TeraFlex Moab Trip - 1-/11/08

[scrogg]

This ride was an organized by TeraFlex PLUS. The schedule for Saturday was to run Metal Masher at 9:00 am and Cliff Hanger sometime that evening.

We pulled into Moab, Utah on Friday night at about 8:30 pm. Stopped by the Portal RV Resort were the mojority of people were staying to see how the days ride went and when they were planning to go out for the nigth ride. As it turns out, they hadn't returned yet from the early ride. So we headed off to check in to our cabin for the night.

The last time we were in Moab we had the stock 32” tires and a TeraFlex 4” short arm kit and did pretty well. This time, with 37” tires and the recent addition of a TeraFlex 6” long arm kit, we had high expectations to do well. The morning just couldn’t come soon enough.

We got up and met up with the caravan at the Portal RV Resort at about 8:45 am, chatted for a bit then it was off to the staging area.



At the staging area, everyone did the usual, unloaded trailered rigs, check tire pressure, checked their gear, and so on and so forth. We tried our best to count all of the rigs but they kept moving around and gathering in different locations. We believe there were about 25 rigs going on the run. It was a pretty good turn out. We all worked our way to the road and eventually began the trip to the trail head.



Along the way to the trail head we reach a fork in the road and as we approach we can see a bunch that took the right turn to head up towards Metal Masher. But then about 5 to 6 rigs that were in front of us kept to the left. As we pulled up we were pretty confused. We knew that Metal Masher was up the hill to the right but didn’t realize that we had combined with another group by chance. After it was decided that they weren’t with us we the pursued the approximate 12 rigs that kept right and caught up to them by the time we reached the trail head. Now our count was all screwed up.



Our trail run has begun, yeah.



Not too far into the trail we reach a little spot that has an optional climb off to the right. As far as I know Dennis was the only one who went up this or even attempted for that matter. If someone else attempted it then they were well in front of us and we missed it. This rig of Dennis’ is pretty awesome. I have only been on a handful of rides with him and I haven’t seen anything that he couldn’t get over or up.



A little further down the trail we come across another location that has some optional obstacles. Three options at this location, the far right is just a simple drive up onto the rock. The middle has a bit of an undercut and a reasonable climb to get on top of the rock. The far left also has a bit of an undercut but the climb is a bit more substantial. After seeing several other rigs take the various avenues available. I thought I would be a bit daring and go for the left.



My lack of experience shined through here with not knowing when to give up. I tried again and again. I lost track of how many attempts I made but it had to be at least 6 or 7 if not more. Each time, getting just that much more daring with the skinny pedal until… yep you guessed it, SNAP!!! There went the passenger side rear axle. It was a very profound “snap” and not so much loud as what I would have expected. I have never heard one break before.

I backed down off the hill and was looked over by several of the guys that work for TeraFlex PLUS. After the damage was determined I backed up and whimpered over to the far right and up onto the rock in dismay. Not yet fully realizing what was still to come.

Once on the rock I had a chance to watch other rigs and chat with a few of the people that came. Someone brought this cool little RC that kept the younger boys entertained.





After everyone made it up, it was noticed on one of the rigs (an orange CJ with a fuel injected 401) had destroyed a heim joint on his traction bar while going over that same obstacle. Someone (Dennis I think) happen to be carrying a spare. Him and a couple other of the TeraFlex guys quickly went to work. Several of the other rigs had moved on ahead while the repairs were taking place. We chose to hang out and witness the on-the-trail repair. It didn’t take too long, maybe about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes and they had the CJ back together and we were on the road again.

Here’s a couple of pics of the orange CJ (not on the same obstacle though):

[scrogg]

On our way to the obstacle Rock Chucker we watched Bob and Jason go up this:





They didn’t seem to have much trouble with it. This Jeep performs nicely on these rocks. They also went up and down Rock Chucker:







While the more capable rigs played on Rock Chucker we broke for lunch in the nearby area.



When we reached Mirror Gulch I was beginning to get over having broke the axle and enjoying the ride. I like this obstacle, it’s not all that tough but it’s fun to go up through the rock formation. When we reached the biggest step it was apparent how limited we were with only the one rear tire able to turn with power.



We limped along the trail and watched the others play and did the best we could. For the most part it wasn’t too bad. We got to the top and over looked the ridge. We could see the staging area below:



After enjoying the view for a bit we headed out. Not much further down the road, the orange CJ had a fluke of all breakdowns. His gas pedal lever broke. Again the TeraFlex guys were all over it. They came up with a fix and made it work. And again we opted to hang out and witness the on-the-trail fix while the remainder of the grouped trudged onward to Widowmaker.

At this point our camera battery died on us so we don’t have any more pictures, sorry. We really need to get a spare battery for it.

Once on the road again we came to the fork that that you can either go to Widowmaker or take the bypass. The orange CJ and us took the bypass and the others all went to Widowmaker. We missed the action that took place there but from what we understand Widowmaker was a rough this trip.

As the CJ and I traveled the lonesome drive around Widowmaker we got word that somewhere enroute to, or on Widowmaker (I’m not sure which) another Jeep suffered damaged to their output shaft/yoke or something that was bad enough that they had to remove their drivelines and be towed out. We decided to pull over and wait for them. After about 20 to 30 minutes of chatting we could see the TJ that was being towed headed our way. Along with about 4 other rigs that I am guessing decided not to attempt Widowmaker and drove out with the damaged TJ.

As they passed by we pulled in behind them and began the slow trek out back to the staging area. By the time we reached the staging area it was about 5:00 pm. It was a long day on the trail for sure. I am glad the weather held out and at worst the wind would kick up an occasional dust storm but they were very brief.

Despite the carnage we had a good time. I would like to thank the TeraFlex guys for organizing the trip and keeping things moving as well as they did. The kids enjoyed all the extra time they got this trip to play on the rocks themselves.

[scrogg]

Dang nab it, I did it again. The date in the title should actually be 10/11/08.

[rockcrawl]

Now that's so real fun looking offroading. Thanks for sharing.

[100dollarman]

Scrogg- Thanks for sharing the awesome pics and write-up!

Looks like you had a great time despite the breakage! Are you going to upgrade the axles? You didnt have the 6" TF when I met you up in UT did you? Your JK seemed pretty tall then...is it even taller now? Looks good!

Want to give us your thoughts on the 6" LA over what you had before?

[RotorHead]

Great story and pics. Sorry about the axle.

Yeah, the date through me off too.

[SDMF]

Sweetness, Metal Masher is on my list the next time I go to Moab. Widowmaker looks like a snap for 4 doors, but pretty hairy for us short guys.

[karnuvore]

Great write up and pics. Damn shame about your damage. Hope it's fixed fast.

Thanks for sharing. We dont get this whole "elevation" thing here in florida. So we live vicariously through you guys out west.

[scrogg]

Originally Posted by 100dollarman

Scrogg- Thanks for sharing the awesome pics and write-up!

Looks like you had a great time despite the breakage! Are you going to upgrade the axles? You didnt have the 6" TF when I met you up in UT did you? Your JK seemed pretty tall then...is it even taller now? Looks good!

Want to give us your thoughts on the 6" LA over what you had before?

I am going to upgrade to set of superior chromoly shafts. They are about 2 weeks out. And Wayne down at TeraFlex PLUS has me seriously considering there Tera CRD 60 when it becomes available for the JK, supposedly about 3 months out.

And when you came through Salt Lake I did not have the TF 6" long arm kit. I was sporting a TF 4" short arm kit with TF 2.5" BB spacers on top of the coils in the rear and the ACOS Pros up front which were spun down about 1". The Jeep was sitting with about 1.25" rake front to rear.

Now that I have the TF 6" coils all around I still have the ACOS Pros up front but they are collapsed as far as they can be and in the rear I have TF 1" spacers along with the factory isolators. The rear of the Jeep gained at best maybe a 1/4" of height if that and the front gained about 1" of height. It now sits with only .5" of rake from front to rear. I'd like to get about another .5" or more rake than it has now. Sometime in the future I will pick up a set of the ACOS for the rear. They have been an awesome investment for the suspension with as many changes the Jeep has been through.

My thoughts on the long arms, I don't know where to begin. I have only had them on for a week now but what a world of difference they have made. The short arms didn't neccessarily ride bad but with the amount of height I had they were at such a steep angle that they were limiting the flex of the suspension. The freeway travel on the drive to Moab was great. I didn't get to do a whole lot of playing with them offroad considering I broke the axle early into the trail ride, but they seemed to easily keep all four tires on the ground. Even just driving around town is nice. It just seems to glide through the gutters and I'd swear it has less body roll than previously as well. I would have to say that I think the coils are a bit stiffer than what the 4" coils were but not at all horribly stiff. I'll be sure to report back periodically as I rack up some more miles on it but as it stands now, I am way impressed.

[100dollarman]

Originally Posted by scrogg

I am going to upgrade to set of superior chromoly shafts. They are about 2 weeks out. And Wayne down at TeraFlex PLUS has me seriously considering there Tera CRD 60 when it becomes available for the JK, supposedly about 3 months out.

And when you came through Salt Lake I did not have the TF 6" long arm kit. I was sporting a TF 4" short arm kit with TF 2.5" BB spacers on top of the coils in the rear and the ACOS Pros up front which were spun down about 1". The Jeep was sitting with about 1.25" rake front to rear.

Now that I have the TF 6" coils all around I still have the ACOS Pros up front but they are collapsed as far as they can be and in the rear I have TF 1" spacers along with the factory isolators. The rear of the Jeep gained at best maybe a 1/4" of height if that and the front gained about 1" of height. It now sits with only .5" of rake from front to rear. I'd like to get about another .5" or more rake than it has now. Sometime in the future I will pick up a set of the ACOS for the rear. They have been an awesome investment for the suspension with as many changes the Jeep has been through.

My thoughts on the long arms, I don't know where to begin. I have only had them on for a week now but what a world of difference they have made. The short arms didn't neccessarily ride bad but with the amount of height I had they were at such a steep angle that they were limiting the flex of the suspension. The freeway travel on the drive to Moab was great. I didn't get to do a whole lot of playing with them offroad considering I broke the axle early into the trail ride, but they seemed to easily keep all four tires on the ground. Even just driving around town is nice. It just seems to glide through the gutters and I'd swear it has less body roll than previously as well. I would have to say that I think the coils are a bit stiffer than what the 4" coils were but not at all horribly stiff. I'll be sure to report back periodically as I rack up some more miles on it but as it stands now, I am way impressed.

Thanks for the report- More and more JKs are going to the 6" LA. I bought a FT kit from a guy off of Craigslist yesterday. Wasnt really wanting a FT, but I couldnt pass it up for the price! I hope it works!

[SDMF]

Originally Posted by 100dollarman

Thanks for the report- More and more JKs are going to the 6" LA. I bought a FT kit from a guy off of Craigslist yesterday. Wasnt really wanting a FT, but I couldnt pass it up for the price! I hope it works!

Keep your grease gun handy

[dayton1999]

Originally Posted by 100dollarman

Thanks for the report- More and more JKs are going to the 6" LA. I bought a FT kit from a guy off of Craigslist yesterday. Wasnt really wanting a FT, but I couldnt pass it up for the price! I hope it works!

Originally Posted by SDMF

Keep your grease gun handy

Full Traction = Grease, grease, grease... and more grease.

[Jeeper]

Sweet!

I really need to make it there one of these days!