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MOAB EXPLORER EXTRAVAGANZA 2001

um...ray? selection number 14 on Amazon.com is Canyon Country Dinosaur Tracks & Trackers....i kinda don't think thats the one im supposed to get.....but i could be wrong.... :) ....whats the title of the book?
 



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Um, Riff, you must be a genious or something overlooking the obvious...I mean, even the dumb college guy found it! Click books at amazon......type moab.....go to number 14 and you'll find: Guide To Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails
by Charles Wells(Editor), Shelley Mayer. Paperback (March 1, 2000)
Does that help buddy?
Hehe
Pete
 






Moab Trail Schedules

Riffman, the way we do large runs is to separate out the vehicles by modification levels and abilities. Depending on your setup and what you are comfortable with attempting or have the driver skill for, you will take different trails than might be taken by other groups. Moab has trails for all levels so you can do whatever you want. We are not going to stay all together on the trails, if that is what you thought might happen. There will be at least two or more different groups going to different trails each day.

If you go way back to last year in this Forum, you will find a LONG thread called "Moab II" that contains a lot of the discussion we went through to plan out different trails for different groups. Also this year you can read the Colorado CCR2000 threads to see we put a LOT of planning into the very same thing.

Buy the book Ray mentioned. It is invaluable. You will be able to to see what Moab offers. Also read all of the Moab 2000 writeup. That oughtta whet your appetite.

Concerning the book, I notice that Upper and Lower Helldorado are not covered. Are any of you BigDawgs planning to tackle those? Has anyone run Lower Helldorado (the easier of the two)?


Ray, I like your schedule, except I may or may not pass on Top of the World, since I ran it three times last year. I may go anyway just for the fellowship if everyone else does. For sure it is a must for the first timers no matter their modification level or lack thereof. You forgot Fins N' Things. I want to make sure I do that. Steelbender the other way will be fun on that one long shelved hill we all went down about halfway through the trail. I have learned that is called Dragon's Tail, and is a challenge getting over that top ledge going up.

moab_guystepsml.jpg


Should be fun.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-17-2000 at 07:44 AM]
 






Grrrrrrrrrr....Stop talking about it all! It's a half a year away, and I already wanna exprience it...like NOW!!!!!
Oh well, I'll have to put that aside, cause we got Attica to run this weekend!
Pete
 






Trails....

To further expound on Geralds comment. ( Whew )
[are you saying I am chatty? :D ]-Gerald

I think it would be a good idea to try and limit the groups to 7 vehicles or less if possible. Maybe designate some trail bosses to lead the various runs. The large 10+ groups take awhile on the trails.

We need to get a headcount and Vehicle type ( Stock, modified,Big Dawg ) grouping done closer to the run date and then maybe sign-up for trails. Similar to a Jeep Safari deal.

We could have several groups on different trails each day and then maybe a get togather and share stories and show vid's?

Regardless, I'm ready to hit the trails and will go along with what the group does.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-17-2000 at 11:30 AM]
 






well...what defines modified, and big dawg? am i a big dawg?!?! what are the requirements?

and from the pics i've seen online, fins and things looks awesome too! so does upper and lower heldoraro.

one thing i have been wondering....has anybody ever taken on Golden Crack? Is that a possibility for our vehicles?
 






I get what stock is...But how would Modified and Big Dawg be classified....Hopefully I'll be regeared and locked by Moab...at least I'm plannin on it!
Pete
Grrrr.....Riff...You think you're hot stuff for being able to post faster than I?
GOO!
 






Whatsa BigDawg?

We bandied this around a bit on the "CCR2000 ETA" thread. I'll copy and reword some of a post I made on that thread, after further input from Ray Hutchinson and Paul Bredehoft, among others. Basically it's open to interpretation, but generally, I believe the following provides a good basis that most would agree on.

These are categories based on modifications that improve trailworthiness and ability, not necessarily neat extra stuff. For example, if I already have a SOHC and 4.10s, I don't need a supercharger and PIAA's to get up that next hill. The extra stuff is fluff, though nice to have.

The abscence of any of the listed items in any single category renders the vehicle as only qualifying for the more-stock category below it. Don't worry about specifics of the details of what I left out, those are assumed. For example, if someone's vehicle qualifies as a "Big Dawg", we can assume they have at least a 4.10 rear, or an Atlas, or some other mods available to turn 33's with lockers, and most will already have winches, etc.

Big Dawg: 4"+ total lift, traction-aiding devices front and rear with at least one axle locked, 33"+ agressively treaded tires, "Moab Edition" sticker (just kidding :D ).

Modified: 2.5"+ total lift, traction-aiding device front and rear OR locked rear, 32"+ aggressively treaded tires.

"SuperStock": skidplates, towpoints front and rear, at least 1.5" lift, aggressively treaded tires at least 31" in diameter, and a traction-aiding device in the rear.

Stock: anything that cannot qualify as SuperStock.

As I said, these are generalizations, and I am sure will start another round of suggestions as to how to categorize our vehicles and/or flaming of my suggestions for the categories. :p A worthy and interesting discussion to waste time on though.

[Edited by GJarrett on 01-25-2001 at 08:43 PM]
 






Re: Trails....

Originally posted by Gofast
To further expound on Geralds comment. ( Whew )
[are you saying I am chatty? :D ]-Gerald

Actually I was referring to my use of a "Big" word instead of my usual "Small" word usauge. I could of used the phrase " Let me add to " instead of " To further expund on "


Your not chatty, maybe typy though ;)
[ :D is "typy" a word Dead Link Removed :D ]-Gerald

Also, another tongue in cheek opinion of rating your rig is;

Stock - Well It's stock.

Modified - You did something to it. Might even help you on the trail

Big Dawg - Can only be obtained when 3 or more Explorers on a trail run refer to you as a Big Dawg.

Keep in mind that Drivers Skill is as important as the level of mod's done to your truck. I saw Gerald & Ray do Steel Bender last year in rigs that were not rated high enough to be on that trail. They did a great job. I have also seen Big Dawgs roll on an easy obstacle.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-17-2000 at 12:24 PM]
 






hey I didn't roll that one time... I ALMOST rolled... LOL
 






Re: Re: Trails....

Originally posted by Gofast

Modified - You did something to it. Might even help you on the trail

You could add, "Now you can really get stuck"
 






hahahaha.....really really stuck! :)

so basically lockers and gears are essecial to be a big dawg(along w\ lift + tires)? or do i really need to get an atlas? (though i want one...)

i hear ya Pete....i want to go out there NOW too!!! im way too excited for it to be 5 LOOOOOOOONG months away!!
 






Don't lose the point. These are generalizations, and your goal shouldn't be "I have to put this on to be a Big Dawg". We all go at our own pace (and pocketbook) and driver skill is still 80-90% of the equation. Ray Lobato did Steelbender last year with open diffs for crying out loud. At least I had an LSD in the rear. The experience should PRECEDE the decision of how far to build up. Learn to develop skill on the trail -- how to pick lines, etc -- and as you find out what you cannot do, then build and modify to go to the next level.

Really, any definitions aside, a "BigDawg" is one of those "you'll know one when you see it run" kinda things. I shouldn't have posted that definition because I am afraid you are concentrating on the wrong thing now. Just come to Moab prepared (read the Trail Equipment article!!!) and enjoy the time of your life. The experience will tell you what you want to modify by next year's run.
Next year at Moab I will be locked in the rear, have bigger tires, better flex and articulation in the rear, improved approach and departure angles, and be a lot taller than I was this year. I have very specific reasons for doing these mods and they all have to do with helping me traverse the level of trail I want to do next year; none of them have anything to do with looks or bragging rights about my vehicle. The one major thing missing right now is I cannot get my front diffy upgraded.

I have a feeling my lesson after next year will be how to improve my approach angle which I believe will hamper me from conquering a couple of obstacles unaided that I'd like to try (such as the Golden Crack, which I presume I will probably plant my grillguard into if I try it).

BTW, none of us that have '95+ models can ever own a "BigDawg" as I just defined it since we cannot get an LSD or locker for our front diffy. I am not happy about that. I don't want a BigDawg to be able to say I have one, I simply want what that modified front diffy would help me be able to do.

This has been an interesting exercise in semantics, but maybe we need to get back to talking about Moab now.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-17-2000 at 01:45 PM]
 






hey now, I have no front locker and I consider MYSELF big dawg!
 






lol..yes yes....back to moab...um....so i found some pretty rocks online. lol....i really am just hitting random keys on the keyboard now....blah blah...

so, ok...i'll be going through denver on the way there and back. are there any places around that area to either hit on the way there or on the way back that sombody from the area would like to meet up at? mainly because i want to spend some time out there more than just that weekend, ya know? and i need to start planning for it now....
 






Hmmm... Big Dawg... you have to have all of that stuff... I guess I don't qualify. :( :( :(

But I have big teeth, that's gotta count for something. ;) :D :bounce:
 






Well, I guess I am "stock" but I am actually a "medium stock" with raised breather tubes, skid plates, 235's BFG AT's, a rear limited slip, front and rear tow points and by Moab- Rock Sliders! Don't mind me, I just had to add that and complicate the issue.

Anyone going to be camping in a tent at the KOA? I don't want to be all by myself at the KOA.

Can a stock do the trail that Ray and I think Gerald have a picture of their rigs on a rock overhang overlooking the valley?

[Edited by Brian1 on 11-17-2000 at 03:58 PM]
 






Originally posted by Brian1

Anyone going to be camping in a tent at the KOA? I don't want to be all by myself at the KOA.

Most likely that I will be.
 






Originally posted by mattadams
hey now, I have no front locker and I consider MYSELF big dawg!

Yeah me too! LOL I don't even have a winch! Course I do have that heavy right foot.... maybe thats it! LOL
 



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Originally posted by Brian1
Can a stock do the trail that Ray and I think Gerald have a picture of their rigs on a rock overhang overlooking the valley?

That's the Top of the World trail, and everyone that hasn't been on it needs to go. That ledge is straight over a 3,000 ft drop with scenery that will take your breath away.

The first of the trail is easy, but the last 2 1/2 miles or so are a real challenge for a stocker but a stocker can make it. Skidplates are absolutely required for it, but that's true of all of Moab. One of the perfect trails to show what a stocker can really do. There is a "loop" at the last mile up top that is usually taken to the right (counterclockwise). Taking the top loop left (clockwise) makes the trail much more challenging, and that is what Ray Lobato meant on the previous page when he suggested doing it to the left this year instead of right.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-17-2000 at 04:30 PM]
 






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