Just joined

I just purchased an 04 Rubicon that really hasn't had anything done to it. It has 5 brand new Bridgestone Dueler 265/75R16's, and came with both a soft and hard top. I'm looking forward to taking it out to play but I need to add a few things to it so as to be more self sufficient out and about. This site definitely is a nice attraction to peak my curiousity about going out and really experiencing the backroads of AZ. Any input on serious necessities to carry along is greatly appreciated.

Welcome!

I'm kind of in the same boat as you... I'm basically starting over with my near-stock 2000 Tacoma. It's a great truck and has taken me to awesome (and rough) places, but it seriously needs some mods to be a true machine. Extra lift and 33" tires, air compressor, and bumper/winch are tops on the list for me. I'm not going to make some extreme crawler... 4x4 expedition style is more my taste.

What experience do you have off-roading in Arizona? 

Anyways, see you around the site.

-Chris 

Ruby Can:

I just purchased an 04 Rubicon that really hasn't had anything done to it. It has 5 brand new Bridgestone Dueler 285/75R16's, and came with both a soft and hard top. I'm looking forward to taking it out to play but I need to add a few things to it so as to be more self sufficient out and about. This site definitely is a nice attraction to peak my curiousity about going out and really experiencing the backroads of AZ. Any input on serious necessities to carry along is greatly appreciated.

Welcome Ruby Can!

I started out about three years ago with a stock TJ and since then it has evolved to what I have today. Not that it’s a rock crawler, but its build for what I intend to use it for; trail exploration and the occasional adrenaline rush.

You have a fun journey ahead of you, not just the modification of your rig, but the cool places you will find here in Arizona.

Other than the normal modification, I would recommend carrying the following.

- Water

-Powerbar/protein bars or MRE’s

-First Aid Kit

-Communication devices (CB, Cell Phone, Two-way)

-Map & Compass and GPS

-Tow strap or winch if possible

-Tools & repair manual. You may not know how to wrench on your Jeep now, but you can learn real fast if you have to

Have fun and tread lightly..

See ya online.

Ryan

AzTacoma:

Welcome!

I'm kind of in the same boat as you... I'm basically starting over with my near-stock 2000 Tacoma. It's a great truck and has taken me to awesome (and rough) places, but it seriously needs some mods to be a true machine. Extra lift and 33" tires, air compressor, and bumper/winch are tops on the list for me. I'm not going to make some extreme crawler... 4x4 expedition style is more my taste.

What experience do you have off-roading in Arizona? 

Anyways, see you around the site.

-Chris 

I've lived here in AZ for 18 years now and have basically run 2 Cherokee XJ's into the ground. I've been all around and 4x'd in alot of places but never had a group or even a couple of other vehicles to run around with so I've tried to be very smart as to what I romped into by my lonesome. Not to say that I haven't done some serious and puckering off-roading but I've never allowed myself to be overly/extremely aggressive to where I couldn't get myself out or figure out a way around. I learned along time ago that it's better to wonder what might have happened that to realize OH $H#T how am I going to get out of this or why did I put myself and my family and friends in this situation. I love tooling around AZ and am always looking for more adventures to add to my memories.

Hey Rubi Can!  Welcome to the site.  I got the itch almost a year ago.  Did some rock crawlin and have been hooked ever since.  I've always wanted a jeep growing up and shortly after highschool ended up married with children and the wife would go for it.  So when DC came out this year with the JK unlimited's, guess what?..  You guessed it! 

 You are in Peoria right?  I'm in Glendale, maybe I'll see you on the road passing or better yet a trail. 

Thanks for the welcome.

Ahhhhhh - wife and kids, boy how I can relate. My wife was all for me getting the Rubicon so we could go out as a family. She's put up with me for 15 years pumping money into a 1956 CJ-5, 1959 FC-170, 1987 Cherokee XJ, 1991 Cherokee XJ, 1996 Grand Cherokee ZJ, and now my 2004 TJ Rubicon. In the process of playing with the above I've also added 2 quads and a off-road go kart that are going up for sale as we don't really use them anymore. Plus I'm down to 3 trailers from 5 so as to have room and money for Ruby. As for passing I'm up around the 101 and T-Bird area. 

Ruby Can:

AzTacoma:

Welcome!

I'm kind of in the same boat as you... I'm basically starting over with my near-stock 2000 Tacoma. It's a great truck and has taken me to awesome (and rough) places, but it seriously needs some mods to be a true machine. Extra lift and 33" tires, air compressor, and bumper/winch are tops on the list for me. I'm not going to make some extreme crawler... 4x4 expedition style is more my taste.

What experience do you have off-roading in Arizona? 

Anyways, see you around the site.

-Chris 

 

I've lived here in AZ for 18 years now and have basically run 2 Cherokee XJ's into the ground. I've been all around and 4x'd in alot of places but never had a group or even a couple of other vehicles to run around with so I've tried to be very smart as to what I romped into by my lonesome. Not to say that I haven't done some serious and puckering off-roading but I've never allowed myself to be overly/extremely aggressive to where I couldn't get myself out or figure out a way around. I learned along time ago that it's better to wonder what might have happened that to realize OH $H#T how am I going to get out of this or why did I put myself and my family and friends in this situation. I love tooling around AZ and am always looking for more adventures to add to my memories.

Hey good deal... I've been roaming Az for about 18 years also! I've definitely been into some nasty stuff, alone and foolish, but I've been lucky enough to not have had any major issues. It's just a matter of time now before I have a major mechanical breakdown in some remote hellhole.

I go on day trips and 1 nighters all the time, but I'd like to start going on more complex expeditions for 3-5 nights. I love Arizona (I'm a native) and I still have a lot of things to see here, but I'm also hoping to get in some Cali (Death Valley, Mohave, Joshua Tree, and Anza-Borrego) and southern Utah (Canyonlands, Moab, Capital Reef, Grand Escalante, etc) in the next few years. Oh, can't forget the Arizona Strip.

Peoria isn't too far from the White Tanks... if you have a few hours sometime we can test a little 4X action out there. 

Remote hellholes? I love those as it normlly means a nice quite place that you can stop and think about how to get yourself home. Speaking of Cali, I am in Irvine at the moment, broadcasting from the Holiday Inn Orange County Airport. I am here on business, but have checked out one of the trails. It reminded me of the backway to crown king, but without the glory. There was alot of rolling hills and nothing that you couldnt take in a regular car. Just dont tell Ace Car Rental where I took their Dodge Nitro! They wont notice the white scrach on the black paint??

I will take you up on the white tanks. I just need to replace my power steering pump when I get back in to town. Heber took too much of a toll trailing through the washes an playground.