It finally happened...

[BarryG]

Is that the white rim trail or perhaps lockhart basin?

 

[kthaxton]

It is White Rim.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I love that place!!!

 

[kthaxton]

Yep, 'tis glorious!
Shafer Trail sure was a muddy mess going down....I was riding in the support truck on the way down, the guy was driving a bit faster than I was comfortable with in those conditions. I was...uh, clenching.

 

[BarryG]

Love that road, been there and done that in the rain know exactly what you mean on the Schaefer. Once the wife and were out there and met a friend in Moab. We decided we would do the Dead Horse Point, Island in the Sky and then loop back to Moab via the Schaefer. As you know that road is no big thing when dry at all. It was dry and this guys head was literally in his hands on that initial descent he was afraid to look out the window. Those potash ponds are quite the juxtoposition out there.

I don't know if you know about the Maze district of Canyonlands. It is pretty much across the river (west side) farther south down more by the Needles district. From pavement to pavement it is about 100 miles you come out down at Hite on Lake Powell (you get in over off 24 by Hanksville). It is significantly more remote. the first 25-30 miles gets you to the ranger station on pretty decent dirt road ie no problem for a support truck at all. From the Ranger station down to Hite it never gets real rough but the Flint trail is the same type of thing as Schaefer coming down off the top though it is certainly more involved the road is not nearly as good. In the truck it takes a few 3 pointers to get around some of the switch backs. Again decent support truck should have no real issue. Not a real visited area as you need to be committed to do it, you breakdown you have a heck of along walk or ride to get out to help. Camping is very restricted. There are only a few camp areas and they only let a few vehicles at each one. Sometime when you are bored and have nothing better do check it out.

 

[kthaxton]

Yep, I've been to The Maze many times, one of my favorite places. I've been in and out of The Maze on all four access points. On at least two of my trips there, we spent a whole week and did 200 miles off road. These 200 miles trips started in Green River, went to The Maze overlook for a couple days, then to The Dollhouse for a few days then out down by Hite. Incredible place.

Edit: This was in my old 86 Ramcharger, not biking, although I biked about 20 miles of it one time.

 

[SnoKing]

Hope you are going DOWN the Shafer Hill, not up it! We went down it in the 2001.5 and found that tight TCers are not good for off roading. DW did not talk to me for a couple days!!!

 

[kthaxton]

We went down it, but we went up the Horsethief trail (see my last picture) which is similar to Shafer, not quite as high though. I pedaled only like 20% of Horsethief, pushed my bike the rest.

But as Barry said above.....you should see the Flint Trail in the Maze, it's much worse.

 

[HVAC2]

This stays in full time. Too heavy and use truck for various trailer's.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Just lost mine last week.....I think I’ll weld the new one in place!

 

[Larry Willard]

I lost one a couple of years ago, bought a cheap Reese one just to keep around if I needed it, but bought a 2 1/2 inch ball mount and for most of my towing that is all I need. The new ball mount has a longer drop also to get the dump trailer sitting level.
Larry

 

[Makensmoke]

Awesome pictures. I have never been there but it is cool to imagine how similar the terrain is to the Black Hills, minus a zillion trees.

 

[EDankievitch]

I was looking for ball mounts that didn’t require the use of the hitch sleeve. But around here they are like hen’s teeth. I’ve got better things to search for an spend money on....

 

[bcbender]

Well, look what I found sitting on the shoulder of the road in MT... Was stuck in traffic and I looked over and said SCORE...

 

[EDankievitch]

Very nice! Someone not gonna be happy later when they figure out it’s missing

 

[bcbender]

Nope, I bet people thought I was crazy jumping out and running over to grab it... I am sure it was someone camping since I was near Yellowstone, what a bad day to lose it.. Maybe they had a 5er..

 

[kthaxton]

lol....maybe I'll find one some day to even things out!

 

[fitz011]

Those of you that mentioned getting the lockable pins, let me remind you to use the locks often as the are notorious for rusting up and not being able to turn the key. I live in the south and am not exposed to northern salted roads and have had to cut two off that spend about 18 months on with out use. I too have B/W hitches and rarely need to remove them, but when I do the the rusted locks are no fun.

Very true, even w/o salt/snow exposure. Had a very common locking pin that would not open at all w/the key after maybe 2 yrs of install. disappointing thing is I learned from a trailer shop employee that all it takes is a couple of whacks w/a 3lb hammer and that shaft will snap right off. Mine took 4 whacks...

 

[bcbender]

If someone really wants it they will take it lock or no lock, it only keeps the honest ones at bay. I just take mine out and store under the seat when not in use.

 

[seahawkdodge]

If you remember to unlock and grease the locking pin at least once a year, then it "shouldn't" be an issue. I try to do it at the same time I grease the coupler on my trailer.
I also have a master lock that has a big rubber boot on it. So far this combination has lasted a few years.
Then again, I have lived in MC, FL and Texas over the past four years. Your mileage may vary.