What trails have you had your van on in Moab??

[dsw4x4]

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??

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09238.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09219.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09215.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09188.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09182.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09154.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09148.jpg


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/dsw4x4/2009%20memorial%20day/May09027.jpg

[UHAULER]

Sweet. What size tires are you going to run ?

[dsw4x4]

Uhauler I just checked out your build very cool!! That is why I love this forum it is full of people that follow through with there ideas. My whole reason for a van was because I could not lock up my bikes and gear. I am at least going to run a 35 inch tire and maybe a 37 I am going to run 35s first with bushwackers and see how much room that leaves me. The van is so tall and the suspension works really good (four link in the front) plus I do not want to get silly with this van I use it as a tow vehicle for my broncos and boats the big one is a 28 foot cruiser so I do not want to lift it any so I am determined to get the biggest tire I can in there with no rubbing and no lift it has 4:10s so a little bigger tire keeps my rpms in the sweet spot.
Derek

[ujoint]

Great pics! That pop top really turned out great. Congrats on a great job. As far as the Moab question, my van hasn't seen any trails there. I've been on most of them, but in a JK. Didn't bring the van at all. :(

[KevinNY]

I'll give you the balls award for sure for trying PSM alone in a van. Not sure about the brains award though? Slickrock's traction forgives a multitude of sins.

[Vermejo]

Very humbling to see your van on Poison Spider Mesa; the hubcaps add to that quality. I would have loved to see the look on the faces of those you passed. Well done and nice build.

[dieselcruiserhead]

Very cool..

[spencyg]

I must say that I would never attempt any of that in my rig...but kudos for your kahunas...

Spence

[rctr03]

nice van! i like the canoe too!

[FROADER]

Like Ujoint, I've been all over Moab, just not in my van. I love that top!!

I'm still waiting to sell the motorcycle to convert my van to 4wd.

[sixstringsteve]

I saw one on fins n things and it just made everyone else look stupid. It climbed up stuff most jeeps were afraid to do. Granted, that trail doesn't require a lot of clearance or articulation, but it sure surprised us to see a van up there!

[1leglance]

Hey the Disabled Explorers Sportsmobile WAVE did Fin's n Things and that was driven by a guy i n a wheelchair!
We also played on some other stuff and generally had a blast in Moab.

[RocKrawler]

Someone please tell me you took pictures of a van on Fins & Things....

[1leglance]

Of course Terry,
Later today I will try and post some pics and a link to a video on youtube, if you can't wait then just go to youtube and search disabledexplorers and look for one called intro...that shows some of moab.

[dsw4x4]

Every time we have the van in Moab wheeling it cracks me up because everything and I mean everything buggies, bikes, jeeps etc etc... stops and or turns around to watch you in the tough spots. These vans are so heavy even when I ran my van with stock suspension and tires and open diffs I could still walk up just about any thing. People would be blown away see a stock van walk where built jeeps are struggling now with big tires and lift it is not as impressive to people as it was when it was stock. I also sort of cracked up because the way a lot of people talk and smerk as we passed them up I could tell they thought I was some idiot that had no business being on those trails when I was probably more prepared to be up there than most of them even though it does not look like it to a person passing by.
Derek

[RocKrawler]

Of course Terry,
Later today I will try and post some pics and a link to a video on youtube, if you can't wait then just go to youtube and search disabledexplorers and look for one called intro...that shows some of moab.

Thanks Lance, sorry I missed you when I was passing through PHX. Hopefully we can meet up soon so I can check out your new rig


Every time we have the van in Moab wheeling it cracks me up because everything and I mean everything buggies, bikes, jeeps etc etc... stops and or turns around to watch you in the tough spots. These vans are so heavy even when I ran my van with stock suspension and tires and open diffs I could still walk up just about any thing. People would be blown away see a stock van walk where built jeeps are struggling now with big tires and lift it is not as impressive to people as it was when it was stock. I also sort of cracked up because the way a lot of people talk and smerk as we passed them up I could tell they thought I was some idiot that had no business being on those trails when I was probably more prepared to be up there than most of them even though it does not look like it to a person passing by.
Derek

I know that look, got it a lot when I had a samurai with a 4:1 t-case and lock right lockers in both axles, looked stock but went everywhere & the constant jaw dropping was hilarious

[ihatemybike]

I had Grumpy on 7 Mile Rim last November. Would have done more trails, but I was wheeling solo and had to be in Santa Monica by that night.

[RocKrawler]

any more pics anyone?

Found this on the interweb:

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/748209.jpg

[dsw4x4]

If I remember right that is a quigly van they brought out for easter jeep and shot a some of video of it. It has arbs front and rear if I am not mistaken. they used to have some videos of it on their web site but I cannot find them now.

YouTube - Quigley 4x4 Chevy Van at Potato Salad Hill

[dansvan]

Here's some of mine for our trip down from Alaska.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245794/fullsize/dans4x4-258.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245798/fullsize/dans4x4-265.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245799/fullsize/dans4x4-259.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245834/fullsize/dans4x4-281.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245835/fullsize/dans4x4-282.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245836/fullsize/dans4x4-283.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245837/fullsize/dans4x4-286.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245841/fullsize/dans4x4-299.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245842/fullsize/dans4x4-302.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/245846/fullsize/dans4x4-296_edited.jpg

I'll have to dig for some more. We were in moab for a day and a half, did Fins and Things, the one across from it, Little Lionsback(Lionsback was shut down), a couple outside of town. Good times.

[RocKrawler]

OK, must have details on the snorkel Dansvan... and how freaky did the steep stuff feel in something so big & a driving position so forward of the typical trail rig?

[1sweetvan]

OK, must have details on the snorkel Dansvan... and how freaky did the steep stuff feel in something so big & a driving position so forward of the typical trail rig?
Ditto on the Snorkel.

[dsw4x4]

Dan good to see you still lurking around here!
Dan built that snorkel himself here is a link with some pictures of the him building it.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39237