Atlanta to Moab, Valley of the Gods, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Etc

[smittycrusher]

As I am now sitting in my office trying to decompress and get caught up, I started thinking about my three favorite mods to Brian's truck based on our trip usuage. For example, I could not list the winch as a favorite since it never was unspooled. Here they are in reverse order:

3. PFran's interior LED dome lights (I will include the LED reverse lights since we did back up a few times in the pitch black as well) - These dome lights are a must have for any truck. They are very inexpensive and made the night time map reading MUCH better than would have been with the stock bulbs. This is a very useful upgrade.

2. Trasharoo trash bag - this bag is a must for any time off road! We were the only truck (out of three at times) with the Trasharoo. It became a community trash bag regardless of where we were. Everyone was thankful to have ZERO trash in the cabins. Being on the road for seven straight days without this trash bag would have seriously been unpleasant (smells and messes). Another very useful, inexpensive upgrade that every camper/overlander/traveler should have.

1. Ironman suspension with the Foam Cell shocks - I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS SUSPENSION! I am not very technical and could not tell you what "foam cell" means. I can tell you that after 327 straight miles off road with very diverse speed and terrain, this suspension shined. I have had the OME Springs/shocks on my rig for about five years. I have wheeled quite a bit in those five years but mine never felt this nice. There was zero shock fade throughout this trip. I had my mind set on the Frankie's Off Road (FOR) kit after great reviews, but I am sold on the Ironman after this trip and plan on upgrading my 80's OME to the Ironman in the near future.

That is all for now...back to work!

Smitty

 

[loup407]

Thanks for your kind words, I really enjoy my FJC, despite less then robust enthusiasm from some corners of the Overlanding Community. It works for us. I'm bummed we didn't see you at Moki; I would have pulled over to say hi (and ogle the 80). The Horizon is a blast..it took us a couple of years to find the right one; we use it a lot.
Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments re: the Trasharoo. I've had mine for a year. In bear country, it's a lot easier to haul it up on a line than some random large stuff sack.
Good to know about the Ironman shocks!

 

[bgs]

I drove past your rig in Moab (in my Ti Silver FJC, pulling a Horizon)- almost rear-ended someone drooling over the 80. Looks great! We must have just missed you in VOG, as we camped there Thursday and Friday. Great trip!

Small world - Scott and I spotted you from the top of Moki while we were sitting on the top shelf trying to have lunch with some serious wind gusts.

Take care,

Brian

 

[bgs]

Here are some video links of the earlier part of our trip wheeling on Porcupine Rim, Baby Lion's Back, and Hell's Revenge.

I will post some clips video from the Grand Canyon trip when I have a chance to digest all the footage.

Hope this works.......

https://vimeo.com/41184955

https://vimeo.com/41186054

https://vimeo.com/41185591

https://vimeo.com/41186988

 

[bgs]

Right on. Not to steal Brian's thunder, but how did his 80 perform? Looks nice and flexy in the pics.

Hi David - In a nutshell, the truck never let me down. Sadly, "Hoss" turned 100,000 miles on this trip so he is a teenager now. We traveled with my 80, 2 FJ Cruisers and a brand new 4 seater Polaris Razor to the Grand Canyon. We didn't know what to expect regarding road conditions because we took the harder way over the mountains from Mesquite. I called the Arizona Strip Field office in St George to find out road conditions beforehand, and they said it would be rough, but had no current information for me. When we got to the mountains and saw the steep rocky road ahead, the guys in the Razor thought the trucks would have to turn around and try another route. They told me this afterwards, and they were quote "blown away" when they saw us start climbing the mountain without stopping and just keep going (smiley face graphic here). Took us about 6 hours with some short stops to get to our destination on the North Rim. Was definitely a bit of a long work-out, more for me than the truck. I hope to post some video of the crossing soon.

Cheers,

BGS

 

[loup407]

Small world - Scott and I spotted you from the top of Moki while we were sitting on the top shelf trying to have lunch with some serious wind gusts.

Take care,

Brian

It got a lot windier later that afternoon, down on the valley floor! I'm pretty happy my awning is still intact. Looks like you guys had a great trip!

 

[Imnosaint]

Enjoyed the report. Glad to make out who you were. Overlanding makes this a smaller world, indeed.

 

[bgs]

Here is a short video compilation of the first day heading over to the North Rim by crossing the mountains near Mesquite. More to come.......

https://vimeo.com/41389343

YH,

Brian

 

[Stuartag]

Hi David - In a nutshell, the truck never let me down. Sadly, "Hoss" turned 100,000 miles on this trip so he is a teenager now. We traveled with my 80, 2 FJ Cruisers and a brand new 4 seater Polaris Razor to the Grand Canyon. We didn't know what to expect regarding road conditions because we took the harder way over the mountains from Mesquite. I called the Arizona Strip Field office in St George to find out road conditions beforehand, and they said it would be rough, but had no current information for me. When we got to the mountains and saw the steep rocky road ahead, the guys in the Razor thought the trucks would have to turn around and try another route. They told me this afterwards, and they were quote "blown away" when they saw us start climbing the mountain without stopping and just keep going (smiley face graphic here). Took us about 6 hours with some short stops to get to our destination on the North Rim. Was definitely a bit of a long work-out, more for me than the truck. I hope to post some video of the crossing soon.

Cheers,

BGS

What route did you exactly take from Mesquite into the Strip? I'm heading that way in a couple weeks. I have been on the Savanic Mine road up through the canyon, but would like to try BLM road 1050 through Grand Gulch, but heard it was impassable. Or did you take the northern route north of the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness? Thanks for posting. Looks like a great trip.

 

[bgs]

What route did you exactly take from Mesquite into the Strip? I'm heading that way in a couple weeks. I have been on the Savanic Mine road up through the canyon, but would like to try BLM road 1050 through Grand Gulch, but heard it was impassable. Or did you take the northern route north of the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness? Thanks for posting. Looks like a great trip.

There are two northern crossings from Mesquite, we took both (one on the way in, the other on the way back). Our trip to the rim was more north and east of where you describe, with the ultimate destinations being the Whitmore and Toroweap areas of the rim. I don't have any personal experience to tell you about the routes you would like to try. It sounds like you have planned a challenging trip. At least our trip got much easier once we crossed the mountains. I would be interested to hear the details of your trip when you return. Good luck!

 

[pfran42]

Dude! That trip was Epic! I am going to have to close up shop for two weeks and do something like this!

 

[richjeeps]

What route did you exactly take from Mesquite into the Strip? I'm heading that way in a couple weeks. I have been on the Savanic Mine road up through the canyon, but would like to try BLM road 1050 through Grand Gulch, but heard it was impassable. Or did you take the northern route north of the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness? Thanks for posting. Looks like a great trip.

Stuartaq - I plan to visit that area in July. I was looking at the various routes and would be vey interested in learning from you. Appreciate you letting us know what you find, decided and experience.

Thanks
Rich

 

[Stuartag]

Stuartaq - I plan to visit that area in July. I was looking at the various routes and would be vey interested in learning from you. Appreciate you letting us know what you find, decided and experience.

Thanks
Rich

Will do! I have tried to get some info from the BLM in St. George, but they have been unresponsive so far. I leave Wednesday for Moab where I am meeting friends. We will then take the off-road route through southern Utah and into AZ, with a likely stopover at Overland Expo. The plan is to hit the Strip after the Expo. Thanks for the info, and sorry for the hijack.

Alan

 

[bgs]

Will do! I have tried to get some info from the BLM in St. George, but they have been unresponsive so far. I leave Wednesday for Moab where I am meeting friends. We will then take the off-road route through southern Utah and into AZ, with a likely stopover at Overland Expo. The plan is to hit the Strip after the Expo. Thanks for the info, and sorry for the hijack.

Alan

No worries with hijacking - I'll be back on the strip in a couple weeks as well (May 28-31). Please let me know, may see you there if dates overlap.

 

[bgs]

It got a lot windier later that afternoon, down on the valley floor! I'm pretty happy my awning is still intact. Looks like you guys had a great trip!

loup407 - does the FJC on the Moki (just above my roof rack) look familiar - small world again.