Grand Junction and then on to Moab (1 Viewer)

[PPFJ60]

I am trying to decide if I should load spare parts onto my small trailer and bring that out to Grand Junction and drop it off some place while we hit the trails or if I should load all that stuff in the back of the Cruiser. Does anyone have a place I can drop my trailer when I get to Grand Junction? Since I will be by myself on the trip I am thinking I will just fold the back seat down and camp in the back of the cruiser so packing all the stuff in their will be a problem.

 

[MountainRam]

You can leave your trailer at my dad's place here on the Redlands. I'm sure we can find a place - unless its a 53' trailer

I'm back over in GJ, came over today. As a word of caution - watch out for the highway partol, as they are out in force - earning their keep. Last Sunday night when I came back to CS, I, (lucky me), won the prize and got stopped for an interview in Glenwood Canyon, by a lady CHP officer. And even luckier for me, I got to contribute to the general fund a sizable donation, because I didn't know the correct answers. BTW, the speed limit in Glenwood Canyon, I70, IS 50mph. And no, I didn't know how fast I was going. Seems the old 6 cylinder Dodge slips down the highway far easier than the 6 cylinder FJ40. I forgot my own rule of 1. never lead the parade, and 2. when headlights suddenly appear from seemingly nowhere, slow down. 3. and finally, never wear your "Leadfoot Grandpa" T shirt, no matter who likes it on a road trip.

Saw 7 CHP cars today. 3 were involved in "interviews", 3 were waiting for interviewees, and 1 was waiting for a tow truck to load a motorhome on a flatbed. So on your trip over here, to GJ, rule 1 and 2 will apply. I doubt if rule 3 applies to any coming over.

Darryl

 

[PPFJ60]

I went through Glenwood Canyon last February and saw many CHP cars in the 50 mph area so I know where that is. While my 60 can run 70+ mph it is a more enjoyable drive at 60 mph or below so I don't plan on leading the parade or getting any awards.

Still firming up my plans for this weekend but I think I will be leaving Divide around 6am on Saturday. I will have plenty of time to goof off on the trip to GJ and still get there at a decent time.

I may just camp Saturday night at the spot Darryl indicated above since that sounds convenient for the 8:30am to 9:00am meet time for Sunday morning.

I would be up to running Bangs Canyon (4-7 rated trail) Saturday afternoon and at least taking a look at Billings Canyon (9 rated trail) on Saturday or Monday.

The trailer is a 10' utility trailer that won't be heavily loaded. Most of what I will be taking will fit in the tool box that is mounted on the trailer and I can lock the spare tires so may be I'll just leave the trailer there when we hit the trail on Sunday.

 

[black95]

While my 60 can run 70+ mph it is a more enjoyable drive at 60 mph or below so I don't plan on leading the parade or getting any awards.

Whatever!! anyone ever tried to follow chuck?? you better be able to cruise 80 mph on the canyon roads, hahaha.

 

[PPFJ60]

May be I should check my speed-o-meter again.

 

[benw4x4]

You can park your trailer at my place if you want. I work down by the acorn station at the exit. We have lots of truck and trailer parking. You can leave it there also.

 

[billb596]

Book Cliff Cruisers

Hello my brothers from the other side of the mountain!! My name is Bill and I'm the president of www.bookcliffcruisers.com here in Western Colorado. Sorry for the late response to this post. I will be posting a link and info on our web site for the run. Benw4X4 sorry I have not linked up with you yet. Our next meeting has changed from the 19th (yesterday) to the 27th of this month. It will be as Safari Ltd.

Any of you coming this weekend can contact me at billb596@hotmail.com or through our website. I can give you some ideas on trails, places to get a or help out anyway possible.

Bill Baker
TLCA# 16333
Book Cliff Cruisers

 

[PPFJ60]

My guess is I will be in Grand Junction at 1pm - 2pm on Saturday. Wayne, are talking about exit 26 or 37? My cell is 719-649-9180.

 

[MountainRam]

21 Road and this weekend, and all the chime ins!!!

Looks like some activity here - finally.

Glad to hear from Bill, of Bookcliff Cruisers, and to note that their meeting was changed to the 27th. I thought it strange that it was a no-show event on the 19th. Good to know of the location change, and hopefully that will bring the attendees back in droves.

And also that benw4x4 is here with us now. Chuck looks like you have choices to make as to where to park your trailer - a good thing.

Its a chuckle too about the speedo thing for GW canyon - On my return trip to GJ this past Monday, I did indeed drive pretty close to the limit of 50mph, pretty close, as I wasn't leading the prade. Thats the key. Let the clowns lead the parade!

And did I mention the number of highway patrol out watching and in some cases conducting interviews? Consider it mentioned.

Looks like the weather will be really nice, with possibility of rain Thurs and Friday, and clear, cool for the weekend. Cool is upper 70's to lower 80's. The Colorado river is supposed to peak sometime today - not that thats an issue where the trails are - not unless it really PEAKS.

There are 4 exits off I70 for Grand Junction. The 3rd and 4th are probably of the most interest. The 3rd is exit 28, which takes you off on 24 road. South it takes you to Mesa Mall, fast food and so forth. Going south of Patterson, or "F" road takes you over 6&50 overpass and onto Redlands Parkway, and further on takes you to where I am on the Redlands. The 4th is exit 26 and is the 22 road exit, and puts you at Acorn Truckstop, and benw4x4. Its also the closest exit to 21 road, which is a mile further west on 6&50. Take a look at a map, or browse around on Google Earth and you'll see how things are laid out. If lost, check yer GPS, wife, dog or call a phone number in this post or found in other posts in this thread.

I'm available via local GJ phone at 243-0589, cell 812-0215, or cell 719 963-8012. (The 812# is a grand central connect to the 719 cell, but local in 970 area)

Looking forward to this run!

Darryl
Crusin' Colorado Editor
CLC Past Prez
Stock FJ40 pilot...

 

[sanjuancruiser]

Hi I'm Hugh the owner of Safari Ltd in GJ. looks like I'll be able to meet you guys for a little run on Sat and/or Sun. I'll try to call and solidify w/the group.

 

[PPFJ60]

I decided that if I needed to drag a trailer to Grand Junction that I wasn't packing correctly so the trailer is staying home.

I talked to Wayne and he and I will be meeting up between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday to hit a trail some place. Still sounds like 21 road will be 8:30am to 9:00am on Sunday.

My cell is 719-649-9180 if anyone wants to join us for the Saturday run. I have off road 4x4 gear, fishing gear, hiking gear and camping gear with me so I am open to explore all sorts of stuff.

 

[minisrule]

I am trying to get out of here early, but I am not sure I will be there in time to do anything Saturday, If not I will see you Sunday morning.

Also, Chuck, I will have extra space if there is somthing you want/need me to haul over and back.

 

[PPFJ60]

Well I am back home. I ended up with brakes that only work when the pedal is pushed all the way to the floor. Moad would not be a place to be with marginal brakes! I went to Montrose and home on hwy 50. I managed to get behind someone pulling a trailer with some junk on it so if I needed to crash into them to stop I figured they wouldn't care. See pictures to see the junk on the trailer and see if you recognize the junk.

http://s336.photobucket.com/albums/n355/wigham_photos/21 Road/?start=all

 

[PPFJ60]

Well Darryl told me that 21 road is normaly a dry river bed but I will have to take his word for it until I get a chance to go back and run it again. The trail I ran had lots of water running in it! This made it impossible to know when you were going to hit a hidden rock or hole. I ended up with dents on three out of four quarter panels. The left front fender took the worst if it. First I smashed my left front fender and then shortly after that Darrly was hung up on a rock that couldn't be seen and needed to be pulled off it. Darrly asked me if I would rather get stuck or get body damage. I smarted off and said I don't get stuck and guess what happened about 15 minutes after I said that............. I don't have pictures of me getting stuck or of where I smashed my left front fender but I know cameras were out at those times so I hope Darryl or Hugh post up those pictures.

I know Darryl hit his top on the over hanging rock, Andy hit his cab on a rock in one of the many tight spots, Wayne bent front and rear bumpers as well as a rear quarter panel and trimmed his fan when the motor mount flexed enough to cause the fan to hit the shroud on a steep mud hill climb, Hugh bent a rocker panel and fender and I damaged three quarter panels. Very awsome trail!

I think the water level dropped at least 3" on the way down from what it was on the way up. The spot I needed a pull to get off of had water flowing over it on the way up but was dry on the way down?

 

[PPFJ60]

One other thing about driving up a river is that if you stop in the river your truck does not. Many times we could see trucks sinking when stopped because the water was washing the soil away from under the tires. Leaving a truck in the river for any length of time would not be be a good idea.

 

[MountainRam]

Anyone can run 21 road when its dry...

As you have noted from Chuck's input on CLC's 21 Road run, Hunter Wash was running, and running quite well when we started up it about 10:30am on the 24th of May. This was a first for me. I have crossed creeks at various times, but have never run up a running wash. And yes, the sky was dark grey as it had been raining off and on for a couple days, but it did look like it might clear off. And yes we all did know what the "wise ones" would say about going up a running wash in a desert area - its about the same as going up a dry wash when its not raining so we figured we had our bases covered.

You truly had to be there to understand what it was like. I have never been in the area when the sound of running water was so very distinct. It was strange. We had 4 going up at the start, Chuck, Wayne of GJ now Andy and me. We were joind later by Hugh of Safari Ltd in GJ in his FJ45 shorty PU, running a 3FE (gotta love a 6!). Running a running wash was a 1st for all on this run. And yes I'd rather get high centered that bash a quarter panel any day! Not really sure how I managed to ka-dink the top of my '40, but it really made a loud noise, unlike sheet metal - a little like being inside a big drum.

I'm over in CS this evening with all the pictures on my laptop in GJ. I do have a few on my phone though, so I'll try to upload them. The sequence should be Andy, Chuck and Hugh. I post more as time allows, when I return to GJ.

Not too bad for a phone camera!

Darryl
21 Road River Rat

 

[deafswat]

look like you guys had fun. I know Darryl (my dad) wish that I was there. It would be cool, but im about 2000 miles away.

 

[PPFJ60]

When I first arrived in GJ I was supposed to look for Wayne's place of employment to meet up with Wayne and the president of the GJ Land Cruiser club called Bookcliff Cruisers. I ended up taking a tour down the road a bit even though I figured I missed the turn but I wanted to see what was a little farther down the road. When I decided I should turn around and go find Wayne I noticed a GJ police officer behind me so I pulled over eventhough he didn't have his lights on. I was wondering what I did wrong when the officer walked up the truck and said my name. For a few seconds I was shocked that the GJ police force knew who I was. The officer turned out the Bill Baker the president of the Bookcliff Cruisers. Bill lead me back to Wayne's place of employment for a meet and greet. Bill had to work Saturday and Sunday so he couldn't make the run with us. Nice to meet you Bill!

 

[benw4x4]

It was a good run. The weather definitely made it alot more challenging. I have a few pictures I took with my phone. Everyone got a little bumped and bruised. I got home and found that I bent the front bracket from my frame to the slider on the left side. Pulled them off and today I am going to get some heavier tubing for mounts.

 

[billb596]

Holly Raging River BatMan!!!! I hate that I had to miss this run and avoid damage to my 80 emmm mabey not. It was nice to meet Ben and Chuck, I would like to have had a picture of Chuck's face when I met him for the 1st time however

Thanks for posting the shots and I look forward to meeting you all again.

Bill Baker
www.bookcliffcruisers.com