THIRD Annual AZBDR

Dates: June 11-13 2021

- Intro: We will be getting together again for the THIRD annual AZBDR Trip!!! A group of us tacomaworld enthusiasts take our taco’s off-road and camping along the “Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route.” Plan is to pick up where we left off last year!

Here is a link with formal details about the route: https://ridebdr.com/azbdr/

- First Year: Link to the first AZBDR thread which has a ton of information on what the AZBDR is and all sorts of other information
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/az-tour.581713/

- Second Year: Link to second year
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-annual-azbdr.626327/

- Second Year Details: Link to @MR E30's trip report for last year's AZBDR trip! Thank you for the awesome write up!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-annual-aztw-azbdr.655377/



Trip Details: (using "section numbers" based on the updated website)

GMRS Radio: Many of us are trying to get GMRS radio's up for this trip. If enough do we'll go this route and I'll try and get a few handhelds for people to use. If not then we'll stick to the CB radio option which most of us already have. Here's a pretty standard GMRS people are getting.

$165 Midland – MXT115 - 15 Watt GMRS MicroMobile Two Way Trails Radio - Off Roading Outdoor RZR Farm - 8 Repeater Channels Extended Range - External Magnetic Mount Antenna - NOAA Weather Alerts

https://www.amazon.com/MXT115-Watt-...eywords=gmrs&qid=1618441962&sr=8-2-spons&th=1

CB Radio: If GMRS doesn't work out we'll be going with CB radios. Here’s a nice handheld option that can plug into your cigarette lighter.

Uniden PRO501HH Pro-Series 40-Channel Portable Handheld CB Radio

$98 Uniden PRO501HH Pro-Series 40-Channel Portable Handheld CB Radio/Emergency/Travel Radio, Large LCD Display, High/Low Power Saver, 4-Watts, Auto Noise Limiter, NOAA Weather, and Earphone Jack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TCKT4NL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_igLbGb1HY56NX?_encoding=UTF8


Good video on essentially the trip we’ll be doing.

https://youtu.be/fLYklv9wUx0

- Friday Morning Start: We will be starting at 9:30 AM where “Section 5” gets "off road" at Cherry Creek rd (FSR 203) off of HWY 288 We'll continue along and meet up with those who camped on FSR 203 on Thursday night. This section is actually the most challenging part of the route. There are multiple options through this section and we will continue to discuss those options. What I would like to do is take FSR 203 to FSR 202/54 north until it splits. Then take 54 southwest and then northwest. Then take 3004 west to Cave Creek. Take Cave Creek north into Young and fill up on gas there before camping.

See google maps pin for starting location: https://bit.ly/35DAE4u
54 Split: https://tinyurl.com/y2x7xyxq
3004 Split: https://tinyurl.com/y4kf2uef
Filling up on gas location: https://tinyurl.com/y535pzok

Not everyone can get Friday off and that’s totally cool. Anyone who can’t start Friday morning can meet up at the camp spot Friday evening.



- Friday Evening Camp: We will be camping in “Section 6” Somewhere along “Rim Rd” off HWY 260. We will have to fill up on gas prior to camping as there is no gas between The camping spot and Winona (the destination Saturday).

See google maps pin (something like this but free/dispersed. Exact location TBD): https://goo.gl/maps/2rwggUtqKawQF9mt9



- Saturday: Finish the rest of "Section 6" and fill up on gas/supplies in Winona and get a start on "Section 7." Plan is to camp somewhere along early section 7 (lots of camping near Cinder Hills OHV, like near Moon Crater, etc)

Nice video on what to expect for this section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYAC-nphja0



- Sunday: Wake up and continue through "Section 7." I'm guessing people's participation on Sunday will vary greatly. I think a good plan is to head to the "Grandview Point" where we can take a look at the Grand Canyon and those who need to head home thereafter can. The rest of us will continue on the BDR and camp before we hit the Navajo Nation. There's lots of camping in the Kaibab National Forest. I posted a link showing a map of the area where camping is allowed. All the roads that have small dots around them are available for free dispersed camping. I think the best place to camp where we can cover the most ground on the BDR is to continue on 64 and turn off at FR307. According to the map we can camp anywhere along FR307.

Grandview Point: https://bit.ly/33Ka7Qw
FR307 Turnoff for camping: https://tinyurl.com/y6gghhn5
Kaibab Forest camping map: https://tinyurl.com/y6p83zzm

- Monday: Wake up and finish the AZBDR!!! We'll be traveling through the Navajo Nation and we'll need a permit to do so. I called the Little Colorado River Tribal Park to get more information (928-679-2303) because they're in Cameron where we would be buying the permits. They said nobody is issuing backcountry permits at this time. But things are changing daily. He said to call back closer to next weekend and see.

But yea, worst case scenario we would take the 64 east to the 89 north through Cameron and then out of the reservation. He confirmed that that's ok to do. Without the permits we would be missing out on the off-roading section west of the 89.

FAQ:

- Will a stock Tacoma (any gen) be able to complete these trails?

In general it “should” as long as it is a 4 wheel drive variant, but a small lift is recommended to avoid damage (PM me for advice if money is tight). However, it is STRONGLY recommended that the stock tires (or street oriented tires) are replaced with proper AT or MT type tires as there is a strong possibility of encountering mud and snow. AT/MT type tires will provide better traction in almost all off road conditions that could be encountered on the trails.

If you have a stock Gen 3 off-road Tacoma (presuming 16 inch rims) and do not have the money for a lift, I recommend these. They’re 1 inch bigger in diameter and do not require a lift or cab mount chop (they're what I use right now).

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2/p/10395



Confirmed:
Camping Thursday Night
@MR E30 (GMRS)
@Sixthelement (GMRS)


Meeting Friday Morning
@Sapnjack (GMRS)
@chrslefty (GMRS)

Meeting Friday Evening
@Phessor (GMRS)
@TailHook (GMRS)
@xtremewlr (GMRS)

Maybe Just Camping Saturday Evening
@snowsk8air2
@Lfaub03

Can't Make it:
@Ace115
@n6vmo (HAM-gmrs tune)

Maybe:
@Atl-atl (strong maybe)
@Barretta
@elbaldwino
@Snaeper
@joey.taco
@Brian007Taco
@Velogeek
@R & J Overland
@Schmeeagles
@rb9228
@AZ_J

 

Count me in!

 

I'm in as of now assuming I manage to stay gainfully employed!

 

@chrslefty

 

I’m in the maybe category depending on spring draw results. No tags mean I’ll be there.

 

Hell yeah Danny!

 

@Sapnjack Strong maybe. Depends on if I am moving back to AZ or not.

 

Going to try like hell to make it this year!

 

Im in

 

Bring the Blazer

 

Sounds like a good time.
Put me in San strong maybe. Gotta put in time off request once back in town.

 

I will if its done by then...

 

Also I’m going to try and see if my brother can come. He has a Jeep though... :/

 

The more the merrier

 

he’s got a cool Jurassic Park themed Jeep

he still needs a 2-3 inch lift and sliders though.

 

Sweet looking Jeep

 

Nice job @Sapnjack! Thanks for getting the thread going.

 

I will make sure my schedule is clear for this if this Jeep is coming along.

Edit: Am still a maybe, not confirming anything yet.

 

This is fine as long as dinosaurs dont also show up. Although that would be a cool way to go...

 

With the way this year has been going.
Cannot rule that out...