What trails in Moab have been tackled by a 4x4 van??

[dsw4x4-SMB]

Last week my girlfriend and I went on a trip and covered about 1500 miles from home to wyoming to moab and back. While in Moab we drove to Chicken Corners, Gemni Bridges and then we got silly and ran Poison spider mesa mostly in the rain. The end thought? My van rocks!!! Bone stock EB 7.3 diesel Quigly conversion stock tires with hubcaps factory chrome bumpers about the only thing changed as far as drive train goes is I clocked the transfercase so it is tucked up tight. Yes we drug the rear bumper but not as nearly as much as you might think, and the little it did drag it did not get bent. So here is my question who has done what trails in Moab with their van and how modified is your van?? Post some pics from the trail too! I am now wanting to do at least all the 4 rated trails until I get some tires bumpers and maybe a arb in the front then I will push 4.5 trails. I am curious what this post brings I think that most people are unaware of what their van is really capable of in stock form.
Here are some of our pics. Could that be the only canoe to see the top of poison Spider??

 

[daveb-SMB]

Nice. Glad to see an EB going for it.

 

[saline]

Nice! Poison Spider too!
After years of driving many of the Moab trails in a small (lifted,bumpers etc) 4x4 I wonder which ones I would take my SMB on. Granted many of the SMB's are going to be a bit heavier than your van but I think they would be capable. Without a doubt #1 problem is the departure angle with the EB.
I would NOT take it on:
Moab Rim
Golden Spike
Rusty Nail
Pritchett Canyon
Amasa Back
Fins & Things (some of it , departure would kill you)

I would/will take it on:
Shafer Trail (already did)
Hells Revenge (unloaded)
Top of the World
Gemini Bridges
Poison Spider (unloaded)
Chicken Corners
Bull Canyon
Fins & Things (some portions)
Flat Pass

 

[dsw4x4-SMB]

Saline,
Thanks
for the input Once I get some bigger tires and a winch I would be a little braver. I think Amasa Back is doable I want so badly to try potato salad hill the other day but with no winch i was not about to try it. I would love to meet up with some other vans that are willing to push the limits. I was wanting to try golden spike but it had been so long since I did that trail I did not want to push it on the crack. I know that trails like prichett are totally of limits for any van.
Thanks for the input.
Derek

 

[neeemo]

I've been meaning to take the White Rim in my EB Q. There's a video on YouTube of someone doing it.

Anyone on this list?

Tom

 

[pjpvi]

I just did the White Rim Trail first week of May and it is stunning scenery. The trail itself isn't that technical, but enough to make you pay attention in places. I highly recommend it, but make your campground reservations WAY in advance. We were more in the mtn biking frame of mind by the time we settled in at Sand Flat, so didn't do any wheeling around Moab proper.

It's certainly not me in the video, but I think it is the same spot as this picture. I'm just going the other way.

 

[pjpvi]

BTW Derek, you've done an incredible job with your top. I really like the slide out.

Phil

 

[beernutmark]

Trying to bring this thread back to life! Hopefully others will post the trails they have done. I think we should include tire size, aired down yes/no, lockers yes/no and any other relevant facts.

We recently (last Sunday) took our SK 4x4 EB up the Top of the World Trail. It was great fun. Wish I had pictures of the hardest spots but I was busy driving then :a1:

Specs: Salem Kroger 4x4 EB E350, ARB Lockers which I used once (could have just backed up and gotten traction but wanted to try the ARB's), 265/70-17 tires aired down to 30 psi front 40 rear. Swaybars front and rear still attached (should have detached them).

On this trip we had myself, my wife, our two kids, my two friends, their 3 year old and a 6 month old all in the van. (I have kept the front two seats and the middle two rows of benches in the van). We stopped driving up at about 2.9 miles from the start of the trailhead (where it splits from the kokopelli trail). Probably could have made it further but breaking something was unthinkable with the crew we had with us. We hiked the last mile and I'll tell you I'm hesitant on taking the van (even an R up the last part even without kids. Perhaps with larger tires and more confidence in the abilities of the van.

The view from the top is INSANE!!! :a5:

 

[tomesd]

Any new information for this thread? We're heading thru there soon and I wanted to hit some easier ones.

 

[haywoodphotomaccom]

This is a great thread! Hoping to add to it myself here in the next month or so. It would be great to add GPS coordinates for any area you camped in that was out of bounds/boondocked that you really liked.

Derek, is that top in full production now?

 

[Jeffrey-SMB]

I spent a week or more there in 2008. We found a remote trail that took us to the fence of the eastern boundary of Arches, and we hiked in to Delicate. Also ran the White Rim Road for three days, of which these are some pics.

 

[WVvan-SMB]

Mighty scenic but pictures 3, 4 and 5 done give me the willies. :e7:

 

[DisabledExplorers]

one of our wheelchair participants drove the WAVE on Fins 'n Things without too much trouble.try to
The WAVE is a EB by SMB West running Nitto Trail Grappler 33's on 17's.
The rear hitch drug which I am fine with and we banged the rear bumper a bit which was more my fault as spotter than his as driver.

I will try to get some pics up soon.
If you go to youtube and search DisabledExplorers you will see a video of the WAVE in action in Moab.

 

[Ridge-SMB]

I did Lion's Back when it was open. This was my first 4X4 van. SK conversion, open difs and no sway bars!

Oh, I'll be your Huckleberry for doing challenging trails in our vans! I'd like to run some of the more scenic trails this winter. You know, the ones that are kind of boring without mud and/or snow.

Chris