Moab 101

[humybby]

Moab 101



Do you want to learn about wheeling in Moab? Ever wondered what driving on 'slick rock' is really like? Want to know why they call it 'slick rock'? Want to see pictures of Witches Crotch, The Gates of Hell and White Knuckle Hill?



Do you want the real skinny on wheeling a Hummer in Moab? Do you want to know what it's really like in this paradise of wheeling?



I’ve decided to put an informal session together.



When? April 19 at 7:30.

Who? You! Or anyone that’s interested in wheeling their Hummer in Moab someday. Or if you just want to see some cool pics and talk wheeling for an evening.

What? Get the low down on wheeling your Hummer down in Moab. I’ll have pictures, stories and some truck recommendations, trail advice – and a ton of enthusiasm.

Where? Calgary, exact location to be determined depending on how many folks want to attend. Maybe Boston Pizza at Avenida, maybe in my Man Cave. Maybe somewhere nicer….

Why? I’m hoping to get a good representation from Canada at the Hummer Club Inc. event this September. I think it’s a unique opportunity for any Hummer owner that wheels their truck – and the opportunity may not happen ever again. And I’m good with talking wheeling for an evening too!







Here’s a quick Q&A if you’re considering taking your Hummer to Moab – specifically for this Septembers Hummer Club Inc. event.



Q & A:



Q: What modifications do I need to do to my truck before I go?

A: Wash it, put a cooler in the back, fill it with fuel. A stock truck is perfect! If you’ve modified your truck make sure that it’s at least as good as a stock truck (frequently this is not the case). Your truck needs to be in good condition and properly serviced, that’s all. I recommend a few parts and a few tools. Field repair kits from Blue Hummer are a great start (for H1’s). You also need a spare tire and some basic recovery equipment.



Q: But Greg, I need to install a whiz bang 900 before I can go!

A: No you don’t. More often than not your stock truck will work better. Remember, your stock truck was tested and developed in Moab.



Q: I don’t have a winch - which wonderfully whizzy Warn winch would work?

A: You don’t need a winch. In more than 20 trips down there I’ve never used my winch. I’ve done all the hardest trails – no winch. I’ve used a strap from time to time though!



Q: How much time do I need to take for vacation?

A: I’m taking 2 weeks to do the entire event. This includes wheeling at high altitude (~13,000ft) in the stunning Colorado Rockies, wheeling in New Mexico and doing the best trails in Moab. It’ll be remembered for lifetime!



Q: Will I damage my truck?

A: You can if you want to – but you don’t have to.  Seriously, I’ve done 10 Hummer Club Events in Moab and I’ve never seen body damage from the event other than a scratched rim (it may have happened but I didn’t see any). You’ll likely scrape under your truck on the frame somewhere. I have seen mechanical damage – a fair bit actually. Most of the mechanical damage can be narrowed down to a few things. H1’s tend to need idler and pitman arms (and I’ve seen a few t-cases over the years – always the same guy). H2’s tend to break tie rods and H3’s have been excellent since they fixed an early (pre-production) problem with the diffs. There may be other things but these are the most common. It needs to be said that modified trucks tend to break more than unmodified rigs. The stock truck, after all, was extensively tested in Moab. That may not be the case with a modified truck.



Q: Since AM General and Jerry Seiner Hummer are there, will they fix my truck for free?

A: No, they charge dealer rates and retail prices for parts. It seems high until you realize that, if required, they’ll work into the night, in a hotel parking lot hundreds of miles from a Hummer dealership to fix your truck. Hopefully you won’t need their services but it’s awesome that they’re there if you do. In addition to this, these are the best Hummer techs in the world. Period.



Q: I need new tires, the ones I have are almost worn out. What kind of tires should I have for Moab?

A: The tires you have are likely just fine. An aggressive heavy lug tire isn’t as good in Moab as a street type tire – but almost any tire will do well. Make sure your tires are suitable for the drive down there and you’ll be fine.



Q: Do I need to tow my rig down? What if something happens and I can’t drive it back?

A: If your truck is capable of driving at 100kph for a sustained time, it’ll be fine. I normally drive between 100 and 110kph. Since AM General and Jerry Seiner Hummer are supporting the event they’ll do everything possible to make your truck drivable, not only for the trail events but for the drive home. I suppose it’s possible that you might have such a massive failure that they will not be able to repair it before the end of the event but I’ve never seen it down there. One caveat here, I know a driver whose truck had (substandard retread) tires that were so old and cracked that they basically all failed within a day or two. He had to wait an extra day for new tires to arrive in town. If you do decide to trailer your truck there’s lots of space for parking your trailer and tow rig.



Q: What are the details?

A: http://www.hummernetworkforums.com/view ... =lucky+777





Please let me know if you want to come to the Moab 101 'Event'.



Greg

[humybby]

Interest has been overwhelming! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ



Anyway, I will put together a 'get together' with pizza, stories, pictures, a Hummer movie (MAOB, Like Nothing Else by IMV films) and general hanging out at my man cave sometime in the next couple of months but for now, this is postponed.



Greg

[Khamul]

Dude, I would love nothing more than to see those gorgeous hills of Utah, I just know it's not in my foreseeable future...



I'd probably be up to seeing some of your movies and share a barely with ya...