MOAB EXPLORER EXTRAVAGANZA 2001

[Tom Wilk]

I'm still around, and I'm still going. Riff, did you guys settle the truck/trailer idea yet? I'd like to see who's going from the east/midwest. I'll look back through the thread for any info. I should be back to a daily/every other day view here at Explorer4x4.com.

As far as the book, Charles Well's guide to Moab is great. I carried it with me throughout the trip last year.

 

[riffman]

well...it seems that i did my serch in backwards order. I have gotten ahold of a 2 car trailer, and am now in search of a pull rig!! DOH!! but im not sure of any room on it...i also don't think that we'll be doing a flat bed.....unless we can find one, cause i have struck out on that. And ideas?

 

[Tom Wilk]

Riff,

No ideas here WRT the flatbed. Trailering isn't bad, if you have a decent towing vehicle. Big engine, gobs of torque. You'll need it on I-70 west of Denver. I don't have access to anything that would pull your Explorer+trailer.

I'm still willing to meet with the Chicago gang somewhere along I-80, even if it means leaving a bit early for the first day. I have no problem driving my Explorer out there, so don't save me a spot on any trailer. I still intend on leaving real early on Thursday, May 17th and arriving late afternoon on May 18th. I hope to stay until Monday and expect to get back home on Tuesday, the 22nd.

If I can get more vacation time in the same period, I may try to extend the trip, either arriving earlier, or leaving later/stopping on the way home.

 

[riffman]

uh...are you going to drive through the night? cause it takes 24 hours or so from here in central illinois. And depending on wether or not Pete(RFR2212) can go, i might have a free spot on the trailer anyway. so who knows....

big torque? oh yeah....powerstroke baby!!!!

 

[2001ExpSport]

Hey man! I thought I had dibs on the empty trailer spot! Dead Link Removed

Are you planning to buy this set up or rent it?

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 12-05-2000 at 08:30 PM]

 

[GJarrett]

Tom: hey there my friend!

It is truly great news that you are returning again next year. I see your private email isn't on the website link right now. Email me so I can respond to you. I have a proposition for you and a request for you to take on a little leadership at this run if you are willing to accept the responsibility.

Thanks,
gerald@explorerforum.com

 

[Tom Wilk]

Gerald, check your mailbox.

Riff, my plan right now (and it is real tentative) is to leave real early on Thursday and do about 14-16 hours. That would put me past the halfway point. On Friday, I would do the remaining 10 hours, which would put me in Moab around 5-PM or so if I can get started around 7-AM.

Realistically, I think I'm about 5-6 hours from the Chicago area along I-80, so if I were to meet you there, I'd have to leave very early from here, maybe 0300 hours. Night driving on the freeway is usually pretty good since the traffic isn't much of a problem. I've pulled the all-nighters to Florida a couple of times.

This could all change if I can get a couple of days off earlier in the week before. If that is the case, I'd like to get there a day or two early so that I can check out a couple of trails and some scenery. It's pretty tentative at this point.

 

[2001ExpSport]

I also would like to check out some scenery. My girlfriend will be coming so maybe we could site see together Tom, but I don't want to impose and don't know your plans. Scott, I have been looking around here for some trailers and rigs with no luck, but I'll keep my eye out. Are you willing to get something from up here or would you rather stay within your area? What are the possibilities of renting something? Anyway, we have plenty of time to plan this. Have you guys figured out a route yet?

 

[GJarrett]

Takin' it easy and enjoying the scenery

Tom, 2001ExpSport, that's one reason I put Saturday's 3-D trails into the schedule. That sounded like a lot of pretty driving on fairly easy trails and none of us have run those trails yet, so that's why I threw it out there for an idea.

Of course wherever the actual group shows interest in going will be the preferred run that will really happen. There's so much to pick from out there that I am sure wherever you actually end up choosing to go Saturday will be great.

 

[riffman]

matt, the only thing i have abour renting is $$$......but if you can find somthing, go for it. i have no problem of somthing coming from up there!!

 

[2001ExpSport]

Gerald,

I am definitely down for that, but like you said we'll see how it goes when everyone is there.

 

[GJarrett]

IMPORTANT

Some are talking of coming that have not made resv and emailed me a confirmation. There is now a link off the the main page with an announcement of the run and an online registration form.

The hotels are ALREADY filling up for that weekend, and this run is limited to the first thirty vehicles that sign up. Check the itinerary thread and if you are not on there then I either haven't gotten the online registration yet or you haven't emailed me or I missed your request somewhere in this thread.

We have thirteen confirmed vehicles already, and I know of at least two others -- like Tom Wilk -- that haven't been able to positively confirm yet. 2001ExpSport have I gotten your confirmation yet?

Rememer at 30 vehicles we have to close registration. We are trying to avoid any appearance of a large organized run again to avoid BLM groups fees (which can be several thousand dollars).

 

[2001ExpSport]

Gerald, yes I definitely want to go, but for some reason I thought the confirmation was for the Truckhaven trip. I'll have to get some reservations quick then. I looked though the thread, but I must have missed the confirmed dates.

 

[Rick]

There are now 2 signup sheets online one for Moab and Another for Truckhaven. The links are in the NEWS feature area of the main webpage and also on the EXPLORER RUNS page.

 

[Rick]

I see that Fins & Things was left off the itinerary. I'll lead a run there if others want to go. I thought that trail was a blast, it's almost all slick rock with some super steep climbs and decents. Rated 3-1/2 moderately modified Explorers won't have a problem out there. Fins & Things and Porcupine Rim would be good for an all day run since they both start in the same area. Fins can lead into the Porcupine Rim Trail.

Fins is also a trail that you can hop off of at many points and then hit the gravel road to other trails.

Here is a description at 4x4NOW: http://4x4now.com/34jsft.htm


[Edited by Rick on 12-10-2000 at 11:55 PM]

 

[GJarrett]

Rick I put Fins and Things in with the modified schedule Saturday combined with Steelbender going the other way from last year's direction, so maybe you didn't notice it there. I also want to run it badly and figured many others will too. It will be fun to finalize and work all this out as the time nears. Maybe we'll run separate runs there or a bigger combined run.

 

[DarkMan]

Yeeeehhhhaawwww. Guess who's comin' to EewwTawwwww!

Tammy just got confirmation of her vacation time. We're taking off Friday, May 18, through Friday, May 25. BamBam will be there with bells on.

We're leaning toward the sissy hotel accommodations right now. I think I saw some contact info for the Silver Sage a few pages back. Anyone have news for me on that front?

You Littleton guys, Perry, Matt, when are you leaving? Maybe we could hook up. We can't leave 'til Thursday, but I'll be we could be in Denver by 6pm. 'Course, we're young and used to driving all night.

Another thing. I'm seriously thinking about chucking my 3.25 stock gears. Any suggestions? Dare I go for the 4.10s? What kind of stuff do I need to keep the computer strait with different gears?

Thanks for any help you can offer. E-mail me if you prefer not to clutter up the board too much. (Jeez, 16 pages and it's still 6 months away? You people are just sick!)

p.s. I forgot how to do "bounce" smilies. Otherwise they'd be all over this post!

Here ya go Trint! BTW, it's : bounce :


[Edited by GJarrett on 12-11-2000 at 11:55 AM]

 

[F'in Bob]

Good idea Darkman...

...it would be good to see who is going from the Denver area and try to carivan out. I am in negotiations with my better half, so we could be going also. Just need to get all the mods in before May...this should be fun.

 

[Perry]

F'nBob,
Trust me, your other half will have a BLAST!
As for us, we are not sure if we will be going Weds. or Thursday. I don't want Patrick to miss to much school.
Either day it will be in the morning.

 

[F'in Bob]

Gerald, did you...

...get my information? I just sent it (7:05) and then saw your post...we'll be there!