Guidelines Addendum
Members have asked whether or not all equipment is required for every X'cursion, meeting, or event and the answer is no.
To make attending events easier for everyone we have decided to use the Trail Ratings as a guide for what equipment is needed. All events will be given a Trail Rating and for our purpose, we will require the Equipment section only for all trails rated 3 or higher. Exceptions may be made on specific trails where there are bypasses and easy road access, feel free to PM the trail leader or post in the forum if you have further questions.
Rating 0: Maintained road Description: City street that is maintained.
Vehicle & Equipment: Passable by any passenger vehicle.
Example: Baseline Rd.
Rating 1: Improved Dirt RoadDescription: Dirt road that is clear and in good condition.
Vehicle & Equipment: Passable by most high-clearance 2-wheel drive vehicles.
Example: Most Forest Service roads.
Rating 2: Unimproved Dirt RoadDescription: Potholes, minor wash outs, medium sized rocks and mud holes. Higher ground clearance helpful.
Vehicle & Equipment: Passable by most stock 4x4 vehicles.
Example: Box Canyon, Gas Pipeline, East side of Table Mesa
Rating 3: Challenging TrailDescription: Loose gravel, large pot holes, steep inclines, 12-24" rocks.
Vehicle & Equipment: 4-wheel drive required, 33" tires with aggressive tread & lowered tire pressure helpful, rear traction device suggested.
Example: Log Corral Trail, Raw Deal, Upper Woodpecker, Martinez Cabins, Broken Arrow, Sunflower Mine
Rating 3.5: Difficult TrailDescription: Some rocky sections, bypasses at most major obstacles. Body damage possible for inexperienced or careless drivers. 16-28" rocks
Vehicle & Equipment: Upgraded bumpers (Useable as a hi-lift point), sliders, skid plates, Hi-Lift, 33" Tires, Rear locker.
Example: Judgement Day, Upper Terminator, Lower Terminator, Predator, Rocker Panel Pass, Martinez Canyon (not Cabin)
Rating 4: Moderate Rock Crawling TrailDescription: Frequent ledges, crevices, large boulders, steep inclines & off camber situations. Body and/or tire damage likely. Spotters may be needed for some obstacles. Lower tire pressure required. Possible component breakage. 18-36" rocks.
Vehicle & Equipment: 33" tires, 1 traction device, Upgraded axles, lower gear ratio, 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 Rock Crawling TrailDescription Same as a 4.0 rated trail but the obstacles are bigger, tighter squeezes and bigger risks to body & 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 35" Agressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR, D44 or better axles, source for on-board air, flexible suspension, wider than stock track width.
Example Anaconda, Landslide, Overdose, Woody's Wash
Rating 5: Extreme Rock Crawling TrailDescription: 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 & Equipment: Realistically these trails should be run with rock buggies. 37" Aggressive off-road tires such as Swamper/Bogger/MTR. Transfer case gear reduction (w/Automatic transmission). Remove all unneeded body parts.
Example: Annihilator, Collateral Damage, Die Hard, Matrix, Skullcrusher, Twisted
Rating 5.5: Insane TrailDescription: 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. Skinny pedal will get a work out.
Vehicle & Equipment: Rock buggy on 39" sticky tires
Example: Asylum