Charouleau Gap AZ.

[BlancoBronco]

I plan to visit my Mom in AZ this X-Mas & plan to rent a Jeep.
I went there two years ago & believe I started to do this trail the "Charouleau Gap"?
I was in a stock rental Jeep & I did'nt get the super insurance they offer & so I did'nt wanna scrath up the rental too bad.
The trail started to get into heavy brush so I turned around.

But this time I plan to get the most coverage they sell & not worry to much about it. :evil:

Anyways I've read multiple opinions on line (via Google) on how rough this trail is, some say I could do it in a stocker other say no.. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

I'll have my girlfriend & most likely my mom with me doing this & my mom got sorta nervous when took her last time. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

& might you guys know of any other trails to take them on while I'm staying in the town of Oracle?

Its only suppose to be a day trip.
& since I dont know any wheelers in AZ. we'll be alone in one Jeep.

Thanks in advance for any info you guys can give me. :)

[Rubi-Cant]

I have never done the Gap trail but I heard it can be quite difficult for a stock jeep.... check this link out http://www.4x4wire.com/trail/report/az/charouleaugap02/ there are a few pictures of some of the obstacles.

About 30-40 minutes north of Oracle there is Florence Junction, there are a ton of fun, easy trails out there as well as some difficult ones.

Also, If you are looking for someone to wheel with you, I would be more then happy to join you.

[BlancoBronco]

About 30-40 minutes north of Oracle there is Florence Junction, there are a ton of fun, easy trails out there as well as some difficult ones.
Thanks for the tip, I'll look it up on Google. :)

Also, If you are looking for someone to wheel with you, I would be more then happy to join you.

http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/awesome_dude.gif
Lets make a plan then for something like X-Mas day or the following day.

I'll be there from more or less the 23rd till the 27th.
would love to hook up with others & do a trail run. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/7.gif

[JackA]

Taking a stock jeep out to run the trail alone is a bad idea. I am sure you can find some locals to show you around.

[bigmookied]

If I stay around toen for the holidays I would be glad to go out and try to break some shit with you guys.

I am about 20 minutes from the Florence trail heads.

[bigmookied]

what you could do is rent a Rhino or something if you want to go out there. Check Phoenix Craigslist for the rental companies.

[BlancoBronco]

Well I'd be starting from the north side.
Oracle side.

I suppose we could start from either.

Taking a stock jeep out to run the trail alone is a bad idea. I am sure you can find some locals to show you around.
Its never a good idea to wheel out in the unknown alone..

But I figured I'd just stick to the easy stuff, taking all the by-pass'es & being a new rental Jeep I'd assume it to be reliable. :)

[el ranger loco]

wheelingarizona.com

Call it a plug for another site, cause I run the "competition". They have a lotta members in the area and they are very friendly. Im Loco over there too.

[azyota]

X2 on http://www.wheelingarizona.com/forums/index.php
Post up there and you should have no problem getting some people to show you around The Gap.

[BlancoBronco]

X2 on http://www.wheelingarizona.com/forums/index.php
Post up there and you should have no problem getting some people to show you around The Gap.

Thanks guys, I got started on it as soon as I saw the link. :smokin:

[Shadow man]

I have ran the "Gap".
If you come in from the north side, this will be the first major obstacle. The bypass is tougher. It will take a bit of wheeling just to get to here.

Past here the trail starts to run along the creek and in it. There can be some big boulders you would have to get over and around. It is a long trail.

I would head up to the top of Redington Rd and wheel, site see up there if I was in a rental. Like was posted on here previously, the Guys over on Wheelingarizona are good people. :) Someone should be able to assist you.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n272/SSII/LHC/DSCN0074.jpg

[BlancoBronco]

I have ran the "Gap".
If you come in from the north side, this will be the first major obstacle. The bypass is tougher.

The ByPass is suppose to be easier. :confused:
Assuming I'm gonna end up reanting a JK, I'm not too worried about it, being its longer than my Bronco. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Longer is better for steep climbs. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/m2c.gif

[azyota]

The pic above IS the bypass. It's not too bad. I drove my old cherokee up on 33's with open diffs. The harder line is to the left of this picture and it can be pretty nasty.

[Shadow man]

The pic above IS the bypass. It's not too bad. I drove my old cherokee up on 33's with open diffs. The harder line is to the left of this picture and it can be pretty nasty.


I easily went up both, so they both seemed like bypasses to me. :D But yes, the "Step" is to the left of the bypass.

[BlancoBronco]

Is that considered one of the harder or easier by-pass's? :confused:
If I bring my Mom with me she might flip out on things like that. :shaking:

[azyota]

Yes I could easily drive up or down the step, or anything else on the gap trail for that matter. A few of us call it the dirt road :D But, for the stock or lightly modified rigs it's a pretty challenging trail.
Most of the trail is pretty tame, and it has some great scenery. The elevator spooks a few people. It's just a long fairly steep climb where you feel kind of exposed. That's more towards the north end. After the spot in the pic above you make it to a saddle where you start dropping down the south end of the trail towards Catalina. It's got one kind of nasty spot where you are going to want to hang way to the left. It's easy enough to get thru, but has rolled its fair share of rigs. I'll look for a picture of that spot and post up if I can find it.
If you havn't seen this yet, here is a description. http://www.wheelingarizona.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8987

[azyota]

The elevator
http://www.wheelingarizona.com/trails/Charlouleau_gap/7-27-03/images/DCP_2930.htm
The 6th pic in this thread is the one where I said you want to hang way to the left coming down.
http://www.wheelingarizona.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8865

[BlancoBronco]

The elevator spooks a few people. It's just a long fairly steep climb where you feel kind of exposed. That's more towards the north end. After the spot in the pic above you make it to a saddle where you start dropping down the south end of the trail towards Catalina. It's got one kind of nasty spot where you are going to want to hang way to the left. It's easy enough to get thru, but has rolled its fair share of rigs. The more I think about it, either my Mom dont go or I change to another trail instead.


I'll look for a picture of that spot and post up if I can find it.:) Cool.


If you havn't seen this yet, here is a description. http://www.wheelingarizona.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8987
Thanks for the link.
I'll check it out.

[azyota]

I added a link with a pic of that spot I was talking about to my last post. Look me up when your here, I'll see if I can't show you around a bit. :beer:

[BlancoBronco]

Look me up when your here, I'll see if I can't show you around a bit. :beer:

Thanks, it will be this X-Mas. :D

[azhayseed]

Unless you are VERY familliar with the Gap trail I wouldn't try starting out on the Oracle end of the trail. there are alot of side roads etc. that are easy to get lost on. If you start out at the Catalina end it is pretty easy to follow the road.

[BlancoBronco]

OK so I should start on the south side? :confused:

What about other routes that might be better to take my senior Mom on? :shaking:
I sorta hate to tell her she cant go.

[lancetkenyon]

Chivo Falls. If you're lucky, the falls might be flowing. A lot of locals would be glad to show you around if you can get ahold of them.

[BlancoBronco]

Chivo Falls. If you're lucky, the falls might be flowing. A lot of locals would be glad to show you around if you can get ahold of them.

How would you suggest I start looking for them?

[tibaal89]

I ran the gap south to north last weekend... it was a blast, I massively recommend the trail!

A stock FJ Cruiser can make it through this trail, so take that however you want as a commentary on it's difficulty. As far as your doing it in a stock Jeep, I think you'll definitely be OK but expect some challenge. Certainly don't do it alone!

I have an FJ with 32" tires and 3" of lift and was able to walk through the trail plus conquer many of it's optional challenges (the step, etc).

There are a bunch of rutted and washed out sections on the main path, but nothing too crazy.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0142.jpg

Optional section through the wash...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0262.jpg

Not optional wash section...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0325.jpg

Optional obstacle, the step...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0370.jpg

Me going over...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0395.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0432.jpg

Optional huge wall thing...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s251/RebellaG1124/Charleou%20gap/DSC_0031.jpg

*All pics taken by Rebella Photography (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=57303)

[BlancoBronco]

Ok, Its getting closer to this day.... Does anyone know of a place I can rent a jeep wrangler from?

Seems most rental companies dont carry the Wranglers any more? :confused:

& I'm not gonna try this in a rental Hummer. :rolleyes:

Thanks for any input. :D

[aftershokk86]

drop the jeep idea and get a 4runner with elocker in the rear :flipoff2:

[BlancoBronco]

drop the jeep idea and get a 4runner with elocker in the rear :flipoff2:

What you have to remember is, I'm just talking about a rental jeep.
I already have a bad ass Sammy & Bronco.
& have no interest in a Jeep or Toyota.

but FYI my Sammy does have Toy axles under it now. :smokin:

[TireFryerSS]

What dates are you planning on being out here?? Im leaving for a few weeks starting the 29th of Dec. but Im up to go wheelin' anytime before that and Im sure I can get a small group together to go.

[BlancoBronco]

What dates are you planning on being out here?? Im leaving for a few weeks starting the 29th of Dec. but Im up to go wheelin' anytime before that and Im sure I can get a small group together to go.

We've got a plan set up for the 26th. http://www.tucsonoffroad.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=678

[ashmanjeepXJ]

We've got a plan set up for the 26th. http://www.tucsonoffroad.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=678

I see how it is...your gonna run with the Tucson off road guys :D

[BlancoBronco]

I see how it is...your gonna run with the Tucson off road guys :D

They were the 1st to say lets do it. :smokin:


Your more than welcome to join us, but we're not running the Gap after all.