What can my TJ handle at Moab?

Tob

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Hi y'all!
I'm planning on making my pilgrimage to the holy land at Easter Jeep safari this year, and I'd like your input on two questions I have:

1. What difficulty rating of trails can my TJ (and myself with not much offroad experience) handle at Moab? (without damage, because it's my ride home too)
It's a Rubicon with a 3" coil lift, 265/70 17 Duratracs, otherwise stock.

and 2. What equipment should I seriously consider bringing with me or adding to my Jeep to be better prepared for the trails?
-tool set, water, recovery points, recovery straps, CB radio?, oil, coolant, ATF for PS, fire extinguisher already on the list

I don't want to miss anything, and as I'm doing my homework for the trip, I'd like to hear some advice from people with experience at Moab/EJS. Thanks!
 
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Moab is home to literally hundreds of miles of trails. Much more than just the big name stuff. Put "Hells revenge" on your list as well as "fins and things" after that you can kindof gauge whether your comfortable with the others. Get yourself a guidebook too. Ill post a link to the one I used.

Hells revenge was the first big trail I did there. some of the climbs had me thinking "no @$&#ing way" but looking at the black tracks I just trusted it and it really is amazing.
IMG_20190520_152702280_HDR.jpg
 
I’ve been to Moab, but not during Easter Safari. The good thing about going during EJS is plenty of help on the trails. The bad thing is long lines on the trails.

There are various rating systems. I use this book
https://www.amazon.com/dp/193483825X/?tag=wranglerorg-20&tag=wranglerorg-20

It describes what your rig needs to do a trail as well as everything you need to know about wheelin in Moab.

you have a solid setup and will be able todo a variety of extreme trails. Moab is not all that hard, it’s just beautiful. There are hard trails, of course.

Main thing is to go over your rig before you go, check everything. Run the trails with your lockers on. The tires will squeak as they skip. That’s normal. Air down to 10-12psi
 
Thanks JMT. Speaking of airing down, would you recommend having my own onboard air?

Get something cheap like a Viair Portable that can hook up to your battery for $70 and see where you need to go from there
Hi y'all!
I'm planning on making my pilgrimage to the holy land at Easter Jeep safari this year, and I'd like your input on two questions I have:

1. What difficulty rating of trails can my TJ (and myself with not much offroad experience) handle at Moab? (without damage, because it's my ride home too)
It's a Rubicon with a 3" coil lift, 265/70 17 Duratracs, otherwise stock.

and 2. What equipment should I seriously consider bringing with me or adding to my Jeep to be better prepared for the trails?
-tool set, water, recovery points, recovery straps, CB radio?, oil, coolant, ATF for PS, fire extinguisher already on the list

I don't want to miss anything, and as I'm doing my homework for the trip, I'd like to hear some advice from people with experience at Moab/EJS. Thanks!

I did the Rubicon on 32’s and 2 inch lift.
Just have fun and run what you brung.
Know your rig. Learn your rig before you go.
well you have a rubicon. Learn your lockers. Your built for it
 
Thanks JMT. Speaking of airing down, would you recommend having my own onboard air?
I took a Viair 88P, about $60. It is a good investment and I’ve used it many times.

At Moab I learned that I could air down and drive around without airing back up between trail rides. Some of the trails were 40 miles away. I had no issues. I used my portable after the trip before heading home.

Still a good investment. If you intend to eventually get onboard air, go that route.
 
Red rock 4 wheelers have a website where they rate each trail. https://www.rr4w.com/Trails-Home.cfm

You should be fine on anything 6 or less.

Moab is a ton of fun. I suggest hitting up fins and things first because it really shows you how much traction you get on the rocks.
 
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Take the time to do Schaffer trail its really easy but has awesome scenery and just a real relaxing drive.
 
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Red rock 4 wheelers have a website where they rate each trail. https://www.rr4w.com/Trails-Home.cfm

You should be fine on anything 6 or less.

I've been looking at their website, and the difficulty ratings say 35+" tires are considered a plus on level 4, and required on 5 and 6. The 265/70R16's are only 31.6". Are you sure about running a level 6 trail? Or do you mean I could make it by using bypasses on the obstacles?

Also, on the trail description page, under Trail Notes, even for the level 4's, 35" is listed as the minimum size tire.
At this point I'm a bit confused, I'm getting mixed info 🤷‍♂️

One more important note, my TJ is not only my daily driver but it will need to be able to make the 1300 mile road trip back home.
 
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You can easily do the "big"/famous trails: Hells Revenge, Poison Spider, Fins 'N Things, Top of the world.. If you're afraid of heights, stay away from Hells Revenge and Find N things!
 
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@JMT and @ac_ were just fine on 33s. Hell ac was in 2wd most the time. (I do not advise that) . Are you going solo or with anyone?
We are going to catch the last couple days of Easter Jeep Safari trail runs and stay the rest of the week, and I was doing my homework on which trails I should register for. So I am not going solo, unless we decide to do something simple and scenic like Chicken Corners or the Schaffer switchbacks (even then I would have family as passengers with me).
 
@JMT and @ac_ were just fine on 33s. Hell ac was in 2wd most the time. (I do not advise that) . Are you going solo or with anyone?
While that was true, I did a lot of stupid damage that could have been avoided for sure with a simple pull into 4wd. I am thick headed sometimes, and I like to see what I can get away with on my own skills. Next time, I will probably try my 2wd skills closer to home lol!
 
Well, it turns out you can't register for level 4 trails unless you have atleast 35" tires, which kinda sucks since I have to miss out on the fins and things, seven mile rim, hell's revenge, top of the world trail runs, but I understand why they did that. On the bright side, I did get to register, so I'm happy.

Hopefully I can find someone to run some level 4 trails with during the couple days after EJS that I'm staying. Besides the RR4W club, are there any other groups I should check out for organized trail runs in case I want to do more wheeling after EJS?
 
Well, it turns out you can't register for level 4 trails unless you have atleast 35" tires, which kinda sucks since I have to miss out on the fins and things, seven mile rim, hell's revenge, top of the world trail runs, but I understand why they did that. On the bright side, I did get to register, so I'm happy.

Hopefully I can find someone to run some level 4 trails with during the couple days after EJS that I'm staying. Besides the RR4W club, are there any other groups I should check out for organized trail runs in case I want to do more wheeling after EJS?
It sounds like they just want to keep people moving on the trails. It can be a long day if people break down.

I liked going Car Show weekend. It’s a couple of weeks after EJS and there are all these cool cars around town mixed with every off-road vehicle imaginable. The weather is also nice.
 
Well, it turns out you can't register for level 4 trails unless you have atleast 35" tires, which kinda sucks since I have to miss out on the fins and things, seven mile rim, hell's revenge, top of the world trail runs, but I understand why they did that. On the bright side, I did get to register, so I'm happy.

Hopefully I can find someone to run some level 4 trails with during the couple days after EJS that I'm staying. Besides the RR4W club, are there any other groups I should check out for organized trail runs in case I want to do more wheeling after EJS?

After decades of east coast wheeling, I hope to make this trip sometime soon. Takes lots of pictures. I'm sure it will be a fantastic time!
 
Hells revenge was the first big trail I did there. some of the climbs had me thinking "no @$&#ing way" but looking at the black tracks I just trusted it and it really is amazing.

Same. We went last April a few weeks after EJS and I was really impressed at how well my '99 Sahara did with no lockers running 33"s on a 4" lift. Hell's Revenge was a bit puckering at times but that "slick rock" is like driving on sand paper, the thing just sticks.
 
Well, it turns out you can't register for level 4 trails unless you have atleast 35" tires, which kinda sucks since I have to miss out on the fins and things, seven mile rim, hell's revenge, top of the world trail runs, but I understand why they did that. On the bright side, I did get to register, so I'm happy.

Hopefully I can find someone to run some level 4 trails with during the couple days after EJS that I'm staying. Besides the RR4W club, are there any other groups I should check out for organized trail runs in case I want to do more wheeling after EJS?
Never done EJS but as far as the trails TFL tests all kinds of vehicles on Fins and Things so you’d have no trouble. I was actually going to suggest starting on that as well, it’s a great starter trail to the Moab experience.

Take the quick trip up and over the baby lions back in the sand flats.
 
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