xFallen
05-22-2006, 06:28 PM
The following trail ratings are based on a Jeep Wrangler style or similar vehicle. The extreme trails realistically should be done with rock buggies or very highly modified vehicles. There is also simply no substitute for experience no matter the rig.
Trail ratings may seem subjective to some. This is an attempt to start with some idea of a standard that is somewhat consistent. These have been compiled based on many years of collective experience of some very experienced drivers. The ratings are intended to give people an idea as to what to expect.
There are many opportunties to break and cause yourself or others lots of grief or even misfortune on any trail. You can keep it a fun adventure with a little bit of preparedness and planning.
Always carry spare parts specific to your vehicle. Vital fluids both for yourself and for your vehicle are requiredfor your own safety in the desert. Recovery equipment, spares, tools and the knowledge to use them safely are highly recommended. This off-site link (http://www.sidekickoffroad.com/equippingF.htm) has excellent ideas as to what to carry. At that site please consider "Most Difficult" as a 3.5 and above.
Please carry "pig pads" and "peat sorb" or equivalent products for cleaning up spills on the trail. Blue Devil Products (http://www.bluedevilproducts.com/) has an excellent idea called a Trail Pail. It has everything you need to clean up spills completely and safely in one convenient bucket. Check with local retailers to see if they carry similar products, and if they don't insist that they do. Cleaning up accidental spills, our own or someone else's, will go a long way to show we deserve the right to access these resources.
Thanks, and do enjoy!
Rating 1 Improved Dirt Road
Description Dirt road that is clear and in good condition.
Vehicle and Equipment Passable by most two wheel drive vehicles.
Example Most Forest Service roads.
Rating 2 Unimproved Dirt Road
Description Potholes, minor wash outs, medium sized rocks and mud holes. Higher ground clearance helpful.
Vehicle and Equipment Passable by most stock 4x4 vehicles.
Example Appetizer, Crown King (Back Way), Tip Top Loop, Reno Pass
Rating 3 Difficult Trail
Description Loose gravel, large pot holes, steep inclines, medium sized rocks.
Vehicle and Equipment Four wheel drive required, tires with aggressive tread and lowered tire pressure helpful.
Example Log Corral Trail, Lower Firebird, Raw Deal, Ruby Wash (Optional Obstacles), FR42 (Changes greatly depending on rainfall), Upper Woodpecker
Rating 3.5 Hard Trail
Description Some rocky sections, bypasses at most major obstacles. Some body damage possible. Rocker panel and rear quarter panel protection helpful.
Vehicle and Equipment Upgraded bumpers (Useable as a hi-lift point), rocker panel skids, skid plates, Hi-Lift, 32" Tires, Rear locker
Example Judgement Day, Upper Terminator, Lower Terminator, Predator, Rocker Panel Pass, Martinez Canyon (not Cabin), FR42 (after heavy rainfall or when it is wet)
Rating 4 Moderate Rocky Trail
Description Frequent ledges, crevices, large boulders, steep inclines and off camber situations. Body and or tire damage likely. Spotters may be needed for some obstacles. Low tire pressure required, good chance of loosing a bead. Possible component breakages.
Vehicle and Equipment Front locker 35" tires Upgraded axles Lower ring & pinions, transfer case gear reduction (w/ manual transmission), winch, recommend spare axles, recommend spare steering parts
Example Axle Alley, Bad Medicine, Highway to Hell, Lower Woodpecker, Lost World, Payeatt Draw, Squeeze Rock, Upper Firebird
Rating 4.5 Hard Rocky Trail
Description Same as a 4.0 rated trail but the obstacles are bigger, tighter squeezes and bigger risks to body and mechanical components. Few bypasses if any. Longer wheelbase vehicles may have problems with breakover angles, short wheelbase vehicles may have to use a winch or strap on some obstacles. Large vehicles will damage sheet metal. Spotter may be needed for all major obstacles. Rollovers possible. Plan for common component breakages (vehicle specific).
Vehicle and Equipment 38" Agressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR, D44 or better axles, source for on-board air, beadlock rims, flexible suspension, wider than stock track width.
Example Anaconda, Landslide, Overdose, Woody's Wash
Rating 5 Extreme Rocky Trail
Description Same as a 4.5 rated trail but the obstacles are bigger, tighter squeezes and bigger risks to body and mechanical components. No bypasses. Body damage guaranteed. Spotters needed for most of trail. Rollovers likely. Some obstacles may require a winch for larger vehicles. Trail may be impassible when wet. Plan for major component breakages.
Vehicle and Equipment Realistically these trails should be run with rock buggies. Agressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR. Transfer case gear reduction (w/Automatic transmission). Remove all unneeded body parts. 100" Wheelbase.
Example Annihilator, Collateral Damage, Die Hard, Matrix, Skullcrusher, Twisted
Rating 5.5 Insane Trail
Description This type of run is pushing the outer limits of what is (currently) possible. This is the same as a 5.0 rated trail except all of the obstacles are bigger. Constant spotting required, vehicles will get hung up frequently, undercarriage will catch rocks. At some point a winch will be required to support the full weight of the vehicle.
Vehicle and Equipment light rock buggy
Example Asylum
Trail ratings may seem subjective to some. This is an attempt to start with some idea of a standard that is somewhat consistent. These have been compiled based on many years of collective experience of some very experienced drivers. The ratings are intended to give people an idea as to what to expect.
There are many opportunties to break and cause yourself or others lots of grief or even misfortune on any trail. You can keep it a fun adventure with a little bit of preparedness and planning.
Always carry spare parts specific to your vehicle. Vital fluids both for yourself and for your vehicle are requiredfor your own safety in the desert. Recovery equipment, spares, tools and the knowledge to use them safely are highly recommended. This off-site link (http://www.sidekickoffroad.com/equippingF.htm) has excellent ideas as to what to carry. At that site please consider "Most Difficult" as a 3.5 and above.
Please carry "pig pads" and "peat sorb" or equivalent products for cleaning up spills on the trail. Blue Devil Products (http://www.bluedevilproducts.com/) has an excellent idea called a Trail Pail. It has everything you need to clean up spills completely and safely in one convenient bucket. Check with local retailers to see if they carry similar products, and if they don't insist that they do. Cleaning up accidental spills, our own or someone else's, will go a long way to show we deserve the right to access these resources.
Thanks, and do enjoy!
Rating 1 Improved Dirt Road
Description Dirt road that is clear and in good condition.
Vehicle and Equipment Passable by most two wheel drive vehicles.
Example Most Forest Service roads.
Rating 2 Unimproved Dirt Road
Description Potholes, minor wash outs, medium sized rocks and mud holes. Higher ground clearance helpful.
Vehicle and Equipment Passable by most stock 4x4 vehicles.
Example Appetizer, Crown King (Back Way), Tip Top Loop, Reno Pass
Rating 3 Difficult Trail
Description Loose gravel, large pot holes, steep inclines, medium sized rocks.
Vehicle and Equipment Four wheel drive required, tires with aggressive tread and lowered tire pressure helpful.
Example Log Corral Trail, Lower Firebird, Raw Deal, Ruby Wash (Optional Obstacles), FR42 (Changes greatly depending on rainfall), Upper Woodpecker
Rating 3.5 Hard Trail
Description Some rocky sections, bypasses at most major obstacles. Some body damage possible. Rocker panel and rear quarter panel protection helpful.
Vehicle and Equipment Upgraded bumpers (Useable as a hi-lift point), rocker panel skids, skid plates, Hi-Lift, 32" Tires, Rear locker
Example Judgement Day, Upper Terminator, Lower Terminator, Predator, Rocker Panel Pass, Martinez Canyon (not Cabin), FR42 (after heavy rainfall or when it is wet)
Rating 4 Moderate Rocky Trail
Description Frequent ledges, crevices, large boulders, steep inclines and off camber situations. Body and or tire damage likely. Spotters may be needed for some obstacles. Low tire pressure required, good chance of loosing a bead. Possible component breakages.
Vehicle and Equipment Front locker 35" tires Upgraded axles Lower ring & pinions, transfer case gear reduction (w/ manual transmission), winch, recommend spare axles, recommend spare steering parts
Example Axle Alley, Bad Medicine, Highway to Hell, Lower Woodpecker, Lost World, Payeatt Draw, Squeeze Rock, Upper Firebird
Rating 4.5 Hard Rocky Trail
Description Same as a 4.0 rated trail but the obstacles are bigger, tighter squeezes and bigger risks to body and mechanical components. Few bypasses if any. Longer wheelbase vehicles may have problems with breakover angles, short wheelbase vehicles may have to use a winch or strap on some obstacles. Large vehicles will damage sheet metal. Spotter may be needed for all major obstacles. Rollovers possible. Plan for common component breakages (vehicle specific).
Vehicle and Equipment 38" Agressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR, D44 or better axles, source for on-board air, beadlock rims, flexible suspension, wider than stock track width.
Example Anaconda, Landslide, Overdose, Woody's Wash
Rating 5 Extreme Rocky Trail
Description Same as a 4.5 rated trail but the obstacles are bigger, tighter squeezes and bigger risks to body and mechanical components. No bypasses. Body damage guaranteed. Spotters needed for most of trail. Rollovers likely. Some obstacles may require a winch for larger vehicles. Trail may be impassible when wet. Plan for major component breakages.
Vehicle and Equipment Realistically these trails should be run with rock buggies. Agressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR. Transfer case gear reduction (w/Automatic transmission). Remove all unneeded body parts. 100" Wheelbase.
Example Annihilator, Collateral Damage, Die Hard, Matrix, Skullcrusher, Twisted
Rating 5.5 Insane Trail
Description This type of run is pushing the outer limits of what is (currently) possible. This is the same as a 5.0 rated trail except all of the obstacles are bigger. Constant spotting required, vehicles will get hung up frequently, undercarriage will catch rocks. At some point a winch will be required to support the full weight of the vehicle.
Vehicle and Equipment light rock buggy
Example Asylum