Utah Trip 4-24-17 to 5-5-17

[RobG]

Quick write-up for a 12 day trip to Utah. Visited Grand Staircase National Monument (GSNM) and did the southern portion of the BDR. Didn’t get any takers on the BDR post so I wound up hooking up with my friends Joe and Dana of Mule Expedition Outfitters.

Kind of wound at Grand Staircase by accident but had a great time the scenery was incredible, GSNM is super dog friendly and not widely visited, the Utah BDR is Beautiful and technically challenging. Couldn’t imagine doing the expert section on a heavy dual sport.


Day 1 – Finish packing leave Socal 1PM drive through Zion NP and sleep

Day 2 - Drive to Kanab UT, Explore and camp GSNP
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Day 3 - Explore Trails in GSNM Meet up with Friends Joe and Dana in Kanab, Camp in GSNM

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Day 4 - Explore and camp in GCNM

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Day 5 - Explore GSNM including 2 cool slot canyon hikes. Stayed in hotel outside of Brice NP 20F and snowing overnight

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Day 6 - Explore GSNM outside of Escalante drove Death Ridge trail and camped

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[RobG]

Day 7 - Drove out of GSNM and headed for UT Border and start of UTAH BDR. Camped in Valley of the Gods.

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Day 8 - Drove BRD camped along trail

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[RobG]

Day 9 - Drove BDR – Stopped in Montecello for supplies

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Day 10 – Drove BDR Lockheart Trail Camped on Lockheart trail

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Day 11 – Took Lockhart Trail into Moab. Lunch in Moab, resupplied, camped north of Moab

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Day 12 – Drove from Moab back home to Socal

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[4x4mike]

Great pictures as always Rob. The scenery and the trip look fantastic. Lou looked to be having a good time too.

How'd the 4Runner do? With all the road driving and trail miles? It looks like you also have some new lighting. Looks good.

[Seanz0rz]

No fair!

Great pics! Thanks for sharing.

[RobG]

Thanks Mike and Sean,

Was an absolutely great trip, totally mind clearing. Lou was doing great until about day 7 when he lost a toe nail, he was glad to get home.

4runner did great except for trying to hold speed up hills at altitude on the freeway. Couldn't believe how smooth my friends 4th gen rode on moderately rough stuff, totally different than my truck. Except for the Lockhart Basin almost all of the trails were very well groomed and soft, there were actually very nice looking graders parked in a few spots on the trail. I think it is part of Utah's tourism support program.

Yes it is not fair but timing just happen to work out perfectly so I had to do it.

[4x4mike]

Glad you were able to do the trip.

It's funny you mention the graders. I think I have a picture of my old truck next to equipment from one of our Utah trips through Arches and Canyonlands. Some of the trails were actually nicely groomed dirt roads and now that I think of it were in much better shape than the paved roads I drive here on a daily basis.

[RobG]

Some of the trails were actually nicely groomed dirt roads and now that I think of it were in much better shape than the paved roads I drive here on a daily basis.

That is funny because that is exactly what I was thinking. Some of the small towns looked to be 100% dependent our tourism for survival I assumed it was done to keep people coming back.

Did you do white rim road in canyon lands? I really wanted to drive the entire thing but the no pets policy prevented us from dong it this trip.

[4x4mike]

I suppose. I'm sure it's easy to maintain a road every year or two versus major grading every 10 years. I've spent some time in Oregon, Utah and Arizona on week long trips and camped along side road crews that were out in the middle of no where working on dirt roads. They would work all day then set up camp. They had a fuel and water truck so they were set.

I've heard that Oregon has more miles of dirt roads than paved roads. We travel to Oregon every year and every time we do travel on dirt when we can. The roads out there are super smooth and topped with the reddish dirt/tiny rock that helps drainage.

I've mountain biked the White Rim but only for a two day trip and only driven sections in day trip lengths. It's a beautiful spot and I lucked out by having a buddy who lived in the area that took us to the popular spots.

[Robinhood4x4]

Nice pictures Rob. I especially like the campsite where your campfire is inside a cave.

How's your suspension holding up after all these years? My rubber bushings are gone and a few months ago I got death wobble. I have no idea how I didn't get it in the months leading up to it because when I turn the steering wheel I could watch the front leaf springs slide about 1/2" side to side.

I'm in the process of replacing every bushing now so I should be up and going before it gets too hot here.

[RobG]

Thanks Steve, That fire, a bottle of wine and some moderate quality bourbon made for a great evening.

Somewhere about a year or so ago I had some pretty bad death wobble. Kept thinking it was the tire balance but turned out to be the front shackles had worn an oval groove in place of the hole. Cut them off and drilled a new hole and that seemed to solve my immediate problem. As with almost every SA issues Roger Brown describes the problem and sells a solution. Might pick those shackles up one day.

I did replaces both sets of springs a few years ago ago but I will crawl under and check the bushing this weekend, thanks for the heads up. I actually broke one of the front springs on a death valley trip a few years back.

I can't seem to decide if I am going to keep or get rid of the 4runner. I really like having a vehicle that has a 5speed, I can repair, and don't worry too much about damaging. I did drive my friends 4th gen for a while but had to step out for fear of not wanting to go back to my 2nd gen. I know my rear shocks are toast and will be replacing those soon, fronts were really bad when I replaced them a few months ago. Need to get ready for Mike's Sierra trip this summer (Hint).

[Robinhood4x4]

After finally finishing up the front bushings, I've moved to the back only to find my 6 ton jack stands aren't tall enough. I know I've done it before, back when I still lived in CA, but I can't remember how I did it. I must have used some 4x4's underneath the jack stands. For the front shackles, I did notice the holes were starting to ovalize so thanks for the heads up on that. The wife wants me to sell it since I don't drive it anymore, but I've never gotten around to it, plus it sure is nice to have a backup vehicle if I have to work on one of the others.

I'll tell you what, having the power of the 4.0 V6 sure is nice and the low end torque is incredible. I have much more control while getting over an obstacle than I did with my 3.0 V6 and auto tranny. Also, after wheeling a solid axle truck, I find myself driving the 4th gen in the same way I drove the old truck...that is, not caring what's in front of me and just driving over it! I have to be more careful about ground clearance, but I just don't care anymore! Haha.

I'm not sure about any overnight trips in the near future. Our dog is getting pretty old and we can't really leave her overnight anymore. Miki and I both miss the sierra's though!

[RobG]

Haven't got around to checking my suspension and bushings yet, hopefully this weekend.

No surprise your 6 tons don't have enough height, I have a pair of HF 12 tons that I made 3" platforms for. They work really well for everything on my truck. I think I lucked into a super-sale paid like $40 for them.

I drove my friend Joe's 4th gen for a while on our trip. I had to stop for fear of not wanting to go back to my truck. It was supper cushy and soaked up the rocks like I couldn't believe, kind of felt like driving a couch. Night and day from my truck, but when we came to the hard stuff I was faster and didn't need to worry about choosing a line.

I'm torn about selling my truck but I think I am convinced I am going to put it up for sale once I fix a few problems like the 2 rust spots, oil leak and shredded front bumper. I daily drive my truck and love that no one messes with me on the road, the fact that I can fix almost anything that goes wrong, and I love driving a 5 speed speed. Offroad I love that I don't need to worry about much other than the high CG. I think if I can get enough for it I will sell it and move to the LC and give up any aspirations of doing the Rubicon one day, if I cant get $$$ for it I'll stick with it for a while, luckily I have a short commute to work.

Sorry t hear about your dog, hopefully she stays healthy for a few more years.

[4x4mike]

Why don't you plan a Rubicon trip? We'd love to have some of the So Cal guys up here. I'm about 70 miles from the trailhead and while I won't take my 4Runner on it I'll ride shotgun. I think Troy and a few others were always wanting to try it. After our epic winter it's still under snow but will be prime soon.

[RobG]

Thanks Mike,

The issue is that I need to put in at least a 4.7 case to do the trail and I haven't found anyone to go with. If there is interest I'd consider making ready for it.

Anyone up for a Rubicon Trip?