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Tourist+Commander+Elephant Hill=Fail

JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
When we arrived at the trail head of Elephant Hill, there was a European tourist dude talking with a Ranger about his rented Commander. As the story goes, he went out into the desert alone on the most difficult trail in Canyonlands NP and along the way, got a flat. The stock jack wouldn't work so he hiked back to the parking area to look for help. He was hinting that not only would he like help changing the tire, but he would also like someone to drive the Jeep back because he felt nervous.

I also got the impression from the Ranger that she would've liked us to take care of the situation but we all had Hi Lift jacks which would probably not work well with a stock vehicle. So the Ranger took him for a ride in her JK to go get the Commander since she had a large floor jack. After some spotting from from us (and a suggestion to put it in 4 lo), the Ranger went up Elephant Hill and out of sight.

After a while on the trail, we crossed paths with them as they headed back with tire changed. We continued on and had a great time. On the return trip, we came across the Commander off to the side on the tight switch backs. There was another flat and we assume the Ranger took him out.

I wonder if he took the insurance?

Body damage:

DSCF1061.jpg


Stuff hanging down underneath:

DSCF1062.jpg


Punctured sidewall:

DSCF1063.jpg


Pin stripping:

DSCF1064.jpg


Spare already mounted:

DSCF1065.jpg
 
Houndoc

Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
Man, that is even worse pin striping than I left on my rental Dodge Nitro last fall in Nome. Luckily they either didn't notice mine under the dirt, or considering the locale, didn't care.
 
Z

zkeys

Member
Location
Ludlow Falls Ohio
How that guy got 100ft on that trail and still decided to go on is beyond me. I feel good that my Titan just did that trail and a Jeep could not. (even though it is a commander) :)
 
Brett

Brett

Meat-Hippy
Location
Salt Lake City Utah
zkeys said:
How that guy got 100ft on that trail and still decided to go on is beyond me. I feel good that my Titan just did that trail and a Jeep could not. (even though it is a commander) :)
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Hmm...it's not exactly the hardest trail on Earth. I've seen stock Isuzu Troopers and Ford Explorers on it with no problem. The NPS has done a lot to make it easier, IE paving with asphalt ;)
 
Skylinerider

Skylinerider

Wandering the desert
Location
Ephraim
zkeys said:
How that guy got 100ft on that trail and still decided to go on is beyond me. I feel good that my Titan just did that trail and a Jeep could not. (even though it is a commander) :)
Click to expand...

You ever driven a Commander? They're actually very capable. They have the same underpinnings as a GC, they're only 2 inches longer. Unless you carry 2 spares, the same would've happened to you or anybody. How many here carry 2 spares?
 
Z

zkeys

Member
Location
Ludlow Falls Ohio
Skylinerider said:
You ever driven a Commander? They're actually very capable. They have the same underpinnings as a GC, they're only 2 inches longer. Unless you carry 2 spares, the same would've happened to you or anybody. How many here carry 2 spares?
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No I have never driven a Commander, and I am not questioning their trail ability. But there were several steep spots on the first 1/2 mile of that trail that are fairly steep and rough, pavement or not.

Not sure how a person can think that taking a rental vehicle with street tires on that trail, especially after that first section, is a good idea. Jeep or no jeep.
 
bradm

bradm

shameless posing...
Location
Bountiful UT
zkeys said:
Not sure how a person can think that taking a rental vehicle with street tires on that trail, especially after that first section, is a good idea. Jeep or no jeep.
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Funny thing is, back in the day (70's and 80's), we used to run this trail in completely bone stock rigs with street tires. That was even before the Park Service paved parts of it making it easier. We had a Scout (Traveler or Travelall, can't remember exact name), a CJ-5, and a 2wd Volkswagen Kit Buggy. Yes 2wd, and it ran up and down Elephant Hill dozens of times. My point being I don't feel street tires are the end-all culprit here. A Commander is more than capable of that trail. This situation boils down to driver error and a little bad luck in my mind.
 
Z

zkeys

Member
Location
Ludlow Falls Ohio
bradm said:
Funny thing is, back in the day (70's and 80's), we used to run this trail in completely bone stock rigs with street tires. That was even before the Park Service paved parts of it making it easier. We had a Scout (Traveler or Travelall, can't remember exact name), a CJ-5, and a 2wd Volkswagen Kit Buggy. Yes 2wd, and it ran up and down Elephant Hill dozens of times. My point being I don't feel street tires are the end-all culprit here. A Commander is more than capable of that trail. This situation boils down to driver error and a little bad luck in my mind.
Click to expand...

I can agree to that. I have been up it with my parents in a stock 87-88?? GMC Jimmy, and our friends at the time had an Isuzu Trooper that made it up. This was before lots of asphalt fill on the trail (although there was some back then as well.)

When I did it a few weeks ago as my first real experience on a slightly more difficult trail, I was pretty apprehensive. I feel my vehicle was somewhat equipped for it (33" Terra Graps, 2" lift, diff lock) but I was still a little nervous about the trip. What got me through was some good advice and some good spotting from my father.

Like said before, the vehicle could be "trail rated" but sometimes the driver is not. Hopefully he might think twice next time about taking a rental vehicle on such a trail.

Thanks,

Zack
 
offroaddave

offroaddave

It's just one term!
Location
sunset
bradm said:
Funny thing is, back in the day (70's and 80's), we used to run this trail in completely bone stock rigs with street tires. That was even before the Park Service paved parts of it making it easier. We had a Scout (Traveler or Travelall, can't remember exact name), a CJ-5, and a 2wd Volkswagen Kit Buggy. Yes 2wd, and it ran up and down Elephant Hill dozens of times. My point being I don't feel street tires are the end-all culprit here. A Commander is more than capable of that trail. This situation boils down to driver error and a little bad luck in my mind.
Click to expand...


That's dead on. I've had almost (except a suby, not that it hasn't been done) every 4x4 I've owned on that trail stock.
All driver there.
 
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