Come one, come all to the 3rd annual Utah rally, and 2nd annual business meeting, the birthplace of the Mitsubishi Four Wheel Drive Club. Join us for our journey through the "promise land" of four wheeling.
For those of your living under a rock, Utah is the MOST beautiful and exciting state in the country and is one of the last places where you can wheel for days without seeing another soul and see sights that exist nowhere else in the world.
If you can only take one vacation this year, UTAH SHOULD BE IT!!
I am very excited as we will be going to new places this year that hold plenty of promise for an "off the beaten path" adventure.
Our events are all family oriented, and open to all Mitsubishi 4x4 owners. Non-owners may attend if accompanied by a Mitsubishi 4x4 owners who also brings their own Mitsubishi.
We always promote responsible wheeling, and good fun. Most event accomodations are "camp on the trail" type with limited access to Hotels/Motels, however, some do have them nearby. Contact us for further details.
Novice and Inexperienced Owners
Off road driving is both challenging and rewarding. As part of our charter as a club, we will make an attempt to help you ensure you have a fun and safe trip. As a rule all members may use the assistance of several "experienced" trail spotters.
"Required" Vehicle Setup Precautions
Be sure you check all your fluids, & if needed top them off prior to your trip out, before wheeling and before departing for home.
Tires less than 31"x10.5" in size and open differentials can make some trails quite challenging.
Spotters
A good spotter is someone who understands the dynamics & limitations of your rig, and can assist you in traversing challenging terrain by acting as an extra set of eyes outside your vehicle. They can advise you of the best line to take, which line to not take, and warn you of impending vehicle damage.
If you have questions about spotters and anything I've mentioned above, please ask the trail host once you arrive onsite, prior to departing for a trail.
Warning
Although we do as much as we can to prevent/avoid damaging our rigs, minor damage such as rocker panel dents and scratches are always a possibility. That's one other reason that spotters are so important.
What To Bring
Aside from standard camping gear, bring food (enough for a couple of extra days, and lots of water.
It's best to pack perishable foods in an insulated lid cooler (yes, some coolers don't have insulated lids) and to use Block Ice, instead of chushed ice. A good cooler can keep foods cold for several days using Block Ice instead of a 24-36 hours with crushed ice.
For your vehicle, bring extra engine oil, transmission, brake, coolant, and windshield washer fluids. Extra fuel is also recommended and in the case of some of the Utah trails Mandatory.
Use of Five (5) Gallon Gasoline containers is recommended. If they seal completely, you can store them in the vehicle, but if they have a "breather" valve that is not sealable, then you will need to store them externally, as the fumes will obviously be toxic if stored inside the vehicle.
For those of you with wheel locks, BRING THE KEY. You may need it on the trail if you get a flat.
A working CB Radio, or FRS radio is highly recommended as all club regulars have either one, or the other and in some cases both. A cellular phone is also good to bring along although cell coverage is not guaranteed.
Tools
If you have them and the room to bring them, certainly do so.
Metric Socket Set
Small and Large Open End Adjustable Wrenches (Crescent)
Vice Grips (Small and Large)
Pliers (Small and Large)
Phillips (+) and Slotted (-) screwdrivers
HiLift Jack in addition to your "bottle jack"
I'm sure there's more you can bring, but this is just a very basic list.
Bag of Sand (for low traction/snow covered roads)
Spare Parts
Due to the stout nature of the Montero, Raider, Montero Sport, and Mighty Max Pick-Ups, spare parts are seldom needed and are rarely brought.
Weather
Utah high country weather is quite unpredictable so come prepared. Some days may be extremely warm verging on being hot, while the next day you may find it snowing outside. Last year we encountered beautiful days with high winds at night and the year prior it actually snowed.
Caution for Parents
If you are bringing children, its the perfect opportunity to teach them to enjoy the beauty of nature, however, also be aware of two very important safety concerns...
1. Drop off's approaching 1 mile in height do exist and are not stepped like in the Grand Canyon.
2. We will be visiting numerous sites/ruins that are EXTREMELY FRAGILE. Children MUST stay off these sites/ruins as they can irrevocably destroy them. Parents are responsible for the actions of their children, especially around these beautiful yet fragile areas.
Arriving The Rally
Be sure to check in with the event hosts as soon as you or he/she arrives. When you check in for the Utah event, we will be handing out a packet of information, including meeting agenda, and bi-laws. PLEASE read the bi-laws carefully and be prepared to discuss them for approval at the meeting.
Confirming Attendance
We're currently taking attendance confirmations for the Utah Rally.
As usual, we will need the following information before we can confirm your attendance...
- Name
- Number of attendee's in your group
- Estimated Arrival Time (date & time)
- Telephone Number (Day's, Evenings, Cellular)
- Email Address
- Level of Experience
- Vehicle Information (type of differentials, tires, recovery gear, communication gear, etc.)
- Confirmation level