AEV Customer Run Day 1: Lockhart Basin
I'm breaking this writeup into two posts (day 1 and day 2), but the only way to describe this trip in a single word is "epic."
It was an early morning, as we were up before the sun and at the Spanish Trail Shell station south of town in Moab at 5:15AM for a drivers' meeting to go over the route, ground rules (spotters), etc.
We rolled out of the Shell station around 5:30AM and headed south on 191 toward 211. We hung a right onto 211 and headed west in the direction of Canyonlands National Park eventually hanging another right on Lockhart Road, which eventually intersects Lockhart Basin Road.
Once on Lockhart Road, we aired down and were treated to a stunning sunrise over the sheer red rock walls in the distance.
Sarge green is right at home surrounded by the colors of the Utah desert.
While airing down, AEV's videographer approached me about doing something special... More to come on that.
After we were all aired down, the convoy rolled out in search of our intersection for Lockhart Basin Road. The scenery, as always in Moab, was jaw dropping. The early morning sunlight playing all over the rock formations was a treat. Quite the sight to behold.
Lockhart Road was a mix of hardpack dirt, some washboard, and whoops. The AEV suspension with the Bilstein 8100 reservoir shocks ate it all up. It also helps that I have refined and lightened my gear load over time. I actually brought more than I was planning to bring, as I was going to brew some fresh coffee for the group on Tuesday morning, but everything was still light and organized in my Zarges cases and Step 22 boxes / tool roll and fit neatly in the cargo area with the rear seats up, and a cargo strap over it all to keep it securely in place ensuring I didn't hear gear rattling or bouncing around in the back.
As the convoy splintered off onto Lockhart Basin Road, the terrain became rockier and a little more technical, but nothing difficult - yet - just a little slower going. I dropped the transfer case into 4Hi and pushed the sway bar disconnect button to allow the front axle to articulate more and let the remote reservoir shocks up front eat up the terrain. Smooth sailing.
Brian's AEV Hemi-swapped JKU 350 on 37s was super cool.
One thing that was really neat to me was seeing all of the various AEV rigs. There were JLUs, Colorado ZR2 Bisons, JKUs, and Gladiators. Such a treat to get to see and be part of that.
As we moved toward the intended camping spot, we took a couple of breaks from driving to stretch the legs and take in some scenery.
Left to right: My buddy Zig's JKUR (homebuilt JK350 on 37s), my 392 JL370, Matt from AEV's JL370, and Rich Waitas's (from MagnaFlow) JL370. It was great seeing Matt in person again, and really nice finally meeting Rich in person after having interacted with him via Facebook for a while in the AEV group. It was also nice to meet John from AEV, who was riding along with Matt. He and I had some great conversations, as he rode with me a few times along the way.
A wider angle of the convoy stopped to stretch the legs. Left to right: My 392 JL370, Matt Feldermann's (from AEV) JL370, Rich's JL370, Jackson Ellis's (from Glendale DCJR) 392 JL370, Nick Psoma's (from Peak Suspension) Colorado ZR2 Bison, Michale's Colorado ZR2 Bison, Brian's AEV Hemi-conversion JK350, Ben Hedrick's (from HEDRICK Speedsports) JL370, and Chris Wood's (from AEV) JL370.
I was pretty impressed that the Overland Kitted Spare Tire Maxtrax mount did not budge an inch for the duration of the trip. I'm not really a fan of the hardware they provided to put the Maxtrax mount on the plate that interfaces with the spare tire, but I'll swap that out. The provided hardware uses Allen head bolts and nylock nuts, but the nylock nuts seem to seize up and Allen head bolts suck for things that need to be torqued down nice and tight. I'm going to swap to some stainless hex head bolts with lock washers instead of nylock nuts and see how that works out.
Nick (middle), Michale, and Jackson climbing up the road.
Rich and Matt following the convoy.
Stopped for an early lunch.
Before lunch, the trail did get a little more technical but nothing the rigs couldn't easily handle. These Jeeps and Colorados on 35s and 37s with theAEV suspensions are just so capable, it takes a lot to slow them down. Once lunch wrapped up, the convoy got moving again and we continued in search of our intended camping location.
Just before 2PM, we arrived at what was supposed to be our camp location for the evening. Unfortunately, the location is pretty exposed and, while the temperature wasn't much of an issue (a little cool), the winds were howling and occasionally sandblasting us with dust and dirt (and the occasional small stone). AEV circled up the group and asked what we wanted to do: stay there, or press on down the trail to look for a less exposed location to camp (thus, pressing through into the sections of the trail that were supposed to be completed on day 2 of the trip). I pointed out that it was six in one, half dozen in the other, and chasing a better location might be a fool's errand. Ultimately, the majority of the customers voted to press on, so we did.
From there, things on the trail got more fun and technical. Some great little down hill sections as we descended into a small canyon to get to a lower bench in the basin below.
Jackson spotting Chris down through a technical section.
A great shot of me coming down the obstacle that Matt from AEV snapped.
Eventually, we were down on the bench below along the Colorado River, and the AEV trip leader asked again about staying here to camp. The other option, at this point, was returning to town. When polled, it seemed that about half of the customers in the group had back-up accommodations in town (*booooo* *hissssss*). The wind was still ripping and blowing dirt, dust, and sand around, and AEV then put the decision to a vote of their customers and said "we'll do whatever the majority of you want to do." I thought that was great of them, being willing to brave the weather if the vote favored doing so. Ultimately, the majority of the customers (not me and not Zig!!) voted to return to town. On our way back into town, I pointed out a few spots that we could camp in, in a last ditch effort to save camping for the night.
After arriving back in town, a few of us split off and went to a campground north of Moab to secure some camping spots, and then we headed to dinner where Matt and Jackson joined us. Matt from AEV then joined us at camp for the night. We shared some libations and some great conversation about AEV history and some of the cool rigs that have been built and used over the years, then hit the hay as we had to regroup at 7AM the next morning for the now updated second day of the trip.
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