Denali AWD driving off road.

[Geotrash]

What would you change to make that pass?

Fair question. I wouldn't do it in an XL or Suburban, for one thing. In a shorty, I would want at least a mild lift (2-3"), 18" A/T tires, and no running boards or front valence hanging down.

Here's why I wouldn't want an XL on Black Bear:



And this is why I would want a little lift, but not too much:

 

[doc5339]

What would you change to make that pass?

You’d need to make the GMT 900 about 8”-10” narrower! Black Bear is pretty tight and hairy. So much shelf road.

 

[intheburbs]

We did White Rim Road in Moab with the Suburban. Lots of switchbacks and shelf roads heading down to the floor. Fortunately, didn't encounter many vehicles heading the other way. The pic in my avatar is from that trip.

When I was about to turn onto Metal Masher, my wife reminded me that we kinda needed the Suburban as our ride home dragging an 8600-lb trailer. That tempered my enthusiasm a bit.

 

[Geotrash]

We did White Rim Road in Moab with the Suburban. Lots of switchbacks and shelf roads heading down to the floor. Fortunately, didn't encounter many vehicles heading the other way. The pic in my avatar is from that trip.

Great drive. Did you do the whole 70-ish miles of it? I've done parts, but not all of it. Always in a Land Rover.

When I was about to turn onto Metal Masher, my wife reminded me that we kinda needed the Suburban as our ride home dragging an 8600-lb trailer. That tempered my enthusiasm a bit.

Smart woman. Metal masher is no joke. Probably doable for a Suburban with a 2-3" lift, but you woulda had wheel damage at a minimum unless you were running 18's. And fuhgeddabout any running boards or valences. Here's a shot of us all heading toward the start of metal masher back in 2010. I was there with a group of Land Rover owners and was lucky to be the only one to get out without any damage.




Scoping out one of the steps on metal masher before heading up. Gotta have a good approach angle on your rig for it. Lockers very helpful if not essential.

 

[swathdiver]

Fair question. I wouldn't do it in an XL or Suburban, for one thing. In a shorty, I would want at least a mild lift (2-3"), 18" A/T tires, and no running boards or front valence hanging down.
And this is why I would want a little lift, but not too much:

View attachment 375033

I've seen more than a few people flip themselves over at that very spot (watching youtube videos)! Speed (momentum) gets you through it, hesitation flips them over.

You’d need to make the GMT 900 about 8”-10” narrower! Black Bear is pretty tight and hairy. So much shelf road.

Like I mentioned earlier, I have seen long bed 1-ton F-350s, Ram Rebels and the like do it.


For me to do it with the Yukon XL, I would at least want it leveled and maybe run an 18" wheel with 1 or 2 inch taller tires. The only spot I've seen people tear into their running boards is on the first and second switchbacks heading down into Telluride. Not all do it, depends on the condition of the trail. Would definitely remove the air dam, maybe even the whole front bumper cover. Or I could wimp out and just do Imogene Pass!

Then again, I have seen folks do it with stock Tacos, 4Runners, Jeep Trailhawks, a Delica, etc. I've got the same or more clearance than they do.

Too bad BlackBear is only one-way, the hairiest part is going down into Telluride, there's so much to see before that and it can be done in 2WD.

TFL Truck did Webster Pass the other day in the new ZR2s, the Silverado and Colorado.

 

[liveaboard74]

Hay Yall.
I'm the new guy but there two of the toys we play off road with. One place will teach you more about 4x4 than any other but the same laws apply to rock climbing mountain climbing and mud.
LEAK THOSE TIRES DOWN.
Didn't see anything on any of the post but the secrete to off roaming is foot print.
Sold the Toyota to get something bigger. We just picked up our LTZ Tahoe last Sunday now the work is on fixing it up for the beach.
ATW 4x4 there guys that know how to drive still do the beach with 2wd. Got to remember to leak those tires down.
Our play ground is the outer banks of NC. We have two types of sand down there . North beach and Hatteras. At Hatteras we call it sugar sand. I leak down to 18 to 20 pounds everwhere else but Hatteras There I go to 12. Jeeps to Hummers I've seen them all stuck sunk up to the body cause the owners didn't take the time to adjust for what they won't use to. Their stuck for that one simple thing. They didn't leak their tires down.
If your going to off road roaming get a v air pump. There a little over 200 dollars but thats your life for off road.
At 36 to 43 pounds of air your tires has Zero give. Your contact patch is very small in the sand mud or rocks. Leak those tires down what happens? Now it floats and adjust to the couture its moving over, rocks, mud and sand and your foot print is not only longer its a little wider. Common since you increase your foot print by 30 to 40 percent you get more traction.
AT OBX. Outer Banks of NC its not how big your tire is, its how wide and long the tread is. The stock factory 18s are coming off the Tahoe, 15s or 16" rims are going back on. I won't have a tire issue turning or cramming 35s under it I don't need that tall a tire, I'll run 33s but they will be 12.5 inchs wide. I'll let the lift kit do the lifting not raising it by sticking 4 to 5 inch more tire under it. You just have to think about 4x4 its not really that hard to understand.
I run 12 pounds of air in that Can am. Use the same tires on wet trails at Hatfields and Mc Coys in West VA cause the tires adjust to the terrain I'm rolling over leaked down where they would have no give blown complete up.
I just gave you guys the KEY to off road roaming. Now go have fun.

 

[swathdiver]

The stock factory 18s are coming off the Tahoe, 15s or 16" rims are going back on.

Because of the size of the brakes, the smallest wheels you can run are 17 inches.

I came across this the other day watching tv and thought it was pretty cool. I might get the hoses only for now:



You can equalize all the tires, or bleed them down all together or pump them up in pairs or all 4 depending on your compressor. Their compressor is the bomb!

MORRFlate – Multi Tire Inflation & Deflation Kits

morrflate.com

 

[liveaboard74]

that would be the bomb. LOL
I have a dodge dually 3500 with the 6 tires had something like that on both backs, seal went bad, came out the house both rights on the ground. They pumped back up but for a quickie that line looks like it would work great. Link out a place to buy it and thanks for the info on the 17. I did not know that. Had a set of 16x10s already picked out. . Thanks.

 

[Geotrash]

Geotrash that would be the bomb. LOL
I have a dodge dually 3500 with the 6 tires had something like that on both backs, seal went bad, came out the house both rights on the ground. They pumped back up but for a quickie that line looks like it would work great. Link out a place to buy it and thanks for the info on the 17. I did not know that. Had a set of 16x10s already picked out. . Thanks.

I can’t take credit, that was all @swathdiver. And I agree, sweet set up