Arizona Rock Crawling Daily Driver
- Thread starter starkey480
- Start date
OP
OP
It is the infamous geometry correction thread hill
Ahhh, I see that now - I first saw the post on my phone, so I didn't see it clearly.
At first glance I was thinking it was this one - the hard way up to the hot tubs. My brother Dave at the wheel.
I watched this on my phone then I fire up the tv and of course it’s the first pick in my recommendations.
Some additional perspective
OP
Fairly eventful wheeling trip on Friday…. We did Highway to Hell which I’ve done a bunch of times but with a few changes…. First of all the rain completely eroded the trail. Everything seemed twice as big as it used to. The guys I was with have run this trail for 20 years and said it was the hardest it’s ever been. Also, there is a huge V notch at the beginning of the trail that I’ve always bypassed. It is hard to give this notch perspective except that it is probably approaching 10 feet deep at the deepest part.
I’ve only ever seen buggies do it and thought there was no way I was wide enough.
Here’s what typically happens on stock width axles. The yellow lines were me picking my line beforehand.
Right before I went, this JKU on tons and 40s fell in and broke a front inner axle shaft trying to back out.
Then it was my turn! I had to stay high enough passenger that I didn’t slip, but not so high that the driver side gets swallowed up.
I’ve been dreaming about doing this notch for a long time and feels amazing to have accomplished it safely.
Next, I almost died, but didn’t, so that is good. I messed up the line on this climb. My buddy standing there is 6’5” for perspective.
I was too far driver and the rear passenger tire slipped in the hole and bumped me backwards
the only thing that prevented me from landing on my lid was a a lot of luck and my slider and roll cage balancing on the side rock.
Lessons learned here and I’d like to try it again further passenger with a safety line hooked up so that I can’t fall back. I tried to crawl it and at my wheelbase I need to give the right line a little steady momentum. Eventually I would really like to stretch to 101” as I would feel safer on the bigger trails being longer.
A side note for everyone, this recovery was made incredibly easy by the fact that I keep a soft shackle right by my head and my rock strap right behind the passenger seat so that even while upside down, I was easily able to toss them up and get the recovery going.
I winched up and made the second fall just fine. Man that first one was big though!
Got a jumping cholla cactus stuck in my leg. They have little hooks and you have to pull it out with pliers. It did not feel good.
Some other pics
All in all, no one got hurt, we made it off the trail, came away with some victories as well as learning experiences, and had a ton of fun in the process. Wheeling is always such an adventure and I’m loving every second of it.
I’ve only ever seen buggies do it and thought there was no way I was wide enough.
Here’s what typically happens on stock width axles. The yellow lines were me picking my line beforehand.
Right before I went, this JKU on tons and 40s fell in and broke a front inner axle shaft trying to back out.
Then it was my turn! I had to stay high enough passenger that I didn’t slip, but not so high that the driver side gets swallowed up.
I’ve been dreaming about doing this notch for a long time and feels amazing to have accomplished it safely.
Next, I almost died, but didn’t, so that is good. I messed up the line on this climb. My buddy standing there is 6’5” for perspective.
I was too far driver and the rear passenger tire slipped in the hole and bumped me backwards
Lessons learned here and I’d like to try it again further passenger with a safety line hooked up so that I can’t fall back. I tried to crawl it and at my wheelbase I need to give the right line a little steady momentum. Eventually I would really like to stretch to 101” as I would feel safer on the bigger trails being longer.
A side note for everyone, this recovery was made incredibly easy by the fact that I keep a soft shackle right by my head and my rock strap right behind the passenger seat so that even while upside down, I was easily able to toss them up and get the recovery going.
I winched up and made the second fall just fine. Man that first one was big though!
Got a jumping cholla cactus stuck in my leg. They have little hooks and you have to pull it out with pliers. It did not feel good.
Some other pics
All in all, no one got hurt, we made it off the trail, came away with some victories as well as learning experiences, and had a ton of fun in the process. Wheeling is always such an adventure and I’m loving every second of it.
Last edited:
That’s awesome, Stark. Well, except for the cactus part. How did it get that far up your leg - do they really jump?
Better get yourself a pair of Chaparajos.
OP
I don’t know how they work other than if you get within a few feet of the plant they have pods that detach and stick in you. Dogs get destroyed by them quite often unfortunately…
I need to make a trip to Arizona. Looks like some good wheelin and great job on that vnotch.
My bucket list keeps growing but my bank and time accounts keep shrinking.
My bucket list keeps growing but my bank and time accounts keep shrinking.
OP
Thanks! AZ is a very fun place to own a Jeep. If you make it down I’ll take you out!
OP
Great work in what looks like keeping your cool and fast recovery. Cant wait to get down there and try some of these trails.