Flagstaff/Northern AZ Thread

Didn’t post earlier but got @Sixthelement bed rack completed and shipped out. Very beefy, possibly too beefy lol. Sorry buddy



And got @Atl-atl as well as family friend Caroline rock sliders done and loaded into the race support Elantra to get dropped off for powder coat on Monday.





Getting back to my to do list for everybody, my cousin is vehicle swapping around so his sliders are off the list. These two we will schedule up installs when they come back from powdercoat.

@Coot83 roof rack has also switched to a lower priority since he doesn’t know when he’s gonna come up. And hopefully finish up my parents cargo rack in the downtime waiting for powdercoat.

 

Its all good. Once the tent is on, then Ill probably hit ya up so I can reconfigure my rear springs; again.

 

Good lookin' stuff - wish I'd known of this before ordering all my armor in January! (buying this local FLG wudda been so cool....)

Hey, just thought I'd ask if you're taking it Mountain Shine to do the powder coating and how long it usually takes them etc. Cool to see this post - planning to visiting them on Monday to inquire about doing a chrome shifter stick and a set of vintage-ish wheels I've fallen in love with....

 

Any mountain bikers here want to ride Prescott tomorrow? I'm not ready for phoenix heat yet and its a little warm this weekend down here.

 

Yeah I try to do side work for the locals when I have time. And yes, taking them to mountain shine on Monday. I tried flag powder a few times with poor results. Moved to mountain shine for the last few projects and have had consistent good results.

 

Good to know - thanks!

 

I too had less than ideal results from Flag Powdercoating. Like dropping off a bed rack 4 weeks early, a promise of 10 day turnaround, and then picking up a barely dried rack the night before I needed it.

 

I am moving to Flagstaff for the summer on May 1st. Last year I camped with my rv all along fr 231. The road was very washboarded out last year, I was wondering if this was normal or was last year worse because of no rain? The road was fine for my truck with the tires aired down but the 15000 lb rv is a different story.

 

Yeahhhhh, bad washboard is pretty standard there - just go real fast

...it's actually not all that bad right now - unusual in my experience.

 

With everything still closed for “winter” it’s hard to get a true road status, but I would expect this year to be worse than most. Rain/ moisture helps soften the soil so it can settle and smooth out some. This past year and winter we hardly had any so I’d imagine things will be worse than usual. At least depending how far back you go down that road. They’ll grate it up to the arboretum yearly but not much pat that so I’d expect rough washboards

For reference, we went out to grand falls last year and it was the worst washboard road I have ever been on. Long travel and 37’s aired down to 12psi barely helped

 

Current closures in Flagstaff district: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5339811

 

Yeah thanks for posting that. Was on my way to do so.

Plus back to the original question of road conditions. Last year with half the country working from home or unemployed, we saw more people camping up here than ever before. This just further deteriorated all forest roads prior to their scheduled winter closures.

 

I go 10-12 miles south of I-40. Don't want to give my favorite spots away. What is this grand falls you speak of? The forest was packed last year, every spot from Flag to Williams was occupied, hopefully this year will be better. I will re-ask the washboard question after they open up.

 

Big waterfall on the little Colorado river about 20 miles from flagstaff. Search grand falls or chocolate falls and you’ll find it. On the Navajo reservation though so depending on their curfew and covid restrictions I would advise staying away for the time being. Also probably not running with the lack of rain and snowfall this past year.

 

With the upcoming snowfall forecasted this weekend, are there going to be any places around flag like forest roads or similar that might be stock 4x4 friendly? I do have Wildpeaks on the truck which supposedly perform decent in snow. Obviously if it dumps 3 feet or something crazy very little if any unpaved areas would be stock friendly, but if its 12-18 inches or less, do you guys have recommendations? I have a friend coming this weekend and we were going to MTB in Flag, Sedona, and Prescott. Looks like that might be out the window for the rides I had planned...

 

My guess is we will get a few inches at most. Recent weather checks locally say up to 1-2” per day but temps will melt that daily. As for forest roads, see a few posts above for road status. Just about everything up here is closed until April. Only sure thing open year round is the cinders

 

Mt Elden lookout trail doable right now or no? I’ve got wildpeaks and 4x4 but not aired down. I’m up at snowbowl and I’m done for the day due to knee issues. I want to get in a scenic drive of some sort. Even a drive on paved roads. If anyone’s got a suggestion for me I’m all ears.

 

Pretty sure it’s closed for the winter. Along with just about all other forest roads. Should be opening back up mid April. Only place I can think that’s open is the cinders but with stock size tires and being alone I wouldn’t go out there after a fresh snow. Specially since I’m broken and can’t come save people for another month or two

 

Another day it is.

 

I mean if you’re heading back down then you could take hwy 89A down the switchbacks and through Sedona. At least give somewhat scenic drive with the snow