I like to add a thank you to Todd too! Both drives over Gemini Bridges were awsome. Sorry to hear that we won't be able to do that again.
Peace.
Tom
012009
"Through Great Sacrifice..... Great Rewards Will Be Achieved"
Wow, I am really glad we went last year. The last VXes to ever cross Gemini Bridges!
Thanks again for that, Todd.
And now, I must bow out of this thread once again before I get to depressed.
Bart
this is just an example of what a stock VX CAN do....
pretty much every trail we go on will have bypass that is the easier way around...
and i guarantee that your trail leader wont take you on anything you cant do...
we have AMAZING trail leaders and spotters in this group...they make sure they take care of everyone...
for example: i let my girlfriend drive my VX for about 3/4 of a run last year (thats how much i trust our trail leaders)
I would do some scrounging around in salvage yards to find some Trooper skid plates...my theory is: ya can't have too much protection "down there"...
Search "skid plates" for what model years work. Also, check out Kenny's sweet rock sliders & belly pan...
My first zoo, I was all stock, except for the same size tires as you, & trooper skids...no problems.
My VX was bone stock with no skid plates for my first ZuZoo (I did have 285/60 R18 Nitto's on though) and didn't really have any problems. I've been stock height for the past couple of ZuZoo's, but I did put one of the Trooper skid plates on just to make sure. I have have hit the plate once or twice, but I tend to drive like a little old lady going to church when I'm offroading. It's all about the lines you pick and just taking it easy to make sure that you don't really bang into something.
The plates are fairly easy to come by and are even easier to put on. If you are going to make it out to Moab and don't have the time to install it yourself, bring the plate on out and we'll have a little wrench time at the Red Rock the night before the first run to get you taken care of.
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
I agree with both Dubster and Markster. The first time I went to Moab I was basically stock, with 245 R70/16 BFG A/Ts. I did Elephant Hill with everyone on Tuesday with no problems. I did scrape underneath probably 3 or 4 times, but no body damage or anything. True, it would have been better for me to have some sort of underbelly protection, but seriously, like Mark said, its all about picking the right lines. Having a good spotter also helps a lot. I did not go on any of the harder runs back in 2007, but in 2008 I can back ready. I think could still use some skid plates though.
Bart
Who is camping at Portal? Are you going to have a group site, and what days? I will arrive Sunday before, leave Sunday after.
Heh, yeah you don't necessarily need a lot of tread for Moab...which is why I'm going to run my worn old tires to Moab this year, rather than burning up the new ones waiting in the basement on the 2500 miles of highway driving there and back.