Utah Moab in May 2025

[JMT]

Fins and things is one I seem to do every year time I go. Close to town, easy to add on if you have a couple of free hours after something else and also good fun. Metal Masher looks good, but far more of a chunk of time. Looking forward to this!

Exactly, I've used Fins as a warm up before. Then I started using Hells to warm up. Both close to town. Fins much shorter. Can run through in two hours. Hells takes longer, especially if a lot of people are on the trail. The obstacles can get jammed up, and that's what we're there for!

 

[JMT]

Me neither. Looks fun

Rock Chucker on Metal Masher:
View attachment 578538

Yep. No Left Turn on Rusty nail:
View attachment 578536

#me too

I want to be there! Quit it! I keep looking at No Left Turn on Rusty Nail and thinking, "how do you avoid A-pillar damage on the passenger side due to that overhang?" I think the answer is: Victor.

Rock Chucker looks like a blast.

 

[lBasket]

That offer still stands for a open seat anytime. As of right now I don't have anyone to fill my passenger seat. And highly doubt I will by May... not like women are lining up for a shot at me.

I am definitely keeping it in mind... I'm being optimistic I'll be driving but I'm figuring that out ASAP so I don't force anyone else into last-minute planning.

You and me both, it's more peaceful that way though.

I'm with Victor's suggestions as how to modify your rig. It's about how I did mine back when I bought my Jeep.

Yeah totally. It has gotten pretty obvious that my inability to go slow and lack of rear traction is way more in the way than my tire/lift size.

It was weird he suggested body armor though, wasn't it?

 

[Woodrow]

Exactly, I've used Fins as a warm up before. Then I started using Hells to warm up. Both close to town. Fins much shorter. Can run through in two hours. Hells takes longer, especially if a lot of people are on the trail. The obstacles can get jammed up, and that's what we're there for!

I think Ryan said he did the first part of Fins in something like 20 min by himself last year while he was waiting for us to show up.

 

[Woodrow]

I want to be there! Quit it! I keep looking at No Left Turn on Rusty Nail and thinking, "how do you avoid A-pillar damage on the passenger side due to that overhang?" I think the answer is: Victor.

Correct.

Rock Chucker looks like a blast.

It is. I needed an assist last year because of my rear bumper hanging up and losing rear wheel traction. I'm hoping a lower profile bumper and rear frame raise will fix that this year...

 

[JMT]

Correct.

It is. I needed an assist last year because of my rear bumper hanging up and losing rear wheel traction. I'm hoping a lower profile bumper and rear frame raise will fix that this year...

Have you done the rear frame tuck? I was about to do several jobs in the rear and that was one of them. I decided to hold off due to the cold temps and welding. ANSI standards say 50*F and I can't get my garage that warm. I am a little disappointed and a little relieved, but I would like to get them done before Moab. Ambient temps here won't get above 50*F till April and then it is only spotty.

 

[Apparition]

I think Ryan said he did the first part of Fins in something like 20 min by himself last year while he was waiting for us to show up.

I did, and I took multiple lines at some obstacles for fun plus ran into other traffic. I was running it more like Baja though.

 

[Apparition]

Correct.

It is. I needed an assist last year because of my rear bumper hanging up and losing rear wheel traction. I'm hoping a lower profile bumper and rear frame raise will fix that this year...

You even had your rear tires off the ground you were hung up so bad. But you weren't the only one that needed "assistance" on that obstacle.

 

[Woodrow]

Have you done the rear frame tuck? I was about to do several jobs in the rear and that was one of them. I decided to hold off due to the cold temps and welding. ANSI standards say 50*F and I can't get my garage that warm. I am a little disappointed and a little relieved, but I would like to get them done before Moab. Ambient temps here won't get above 50*F till April and then it is only spotty.

I raised the rear frame before Fordyce this year and getting the bumper and tank up made a big difference. Definitely recommend. I detailed it pretty well in my build thread. Its straight forward but a little time consuming.

 

[JMT]

I raised the rear frame before Fordyce this year and getting the bumper and tank up made a big difference. Definitely recommend. I detailed it pretty well in my build thread. Its straight forward but a little time consuming.

I had all my procedure notes, pics, and materials ready to go for the frame tuck and several other projects, and then I realized that I was going to be spending a lot of time heating metal up just so I could weld. I decided it was going to be too much of a pain. I really wish I'd done it last Summer. It's ok. I won't be surprised if my son decides to get married in May. I really hope he gets married, but not then, but there is a very good chance he will. He's proposing in January.

 

[Woodrow]

I had all my procedure notes, pics, and materials ready to go for the frame tuck and several other projects, and then I realized that I was going to be spending a lot of time heating metal up just so I could weld. I decided it was going to be too much of a pain. I really wish I'd done it last Summer. It's ok. I won't be surprised if my son decides to get married in May. I really hope he gets married, but not then, but there is a very good chance he will. He's proposing in January.

Well I sure hope you’re able to make the trip. No question about priorities, though.

As far as the welding project goes, I hadn’t heard the 50 degree thing before. Where I’m at, it rarely dips below freezing and with the pellet stove in the garage I can keep it close enough to 50 that I wouldn’t worry about it. That could just be ignorance, however. We should ask @AirborneTexasRanger about that one. But painting definitely is an issue in the winter.

 

[macleanflood]

When it gets cold I preheat with a torch, reheat to about 300-350 and wrap everything with a couple of fiberglass blankets for a long slow cool down.

-Mac

 

[AirborneTexasRanger]

For steel, preheat depends on the thickness of the material. The ambient temperature is irrelevant. You need to know the temperature of the base metal. Typically anything less than ¾" only needs to be preheated if the base metal is below 32° & you just need to get the base metal up to 70°.

 

[JMT]

For steel, preheat depends on the thickness of the material. The ambient temperature is irrelevant. You need to know the temperature of the base metal. Typically anything less than ¾" only needs to be preheated if the base metal is below 32° & you just need to get the base metal up to 70°.

Yeah, that's going to be a real pain in sub 32* weather. I bet it's not more than 46* in the garage, and slowing the weld cool down seems like a lot of work when you can wait for a warmer month.

 

[Wildman]

I am definitely keeping it in mind... I'm being optimistic I'll be driving but I'm figuring that out ASAP so I don't force anyone else into last-minute planning.

Well even if you have your Jeep there and still want to ride along the offer stands.

But I do really hope your rig is fixed and you make it there with wheels.

 

[lBasket]

Well even if you have your Jeep there and still want to ride along the offer stands.

But I do really hope your rig is fixed and you make it there with wheels.

It is looking good now, might start looking at lodging soon. The diff is one of the few things I couldn't fix in time realistically, almost anything else is doable and affordable across 4months.

 

[tworley]

Looking better for me too. Though still not 100% committed.

 

[lBasket]

Are the dates on the first post still correct?

 

[Wildman]

Are the dates on the first post still correct?

I hope so since that's when all of us made our reservations....

BTW as it stands right now my spare bunk has been claimed. If things change I'll let everyone know.

Edit: BTW @Apparition I've got reservations now too... And baring any major failures on the Jeep I'll be there...

 

[JMT]

Are the dates on the first post still correct?

They look good to me. I think @Apparition has updated the post.