I would not recommend this trail to most (if not all AZFJCr's) even though it's only rated a 3.5. Frankly, I think even Doc's rig with the crawler and 35s and an air locker up front will struggle on the 3 main obstacles on this trail. There are bypasses that actually leave the wash illegally to get around the tough spots, but I cannot recommend the trail if you cannot do at least the bypasses in the wash due to the closure risk caused by people exiting the wash.
Here are some pics:
1st obstacle:
First obstacle....both front tires off the ground.
Medium difficulty bypass to the first obstacle (there is a slightly easier but much more off camber alternative):
A harder line to the same obstacle:
Optional chute after first obstacle:
2nd obstacle:
A few wheel stands from 2 of the Jeeps (YJ and Rubi):
My attempt:
There is a bypass to the left of these pics.....it isn't easy either though. It's a V-notch with 24-30" lips on both sides. If you don't sit fairly high up, you'll get high centered. I doubt an FJC with even a 3.5" lift would clear it on 285s. 35s maybe.
3rd obstacle (for height reference):
Another view of the climb on #3:
Drop off:
Carnage on #3 for one of the Jeeps:
Last major (but optional) obstacle:
Sean
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Do you need a ladder, so you can get the **** over it?
What do you mean traffic? There's not really any to speak of (If I understand the question).
There's usually at most one group of vehicles to go through on the weekend. That's pretty typical of most of the 3.5-4+ rated trails in the Florence Junction area....Martinez Canyon (the Cabins see a lot of traffic....the loop does not), Bad Medicine, Overdose, Upper and Lower Ajax, Lower Woodpecker, Woody's Wash, Axle Alley, Jackhandle, Xtacy, Highway to Hell....most don't see much traffic over a typical winter weekend. It's usually limited to a few groups for both days.
Upper Woodpecker, Coke Ovens, Box Canyon, Martinez Cabins, Orville's loop....stuff like that sees quite a bit more traffic just b/c more people know where they are and with the exception of Upper Woodpecker they are easier and geared more towards stock rigs.
Sean
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Do you need a ladder, so you can get the **** over it?
Yea, wasn't really clear that I was joking. Not a whole lot of minivans out there on weekday afternoons I bet.
On a serious note, though... it would be cool to head out there with some FJs on a weekday or something when you are essentially guaranteed not to run into anybody. That way you could spend literally as much time as you'd like per obstacle to fail repeatedly, blow up, do time-consuming recoveries, etc.. and not have to worry about tying up the trail.
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Something there is that doesn't love a wall, that wants it down...
Yea, wasn't really clear that I was joking. Not a whole lot of minivans out there on weekday afternoons I bet.
On a serious note, though... it would be cool to head out there with some FJs on a weekday or something when you are essentially guaranteed not to run into anybody. That way you could spend literally as much time as you'd like per obstacle to fail repeatedly, blow up, do time-consuming recoveries, etc.. and not have to worry about tying up the trail.
I do NOT recommend that. Frankly, this trail's obstacles are well beyond the capability of most FJ Cruisers. I know you are seeing pics of Jeeps on 33's doing this trail, but what you're not seeing is the clearance difference between them and the FJ as well as f/r lockers and 4:1 tcase gears.
As I mentioned, I think Jon's (BellyDoc's) Cruiser could make this trail with some work and by taking some bypasses....but a locker up front would be mighty handy and you need clearance under your rockers and the FJ just sits too low to the ground and is too heavy to clear some of the notches you have to traverse to get up this trail. Granted, you could rock stack enough to get through, but it would require hours of work and hours more unstacking to return the trail to the pre-run condition.
It's rated approximately the same as Martinez Canyon, but from what I witnessed on Friday, I'd say the obstacles are harder and even the bypasses are more difficult. Knowing what it took to get Uphill's FJ through Martinez, I can't imagine trying to push 1 let alone several FJs through this trail.
Just my honest assessment (though if you try, I'd love to watch ).
Sean
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Do you need a ladder, so you can get the **** over it?
What do you think about FJ Cruisers on Claw Hammer?
I think ANYTHING is possible with any rig.....just depends how long you want to spend "engineering" the trail to accomodate the vehicle in question. IMO though, it should be done the other way around.
I think that John and the boys are in for a VERY long day if they get 10 IFS rigs on Claw Hammer.
Do I think they can do it without any damage? Maybe. But odds are there will be at least some carnage.
Regardless, that kind of run is exactly what this community needs. It needs to be pushed (kicking and screaming if necessary) to the next level. I for one, give him kudos for trying.
Sean
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Re: AZ Trip Report: Elvis
Quote:
tibaal89 previously said:
Yea, wasn't really clear that I was joking. Not a whole lot of minivans out there on weekday afternoons I bet.
On a serious note, though... it would be cool to head out there with some FJs on a weekday or something when you are essentially guaranteed not to run into anybody. That way you could spend literally as much time as you'd like per obstacle to fail repeatedly, blow up, do time-consuming recoveries, etc.. and not have to worry about tying up the trail.
Any FJ (Or any vehicle in the same class) that runs that trail, or half of the ones out in that area, is going to end up looking like yours...Or much much more used/ broken bodies. There is no way I'd run an FJ down Elvis. No Freaking way. A built to hell jeep, absolutely if I didn't care about it, but the FJ will not come out the same.
Looks like a great time out there Sean. I love the area, I just don't have a toy that can do those runs any more. Even if I build the hell out of the FJ, I won't take it into half of the places I know and love.
There is no way I'd run an FJ down Elvis. No Freaking way. A built to hell jeep, absolutely if I didn't care about it, but the FJ will not come out the same.
lol
near stock tacos run it with no problems. except we went up not down
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