Next Moab Venture?

[00regcab]

Well I've been thinking about it over the past few days. When do you guys usually head to moab for a week?

I was thinking mid-late april?

Sat. 12th - Sat. 19th ?
or
Sat. 19th - Sat. 26th ?

Id just kinda like to start getting a feeler for it so i can start deciding where i want to spend my money with my truck, and get the time off of work. So on and so fourth.

Id personally be more open to setting up a camp site for the week, over staying in a hotel. Nothing beats good home-grown cookin, beer, and a campfire after a long day of wheeling. Not to mention it would be cheaper as well. And for those that like to get showered and cleaned up at the end of the day, the "designated" camp sites (such as KOA, etc.) have showers you can usually use for like $5 a person.

Lets get something going here, and get it planned out. If we camp, we could split up the days for who's bringing food for that day, so on and so forth. I have a large weber grill, and a smaller grill i can bring. 1 larger tent that will sleep 4 rather comfortably, and 3-4 3 man dome tents (realistically 2 people lol). As well as food for everyone for a day or two, maybe a couple 24 packs of soda/water.

What sounds good to everyone? I know its a little earlier, but might as well plan early so it doesnt turn into our winter storm summer picnic :p

[Prodigy]

Easter Jeep Safari is the weekend of the 20th I believe.

I can go for a weekend but not a week.

[00regcab]

hmm maybe we'll wait until the following week (after the jeep thing), so that would mean, head out there on sat. the 26th and return sat. may 3rd?

Personally, i cant justify driving to moab to spend 1-2 full days and drive back, but hopefully you can work something where you can stay a few days!

[RedRunnertc]

When do the hotel rates go up?

I would get out there before then ... hard to beat a warm bed and shower for $29 night ...

[00regcab]

its the middle of the desert in spring lol, it wont get that cold.

I honestly cant afford a hotel for a week. Plus ive always been more open to camping over staying in a hotel. Nothing beats a camp fire and good ole fashioned home cooking. lol

my friend could get us a 3 bedroom condo in moab for $160 for the week if it went that route, but campings just more fun :camping:

[AxleIke]

My .02.

That weekend (26-3rd) is Cruise Moab. I'll be there with RS. It'd be great if you all were there too, but if you weren't looking to go with a group, just FYI, the trails will be crowded. There are usually between 200-300 Toyota's there that week. Its a national event.

As for the hotels, they've gone up by that time. And, those weekends, you can expect them to fill up FAST, if they haven't already. I know many of the RS guys have already booked theirs.

A week is a long time. I imagine that you'll only get a couple people to stay with you the whole time.

And as a personal note to Nate, be sure to stock up on spare stuff, and/or make sure you get someone with a later model taco like your new one to go with you. Moab is spanish for Traction, and its not uncommon to break stuff out there. I don't actually know ANYONE who hasn't broken stuff out there at one time or another. I only say this because parts are mucho expensiveo in moab, and its good to have spares.

[00regcab]

yep, ill plan on taking spare CV's with me and what not. Im not too sure what kind of stuff ill get into, but i definatly dont plan on doing anything overly insane.

A week is a long time, but it goes by fast. I've been to moab mulitple times to ride dirtbikes and such, but never to wheel.

[RedRunnertc]

Call me a wus, but I've camped in every condition known to man from the age of 10 - 18 at elevations from 282 feet below sea level to 12000 ft above ... you could say "been there, done that, got the tshirt and merit badge"

After being out in the sun and wind and dust, I'll take a room and a shower thankyouverymuch (especially for $29/night).

Also, I HATE (it's a strong word and I mean every iota of it), I mean HATE shlepping all the camping crap in my rig along with all the spares, etc.

One other thing about Moab - NOTHING is open from Saturday at Noon to Monday morning. If you break on a weekend and can't get out, you're screwed. In addition to CV's, be sure to have enough oil to fill up anything.

As for tools, you're gonna need a 35mm socket and a LOONG ratchet to change a CV. The only other "specialty" tools you should need are 10 and 12 mm allen wrenches (or bits for a ratchet).

IMHO, the most important driving tips in Moab are trust that the traction will be there and DON'T BOUNCE. There is so much traction, that if it doesn't make it with one bounce, you need to try something different (different line, bump, etc)

[AxleIke]

Yeah. Bouncing is a no no.

As in, no moody hill quarry type manuvers.

Diff's often go out there too. Seems to be the second most common after axles. Seldom are drive shafts, or engine failure (toyota) but it does happen.

You need AT LEAST a gallon of water each day on the trail with you out there. I recommend 5. That way the truck can have some too.

[ike]

X2 on haveing a hotel even in the spring the nights are cold in moab. I was thinking of going out there over my spring break in the middle of april, but will be able to swing just about any weekend with enough notice.

[motochain]

I'll be there for the Easter Jeep Safari.. Probably fri. sat. leave sun. It's a fun event that isn't limited to just jeeps dispite the name. I believe it's in March this year.

[00regcab]

well ill talk to my buddy and see what deals i can get in the line of a condo or two. He says he can probably get one for around $150-$160 for the week.

3 bed so 4-6 people.

[fondigley]

Sounds like a good time. I have only played on a few trails out there, cause I am usually there with a mountain biking crew. But I love go camping and wheeling. Something about 12oz curls around the campfire that I just love. And a quick shower at the hostel is like 3 bucks or something. Stayed at a couple condos and they are nice, but feels too much like home. But a condo with a garage could come in real handy. Can't really beat that. But if I am camping I really prefer to camp up in the La Sal's. Unless there is a group and we are blowing shit up all night and getting stupid. So if some people do get a condo that would be sweet, but too pricey for my cheap ass.

[00regcab]

Sounds like a good time. I have only played on a few trails out there, cause I am usually there with a mountain biking crew. But I love go camping and wheeling. Something about 12oz curls around the campfire that I just love. And a quick shower at the hostel is like 3 bucks or something. Stayed at a couple condos and they are nice, but feels too much like home. But a condo with a garage could come in real handy. Can't really beat that. But if I am camping I really prefer to camp up in the La Sal's. Unless there is a group and we are blowing shit up all night and getting stupid. So if some people do get a condo that would be sweet, but too pricey for my cheap ass.

well the company one of my good friends works for owns a few condos around moab. Im sure i could get 3 or maybe 4 total for $160 each for the week, so $160 for the week split 3-6 ways...? Cheaper then a m/hotel.

[devinsixtyseven]

Hotel rates go up in April, or right around EJS. They stay up until October, I think.

FWIW last I looked over the EJS and Cruise Moab trail lineup, you'd be amazed at how much is still open. Plenty of camping all around, too. I wouldn't worry, it'll be a bit of a zoo in town but there's more to "Moab" than Moab proper.

-Sean

[mayhem]

When do the hotel rates go up?

I would get out there before then ... hard to beat a warm bed and shower for $29 night ...

I'm down with that as well.... call me whatever you want :P

[motochain]

Rates for hotels will probably jump a few weeks before EJS so that'd be about mid-march...

[Lysmachia]

Yeah they skyrocket about 2 weeks before EJS

[Avsfreak1234]

whatever people want to do, this time of year you cant beat a hotel in moab. spring in the utah desert has WX as hard to predict as a bouncing football...you never know what its goin to do. besides I like that warm bed and shower everyone keeps talking about. I couldnt afford much of a room either but that condo thing would be nice. stayed in one a few times in moab already!

[motochain]

I'll be there for EJS, camping out by the la sals.. anyone else planning on being there then?

[spindleshanks]

I also think a week is a bit much. I could do three or four days perhaps, but it would be a strain on my work responsibilities to stay any longer, not to mention a strain on the wallet.
I could get free hotel rooms (a la Takeover) with my points saved up during work travel. I can usually get a few free nights at decent priced hotels, and maybe a night or two at a really nice hotel. I don't enjoy camping for more than a day or so unless I'm backpacking on foot.

Don't let me discourage you, Nate. I would absolutely be down for this kind of trip, and I applaud your foreward thinking.

[fjcruzer]

FYI, Cruise Moab is not in April, rather it's the the Moab Spring Fling April 11-15 and is usually a much smaller group of folks (myself included, I hope :) ) And yes, hotel/motel rates suck after March. Maybe we should invest in a TTORA timeshare condo?

[RedRunnertc]

HOW, Moab - I likey!

[devinsixtyseven]

FYI, Cruise Moab is not in April, rather it's the the Moab Spring Fling April 11-15 and is usually a much smaller group of folks (myself included, I hope :) ) And yes, hotel/motel rates suck after March. Maybe we should invest in a TTORA timeshare condo?

Huh...that is actually a damn fine idea. If we had ten parties each provide 10k or so in equal shares...and I think we'd have to form some sort of business identity, no?...could work, interesting idea. Would need a tall, deep and wide 2-car garage, tho, with plenty of additional parking.

Anyway to the original thought I'd like to get the LT on my truck and then go back to Moab in spring. I'm ready to roll now anyway, whether I can go Jan/Feb all depends on when the LT arrives and how quick I can install, which reminds me I gotta bug Brandon about machine work.