Broken Arrow 12/3/05

[datrupr]

Ok, I know this is a little bit late, but I thought it was time to post this up. I went on a run to Broken Arrow on that Saturday with BX and Lao-Taco (from another board) and I had a friend driving Colette's stock Grand Vitara. We met at the Safeway in Sedona on 89A and the first thing that came out of our trip leaders (Lao-Taco A.K.A. Mark) mouth was that he did not think that the Zuk would make it past the gate keeper at the beginning of the trail. This was beginning to put a damper on my sppirits becasue I really wanted to do this run and I wanted to see how the GV would perform. Well, after we back tracked to the trail head we creeped across the gate keeper, and I have to say, that after the tire install and extra 3/4" of clearance on the Trooper I still scraped the stupid step bars. Man I have to get some sliders and get rid of those things. The GV however was a different story, the only problem it had was the fact that I was there trying to spot and he did not need a spot, it did not scrape, rub, or bump. Smooth sailing. Needles to say, all the trucks did great and it was a great run. The GV even made it down the Devil's Staircase with only a slight scrape on a cross member at the beginning. There was another slight tragedy though, I did lose a chunk of tread on the left front of my newly aquired tires. All in all, it was a great day and a lot of fun. This trail really impressed me with it's scenic value and I can clearly see why it is up there on the tops of a lot of peoples lists. I will be more than happy to run it again at almost any time with anyone who wants to go. I do also know now for fact that any high clearance stock 4X4 can make it. Great run and I want to thank Mark over at 4WDTrips.net for setting it up. It was a very great day indeed. Now, here are some pictures.

 

[datrupr]

And a few more pics.

 

[erin]

Very nice pics!
I have wanted to do this trail for sometime now. Hopefully after the new year this will happen. Not surprised your Zuk made it after the review I just read last night. It surprised all the writers for the review. Seems like a real sleeper.
Are you going to do anything to it, or just focus on the Trooper?

 

[cshontz]

Excellent post, Aaron. Thanks for sharing the pictures. I've never seen anyplace like it!

 

[Scott Brady]

Sedona is a special place.

I just ran Broken Arrow a few weeks ago too, and had the chance to drive UP the devils staircase. Needless to say, the Tacoma needed both lockers but made the climb (at street pressure in the tires). Too much fun.

Note: It is generally impossible to "climb" the Devils Staicase during the weekend due to traffic. I did it at the end of the day, on a Monday.

 

[Hltoppr]

Wow, the Pink Jeep guys have really cleaned the trail if a stock GV can make it....

I think I'll take the BMW GS and see how it is....

-H-

 

[jeffryscott]

very cool

That's cool Aaron - I love that trail and have only driven it in my Land Rover. I am surprised the Zuk did so well, and pleased that you tried it.

I bet you got some looks on the trail like "What is THAT doing HERE?"

Jeff

 

[datrupr]

Scott, you are nuts, trying to go up, but congrats on making it:clapsmile When we were hiking around on Submarine rock we could hear somebody trying to get up, but with no success. Andy, I don't know if they had cleaned it up or not as this was the first time I have run it, but it was a blast!

Erin, we are going to work on the Grand Vitara, but the Trooper will get most of its expensive goodies first, such as a lift and sliders, then we will lift, protect, and shod the Zuk with proper tires. Until then though, we will continue to take it on lighter trail runs, or keep pushing its limits. Every time we take it out it goes on more and more challenging trails and performs flawlessly. It does nee a bit more suspension travel though, there was one area on Broken Arrow where the GV was actually on two wheels for a moment. We weren't able to get the camera out in time to get a shot of it though, but it was pretty cool. Right rear and left front tires off the ground, I gotta tell you, Colette's pucker factor was a little high seeing her car on only two wheels.:hehe:

 

[datrupr]

Jeff, when we were in the parking area for Submarine Rock a couple Jeeps were there and the guys were speaking softly that they were amazed that the Suzuki made it that far, and would not make it throught the whole trail. Too bad they didn't see it run the whole thing. We did get a few funny looks from the Pink Jeep drivers also, I think it made them feel like thier modded Jeeps were a bit overkill. I dunno, it was fun to see it going throught the trail. It is almost perfect for that trail due to the short wheelbase. You should take you Vitara up there, you will have a blast.

 

[jeffryscott]

Aaron, those looks are priceless when the big-tire crowd sees these little vehicles doing the same thing. Kindof emasculates them ....

Maybe you can make a deal with Rocky-Road, they have good prices on Old Man Emu stuff, and get both the Trooper and the Zuki equipped with OME shocks, springs and for the Zuki struts. The difference on both vehicles is amazing - they would be the best mods you could make right now (and having owned both and putting OME on, I speak from experience).

I'd love to do Broken Arrow again - and with the locker I'd love to try to climb the staircase ... that would be FUN.

 

[MoGas]

Years ago Broken Arrow was a challenge to get through unscathed in my CJ5 with a 2.5 lift and 33" BFG MT's now any vehicle can walk right through the Pink Jeep Highway. Tis a shame.


:beer:
Dave

 

[datrupr]

Dave, was my first run through the trail, so I have no experience form days gone by, but I have to say, though not the most challenging of trails, it is a lot of fun, and just beautiful.

 

[MoGas]

It's nice that it is so close though, because you can test out mods before you go somewhere serious.

It is a beautiful place too.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I LOVE Broken Arrow!

I've even stacked a couple rocks myself.....just so I didn't smash the rear Smittybuilt!

It's sooooo peaceful there early in the morning! Until the pink jeeps come rolling through.

Aaron......It's fun to see the little Zuk popping out of the "Devils Staircase".....!

 

[datrupr]

Mark, it was actually fun to see the Zuk going down the staircase. My wife had the camera and was so concerned about damage to her truck that she did not take any pics of it. That pic is of the Zuk coming down from Submarine rock. It is still a sight to behold though. We got a few looks from the Pink Jeep drivers in regards to the Zuk even being on that trail.