Dollhouse round #2, redemption

[Ramble_Offroad]

Reservations opened this morning for this fall in the Maze. I was able to book two days at Dollhouse #2. I’m stoked.

This will be my second attempt talking my Bronco to the Dollhouse. I made it out there several years ago, but we made a hard choice to leave my truck behind at the Ranger station. I brought 12 extra gallons of gas and it wasn’t enough! However last time our route was longer as we looped in one night out at Panorama point. This time around we are planning to skip Panorama Point.

Here are a few pics from the previous trip. If you have never been out in the Maze I strongly recommend it.

This is one of my buddies just soaking it all in. I love this shot.

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[Ramble_Offroad]

Deleted the third brake light so I could snug the spare up against the TOR tailgate reinforcement.

Then added some Mabett rear window hinge chase lights. These were very inexpensive and the difference between the running brightness and brakes is minimal, but better than nothing. I’d happily pay 4X if a brand made a high end version of these. We shall see how long they last.

Also played around with some fuel transport options for the Dollhouse trip. I had a roof rack on the last trip with three 4G RotoPax tanks mounted, but ultimately decided that a roof rack was not for me. I’ll probably swap out the propane tank for another 3G RotoPax for the Maze trip and then just toss two 4G RotoPax in the back like it’s 1970. Yes I know it’s not safe, I don’t care. Ha ha ha. Yes, it will be heavy….i also don’t care. I will NOT be leaving my truck behind this time.

(Also, I’m not a fan of RotoPax to be honest. I much prefer sceptor Jerry cans, but they work. However I do recommend that anyone running RotoPax toss their fuel spout in the garbage and replace it with a water spout. Those damn spring operated safety fuel spouts are horrible. I have history with them malfunctioning so I’m biased).

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

Local forest service gates start opening in my area very soon. The Green Lady is hungry for some time in the MTNs.

 

[DuneRunner]

Looking forward to your trip report.
There is another thread here about an auxiliary fuel tank for the 2-door as well.

 

[RoseLane4]

Enjoy the trek, OP!
The 3rd & most remote district - the Maze - is awesome, incredible & unbelievable !

Places like this securely place Moab at the pinnacle of any backcountry destinations!

 

[murphtron]

Wow the Maze requires reservations? Times change.
Does it really require extra fuel to get there & back? Pretty sure I never carried fuel back in the 1990s.

 

[dgorsett]

We spent Easter 1988ish in the Maze with an 86 Ranger with a Four Wheel Camper, kids had an Easter Egg hunt in camp. Came as close as I've ever come to running out of fuel. Went out through Hite. I kept saying we were running on fumes. I think my now 40 something daughter may still believe cars can run on fumes.

 

[dgorsett]

Wow the Maze requires reservations? Times change.
Does it really require extra fuel to get there & back? Pretty sure I never carried fuel back in the 1990s.

My Ranger had a 14 gallon tank filled in Green River, if I went again I'd carry one extra can anyway. Yeah, and reservations???

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

The marina at Hite has been closed for many years, so no gas from the south via the Road to Hite trail

The closest “last gas” if you enter via the Hans Flat Ranger station is Hanksville or Green River.

From Hanksville to the Doll House and back is approximately 200 miles.

Not sure about your range but this is where the 2D’s small 16 gallon tank hurts. Plus twin turbo’s on 37’s….she thirsty.

My buddies still tease me about leaving my truck behind last time. Maybe I could have made it with the fuel I had, maybe not. Plus last time we didn’t hit Hanksville for gas and made the push from Green River, so this time I will be advocating that we bounce through Hanksville.

 

[dgorsett]

The marina at Hite has been closed for many years, so no gas from the south via the Road to Hite trail

The closest “last gas” if you enter via the Hans Flat Ranger station is Hanksville or Green River.

From Hanksville to the Doll House and back is approximately 200 miles.

Not sure about your range but this is where the 2D’s small 16 gallon tank hurts. Plus twin turbo’s on 37’s….she thirsty.

My buddies still tease me about leaving my truck behind last time. Maybe I could have made it with the fuel I had, maybe not. Plus last time we didn’t hit Hanksville for gas and made the push from Green River, so this time I will be advocating that we bounce through Hanksville.

Yep, Hite is not an option anymore. On our trip "back in the day" we arrived late and had to camp there and wait for the gas station to open in the AM (no pay at the pump then). My Bronco gets a pretty consistent 20 mpg mixed driving, probably 15 or less on that route, so it would be close, too close.

 

[murphtron]

Yep, Hite is not an option anymore. On our trip "back in the day" we arrived late and had to camp there and wait for the gas station to open in the AM (no pay at the pump then). My Bronco gets a pretty consistent 20 mpg mixed driving, probably 15 or less on that route, so it would be close, too close.

Didn’t know about gas at Hite. Times do indeed change!

 

[dgorsett]

Didn’t know about gas at Hite. Times do indeed change!

The old Marina Store, the lake has dropped too low to get there via water anymore so no need for the marina

 

[bgr33r]

I hope you had a blast. And I’m planning on heading here next week before the offroadeo in Moab. Any updates on the gas needed? I’m headed to chimney rock via Hanksville/Hans Flat with a 4dr badlands sas and shopping for rotopax today…

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

I hope you had a blast. And I’m planning on heading here next week before the offroadeo in Moab. Any updates on the gas needed? I’m headed to chimney rock via Hanksville/Hans Flat with a 4dr badlands sas and shopping for rotopax today…

We will be out there in Oct. I’m still debating how much aux fuel we be required. Plus we have three other vehicles to plan for so it’s a moving target. I’m currently considering the stand alone Pack Rack from Trailrax. That would allow me to run two 3g tanks on each side window. Plus two more 3g tanks strapped to the spare tire

Good news is that the 4D Bronco has a 20g tank (I think), 2Ds only have 16g tanks.

Is Chimney Rock up near Devil’s Racetrack? I’ve always wanted to hit that trial, last time we were up there we got snowed out. Good luck!

 

[bgr33r]

Sounds like you’re prepping a killer trip.

For gas, I’m tracking about ~210 miles round trip. I ran 13 mpg through Death Valley last month, while expecting 8-12 crawling tothe Maze. At 20 gal, it’s tight but trying to guess how much extra.

Looking at 2 rotopax on the spare maybe 2x3 gal. Or just throwing a 5 gallon can in the rear and filling in on the way to get it out of the interior.

What I hate is that the cans I’m finding all have giant funnels sticking off them. I also worry about it banging around in back. Alternatively I don’t want to bend my tailgate overloading the spare.

How have you or anyone else considered all of this?

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