Nine Days in Moab

[contented]

Just home from nine days in Moab. Our third trip in three years and by far the most enjoyable. Probably the last. 2,100 miles one way is getting to be too much for this mid 70’s old man. We did Steelbender, Poison Spider, Seven Mile Rim, Flat Iron Mesa, Metal Masher, Lost World, Gold Bar Rim, and Wipeout Hill. Went w/ Jeep friends. I drive a stock 4-door 22 Badsquatch. They drove a 2-door lifted Jeep JK on 35’s w/ 4.56 gears and lockers. The more one does this and the more comfortable you get with your driving skills, you begin to notice the differences between short and long wheelbases and the strengths and weaknesses of both.

I think the most fun we had was on the Gold Bar Rim waterfall. I’ll post mostly pics so it is friendlier to load. I’ll make several posts and add a few short videos.

Flat Iron Mesa obstacle named the chute. Turning left at the top is a buggy line we didn’t even attempt. Turned right about 170 degrees to come back down.

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[contented]

Wipe out Hill

 

[contented]

Poison Spider, which btw was the only trail where we saw another soul. This group of SxS’s and several Jeeps off in the distance. This is the V-notch obstacle. Watch the SxS closely.

 

[contented]

Gold Bar Rim was our final trail. Our Jeep friends didn’t want to try going down the waterfall as someone had told them at a gas station that four built Jeeps had to winch up it when the were doing the Trifecta.


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[contented]

Gold Bar Waterfall

 

[Danielsand]

Regarding that SxS..... I can think of at least one (off hand) much more satisfying way to risk one's life than that. Like skydiving maybe? Or taming a King Cobra?

 

[SierraBronco]

Gold Bar Waterfall

Gotta love how much the video makes it look unimpressive. When in reality it's so steep that the brakes are unable to keep you in place

 

[contented]

Gold Bar waterfall going up.

 

[contented]

One last pic on Steelbender. The “Wall” obstacle. Did it last year and this year. A different line each time. Barely got up it each time. Not long wheelbases friendly. Friend’s 2 door JK walked right up it.

As an aside I finally learned to shorten the videos and reduce the resolution to get them to post.

A great trip w/ great friends.

 

[broncobase1]

Man this is a beautiful place! Utah is the #1 most beautiful state in the county in my opinion. Sorry Colorado. A couple years ago I went skiing in the Salt Lake City area. It can be a nice 60 degrees in town. Drive 20 minutes up the canyon and you're in some of the best skiing and snow in the world.

 

[Fatfireman]

Great videos. Really impressive.

 

[Felix808]

Looks like a great time! Gold Bar Rim & Flat Iron Mesa are some of my favorite trails out there.
Thanks for sharing .

 

[adamruiz2001]

Gold Bar waterfall going up.

Made that look easy. What is coming out of the trailer hitch? Something to protect the tire from hitting a rock on the decent?

 

[contented]

Made that look easy. What is coming out of the trailer hitch? Something to protect the tire from hitting a rock on the decent?

Good eyes. That’s exactly what it’s for. I’ve seen enough videos of Jeeps and Broncos damaging tailgates or in severe cases breaking the rear window. I don’t like to run without a spare so I needed to do something to protect the spare from strikes. Being well aware of the structural limitations of the factory hitch, I took a standard drop hitch, cut some 1/8” steel and went to work. My driving style is tortoise slow, so the hits are generally easy and not harsh.. It sticks out every so slightly past the spare. Served its purpose well. Just a few scrapes. No hard hits.

 

[Argon52]

Well how cool is that! You should make more and sell them! (wink wink, nudge nudge)

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