes barely held the threads, and we dug around and found one bolt between us all that was long enough to go through the hole in the box and put a nut on the back side. So, Jeremy finished with 1 1/2 bolts holding the steering box on. It held until he pulled into the auto parts parking lot and then the only good bolt broke. We had to try two auto parts stores but got one and got it on so he was good.

The last part of the week I started to have trouble starting my XJ. I would turn the key to the start position and it wouldn't turn over. I'd keep doing it and jiggle the shifter and it would eventually turn over and start. It didn't do it all the time and it always eventually started. When we were ready to leave, I started it to drive it onto the trailer and the starter would not shut off. I'd turn the key off and the motor would die but the starter would keep on cranking, and it would continue to crank when the engine fired up. I just drove it onto the trailer and had to pop the hood and pull a battery cable to get the starter to stop cranking. Looks like I need a new ignition switch, and I'll change the starter too.

For the whole trip there were very few breaks considering how many rigs there were, testament to how generally well built the rigs were. BTW, Mike has some new Deaver springs coming.

Here's Mike climbing out of Mickey's Hot Tub.


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I can't figure out how to post it here.

Awesome pics and cool vid of the hot tub (My JK had to strap out of it).

There was a rumor that most of the trails in Moab were closed due to the government shut-down. Looks like that rumor was internet BS.

[quote="Desert Dog"]Awesome pics and cool vid of the hot tub (My JK had to strap out of it).

There was a rumor that most of the trails in Moab were closed due to the government shut-down. Looks like that rumor was internet BS.[/quote]
Ya, total BS. Only the federal parks were closed (arches national park) so I think that only 2 trails out of however many are there were closed. Elephant hill and something else. Didn't affect us at all.

that looks like fun.... next year will be making a trip to moab

[quote="Beck*A*Poo"]that looks like fun.... next year will be making a trip to moab[/quote] would love to go with a big bako crew next year!

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