a77cj7
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Chris
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2023
- Threads
- 4
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- 132
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- 231
- Location
- Sturgis, SD
- Vehicle(s)
- 98 Ranger
- Thread starter
- #1
My fiance and I attended the first Ranger Raptor Assault class last week. It was a great time, and she learned quite a bit. We turned the trip in to a week long road trip, visiting fun areas along the way.
Front of facility
Class trucks in background. We had #2.
After the class was complete, we went to moab for a few days, and explored a variety of trails.
I purchased the book “Guide to Moab, UT Backroads and 4-Wheel-Drive Trails” from Amazon before our trip, and would highly recommend it for off road adventures in Moab.
https://www.amazon.com/guide-backro...1719546472&sprefix=moab+backro,aps,201&sr=8-1
After arriving the first afternoon, we took a “easy” trail called Potash Road and Shafer Switchbacks. It was a great scenic drive with many overlooks into the canyon, and a narrow climb up the mesa to Islands in the Sky at the end.
Near beginning of trail.
Potash road view
Potash ponds
Overlook over Colorado River
Overlook
View from road.
Switchbacks
Switchbacks
We started early the next morning to get into Arches National Park before 7am to avoid needing a reservation. We used the backcountry “Willow Springs Road” to get in, another “easy” trail.
We stayed on pavement for awhile after reaching the main park road, and did some of the short hikes to arches.
Next, we ran the Tower Arch trail to tower arch and eye of the whale. This trail is mostly “moderate”, but does have a “hard” section toward the start. It rained while we were on trail, so some of the washes were running mildly. I picked up a trail pinstripe down the rear passenger door and fender, neither of us heard it happen. Suspect a juniper tree. It should buff out fairly easily.
Hard section
Flood, waited 15 min till the level was much lower to proceed.
Tailgate lunch stop near eye of the whale.
Eye of the whale.
We made it back to Moab around 2pm, then headed out to Sand Flats to run Hells Revenge trail. Hells Revenge is a bit much for a stock ranger raptor, but is doable without damage with a competent driver and spotter.
My truck is stock except for 2” foutz lift collars on the front. I also ran a receiver hitch skid plate on the rear, as i knew the departure angle wasn’t sufficient.
We ran alone and spotterless, and I did pick up a scrape in the coating on my passenger running board when I misjudged a line and turned into a rock.
This should have been the only trail damage suffered if things had gone to plan. The weather had other ideas. We noticed dark clouds rolling in while at the farthest overlook, but had no service to check weather. We got service just before the storm hit, to discover it was a severe thunderstorm with half dollar sized hail and 70mph winds. I found a flat spot with no drainage above, and we rode out the storm waiting for the truck totaling hail. Luckily it never came, with only some pea sized. There was multiple inches of rain and massive winds for 15 minutes or so.
After the storm passed, I consulted the guidebook and noticed the entrance/exit is called “Lake Michigan”, and noted to be usually dry but very deep after rains. I took this to mean impassable, so I abandoned the plan to return that route and took the other exit.
The book noted the exit to be rough and relentless. It was all of that, and exceptionally brutal for a stock ranger raptor. The slickrock gives way to more conventional cobbles and boulders, and high clearance is needed.
I fell off a few lines, and suffered two mildly scuffed wheels, more coating damage to the passenger running board, scuffed and dented drivers exhaust tip, mildly scuffed passenger exhaust tip, and several dings on the front skid plate.
All cosmetic and minor, but far more damage than I intended for the trip.
On top of mini lion’s back, trail entrance.
Lake michigan, before rain.
Trail
Typical climb on trail.
Trail
Overlook
Overlook with impending storm
Rainbow after storm ended.
Mickey’s hot tub. Filled by storm.
More typical terrain
View from trail
Only photo of exit road I have, a very easy section. I stopped taking photos as I was completely over it and mad about damage truck was taking every obstacle.
Flooding in Moab from storm.
EDIT: Adding more.
The next morning, we headed back to Islands in the Sky on pavement and did touristy stuff, overlooks and short hikes.
View through Mesa Arch
Overlook view, part of White Rim trail visible.
We returned to Moab for lunch, then it was time to head home. Our next hotel was only a few hours away in Parachute, CO, so we decided to depart the fun and scenic way by backroads.
We returned to sand flats, and took the sand flat road and headed for the La Sal Mountain Loop. Sand flat road is usually a well maintained gravel road, but had heavy damage from the storm. It was still easily passable, but much rougher. Once we reached the national forest, the gps suggested a shortcut on forest road 4634. I was planning to stay on Sand Flat Rd, but when we reached the intersection, discovered that 4634 was a moderate to hard off road trail that started with a rock ledge, then a steep rutted climb. We decided we were up for one more adventure, and proceeded that route. Trail was very narrow between tree branches, which limited line choices to avoid more trail pinstripes. Made it through with no undercarriage scrapes, tires at full 39psi. Trail came out right next to La Sal overlook.
Storm damage on sand flats
4634 Trail
Views from 4634 trail
La Sal overlook
From La Sal road, gps directed us back toward Moab and up to I70 to head to Grand Junction, co. However, the sign at the T said gateway, Colorado was the other way. After telling the gps to go to gateway, it agreed. Started out as an old paved/blotter road with no pavement markings. Quickly turned to well maintained gravel, then minimal maintenance gravel/dirt. Only signage at colorado border was a “no winter maintenance” sign. It was a fun, scenic trail through the mountains, and an excellent way to finish up the off road portion of our vacation.
Switchbacks on La Sal Mountain Loop
Views on trail to gateway.
Trail to gateway.
Trail to gateway.
Road down canyon from gateway to grand junction.
My only real regret, other than the damage suffered on the hells revenge exit road, was not having more time in Moab.
Specifically, I would have liked a full day to run the White Rim trail, and another to tackle Fins and Things. Maybe another trip in the future, plus visit more of Utah’s parks.
Front of facility
Class trucks in background. We had #2.
After the class was complete, we went to moab for a few days, and explored a variety of trails.
I purchased the book “Guide to Moab, UT Backroads and 4-Wheel-Drive Trails” from Amazon before our trip, and would highly recommend it for off road adventures in Moab.
https://www.amazon.com/guide-backro...1719546472&sprefix=moab+backro,aps,201&sr=8-1
After arriving the first afternoon, we took a “easy” trail called Potash Road and Shafer Switchbacks. It was a great scenic drive with many overlooks into the canyon, and a narrow climb up the mesa to Islands in the Sky at the end.
Near beginning of trail.
Potash road view
Potash ponds
Overlook over Colorado River
Overlook
View from road.
Switchbacks
Switchbacks
We started early the next morning to get into Arches National Park before 7am to avoid needing a reservation. We used the backcountry “Willow Springs Road” to get in, another “easy” trail.
We stayed on pavement for awhile after reaching the main park road, and did some of the short hikes to arches.
Next, we ran the Tower Arch trail to tower arch and eye of the whale. This trail is mostly “moderate”, but does have a “hard” section toward the start. It rained while we were on trail, so some of the washes were running mildly. I picked up a trail pinstripe down the rear passenger door and fender, neither of us heard it happen. Suspect a juniper tree. It should buff out fairly easily.
Hard section
Flood, waited 15 min till the level was much lower to proceed.
Tailgate lunch stop near eye of the whale.
Eye of the whale.
We made it back to Moab around 2pm, then headed out to Sand Flats to run Hells Revenge trail. Hells Revenge is a bit much for a stock ranger raptor, but is doable without damage with a competent driver and spotter.
My truck is stock except for 2” foutz lift collars on the front. I also ran a receiver hitch skid plate on the rear, as i knew the departure angle wasn’t sufficient.
We ran alone and spotterless, and I did pick up a scrape in the coating on my passenger running board when I misjudged a line and turned into a rock.
This should have been the only trail damage suffered if things had gone to plan. The weather had other ideas. We noticed dark clouds rolling in while at the farthest overlook, but had no service to check weather. We got service just before the storm hit, to discover it was a severe thunderstorm with half dollar sized hail and 70mph winds. I found a flat spot with no drainage above, and we rode out the storm waiting for the truck totaling hail. Luckily it never came, with only some pea sized. There was multiple inches of rain and massive winds for 15 minutes or so.
After the storm passed, I consulted the guidebook and noticed the entrance/exit is called “Lake Michigan”, and noted to be usually dry but very deep after rains. I took this to mean impassable, so I abandoned the plan to return that route and took the other exit.
The book noted the exit to be rough and relentless. It was all of that, and exceptionally brutal for a stock ranger raptor. The slickrock gives way to more conventional cobbles and boulders, and high clearance is needed.
I fell off a few lines, and suffered two mildly scuffed wheels, more coating damage to the passenger running board, scuffed and dented drivers exhaust tip, mildly scuffed passenger exhaust tip, and several dings on the front skid plate.
All cosmetic and minor, but far more damage than I intended for the trip.
On top of mini lion’s back, trail entrance.
Lake michigan, before rain.
Trail
Typical climb on trail.
Trail
Overlook
Overlook with impending storm
Rainbow after storm ended.
Mickey’s hot tub. Filled by storm.
More typical terrain
View from trail
Only photo of exit road I have, a very easy section. I stopped taking photos as I was completely over it and mad about damage truck was taking every obstacle.
Flooding in Moab from storm.
EDIT: Adding more.
The next morning, we headed back to Islands in the Sky on pavement and did touristy stuff, overlooks and short hikes.
View through Mesa Arch
Overlook view, part of White Rim trail visible.
We returned to Moab for lunch, then it was time to head home. Our next hotel was only a few hours away in Parachute, CO, so we decided to depart the fun and scenic way by backroads.
We returned to sand flats, and took the sand flat road and headed for the La Sal Mountain Loop. Sand flat road is usually a well maintained gravel road, but had heavy damage from the storm. It was still easily passable, but much rougher. Once we reached the national forest, the gps suggested a shortcut on forest road 4634. I was planning to stay on Sand Flat Rd, but when we reached the intersection, discovered that 4634 was a moderate to hard off road trail that started with a rock ledge, then a steep rutted climb. We decided we were up for one more adventure, and proceeded that route. Trail was very narrow between tree branches, which limited line choices to avoid more trail pinstripes. Made it through with no undercarriage scrapes, tires at full 39psi. Trail came out right next to La Sal overlook.
Storm damage on sand flats
4634 Trail
Views from 4634 trail
La Sal overlook
From La Sal road, gps directed us back toward Moab and up to I70 to head to Grand Junction, co. However, the sign at the T said gateway, Colorado was the other way. After telling the gps to go to gateway, it agreed. Started out as an old paved/blotter road with no pavement markings. Quickly turned to well maintained gravel, then minimal maintenance gravel/dirt. Only signage at colorado border was a “no winter maintenance” sign. It was a fun, scenic trail through the mountains, and an excellent way to finish up the off road portion of our vacation.
Switchbacks on La Sal Mountain Loop
Views on trail to gateway.
Trail to gateway.
Trail to gateway.
Road down canyon from gateway to grand junction.
My only real regret, other than the damage suffered on the hells revenge exit road, was not having more time in Moab.
Specifically, I would have liked a full day to run the White Rim trail, and another to tackle Fins and Things. Maybe another trip in the future, plus visit more of Utah’s parks.
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