What difficult trails have been done stock (1 Viewer)

[MoGas]

I'm planning some trips to Colorado this summer and I am curious about who has done what difficult trails in Colorado or Arizona in a stock 80.

I am quite experienced off road in Pennsylvania, Ohio, VA, W. VA, NY, The Cascades of Washington, and many trails in Arizona. However they were all done in a CJ5 with a 2.5" lift, 33's and 4.10's with limited slips front and rear.

I May install an Aussie Locker before I go and a longshot would be an OME 2.5 lift. I have good newer tires (BFG ATKO) in the stock size, actually a 1/2 inch taller, CDL switch, pin#7 mod, and that's about it. The toughest rated trail I have gone on in the 80 has been Broken Arrow in Sedona, AZ and I had no problems there.

Would Black Bear pass be out of the question? Imogene? Holy Cross?

What trails have you done relatively stock and would you do them again stock? What problems did you run into that a modification would have prevented.


Thanks,
Dave

Mods:
If this needs moved to a different section please feel free. I posted in 80 tech because I thought I'd get better answers from 80's drivers

 

[GXO]

Buy sliders and tires. You will get more bang for your buck out of those and reduce your damage potential.

 

[MoGas]

I know what I'd like to get, I just want to know what has been done in a vehicle similar to mine.

Dave

 

[Romer]

Sliders on trails is the best insurance policy you could do most of the stuff we do with sliders and the trails you emntioned. Otherwise, they could be done, but a rock might bite you on the side and the damage would be thousands.

Get the sliders then you won't be stressed while your off roading.

 

[MoGas]

Sliders on trails is the best insurance policy you could do most of the stuff we do with sliders and the trails you emntioned. Otherwise, they could be done, but a rock might bite you on the side and the damage would be thousands.

Get the sliders then you won't be stressed while your off roading.

I'm actually having one of our engineers modify George's drawings so I can build a set for my 93.

 

[Romer]

I know what I'd like to get, I just want to know what has been done in a vehicle similar to mine.

Dave

There are a lot of trails you can in stock form without sliders that you won't have to be too concerned about. When you come out, watch the rising sun forum, we have trail runs just about every weekend in the summer.

 

[MoGas]

I'd really like to do Black Bear Pass to Telluride, spend the night in Telluride and then then Imogene out.



Dave

 

[Romer]

I should comment that I have not done Black bear so I can't comment on it. I know you could do Mesquito pass, McCallistor Gulch, Red Cone (do the bypass on the obstacle)

I would not do Chinamans or Spring Creek without sliders. Those are two of my favorite trails.

You could do lots of trails in Moab without sliders as well.

 

[MoGas]

I should comment that I have not done Black bear so I can't comment on it. I know you could do Mesquito pass, McCallistor Gulch, Red Cone (do the bypass on the obstacle)

I would not do Chinamans or Spring Creek without sliders. Those are two of my favorite trails.

You could do lots of trails in Moab without sliders as well.

I did forget to mention that I will have some George's sliders by then too.


I know Moab is supposed to be some sort of "Mecca" but I prefer to do trails that have a destination. It's more fun for the kids that way.

 

[Vitesse_6]

Oh my, You should have no issues with Black Bear or Imogene, I did it in a non lifted 80 series...and slightly smaller than stock tires....Dont ask.
However There is a pic in this months Calander of me in the 80 followed by the "Ark" R.I.P.
Its a great trip, Do it!
About Black Bear, Make sure its still open before you make the trip to Ouray, IIRC they close it at some point....IIRC

 

[Vitesse_6]

I should comment that I have not done Black bear so I can't comment on it. I know you could do Mesquito pass, McCallistor Gulch, Red Cone (do the bypass on the obstacle)

I would not do Chinamans or Spring Creek without sliders. Those are two of my favorite trails.

You could do lots of trails in Moab without sliders as well.

I should read all before I type,
I would say and unlocked non lifted 80 could do any up to a 3+ some 4's in Moab, Some of the trails are rated 4+'s due to no by-pass, Alot have by-passes.
A good smooth run in Moab is "Fins-N-things" or "Hells Revenge" is a good one.
There are alot more, Just cant quite type at this hour.
Good luck

 

[MoGas]

Oh my, You should have no issues with Black Bear or Imogere, I did it in a non lifted 80 series...and slightly smaller than stock tires....Dont ask.
However There is a pic in this months Calander of me in the 80 followed by the "Ark" R.I.P.
Its a great trip, Do it!

Do you have any pics from this trip?

Dave

 

[Vitesse_6]

Not on the computer, I will do a quick search in the trip section, It might not be a bad idea for you as well.

 

[Romer]

We do some runs with destinations over the summer:

Ghost Town Run

Triple Bypass

Ouray - Some of the passes you mentioned

Then there are those for fun:

Chinamans thread 1 and thread 2

Spring Creek

Red Cone

And there are a lot more. Those are some of the big runs. People in the club are going somewhere just about every weekend.

With sliders, you should be able to do all the above. an OME lift (at least the springs) would make some of them much easier. Chinamans probably one thats harder than the others.

Never wheel alone. It's too easy to get hung up on a rock. Our club always makes sure that you and your truck makes it down safely.

 

[Vitesse_6]

Never wheel alone. It's too easy to get hung up on a rock. Our club always makes sure that you and your truck makes it down safely.

X 1000 !
Its not a place you want to hike out of to find help

 

[TroutRunner]

Hello,

You should not have any issues with Black Bear and then Imogene. No personal experience with Black Bear, but I know those who have and with your setup compared to theirs I would not expect trouble. Get the trails book "Guide to Colorado's Backroads" http://www.4x4books.com/cb.htm. It can help you plan your trip and give a good idea of what you will be up against.

Things should not close in the summer unless it snows.

Imogene I did in my dad's stock Cherokee with stock tires years ago. It would be a Sunday drive in the Cruiser.

Beautiful views and cool towns. Go for it.

TR

 

[MoGas]

I have those Wells books and an old copy of Jeep Trails to Colorado Ghost Towns. Wells makes BBP sound like an extreme road. I know it shouldn't be taken lightly and I wonder if he stresses about it to keep H2 drivers out of there.

Dave

 

[landtoy80]

Along with sliders you will want a t-case skid plate.
When I went on 21RD in GrandJunction with stock locked 80, the rocks would of did damage to the t-case.
I should of has a muffler and cat skid plate too as they both got bashed.
I had to remove the spare tire as it keep hanging up on rocks.
I have the old Slee sliders that have the removable step.
I didn't remove them but the step saved the doors.

If you don't mind mashing your under carriage, a locked stock 80 will go places that a lifted unlocked 40 wont go without assistance.

 

[LCPilot]

I've got a stock 80 that I have wheeled on some of the colorado trails. It is stock (meaning no lift, skid plates, sliders or big tires). I didn't know that you could buy an 80 with factory lockers when I was shopping. I do not have running boards or a roof rack. I do put the spare inside and remove the mud flaps before I go out. OK enough with the background.

I have done the following trails.

Spring Creek - Have to be extra careful with excellent wheel placement.
Wheeler lake - Large obstacle take on the right side
Holy Cross - not in your wildest dreams
Mosquito pass - nice trip
Tin cup, Cumberland, Hancock passes (triple bypass) nice trip
Mt Antero - nice trip
Iron Mike - nice trip
Marshall pass - nice trip
Eagle rock - pretty tight and twisty, prepare for damage
Slaughter house gulch - 1 rough hill, but no strap for me
Twin Cone - 1 long loose hill
Bear park - rocky but nice
Deer park 370 C - 1 steep hill but nice

There is lots of places that you can go. My personal feeling is that my 80 can go most places that a h--p with a rear locker can go.

A good site for trail info is
http://www.4x4trails.net/db_search.php?been_here=1

Have fun.

 

[TroutRunner]

Another fun site to check out with pics of the obstacles is http://www.traildamage.com/.

Lists the trails by county so you can figure out where you are headed and click accordingly. Also uses their own rating scale for rocks, scenery, water, etc.

TR