Canyonlands National Park Maze Overlook

[Chet Hedden]

Has anyone taken a TC to the Maze Overlook at Canyonlands, or know anyone who has? If so, what were the issues if any?

I spoke with a ranger at Hans Flat who said he believed it had been done, but not to his personal knowledge. He thinks it could be done, but not without damage to the truck. What do the off-road experts think? I’ve been there before but not with a camper on a long bed truck. Will I be the first?

Thanks,
Chet Hedden

[Jefe4x4]

Chet,
I’ve been to the end of trail at the Maze Overlook many years ago in our FJ-55. It was no problem as we were narrow and had traction devices. There are several very narrow spots, and a few solid sandstone walls to climb, where you need clearance and narrowness.
AFA doing it in a truck camper, I know one person who has done it (the Grand Whazoo) and he had lockers both ends and a 6 inch lift on his Chevy pickup with pop up camper. His travelog is on the TC forum in RV.net.
As hard core as i think i am, I would not attempt it.
Next spring, my bro and I will be doing Elephant Hill and environs in our off-road equipped truck campers. It has been done, as the many You tube vids have shown, but with drivers who have the skills and experience plus those well equipped TC’s.

2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.

[Chet Hedden]

Thanks, Jefe4x4.
I drove the Maze Overlook trail on a 6 day camping trip in 1997 in a Cherokee with factory off-road options. We were overloaded, but it was a lot of fun, as I had not done significant off-roading before. The trails in the Maze are probably essentially the same now as then.

I have been interested in Dave’s (Grand Whazoo) rig, because he takes it places few seem to, but they are places I’d like to go with a hard side camper. Never been able to figure out how to reach him. A friend who is a fleet manager for the US Forest Service told me Chevy or GMC trucks are not purchased by the Forest Service for off-road driving because of some issue with the way the frame is built that affects clearance. I know that Dave high centered on a rock and damaged an axle on one of his trips.

Thanks for the information and advice. I think I need something more solid than a TC for that sort of travel — maybe a Provan Tiger with a properly equipped 350 instad of a separate camper? I’m concerned about flexing and bouncing around damaging a camper more than I’m concerned about traction and tipping over.

[Jefe4x4]

Chet, Chevy’s have a dip in the side frames right under the center of the rig reducing the clearance on breakover. Chevy’s, more than Ford or RAM need some kind of lift to be a contender as they are the lowest slung of the lot. The Whaz can be contacted through a p.m. on the TC page of RV.net. He only comes on when he has a link to an always spectacular trip he wants to promote. I’ve been on hard core TC trips with him and he is exactly like he writes: wild and crazy with a stream of consciousness style that’s fun to read or hang with. It doesn’t hurt that he is Photoshop black belt. I think his rig is an ’04-06 GMC long bed so has no DEF tank hanging down under the passenger seat and will run on 3rd world diesel.
jefe

2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.

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