Mojave road from AZ to Barstow in one day with lots of pix!

[Qball]

Found out the wife will be going up north to visit her sister with our son this weekend, I didn't want to go so that means I have some rare alone time. I quickly evaluated my options of things I can do in 2 days of free time and I decided I really want to wheel the LX. I read that mojave road is really nice but fairly easy which is good for me because I am going solo(I know, not the smartest thing to do). Of course I didn't have time to prepare so packing was rushed Friday morning and I didn't get to leave till 1:30pm, long story short I didn't get to needles till 8 pm due to traffic. It was getting late and I didn't feel like go hunting for a camp site in the dark so I grabbed a room at avi casino. Recently I don't quit a bit of work on the LX and put on 35s, she ran GREAT! Cruised 76-78 the entire way on highway 40 even on the hills. After replacing and finally preloading the bearing correctly she is as smooth as butter even with 35s at highways speed(thanks to all the knowledge on MUD).

I woke up at 2am Saturday morning and can't go back to sleep, I was a little worried that the forecast calls for 94 degrees for mojave area the night before so I took a shower and check out of the hotel and hit the trail. I figure I have 6-7 hours before the heat really kicks in. Navigation was probably the biggest challenge but the trails were pretty easy and even with only high beam it wasn't bad.

Everyone said the trail is super easy and it was except the trail goes over the first mountain. It was steep, rocky and got some heathy rut, gaps and 1ft plus off camber rocky step ups, in no way a standard 2wd or low 4x4 can get through that with ease like the website said. Maybe I took the wrong trail through that hill, it got me pretty nervous especially being In the dark and solo. Put the beast in 4 low and hit the CDL and she climbed like a billy goat, she got up and over the nasty looking stuff without even a wheel spin. I was really impressed to say the least, sorry no pix since I was concentrating driving and it was dark.

Sun came up around 5:45 and I was already 30 miles in and through the wash and the cedar canyon road. That area is fast and fun, weather was nice and cool and even got rained on a little. Of course the view was spectacular.

 

[Qball]

Crossed the railroad and that's where the fun, fast and smooth trails ended and endless miles of giant speed bumps started. Progress was painfully slow and I can't even enjoy the view because need to concentrate on not getting bucked. The bumps went on for MILES until the railroad bridge crossing.

Soda lake was really neat, I tossed my customary rock to the pile at travelers monument.

 

[Qball]

I originally planned to camp somewhere in the later parts of the trail but I have already logged 100 miles by 9 am so I decided to simply run it this time and go home. I'll do more exploring next time with more people and better preparation, you can say I am pre-running it baja style.

After the soda lake is the sand wash/dune area. Navigation is a challenge because the trails isn't well marked and tracks are everywhere. Btw do people really live in theses houses against the hill? Not many pictures in the sand dunes because I was really frustrated with navigating the area. To add to my frustration giant speed bumps are everywhere in the area too.

Once I got out the dunes is the railroad bridge crossing and the trails became fun again.

 

[Qball]

Of course no wheeling trip is complete without poser flexing pix! Not so shabby for a mostly stocker with mild lift. Pretty sure she got more to give but that's the only spot I thought of taking poser pix.

 

[ewillis]

Looks like a cool trip! We ought to get a caravan together and do it again!

 

[Qball]

From there to Barstow are fast sandy river beds. The 35 inch balloon tires aired down to 18 psi makes it really fun and easy.

The 2 river crossings are fun too, I was surprised how much water still in it considering how dry this year has been.

 

[Qball]

Got to 15 around 11am, aired up and adjusted the shocks back to street level and headed home. It was still nice and beautify 75-80 degrees but the sun is starting to get hot. Even though I didn't stop and explored the areas like I wanted to but I wasn't sure on what to expect and didn't really want to get off the track solo(poor last minute planning), good thing because even on a holiday weekend I only saw 2 other rigs. At the end I was glad that I simply pre-run it so next time I knew what to expect and plan better. It as really fun except the speed bump sections, maybe I can figure out a way round them.

Things I learned:
1. Lower your antenna or lose it to a branch like I did
2. Need to lower my front bump stop, was rubbing my front. Ironically I bought rear bump stop extension and the rear didn't rub at all.
3. Remember to bring extra fuel, another reason I stuck to the main route.
4. I got just under 10 mpg off-road
5. I got just under 15mpg going there cruising almost 80 and got stuck in Vegas traffic.

Need antenna or rubber whip replacement and heard a rattle but can't seem to figure out where it is from. No other damage except for trail stripes. So for the most part it's a really easy trail.

In hind sight I really should of went to big bear, tons more people there and more variety in scenery and terrain. But I'm glad I did it and amazed by the mighty 80 every time I take her off road. I really should of taken pictures of those rocky climbs, they got me sweating it.

 

[Qball]

Looks like a cool trip! We ought to get a caravan together and do it again!

It was fun and a lot more fun to be had if I planned better. We should put together a trip later this fall or next spring. Hopefully I will get my sleeping platform figured out by then.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Crossed the railroad and that's where the fun, fast and smooth trails ended and endless miles of giant speed bumps started. Progress was painfully slow Soda lake was really neat, I tossed my customary rock to the pile celebrating nothing has happened on, before and after 1897 on that very spot.View attachment 900453 View attachment 900451

hey, you are not supposed to reveal what happened there

 

[Roc Doc]

It's more fun to go in a small group and camp one or two nights on the trail. There is lots more to see out there besides the road.

 

[Qball]

hey, you are not supposed to reveal what happened there

That's why I said nothing happened there. Nothing to see here, move along.



...Misspelled via IH8MUD app

 

[Qball]

It's more fun to go in a small group and camp one or two nights on the trail. There is lots more to see out there besides the road.

Totally agree, next time I'll be more prepared. It was fun running it still.


...Misspelled via IH8MUD app

 

[SeattleFJs]

Wow, I did this in January! Great trip.

 

[DSRTRDR]

That's why I said nothing happened there. Nothing to see here, move along.

you're not supposed to reveal the "nothing", either - it specifically says so in Casebier's book http://www.amazon.com/dp/0914224379/?tag=ihco-20

 

[Qball]

you're not supposed to reveal the "nothing", either - it specifically says so in Casebier's book http://www.amazon.com/dp/0914224379/?tag=ihco-20

Doh, sorry it was a last minute trip with poor planning so I didn't get the book. Let me take that picture out.

 

[DSRTRDR]

the book really has a lot of great tips and history - about the trail/road, the mountain range (did you see the sign to the painter's cabin ?), the Lanfair Valley, the one-room schoolhouse at Goffs, and the pioneer ranchers in the Eastern Mohave - there are good suggestions for campspots, too

to anybody taking the Mohave Road: definitely stop at the Goffs Schoolhouse and take the tour of the museum and train depot properties (self-guided most days, but you can also call ahead and get a more in-depth tour) - there's a living history collection of mining equipment from all over the region (most of it working !), and the library has thousands of maps and books, and is in the process of transcribing hours and hours of tapes of oral history from people living in the area now or in the past

disclosure: I am a member of the Mohave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, which maintains the property, publishes the guidebooks, and engages in advocacy for the region http://www.mdhca.org/

 

[DSRTRDR]

and as far as the giant speed bumps go: in AZ, we call them whoop-di-doos - and if you take them at the right speed and get into the rhythm, you will be just rocking yourself in the cruiser as if it was a rocking cradle lotsa fun

 

[Qball]

and as far as the giant speed bumps go: in AZ, we call them whoop-di-doos - and if you take them at the right speed and get into the rhythm, you will be just rocking yourself in the cruiser as if it was a rocking cradle lotsa fun

Lol maybe it is my suspension but I tried different speed and only speed seems to work is really slow. Also they vary in size so it is not the easiest to get the speed right. I don't have the long travel suspension like the decked out taco I saw blasting thought the whoop-di-doos. Ironically only 2 other vehicles I saw were a taco and a 4runner, no jeeps at all to my surprise. Maybe the the jeeps are afraid of the heat? It wasn't really got out out at all.

What's a popular month for the Mohave road? Really surprised that I only saw 2 other vehicles over the entire 130 miles.

Don't take me wrong I still had a lot of fun but could do without the whoop-di-doo.



...Misspelled via IH8MUD app