Road trip to Moab - First Week of April - What else do I need?

I’ll be packing up my truck and road tripping to MOAB for my first time in the first week of April. As that date quickly approaches I was hoping to get some insight on what I might be missing before I head out. We’ll be staying in a condo visiting a friend who’s local but my Tacoma will be the only vehicle as of now.



For starters, my 2016 TRD Sport has Bilstein 5100s, 265/70/17 Wildpeaks, a TRD Pro skid plate, and RCI sliders. The Bilstein’s leveled out the truck but with the additional armor I would safely consider my truck to be at stock height.
Are there any other light mods I could do within a months time that would vastly improve my experience?



For my gear i’ll have the following:
-Tool bag with basic hand tools
-Dewalt 20V inflator with (2) 5aH batteries.
-ARB tire plug kit
-Noco Boost Plus
-20 ft. tow strap with a shackle hitch receiver
-Two 2-way radios
What other gear am I missing? (Shovel, traction boards, etc?)



I would rank my off-roading experience as novice. Mostly Missouri fire roads, Texas canyons, and some moderately rocky trails in Colorado. I use a combination of the Gaia and All Trails apps to plan most of my runs along with the help of the regional TW forums, of course. My initial search leads to me to think with my current suspension and skill I should be looking for trails like White Rim.
I plan on doing my trail research this month, but any early suggestions are always appreciated!

 

Cooler, flashlight, poncho, & Gerber or Leatherman multi-tool.

 

A shovel is a relatively zero cost item (sub50 at a hardware store) item that provides infinite value if you need one. Buy one even if not forecasted to be needed.

Traction boards are a hit or miss item. I basically carry mine everywhere due to having used them much more often when I wasnt planning on needing them for me or a friend. If you have the means, Id buy/bring them. April can be a muddy time in Utah due to shoulder season rain, but also due to lingering winter melt/runoff.

A benchmark atlas to supplement your digital options is something Id highly recommend. One of the better 20ish dollar items you can buy.

 

Thank you! I've got my trusty Coleman, full rain gear, and a Gerber multi-tool in the truck 24/7.

Thanks for the tip on the rain. I assumed it would be dry and traction boards might have been somewhat useless but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

Honestly I’d say Hells Revenge and Fins n Things popular enough “IF” you ran into an issue there’s plenty of others around that could lend a hand. Chicken Corners etc. Plenty of easy and fun trails around.
Even Top of the World is busy busy.
As far as a battery powered inflator. Have the battery charger also.

 

Yeah, rain not guaranteed, but the consistency of the soil in that part of the state means that when it gets wet, the mud gets super slick, and if its a clay base, basically becomes wet cement.

 

Water, lots of water.

 

After hiking and driving through Canyon, Texas last Summer I learned to pack as much water as I can and then pack some more!

 

Buy this book. A great guide to trying to decide what you want run. It has tables in order of difficulty so you can gauge if you want to go easier or harder than the other trails you have tried.

Go with two trucks so you can spot for each other. Air down, take your time and your truck should be able to do any of the easy (Green) or moderate (Blue) trails in the book. I’ve run Fins-n-Things many times with my ‘06 which is set up generally similar to yours. For reference Fins is categorized as a difficult trail, but is on the ‘easier’ end of the difficult trail spectrum.

If you have a factory hitch and want to try anything difficult I recommend getting a ‘hitch skid’ for your hitch receiver. I have an aftermarket bumper with an integrated hitch that gives me a couple of extra inches of rear departure. My rear bumper drags on challenging obstacles. Not a big deal for me, I just hit it with Krylon when I get back.

Additional comment - don’t be shamed into running a trail harder than you want. Moab is a beautiful place and there are interesting trails with challenges to get familiar with your truck in all the ‘easy’ and the ‘moderate’ category. Get to know your truck there and then you can dial it up.

 

For trail suggestions I suggest Onion Creek, Pucker Pass, Gemini Bridges, Fins N Things, Shafer Switchbacks to get some variety.

If you continue on the Shafer Switchbacks through to Potash Road be sure to wash the underside of your truck well when you get home. The Potassium salts (and Potassium dust) on Potash road are like driving in the Midwest in winter.

 

Gemini Bridges to DeadHorse State Park then back via Long Canyon is a great route that takes the better part of an afternoon.

 

I knew I had seen other members mention a specific trail book, thank you for posting it!! I'll also look into getting a hitch-skid. I don't mind if my rear bumber takes some damage, but the peace of mind will be nice if I start feeling extra confident.

As a life-long Missouri kid, I know exactly what you mean about Midwest winters

 

@WarFab Armor is a great place to look.

 

My center transfer case full skid (arms out to frame) took some good hits in Moab so watch out if you do not have one. High centering.
Coming off ledges even with that hitch skid watch out for off camber and unseen dropoffs as the rear bumper corners easily flex up and take out the tail lights and/or clear covers.
Don't forget to push the RCSA dash switch to disable the side airbags on cross tilt ledges or they could fire off - expensive.
I travel solo truck alot so if you get stuck do not forget a simple 4 ton come-a-long/cable puller, a ground stake and a mini sledge to get yourself out (or a winch).
If you air down alot a tire deflator kit/tool will greatly speed up the airdown - go out and try just pushing the air valve in that takes forever for 4 tires.
The bed will be a dust mess even with a shell so pack items back there accordingly (plastic bins) if you care.
Anything you forgot Moab will sell you so have fun.

 

Good book. Also not sure if mentioned but a tire plug kit

 

Indeed, Gemini Bridges, the Gooney Bird, and whatever you do make SURE you hit FINNS & THINGS!!!! You may even want to do it multiple times, its that fun.
Its always been our Mecca.....

 

Forgot to tell you that permits are required in Canyonlands so look at their site for info and also on road closures.
Alerts & Conditions - Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

 

A good attitude and some toilet paper can be really helpful. I would start on something easy so you get the feel for it without too much pressure. Some of the angles look crazy but the friction that sandstone provides is unreal.

 

hopefully Moab next year for me