Mojave Road trip - March 2017

Best weekend in March 2017 to go?

  • March 3, 4, 5

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • March 10, 11, 12

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • March 17, 18, 19

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • March 24, 25, 26

    Votes: 3 42.9%

  • During the week would work better for me

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    7
  • Poll closed .
Mark2Mister2 said:
This looks like it was a fantastic trip!

I plan on traveling Mojave Road with a couple of other rigs next week. We plan on taking 5 days or so to travel the trail East to West on a slow pace. Could any of you provide some insight to trail conditions and things we might need to be aware of? Reading through the thread, it seems that a stock 4x4s and even prerunners can handle the trail. I'm particularly concerned about the water crossing, how the more stock vehicles handled this feature, and whether or not diff breathers are a hard requirement. I saw that you could bypass this by hopping onto the highway, but haven't been able to confirm this.

For reference, the vehicles on the trip will be:
1997 FZJ80 - Locked, but stock (even the tires) - Novice Driver
1996 Taco 4x4 - Stock with heavy duty leaf springs - Novice Driver
1996? FZJ80 - Center lock only, 33 inch BFG AT, w/camper trailer - Experienced Driver

Any insight or information that you guys would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

It should still be good time to go, the weather issue always seems to be the wind.
As for the vehicles you have, all will be fine, I wouldn't worry about diff breathers too much, the 80s are well-equipped and the taco will be OK. My son had his 4runner and was concerned about it, we checked after the water crossing and there was no sign of water in the oil.

I would recommend a couple things to make it safer and fun.
- 2way radios of some kind for group comms
- a good map of the area and/or a gps that you can take advantage of a .gpx file.

You'll come to Watson wash near the Bert Smith rock house with an intimidating downhill section, take a deep breath and drive it! You can do it with any of the three rigs you have no problem, if you have a spotter out front to guide you down.

You can go around the water crossing but it's a long way around. You'd have to backtrack to Basin road which leaves the wash just before Afton canyon about 1/4 mile east of the railroad undercrossing. I've never taken that but I've mapped it out just in case.


G'luck! Dan

PS thanks for the 1000 posts! Not sure what that means but definitely a first for me.

Sent from my SM-T350 using OB Talk mobile app
 
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fj80toyman said:
It should still be good time to go, the weather issue always seems to be the wind.
As for the vehicles you have, all will be fine, I wouldn't worry about diff breathers too much, the 80s are well-equipped and the taco will be OK. My son had his 4runner and was concerned about it, we checked after the water crossing and there was no sign of water in the oil.

I would recommend a couple things to make it safer and fun.
- 2way radios of some kind for group comms
- a good map of the area and/or a gps that you can take advantage of a .gpx file.

You'll come to Watson wash near the Bert Smith rock house with an intimidating downhill section, take a deep breath and drive it! You can do it with any of the three rigs you have no problem, if you have a spotter out front to guide you down.

You can go around the water crossing but it's a long way around. You'd have to backtrack to Basin road which leaves the wash just before Afton canyon about 1/4 mile east of the railroad undercrossing. I've never taken that but I've mapped it out just in case.


G'luck! Dan

PS thanks for the 1000 posts! Not sure what that means but definitely a first for me.

Sent from my SM-T350 using OB Talk mobile app
Click to expand...

Thanks Dan! That's really reassuring to hear.

We've all got CB's and have several GPX files with possible routes mapped. I saw a few pictures of the down hill section on OB's Instagram account. It looks like a doozy!
 
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b7f3798333154cae08c72e7f54ec63a5.jpg


That last night was awesome!
 
Last edited:
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Did this patch get made? I did Mojave a few days before you guys due to a wedding. But it would make an awesome addition to my 4RUNNER.

Malcolm
6mSFIP2.png
 
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Michael said:
Hey everyone!

The first part of the Mojave Road video is up! A good chance to see some of the shenanigans you may not have experienced!

If anyone who paid the permit fee did not get a patch, info@overlandbound.com
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OB#0000 down for the count! ...or is it?

Tune in to Part 2 to find out just how much mud we need to rub on it to get it back on the trail.

Lot of fun to watch, it takes a community to make an awesome trip like this happen.
 
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Hello hello! I have a friendly PSA regarding photos and posting and stuff.

Please be sure to credit the photographer and tag them when sharing on social, especially with @BazzaJ images. (@overlandbaz on IG) We are super fortunate to have his time and talent working for Overland Bound, and part of our agreement is we always credit and tag his work.

Because he's rad, and we want the whole overlanding world to know. :smile:

I super miss you all, and I miss the sound of the trail beneath our tires, and the voice around the campfire!

Let's explore and chill soon.

xoxo

C

PS - I do not miss the sound of a radiator blowing up.
 
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A Week after y'all ran the Mojave, I tried to make the trip from the Avi to Fort Piute, I had to hit the road at US 95 however. My Alternator died, which meant I had JUST enough charge on my batteries to limp her home. I also damaged my Power Steering Gearbox, and stripped out a track bar bushing. Fortunately I have most of the problems fixed, but dang. For being such an "easy" trail, it really likes to claim casualties, haha
 
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Corrie said:
Let's explore and chill soon.

xoxo

C

PS - I do not miss the sound of a radiator blowing up.
Click to expand...


But that heartfelt gasp at that moment is the real deal...



BigTuna117 said:
A Week after y'all ran the Mojave, I tried to make the trip from the Avi to Fort Piute, I had to hit the road at US 95 however. My Alternator died, which meant I had JUST enough charge on my batteries to limp her home. I also damaged my Power Steering Gearbox, and stripped out a track bar bushing. Fortunately I have most of the problems fixed, but dang. For being such an "easy" trail, it really likes to claim casualties, haha
Click to expand...


It's true, for an "easy" trail, it can take it's toll. When I ran in January, I broke my exhaust in two before the dry lake.
This trip, a drive belt pulley grenaded, took out my A/C belt, the plastic radiator fan and some other bits.

Take this trail lightly at your own peril! It's likely to chew you up and spit you out!


Dan
 
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fj80toyman said:
But that heartfelt gasp at that moment is the real deal...






It's true, for an "easy" trail, it can take it's toll. When I ran in January, I broke my exhaust in two before the dry lake.
This trip, a drive belt pulley grenaded, took out my A/C belt, the plastic radiator fan and some other bits.

Take this trail lightly at your own peril! It's likely to chew you up and spit you out!


Dan
Click to expand...
Did that happen on the way home Dan? That's nuts. I guess I should count myself as lucky that I got to the trail and home without incident.

Sent from my LG-H810 using OB Talk mobile app
 
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fj80toyman said:
But that heartfelt gasp at that moment is the real deal...






It's true, for an "easy" trail, it can take it's toll. When I ran in January, I broke my exhaust in two before the dry lake.
This trip, a drive belt pulley grenaded, took out my A/C belt, the plastic radiator fan and some other bits.

Take this trail lightly at your own peril! It's likely to chew you up and spit you out!


Dan
Click to expand...
@fj80toyman We could probably start a thread on just the casualties!
 
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Corrie said:
Hello hello! I have a friendly PSA regarding photos and posting and stuff.

Please be sure to credit the photographer and tag them when sharing on social, especially with @BazzaJ images. (@overlandbaz on IG) We are super fortunate to have his time and talent working for Overland Bound, and part of our agreement is we always credit and tag his work.

Because he's rad, and we want the whole overlanding world to know. :smile:

I super miss you all, and I miss the sound of the trail beneath our tires, and the voice around the campfire!

Let's explore and chill soon.

xoxo

C

PS - I do not miss the sound of a radiator blowing up.
Click to expand...

Guilty...Love that guy Baz! I am still learning...I'm taking a social media class at Overland Expo.
 
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