What to do... what to do?

[AlaskaVX]

Well I have been wanting to go back to Vegas and get on the Texas hold'm tables for a while now (I'm pretty good play 2 times a week for past 5 years), but I also want to make it to Moab someday, sooner the better, May 2006?. OK here is my dilema, should I attend the VX meet in Vegas, hope to win some $ and still be able to go to Moab '06? The down side of course is loosing $1500 or in other words lockers/gas money. Or should I build up my car more (winch, HD tie rods, ARB lockers, sway bar disconnects, etc.) and save up for the Moab '06 trip?

-I am looking at a plane ticket and hotel in Vegas for $900 and only $600-$800 play/eating money. Wish I had more to play with.

-A 3300 mile trip one way ($700 one way in gas $1400 round trip) from Anchorage to Moab (sleeping in my car/tent) I have driven this before.
And if I really screw up, $1000 ferry trip for my VX, and $300-400 plane ticket back.

What do you think Vegas or Moab? Or both? :confused:

[Anita]

Having been there twice, I dont think you should risk losing an opportunity to go to Moab. It shouldnt ever be one or the other. They are two totally different events. If you can make both trips safely, do it. But I wouldnt ever count on whether you win or lose $$ to base a trip on. IMHO

[AlaskaVX]

Well if I was to save my money instead of going to Vegas I know for sure I could make it to Moab next year. I can really only save about $300 per month. Now to put this in perspective there are about 15 months for me to save so that would be a $4500 budget. Now subtract...

gas ($1400)
xd9000i winch with multi mount ($1100)
HD tie rods ($300)
ARB locker and compresser installed ($1500) not that mechanically inclined.

Total: $4300 that leaves $200 for food/beer, gotta have beer!

As you can see its a tight budget, but if I didn't go to Vegas I have an extra $1500 to play with, and if I do break something at Moab I can replace and still drive back the 3300 miles. I could also hit up Vegas too now that I think about it.

[AlaskaVX]

OMG: I just realized that Vegas is only 450 miles away (gosh those states are small) Hell I drive that just going fishing and back. I think I have made my decision.......

I will be at Moab in 2006! Might as well kill 2 birds with one stone and hit'm both!

[Anita]

Nevermind,... ;)

[AlaskaVX]

hehehe well I do have a credit card, just don't want to use it. That would have been my backup/emergency money

[thebear54]

HMMMM...Vegas...Moab....?????
If you can swing both financialy...do both! Just don't put yourself in the black hole ;)
I would love to go to Moab just once...how many miles from Vermont???
Probably about the same for you from Alaska :confused:
John

[Tone]

Moab is one of the best bangs for the $$ - hundreds of trails, great Isuzu owners and NO MODS are required to have fun! Stock VXes kick ***** out there and will amaze you with what they can do. If you are into doing the really hard trails (what the guys do with older, highly modified Zu's), be sure to factor in a LOT more money for the body damage that will inevitably occur. Those mods you mention are just the beginning of a long and expensive road to find the next component that needs to be reinforced or replaced for a bit of trail fun.

[Green Dragon]

[QUOTE=AlaskaVX]...

gas ($1400)
xd9000i winch with multi mount ($1100)
HD tie rods ($300)
ARB locker and compresser installed ($1500) not that mechanically inclined.

Seriously doubt if you can purchase ARB locker & Compressor & have installed for $1500. Try $2500 to $3000.

Most VXs have done most Moab trails without lockers- winch- HD tie rods etc.
Try the easier Moab trails first, you can always try the tougher trails ( Golden Spike-Moab Rim- Hells gate) another time if you choose to do so.

Been There done that

[Anita]

Hey Bob,

I still have you scheduled to climb Mirage's volcano... ;)

[AlaskaVX]

[QUOTE=AlaskaVX]...

Try the easier Moab trails first, you can always try the tougher trails ( Golden Spike-Moab Rim- Hells gate) another time if you choose to do so.

Been There done that
But the easy trails out there look to be a bit too easy from what I am used to seeing up here. However I am not used to the amount of traction on the slick rock, should be a good experience.

And I don't think a little war scar from Moab is all that bad, just don't want to roll it.

[lttlbddy]

AlaskaVX, you get to Moab and I'll put you up in my room/cabin AND buy you dinner one night!

Steve G

[AlaskaVX]

Hey lttlbdy, not this year but I WILL be there next year. Already have a friend who wants to ride with me. Going to cruise the West coast on the way back and visit a bunch of freinds, planning on taking a 3 week road trip vacation.

[Todd Adams]

OK Linda and I talked about the Las Vegas meet and here is the reason we will see you all in Moab.

I used to spend at least one week a month in Vegas for work. My usual place to stay was the Orleans but I have stayed at a number of other Casinos. I would often take Linda with me and to tell you the truth we are kind of burned out on the place.

But Moab that is another story! We never get tired of going. Not in the 35 years we have been exploring southern Utah. We would much rather be wheeling any of the trails than sitting at a table gambling.

Now if everyone was driving in and there was a day planned to explore Red Canyon then that might interest us.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the lure of Las Vegas it just does not appeal to us.

Other than the Seafood Buffet at the Rio! Now that is worth the trip all by itself.

Todd

[lttlbddy]

Alaska, that offer is good for ANY year, not just 2005. See you in Moab . . . some day!! SG

[AlaskaVX]

SWEET! Thanks!

Getting my winch this Sunday and making rock sliders in a couple weeks. Then will have to throw down on those HD tie rods, and start saving, see if I will have enough for the ARB install. Funny, but I am already getting antsy to go, AND IT'S OVER A YEAR AWAY!

[Tone]

Alaska, wish you would consider going THIS year and forgo some of those mods since you do NOT need them for Moab. There is always plenty of assistance on ALL the trails and Moab is NOT about testing to see how far your rig will go (which usually causes breakage and delays the run for the other 15+ rigs).

Moab is about enjoying the capabilities of the VX, stock or otherwise and meeting a great bunch of Isuzu enthusiasts. Preparation is good but doing it is far, far better. Who knows what could happen to you in a year's time? Life is best lived right NOW (IMHO) as one never knows what is just around the corner that might prevent you from attending next year.

Every year there are those on the fence that when they see the pics, videos and stories from the event, kick themselves repeatedly and talk about next year and the next and the next....

[AlaskaVX]

Tone, It takes a lot of money to do the drive, and I don't plan on going down there to do easy trails. I see all this crazy rock crawling, and in Alaska there is very little of that and it looks like a lot of fun. I would rather save a lot and have a 3 week vacation (paid). Do some new to me, 4x4 rock crawling, visit freinds in the states, and hopefully do well in Vegas. I will not keep putting this off, I will be there '06!