Memorial M1009 Solo Moab Run

[2INSANE]

We left Belgrade Montana early Sunday morning and on the way down to Moab I did a quick service call for a customer. He was having issues with his M1009. I did a quick timing adjustment, added a clear fuel return line hose and diagnosed that he has a bad boost leak or that his turbo was shot. He gave permission to share pictures of his beautiful M1009 and M1008.

We set up camp around 5pm at one of my favorite northern Utah camping areas called Willard Basin. We drove as far as we could up the mountain until the snow prevented us from going any further.

Excited to try out the $30 pawn shop 4 person tent! It felt like we were right at home with the blow up air mattress! Dinner consisted of homemade hobo dinners with garlic and a can of Chili to help keep the mosquitoes down. ‍

 

[2INSANE]

After packing up camp later in the day, we went to Smith and Edwards to go shopping. This store is great!

We got to Moab around 3pm, checked into the motel and had a night on the town with dinner! Sorry, I did not take pictures of our shopping goods… lol!

 

[2INSANE]

Tuesday morning we hit Fins and Things and Hells Revenge as the warm up trails. It was the girls first time in Moab so I wanted to start out with some slow baby steps. Lol!

When we got to Hells Gate, the girls got out and took video. Getting on 3 wheels sure got me back in the wheeling mood.

Feeling frisky, I was hoping the third time would be the charm on Mickey’s Hot tub… It seemed deeper to me and the rear bumper bottomed out pretty hard where I could not back up to give it a bump. A friendly passer by was kind enough to winch me out. I think I will be ditching this Boat Anchor rear bumper soon!

 

[2INSANE]

Through out the week we hunted down as many petroglyphs as we could find on both sides of the Colorado river. Here’s a few pictures of them. Some of them were hidden behind bushes and shrubs and were really close to the ground. They were everywhere!

 

[2INSANE]

On Wednesday my good friend said he could not make it. We were going to do Behind the Rocks and Cliff Hanger together and help each other spot on the trails but looks like another full Solo Moab run this time again. Now worries! I am confident I built my Blazer tough enough and packed a ton of recovery gear and spare parts.

I decided to try out Chicken Corners trail and man… It was a fun beautiful long day! The girls took most of the videos and pictures but here’s what I have on me. It was for sure a great decision! There was a bunch of side trails I took that made the run even more exciting.

 

[2INSANE]

On Thursday, Seven Mile Rim seemed like a good fun choice. The Wife and Stepdaughter wanted to take a break for the day and stayed at the Motel and went shopping. So it’s just me and the Blazer on this one!

This trail was packed with a lot of everything! The views were stunning and the trail was very diversified with different terrain. At the end I was greeted with an array of Dinosaur tracks which gave the icing on the cake!

 

[2INSANE]

Seven Mile Rim trail did not take very long to conquer. So I went back to the Motel and picked up the girls and we did Long Canyon trail just for one reason… This picture! Lol!

I was surprised it was rated as a Moderate trail because it was mainly just a dirt road but it did have a very steep climb that could easily overheat one’s transmission or motor. I kept it in 4Low 2nd-3rd gear to prevent that.

 

[2INSANE]

Friday… Booo! Our last day in Moab. :-( I wanted to scratch off another trail from the bucket list and since it’s the last day in Moab, I thought Metal Masher fit the profile as the Grand Finale!

After watching a few videos before I left so I can see what I was getting into, I knew I would not get to do much of the ledges, Rock Chucker and definitely not Widow Maker with only 37” tires and a boat anchor for a rear bumper.

The first set of ledges I went straight to the steepest one and tried a few different lines. I was able to get the passenger tire on it and then started to tilt on 3 wheels which quickly turned me around.

I came up to rock Chucker and wanted to try to get on the big rock. After several attempts, I was able to get 1/2 way up until I felt my transfer case skid plate hit. That’s as far as I was willing to attempt Rock Chucker.

I did get a good line on the Tailpipe Hill Obstacle or so I think it is called and was able to literally crawl up it without performing the Moab Bump. I was surprised it made it up with little effort.

I had the Take off Goodyear Wrangler MTR tires aired down to 15 psi and they did very well!

All these ledges did eventually crack my frame again where the rear bumper mounts. Nothing I can’t fix.

About 1/2 way threw the trail my Brake Master Cylinder went out and I only had about 10% of brake pressure. I kept it in 4L 1st the rest of the trail and was able to safely conquer Metal Masher with my handicaps.

 

[2INSANE]

A few more pictures! I really enjoyed the challenge of Metal Masher and all the optional obstacles! A few more upgrades and modifications is for sure needed before I do it again, which I for sure will do! The icing of the cake was stopping at the Gemini Bridges and feeling that last peaceful wind blowing my sweaty body after taking 7 hours to complete Metal Masher.

 

[2INSANE]

Well thanks for taking a look at this report! Hope everyone had a great Memorial!

 

[joshuak]

Well thanks for taking a look at this report! Hope everyone had a great Memorial!

Still Memorial Day weekend here, still at work.

Congrats on the successful trip, thanks for taking the time to share pictures.

 

[centexk5]

Awesome trip.

 

[Wes Harden]

very much enjoyed your trip recap looks like a great time was had

 

[70jimmy]

Good write up and pics Thanks!

 

[KB6Chris]

Looks like a fun trip!

 

[2INSANE]

Still Memorial Day weekend here, still at work.

Congrats on the successful trip, thanks for taking the time to share pictures.

Awesome trip.

very much enjoyed your trip recap looks like a great time was had

Good write up and pics Thanks!

Looks like a fun trip!

Thanks yal! It was a blast!

 

[82355]

Cool pictures! Looks like fun.

You should find some 16.5" stock steel wheels with safety beads. Then you could air down some more.

Martin

 

[2INSANE]

Cool pictures! Looks like fun.

You should find some 16.5" stock steel wheels with safety beads. Then you could air down some more.

Martin

Thank you! I had amazing traction with the 37” MTR’s at 15 psi. No issues at all! It was great! I have some Trailworthyfab new beadlocks with inserts. I would like to keep the 37” cheap take offs for daily driving and get the beadlocks mounted on a set of 42” Iroks in the future.

After doing Metal Masher I think I could get better departures if I swap the rear springs from 64” to the one ton 56” because the 56” one tons would move the axle further back making it so the rear bumper clears more obstacles. Because of the 56” spring center bolt being offset, I think I would actually gain more articulation and flex.

Also if I cut off about 4” of the mounting brackets on the rear bumper, that would help a lot to tuck it in better.

 

[Wes Harden]

the 56" are 26" front and 30" rear, which would locate the axle in the stock wheel base position

 

[2INSANE]

the 56" are 26" front and 30" rear, which would locate the axle in the stock wheel base position

If the shorter side of the 56” springs is toward the rear, I calculate it would move the axle 6” further back right?