Death Valley National Park.

[parkerdraw]

I am going to Death Valley Nat'l park in March 08. I note on map they have several 4WD trails in the park. Does anyone know how rough these trails are on tires. I don't want to get stuck with 2 flats and one spare. I have an 80 series 1997 stock, with bridgstone Dueller AT Rivo tires with 50+% tread.

Does anyone have info on those trails and an opinion?
Thank you, Parkerdraw

 

[spressomon]

I am going to Death Valley Nat'l park in March 08. I note on map they have several 4WD trails in the park. Does anyone know how rough these trails are on tires. I don't want to get stuck with 2 flats and one spare. I have an 80 series 1997 stock, with bridgstone Dueller AT Rivo tires with 50+% tread.

Does anyone have info on those trails and an opinion?
Thank you, Parkerdraw

Just made my first trip to DV at New Years. Most of the secondary gravel roads throughout the park are rough washboard. I would think you'd be OK with your Revos...assuming they're in good condition now (no sidewall cuts, abrasion, etc.). The trails like Lippencott Mine trail was certainly rockier but I still think you'll be fine on these types of trails.

If you are travelling solo I'd take at least a tire repair kit and a means of inflating a tire to be a little more prepared...but that's the same advice for any place you might go with one rig off-road.

 

[Brentbba]

In DV it's always possible to slice a sidewall. In '06 trailer leader punctured a tire going into camp the first night and I sliced a sidewall on my revo's less than 1/2 hour out of camp the next morning. I was fine on the revo's the remaining 4 days. It's always a crap shoot.

 

[Kofoed]

x2

The main two things are, IMHO, are to go lower than highway psi, and WATCH where you are going. Weird things happen, but they are rare (Murphy's Law excepted) if paying attention. I caught a fast leak from a broken drill bit at the Race Track parking lot last year .

I went through some DV roads on T-day and New Years last year to various places (the standard non-4wd tourist detours) in an Accord with streeter Michelins. If it is any comfort, March will see a lot of people around FWIW.

If you are concerned, buy another steel rim and a used tire for a 2nd spare, for what 80 bucks?

 

[2mbb]

If you are traveling by yourself (one truck) you might consider bringing a tire repair kit an inner tube and a way to break the bead (hilift, etc.). Or invite along someone else and encourage your friend to buy an 80 series and the same size tires. Although death valley is a large park and there are remote areas, that time of year is one of it's busiest and you will probably run across other people if you stay on roads to the main attractions. I have an FJ60 with BFG AT's and my friend has an FJZ80 with yokohama's. We didn't have any problems off highway. We went into marble canyon, out to racetrack, down lipponcott mine road and through saline valley into dodecker canyon to Eureka Dunes.

I recommend you get a copy of Roger Mitchel's "Death Valley SUV Trails". This book has good information on trails in and around the park.

 

[chicago]

I bring a full size spare and a tire kit, and also have a small compressor.
Like mentioned above...weird things happen when youd least expect it.
The wash borad is NASTY out there....tooth ratteling nasty. Make sure you tighten up the bolts that are prone to coming loose and Id even check em when you stop....ask me how I know!

enjoy the tirp!
Its a beautiful place...I cant wait for my next trip in April to DV.
My favorite run of the year!
Where are you going to be when youre there?
How many of you are going?
Are you camping or hotel/ motel'n it?

Chicago

 

[Ducks]

I have limited experience but here are my thoughts and stuff - Air down to 20 or 15 psi. A wide tire will roll over a rough rock. Watch for larger-ish rocks that have black marks on the side of them - this is where people have rubbed the sides of their tires on them. The most common flat is the rear passenger-side tire. It is the farthest from the driver and hardest to get it to go where you want it to go. A tire pump (bicycle pump) and tire repair kit are cheap and reliable. You can enjoy the scenery and get some exercise. Of course a quality air compressor (not the ones for blowing up air mattresses) or CO2 tank are nice but a bit more expensive.

 

[parkerdraw]

Death Valley trip.

Thanks to all who gave good advice on tires and DV. We are camping, but hope to set up in one place and do day tripas from there. We have a 17' Casita Camper.

Our ETA to DV is March 10th.

I have carried two spares on trips in past. But don't have one for my 97, 80 series. Wheels get expensive and do take up space. i offered to swap tires for the trip with my son, he wasn't to wild about it and has a 100 series. Plus my outfit not lifted. We leave from Sheridan WY and hate to ride all that ways on real tough of road tires. Guess you can't have it all. Thanks again. Parkerdraw.

 

[FJ40_owner]

Check Cruisedrews posts. He has been there in an 80 and has insight.

Bring lots of common sense.

Do not underestimate the extreme heat or the extreme cold. Both can kill you.

These words are the most important to remember.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I've camped all around DV for years and if you have a 17 foot trailer, you'll miss the best camping in the park. As long as you are 1 mile from main (paved) roads camping is legal throughout the back country.

If you bring a camper, you need to get a specific camp site-probably Furnace Creek is your best bet. It's central and there are very good trails from there. Recommended day trips without the trailer:

1-Echo Canyon to the mine at the top. The start is 15 minutes from Furnace Creek

2-Warm Springs Canyon up to the geologists cabin and Striped Butte. Go up to Mengel Pass if you really feel adventurous. This one is highly recommended.

3-Drive the main road to Rhyolite, and return via Titus Canyon. That drops you close to Furnace Creek and it really is spectacular (and easy)

4-You could conceivably go up to Ubehebe and out to the Race Track, but that's best done when camping out at the south end of the Race track.

If you go over to the Panamint Side, you can camp at Panamint Springs:

4-Pleasant Canyon-It's narrow and brushy but not too hard. Very cool in the upper canyon.

5-Goler Wash to the other side of Mengel Pass

6-Darwin Falls Very close to Panamint Springs

7-South Park Canyon if you are an experienced 4wheeler and have a very good spare tire. Up to the cabins is pretty easy though exposed, above the cabins can be hairy but still doable and fun.

I'll be there the week after you. Have fun.

 

[jonb96150]

re-torque your lug nuts after the first few miles of washboard. You might also want to check the bolts attaching the front anti-sway bar to the frame. Don't ask me how I know either!

 

[pappy]

I've been going to DV for over 20 years ... but haven't been there since March 2000. What are you boys talking about? I've never had a tire issue, or had issues with any of the backcountry roads, except for the miserable washboard. Have the roads gotten crummy?

Anybody know if they received rain?

 

[Dusty 66]

Check out the morning report DeathValley.com - Home

Bridgstone Revos should work thats what I run.

I personally have had two flats on one trip to Death Valley (not on Bridgstones)

But that was the only time I took two spares

 

[chicago]

I've been going to DV for over 20 years ... but haven't been there since March 2000. What are you boys talking about? I've never had a tire issue, or had issues with any of the backcountry roads, except for the miserable washboard. Have the roads gotten crummy?

Anybody know if they received rain?

Ive never had any tire issues either, but I always go prepared. One guy in the group got a flat...picked up a nail IIRC.
IMO the washboard had gotten worse each year for the past 3 years.
Beats the hell out of you in SFA rig for sure!


Chicago

 

[wagon4wd]

actually, the washboard isn't so bad in something coil sprung, like an 80, or *cough* XJ *cough*. Didn't seem all that bad in a somewhat overloaded 60 with wiped out springs and really long shackles to compensate. (don't look at me, it came that way)

a stock 80 should get you most places out there, your biggest problem will be width, assuming you like your paint job - pleasant canyon and goler wash can be quite overgrown, or, at least they were the last two years I was out there. a stock 80 might weigh a bit too much to go over the bridge at south park canyon, which is rated for 6000 lb max. Guess it depends on what you carry with you.

Lots of stuff to explore out there. If you don't mind putting LOTS of time in the saddle, the racetrack is quite cool to see, as is striped butte - you can get a stock 80 in through the east side without much difficulty at all.

As for tires, one year I had a stock 74 cherokee with kirkland signature all terrains (costco specials) and had no problems with the rocks going through goler wash. Last year, the 60 sliced the sidewall of a BFG AT KO aired down to 18 psi. Bring a spare, a shovel, and a good jack, and be extra careful when you don't have any more spares left.

Do read the morning report that someone else posted the link to. Some places are a little interesting to get to this time of year. Make sure you tell someone where you're planning on going if you're going solo so they know where to send the recon team if you don't make it back.

 

[Ian Rogers]

I just got back from a Saline Valley, Lipincot, Race Tracks, Scotty's castle, trip. I have spent some time out there, I have 3 rules. 1) Never travel alone (there are weird pirates out in the sticks, you might need help). 2. IF other truck in you group has a different lug pattern you need 2 spare tire per lug pattern, carry a patch kit, inter tube w/ small wire to sew up a side wall, and a co2 tank. 3 Run lower PSI then you think, I run 15 and 12 on my 2000 4runner, this greatly helps handling and reduces the risk of a flat. 3 1/2 If you have ABS find out how to turn it off (I pull the 60 amp ABS fuse) ABS will try to kill you more than once in the dirt at speed.

 

[Dusty 66]

I just got back from a Saline Valley, Lipincot, Race Tracks, Scotty's castle, trip. I have spent some time out there, I have 3 rules. 1) Never travel alone (there are weird pirates out in the sticks, you might need help). 2. IF other truck in you group has a different lug pattern you need 2 spare tire per lug pattern, carry a patch kit, inter tube w/ small wire to sew up a side wall, and a co2 tank. 3 Run lower PSI then you think, I run 15 and 12 on my 2000 4runner, this greatly helps handling and reduces the risk of a flat. 3 1/2 If you have ABS find out how to turn it off (I pull the 60 amp ABS fuse) ABS will try to kill you more than once in the dirt at speed.

Ian just missed you & the LA boys I was out for five days through New Years

I travel Death Valley alone most of the time. and usaly @ Night you don't have any distractions you can concentrate on the road and no traffic and see head light of on coming traffic going around sharp turns too.

Never a problem with anybody ever but I do carry back up and a few cold one's for peace offerings If needed.....

I have traveled in my FJ55, FZJ80, FJ cruiser & my New F250 work truck

Ian your right about the ABS The F250 I broke A shock and the Washboard/ABS did destroy the brakes first trip first 5000 miles on the ODO Besides the terrible ride.

The FZJ80 with ARB HD lift full-time 4WD ABS I had no complaints just air down the 285 BFG to 15-18 lb.. Did bust a battery cable one time easy fix thou. wash board road road killed It

FJ55 was the most sporting no A/C and easy to fix If something broke down to take out on the dirt roads not bad, sucked on the highway thou.

Top of Lippencott rd
Our FJ cruiser full time 4WD 6 speed by far has been the most stable and the best ride so far..... some times I don't even air down CD player hardly skips....

FZJ80 & my Tipi 2004

This is one more thing I'd put in your kit washboard roads tend to loosen...Dusty 66

 

[calico kid]

I have traveled a few thousand miles of trails out that way in the last few years with no real problems
just a couple of flats I get them from diving to close to fire pits
and dump sites never had a problem with any folks I have met
out there



so enjoy

 

[chicago]

actually, the washboard isn't so bad in something coil sprung, like an 80, or *cough* XJ *cough*.

Its BRUTAL in my sprung over 62. My teeth hurt by the time we hit sailine springs, and thats aired down to 15 PSI.
IFS would be much NICER for that terrain IMO!

Still...I CANT WAIT to go back!
My favorite trip of the year!

Chicago