Trail Ratings

badams

Registered User
I kind of have a general question about trail ratings & what kind of a rig you can get through them on. The most difficult ones I have done have been ~3.5s (Rattlesnake, Kane Creek...). What kinds of clearance (tire size), lockers, winch, etc should be expected to complete 3, 3.5, 4, 4+...? I do ok with 33" tires & lockers (no winch) on 3.5 trails, should I try any 4s in Moab this spring? What would it generally take to do 4+ trails like Pritchett or Golden Spike?
 

troutbum

cubi-kill
Location
SLC
James K said:
Did spike the first time with 33's and a locker in the rear axle.
I have seen TJ's driven off the showroom floor (literally) do Goldenspike with only bumper scrapes.
 

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
troutbum said:
I have seen TJ's driven off the showroom floor (literally) do Goldenspike with only bumper scrapes.

my little brother did golden spike in a bone stock samurai....it is NOT hard.
 

Jinx

when in doubt, upgrade!
Location
So Jordan, Utah
I did prichett with 33's and a detroit in the rear...










and a long strap hooked to my buddy jeep :D :D

rocker knocker and the rock pile are not your friend... :suka:
 

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
95jeepgrndchke said:
Correct me if im wrong but isnt Pritchett a 5 and the only 5 there is in Moab?


officially...maybe....in reality there are SEVERAL trails that are 10X harder than pritchett
 

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
i've done Poison Spider Mesa in my zuk when it was stock 4-6 times.....easy stuff....i think that's rated a 4 or something....

***EDIT..... i say rating shmating..... :rolleyes: ...it's more driver than vehicle anyways. nobody is gonna wheel it the same...you gotta just go see the trail for yourself....truthfully i refuse to believe what they've been "rated" in the books, cause once you get on a trail it's not nearly as bad as it seemed on paper, and in writing....make sense?
 
Last edited:

BlackSheep

baaaaaaaaaad to the bone
Supporting Member
badams said:
I went by this guide.

http://www.4x4now.com/mu4wd.htm

So, other than Pritchett, I should be able to handle any of the established Moab trails?

I drive a TJ, 3" lift, 33" tires, front/real lockers.

I've run pritchett (except the rock pile) with my TJ outfitted with a 3" short arm kit, 33" tires, and detroits front and rear. I won't even hesitate to run a 4+ trail. Especially now that I have 4" of lift (working on getting 6" springs) with a longarm kit.

You'll be amazed at what your rig can do, just pay attention to what it is telling you as you run the trails.
 

Shawn

Just Hanging Out
Location
Holly Day
BlackSheep said:
I've run pritchett (except the rock pile) with my TJ outfitted with a 3" short arm kit, 33" tires, and detroits front and rear. I won't even hesitate to run a 4+ trail. Especially now that I have 4" of lift (working on getting 6" springs) with a longarm kit.

You'll be amazed at what your rig can do, just pay attention to what it is telling you as you run the trails.

JD, You are also a very good driver.
 

DorkAlert

Registered User
Location
SLC, Utah
troutbum said:
I have seen TJ's driven off the showroom floor (literally) do Goldenspike with only bumper scrapes.


I saw some drunk guys do golden spike in a loaded(with people) stock TJ. One of the funniest things I have ever seen. I think they thought speed was the answer to everything. I 'm suprised someone didn't get thrown out on thier head.
 

shmoesmith

Registered User
its really about driver....I think the trail ratings that you see are for people without alot of offroad driving experience...you can get most stock vehicles up everything through poison spider in moab...after that clearance really does start to become an issues and so does articulation. It also totally depends on the vehicles as well....like spence said, you can get a stock sami though golden spike but that is only if you are a DAMN good driver and because the samurai is soo short. Take that same clearance on another vehicle (8 inches) with a bit longer wheelbase and you wouldnt make it. Or for example of vehicle capability..my tracker has pretty decent flex for IFS(about as much as a stock TJ)and a rear locker. it walks up tip over challenge (4 or 4+ rated obsticle) like nothing. Yet I have seen countless vehicles try to get up it with open diffs, lift kits and big tires and they fail (some good drivers can manage to do it open) The other thing you have consider when consulting this board is that alot of the people on here will tell you "oh its easy" but these people are very experienced drivers and have heavily modified rigs for the most part and havent ever tried half of these trails stock. If you ever read the charles wells book about the trail rating system they are always telling you the rating compared to how a STOCK vehicle will manage the trail(example: only the most capable stock vehicles can manage this trail without body damage -taken from poison spider trail rating in wells book: 4 rated), and then go on to tell you recommended modifications to make it easier. it all comes down to the driving baby :)
 
Top