W
WayneK
FYI,
I'm including an e-mail description of a book I just purchased that I think is pretty good ($17.99 , 92 pages). NOTE: I'm not associated with the author or the book in anyway! I just thought you might like to check it our if you're an Arizona Wheeler.
I picked up a "4x4 Trails of Az" Vol. 1 at Popular. It looks pretty good if anyone wants to stop by and take a look at it. It has about 12 trails described, with a few photos, map, GPS coordinates, overview and a trail difficulty rating (1-5, 5 being toughest) for each trail. The trails are:
1. The Coves of Saguaro Lake
Trail Rating: 2/5 (coves 1&2); 4/5 (coves 3&4)
Time to complete: 4 hours
2. Cottonwood Camp Runs "The Rolls"
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 3 hours
3. "The River" Blue Point Bridge Area of the Lower Salt River
Trail Rating: 2/4
Time to complete: 1 hours
4. Bulldog Wash Portion of the Great Western Trail
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 3 hours
5. Silly Mountain
Trail Rating: 4/5
Time to complete: 20 min.
6. Box Canyon
Trail Rating: 2/5 (canyon); 1/5 (other)
Time to complete: 3 hours
7. The Coke Ovens
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 6 hours
8. Montana Mountain road (Forest Routes 650 and 172)
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
9. Crown King: The Back Way from Lake Pleasant
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
10. A Few Hours of solitude in the San Tans
Trail Rating: 4/5
Time to complete: 2 hours
11. Reno Pass
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
12. Apache Leap
Trail Rating: 3/5 (into Devil's Canyon): 4/5 (to rocky sluice)
Time to complete: 4 hours
For those of you that have done number #9 (Crown King the back way) here's a few comments to help you gauge this author's trail rating system.
"Why rate this trail a 3 (i.e. Crown King back way) when its really a 2? Not because its a helluva a long way and weather changes can really make things interesting. It is because of a few tricky rocky uphills that may cause a novice driver a little discomfort. After all, one newspaper writer described this trail as "the most bone jarring trail in Arizona". A hard core four wheeler would be quick to argue this point and so would I."
To further calibrate his trailing rating system he offers these pointers:
1 - Easiest; Usually a graded dirt road. Passable by a high clearance two wheel drive. Generally four wheel drive will not be needed.
2 - Intended for those with little or no experience and a stock 4WD vehicle. Four wheel drive traction will be required. Sometimes rough terrain will require low range. Typically these can be run in 4WD High.
3 - Intended for a driver with little or no experience driving a modified vehicle OR experienced drivers with a stock vehicle. You will most likely be using low-range. Modified vehicles should have skid plates and a lifted suspension or increased axle articulation. Stock tires work ok, those with increased diameter and a more aggressive tread pattern will do better.
4 - Requires a modified vehicle AND an experienced driver. Both elements are necessary! On a 4 trail you will experience obstacles such as rocks, ruts, off camber grades and difficult hill climbs. In addition to the modifications listed in #3, it is recommended that at least one axle in the vehicle have a traction adding device such as limited slip or a locking differential. These trails are run in 4WD Low.
5 - Hardest, don't even think about it with a stock vehicle or if you are inexperienced. You will be hating life and me as well! These trails require the ultimate in traction and wheel travel. In addition, body damage may occur. If you have a 3" lift (at least), skid plates, larger tires, traction aiding devices in BOTH differentials, and don't care if brush eats your paint at least your vehicle may be able to make it. You should be able to traverse a #4 trail with ease before attempting a #5.
He further notes: That the trails in this book were done in slightly modified vehicles. The Initial data was taken in a 1986 Ford F150 (Go FORD!). This truck had limited slip differentials in front and rear and was lifted 2 inches over stock. The tires were 32" x 12.50". The latter trails were run in a 1988 Jeep Cherokee with the front sway bar unhooked. This vehicle was basically stock until an "incident" on the Apache Leap trail. Now it sports a locking rear differential. The point is that these trails were run in comfort with slightly modified vehicles, not highly modified specialty trucks.
Wayne
I'm including an e-mail description of a book I just purchased that I think is pretty good ($17.99 , 92 pages). NOTE: I'm not associated with the author or the book in anyway! I just thought you might like to check it our if you're an Arizona Wheeler.
I picked up a "4x4 Trails of Az" Vol. 1 at Popular. It looks pretty good if anyone wants to stop by and take a look at it. It has about 12 trails described, with a few photos, map, GPS coordinates, overview and a trail difficulty rating (1-5, 5 being toughest) for each trail. The trails are:
1. The Coves of Saguaro Lake
Trail Rating: 2/5 (coves 1&2); 4/5 (coves 3&4)
Time to complete: 4 hours
2. Cottonwood Camp Runs "The Rolls"
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 3 hours
3. "The River" Blue Point Bridge Area of the Lower Salt River
Trail Rating: 2/4
Time to complete: 1 hours
4. Bulldog Wash Portion of the Great Western Trail
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 3 hours
5. Silly Mountain
Trail Rating: 4/5
Time to complete: 20 min.
6. Box Canyon
Trail Rating: 2/5 (canyon); 1/5 (other)
Time to complete: 3 hours
7. The Coke Ovens
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 6 hours
8. Montana Mountain road (Forest Routes 650 and 172)
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
9. Crown King: The Back Way from Lake Pleasant
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
10. A Few Hours of solitude in the San Tans
Trail Rating: 4/5
Time to complete: 2 hours
11. Reno Pass
Trail Rating: 3/5
Time to complete: 5 hours
12. Apache Leap
Trail Rating: 3/5 (into Devil's Canyon): 4/5 (to rocky sluice)
Time to complete: 4 hours
For those of you that have done number #9 (Crown King the back way) here's a few comments to help you gauge this author's trail rating system.
"Why rate this trail a 3 (i.e. Crown King back way) when its really a 2? Not because its a helluva a long way and weather changes can really make things interesting. It is because of a few tricky rocky uphills that may cause a novice driver a little discomfort. After all, one newspaper writer described this trail as "the most bone jarring trail in Arizona". A hard core four wheeler would be quick to argue this point and so would I."
To further calibrate his trailing rating system he offers these pointers:
1 - Easiest; Usually a graded dirt road. Passable by a high clearance two wheel drive. Generally four wheel drive will not be needed.
2 - Intended for those with little or no experience and a stock 4WD vehicle. Four wheel drive traction will be required. Sometimes rough terrain will require low range. Typically these can be run in 4WD High.
3 - Intended for a driver with little or no experience driving a modified vehicle OR experienced drivers with a stock vehicle. You will most likely be using low-range. Modified vehicles should have skid plates and a lifted suspension or increased axle articulation. Stock tires work ok, those with increased diameter and a more aggressive tread pattern will do better.
4 - Requires a modified vehicle AND an experienced driver. Both elements are necessary! On a 4 trail you will experience obstacles such as rocks, ruts, off camber grades and difficult hill climbs. In addition to the modifications listed in #3, it is recommended that at least one axle in the vehicle have a traction adding device such as limited slip or a locking differential. These trails are run in 4WD Low.
5 - Hardest, don't even think about it with a stock vehicle or if you are inexperienced. You will be hating life and me as well! These trails require the ultimate in traction and wheel travel. In addition, body damage may occur. If you have a 3" lift (at least), skid plates, larger tires, traction aiding devices in BOTH differentials, and don't care if brush eats your paint at least your vehicle may be able to make it. You should be able to traverse a #4 trail with ease before attempting a #5.
He further notes: That the trails in this book were done in slightly modified vehicles. The Initial data was taken in a 1986 Ford F150 (Go FORD!). This truck had limited slip differentials in front and rear and was lifted 2 inches over stock. The tires were 32" x 12.50". The latter trails were run in a 1988 Jeep Cherokee with the front sway bar unhooked. This vehicle was basically stock until an "incident" on the Apache Leap trail. Now it sports a locking rear differential. The point is that these trails were run in comfort with slightly modified vehicles, not highly modified specialty trucks.
Wayne