Canyonlands, Cap Reef, Bryce, etc: "Utah Sampler" trip report (warning, photos!)

[mph]

Great Right up...

Martin,
Great trip report...Yes, we all learn from road trips DOs/Don'ts. Utah is definitely pretty quiet once one drops below I-70.

When I first moved to Utah; I wanted to see it all. It is so hard...I have spent months and months in the areas that you drove through. My advice...For what it is worth...Pick one area and explore, explore...I have literally taken 50-60 trips in the San Rafael, but there is still more to see there, etc. It is great that you got to see some of the highlights of Utah!!!! Shoot me a PM, and I would be glad to share with you the knowledge of any particular area.

Keep exploring and have fun!

Mike

 

[Bighead]

Nice write-up...gave me plenty of ideas for my own trip.

 

[RockyMtnFamily]

Great write up, enjoyed your travelogue. I will respond to a few of the points that you learned:

1. I'm not crazy about sleeping in dust and dirt. Since the back of the truck was not sealed against dust, this was a problem. Anyone have any experience dust-proofing a Tacoma bed? I presume that most of the dust is getting in via the drain slots in the bed, but any tips would be welcome. I really hated opening the back of the truck and seeing everything covered in a fine layer of dust!

I worked at a camper dealership several years ago. We used to take the skinny sealer tape that we used on the windows for the shell and run that along the sides where the tailgate shuts against the bed. This might work for your situation. Another thing to try is use the carpet kit flap that covers the tailgate if you have a carpet kit.

3. The cab-high shell doesn't make a good camping platform. There simply isn't enough room to move around, it's like sleeping under someone's bed. I'm going to start looking around for a high-rise shell (much like the one I had on the Ranger) very soon.

Amen to that, I am in the market for one too, but might have to wait awhile to find one for my truck.

7. One little "trick" I tried that really worked: Before I left I bought a case of small (10 oz) water bottles and put them in the freezer to freeze them solid. Then, just before leaving I put them in the cooler. The result was that the cooler stayed very cold (I only had to re-ice once) and I always had ice-cold water when I wanted it. It also meant that I didn't have as much ice taking up space so I had more room for food and beer. Don't know how this would work during a hotter time of the year but it's worth trying.

I have a Coleman PowerChilll cooler and use this same method. I can be out for over a week and still come home with ice in the bottles, and that is with me unplugging the cooler at night so I don't run the battery low. On my recent trip to Canyonlands I had to leave the cooler unplugged during the day as my food was freezing.

I can't wait to hear about your next adventure.

Kevin

 

[Maximus Ram]

Martin, Great write up. Love the pictures....so much that I put the one of the sunrise at Sunrise Point as my background (hope you don't mind)

 

[02TahoeMD]

Absolutely great write up. I have been through the Kodakchrome Basin, Capitol Reef, Bryce so many times I forgot, and you found some roads I still have not seen. I just can not wait to get back there!

The Moab region is a must see, definitely include it in your next trip.

I recommend the North Rim of the Grand Canyon if you haven't gotten there, there are lots of BLM roads before you actually get into the park itself. And once you are in the park there are a few gravel roads that let you get off the beaten path away from the tourists....which are quite considerably less than what is at the South Rim if you havent been there yet.

Also recommended is Brian Head, not to terribly far from Bryce.

Thanks also for your lessons learned. I am going to be using my Tahoe as my camp vehicle, and will make some black out curtains for it.

Looking forward to your next trip report!

 

[suntinez]

Martin,
Thanks for taking the time to write this up, nicely done ... :bowdown: takes some time and is much appreciated! This is an area I want to see soon ... Even more now!

 

[Remote]

Okay, so here's what I picked up after 6 days on the road with the Tacoma. In no particular order:

1. I'm not crazy about sleeping in dust and dirt. Since the back of the truck was not sealed against dust, this was a problem. Anyone have any experience dust-proofing a Tacoma bed? I presume that most of the dust is getting in via the drain slots in the bed, but any tips would be welcome. I really hated opening the back of the truck and seeing everything covered in a fine layer of dust!

2. Blackout curtains are a good idea. The moon was waning when I was out, which meant it rose in the middle of the night and was extremely bright. Blackout curtains would have helped a lot and with the liner on the shell, I could attach them with velcro (this is what I did in my previous pickup, a Ford Ranger.)

:1888fbbd:

I will try to "provide" in my first post. Great trip and write up by the way. On the dust thing, I have had shells on all my Toyotas and sealing up as many of the "points of entry" only just helps. I have a pass thru window in the cab and the shell with a gasket made from foam pipe insulation between them that seals pretty well. By keeping the windows up and running the outside air blower or a/c, positive "pressure" is created in the rear preventing any dust at all from getting in. Only needed when going fast enough to kick up a cloud.
Yes on the curtians and Velcro. For curtains I cut up a "space blanket". Silver side out in Summer and red side out in Winter. The wife sewed on a nice edging and the Velcro. They fold up into just about nothing and also prevents "prying eyes" from checking out your gear.
Hope it helps.