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Where to Wheel out West?

89 MJ

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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My family is talking about going out west at some point next summer to do some wheeling. We would likely be going with a friend who has a Gladiator. I will give you a breakdown of the details of each vehicle and I am hoping some of you have recommendations for places to go with these vehicles. 

 

1. 89 Comanche 4.0, AX-15, 3" lift, 31s, D30, 8.8, 4.10 gears (my blue truck)

2. 95 YJ 5.3, 5 speed, SOA, 35s, D30, 8.8 4.10 gears

3. 2020 JT Mojave 37s and D44s

 

Knowing that about each of those vehicles, where do you recommend we go? 

We are thinking Ouray, Moab, or????

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derf MJ Junkie

derf

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Ouray/Silverton/Telluride is very scenic.  Lots of trails lead to old mining camps that can be cool to explore.  Most trails are not especially difficult.  The MJ on 31's will do fine on 90% of the trails.  The bigger Jeeps won't be challenged as much.  But still it's a great area to go.

 

Moab has a much wider variety of trails to challenge all levels of Jeeps.  The MJ on 31's can push it up to maybe a 7 or 8 rated trail.  You may need to be tugged over an obstacle or two.  Lockers make a big difference as you get up to the harder trails.  Hell's Revenge and Fins 'n' Things are two trails that a Jeep on 31's can handle and are the "go to" trails for Moab trips.

 

Moab in the summer gets pretty hot.  You're in the desert in the summer.  It can get over 100 degrees.  It is a dry heat so it's not terrible.  Just be sure to have plenty of water along.  There can be some summer storms blowing in that can drop the temperature substantially depending on when you're there.

 

Ouray is a lot higher elevation and doesn't get nearly as warm.  In fact, when weather blows in it can be downright cold.  It's not impossible to get snow even in the summer.  I've been at the top of Imogene pass a number of times.  One year it was sunny and warm.  I was in shorts and a t-shirt.  Another year it was in the 30's with a sustained wind over 20 mph and I was glad I brought my winter coat.

 

In both cases, the best way to do it is to get a hotel or rental house in town.  Camping options are open if you like to do that.  Pack a lunch (and food for dinner for just-in-case of a break down) and strike out for a day trip to a trail each morning.  There's usually enough traffic on all of the trails that if you get in trouble, you can get some help.

 

It's a good idea to have radios (CB or GMRS usually, Ham if you're inclined to do that).

 

There's plenty of places to get information on the trails.  Cell phone service is spotty so if you look online, be sure to have everything downloaded before the trip.  You can get GPS files that you can load up and it gives you a nice route to follow.  If you like paper books, there's one book series that's really good.

 

Colorado (south of I-70):

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838268/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-2

 

Colorado (north of I-70):

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Guidebooks/dp/1934838276/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-3

 

Moab:

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Moab-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/193483825X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-1

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derf MJ Junkie

derf

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I forgot a couple of things:

 

Both places have plenty of restaurants in town.  Typically, the groups I run with will do a trail during the day and go out for dinner when they get home.

 

The Ouray area has a lot of trails that take you to another town.  It's possible to run a morning trail to another town, stop for lunch, and then run another trail back.  I've run Black Bear from Silverton to Telluride, stopped for lunch, then run Imogene trail back to Ouray.

 

Black Bear Pass is one way (Ouray to Telluride).  It's not overly technical.  Stock Jeeps can do it and I've even followed a Suburban down it.  But the switchbacks are pucker inducing.  Plenty of 3, 5, 7, and even 9 point turns depending on your wheelbase (*cough* Gladiator).  If people in the group are afraid of heights, it's not the trail to run.

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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11 minutes ago, Pete M said:

Moab.  even the trails that are relatively easy will blow your mind with the scenery. :D 

 

 

103747010.jpg

Wowza! That is VERY pretty!

 

10 minutes ago, derf said:

Ouray/Silverton/Telluride is very scenic.  Lots of trails lead to old mining camps that can be cool to explore.  Most trails are not especially difficult.  The MJ on 31's will do fine on 90% of the trails.  The bigger Jeeps won't be challenged as much.  But still it's a great area to go.

 

Moab has a much wider variety of trails to challenge all levels of Jeeps.  The MJ on 31's can push it up to maybe a 7 or 8 rated trail.  You may need to be tugged over an obstacle or two.  Lockers make a big difference as you get up to the harder trails.  Hell's Revenge and Fins 'n' Things are two trails that a Jeep on 31's can handle and are the "go to" trails for Moab trips.

 

Moab in the summer gets pretty hot.  You're in the desert in the summer.  It can get over 100 degrees.  It is a dry heat so it's not terrible.  Just be sure to have plenty of water along.  There can be some summer storms blowing in that can drop the temperature substantially depending on when you're there.

 

Ouray is a lot higher elevation and doesn't get nearly as warm.  In fact, when weather blows in it can be downright cold.  It's not impossible to get snow even in the summer.  I've been at the top of Imogene pass a number of times.  One year it was sunny and warm.  I was in shorts and a t-shirt.  Another year it was in the 30's with a sustained wind over 20 mph and I was glad I brought my winter coat.

 

In both cases, the best way to do it is to get a hotel or rental house in town.  Camping options are open if you like to do that.  Pack a lunch (and food for dinner for just-in-case of a break down) and strike out for a day trip to a trail each morning.  There's usually enough traffic on all of the trails that if you get in trouble, you can get some help.

 

It's a good idea to have radios (CB or GMRS usually, Ham if you're inclined to do that).

 

There's plenty of places to get information on the trails.  Cell phone service is spotty so if you look online, be sure to have everything downloaded before the trip.  You can get GPS files that you can load up and it gives you a nice route to follow.  If you like paper books, there's one book series that's really good.

 

Colorado (south of I-70):

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838268/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-2

 

Colorado (north of I-70):

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Guidebooks/dp/1934838276/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-3

 

Moab:

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Moab-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/193483825X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=charles+wells&qid=1612193726&sr=8-1

Thank you! The bigger Jeeps aren't looking for super challenging things, more so just a getaway for a week or so to do some wheeling.

5 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

would this be this summer (2021) or 2022's summer?

As of now, I think we are planning on 2021 summer, but I'm sure it will come down to how much progress my dad makes on the cars in his shop and the All Breeds Jeep Show. If he makes a lot of progress and the ABJC is cancelled, we will probably go for sure, if he gets lots done and the show is still on, we still might go wheeling. Lots of variables, but we are getting ideas together anyways. Get your truck driveable and come with us!

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Jesse J Comanche Fanatic

Jesse J

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Just now, 89 MJ said:

 

As of now, I think we are planning on 2021 summer, but I'm sure it will come down to how much progress my dad makes on the cars in his shop and the All Breeds Jeep Show. If he makes a lot of progress and the ABJC is cancelled, we will probably go for sure, if he gets lots done and the show is still on, we still might go wheeling. Lots of variables, but we are getting ideas together anyways. Get your truck driveable and come with us!

I don't know if I can make it down this summer. I have heard that I can do a couple trails bone stock. 

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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1 minute ago, derf said:

The Black Bear switchbacks, looking from Imogene trail.

switchbacks.jpg

 

1 minute ago, derf said:

Telluride as we were leaving on Imogene.

telluride.jpg

 

Just now, derf said:

Top of Imogene Pass

imogenepass3.jpg

Those are some AMAZING views! It also looks like my MJ could handle that. Thank you for the pictures!

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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1 minute ago, derf said:

I ran those trails in my stock XJ on 235/75R15 tires.

Well, that answers that :roflmao:. Is that your 2 door XJ or you with the JK in the picture? I wish I lived somewhere that had cool trails. SW WI has nothing.

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derf MJ Junkie

derf

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2 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

Well, that answers that :roflmao:. Is that your 2 door XJ or you with the JK in the picture? I wish I lived somewhere that had cool trails. SW WI has nothing.

That was my rental JK.

 

And yeah, I grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA.  I know the lack of trails in that area.

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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1 minute ago, derf said:

And yeah, I grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA.  I know the lack of trails in that area.

But at least we have....well....ummmmm.......hmmmmm...corn! At least we have corn! :roflmao:

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89 MJ Obsessive Comanche Disorder

89 MJ

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2 minutes ago, derf said:

Up hell's gate, an optional obstacle on Hell's Revenge in Moab.

 

 

I think I'd pass on that one. It would be cool to watch someone climb though!

 

1 minute ago, fiatslug87 said:

Then keep going west and hit the Rubicon.

See ya there? :brows: 

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