The main reason I bought the 2500 XL is the 37 gallon gas tank. 23 gallon in my truck and getting single digits got old quick.
Trip out west with the family
- Thread starter LBarr2002
- Start date
This has never been an option with young kids. Dealing with the flight, car seats, not having our own stuff, etc. But as they're getting older it would be viable.
I wonder if anyone will be renting Broncos by then...?
Mac5005
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Location
- Rocky Mount
The stuff west of Oklahoma is far better than most of the stuff east of Colorado unless going north into the dakotas. May as well say from the Rockies and west has far more to offer for a trip like this rather than what is to be seen on the way, and on the way in a hurry.
Main point was to save the 2.5-3 days drive time each way by flying. And use that extra time to see more while out there.
Flight would be same or less than fuel cost driving empty. I looked at renting a JLU at one airport and returning at another but not finding any that do that. You can rent a JLU from DEN, or rent one from SLC, but you can't rent at DEN and return at SLC.
I sent my wife this this morning
untchabl
I like rocks
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Location
- Bear Creek, NC 27207
I thought about doing something similar for our trip out west. Considered flying into California, buying a car and driving it home but came up with the idea a bit too late to actually make it happen.
I would love to, but not feasible with kiddos. One day...
I'm really looking into the flying in to one city (probably Denver), renting something, travel for a week or so, fly out from another city.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Different trips with different goals. You could spend two weeks roaming this side of the Mississippi and never get bored.
Get direct flights, especially if you don't have airline status. You don't want to end up sleeping in the airport because of a missed connection. Drop fees may end up making this an undesirable option, though.
77GreenMachine
Phillip Talton
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2010
- Location
- Trinity, NC
Personally the comfort and convenience of having my own camper for meals, beds, bathroom and shower, space for luggage and groceries, far outweigh the loss in fuel mileage. We are looking to buy a camper real soon for many reasons, one of which is to travel next year to The Ark in Kentucky, then up to Toledo, OH and Lake Michigan, followed by a wheeling trip to Oklahoma shortly after. Assuming I can afford gas at that time. That may turn into a more local trip at this rate. Or skip the camper and pull doubles with 1 hotel each way and tents at the parks we stay at. Anyways, getting side tracked.
If gas doesn’t get to be $4/gal by then, having the camper is great. As far as getting to places, I’ve pulled a 28’ trailer all over and there’s always a way to get to where I want to eat, fuel, shopping or whatever. It could impact some “off the beaten path” traveling, but you could always leave the camper at camp and go exploring.
If gas doesn’t get to be $4/gal by then, having the camper is great. As far as getting to places, I’ve pulled a 28’ trailer all over and there’s always a way to get to where I want to eat, fuel, shopping or whatever. It could impact some “off the beaten path” traveling, but you could always leave the camper at camp and go exploring.
Why would you want to go to Toledo???? I grew up there, only reason I go back family. Sandusky is great for kids Cedar point is one of the world's best roller coaster parks.
I say camper too, I've flown to CO rented a car, went to Moab rented a jeep then to Yellowstone. Also towed out and pushed thru to get to Moab staying in Hotels. If you already camp that is the way to go provided you have the time. Would love to explore CO more.
After talking a lot about this, our new plan is to fly in to one city (probably Denver), get a JK/JL standard rental, 3 days in Colorado, 3 days in Moab, 1 day at grand canyon, hit hover dam on way to Vegas and fly out of Vegas. This gives me 8 nights actually out there and I'll only be off work 6 days.
My issue is I'm finding very few options of rental companies that have Wranglers for separate pickup and drop off locations. Anybody have experience with this?
I could easily get a jeep in Den and return to Den, or SLC and return to SLC, but Den to LAS is looking tough.
I could also make it a loop round trip from SLC or Albuquerque, but that adds an extra drive day on the end to get back where we started.
My issue is I'm finding very few options of rental companies that have Wranglers for separate pickup and drop off locations. Anybody have experience with this?
I could easily get a jeep in Den and return to Den, or SLC and return to SLC, but Den to LAS is looking tough.
I could also make it a loop round trip from SLC or Albuquerque, but that adds an extra drive day on the end to get back where we started.
Yeah, doesn't seem to be a problem with a Tahoe/Suburban, but I'm assuming most rentals are 2wd? The last time I rented a car was like 15 years ago.
They also have a Ram Rebel but assuming it wouldn't have any kind of bed cover so no luggage room.
rockcity
everyday is a chance to get better
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2005
- Location
- Greenville, NC
Why not rent an average family vehicle that’s able to be dropped off at any airport and just rent a jeep or UTV when you are in Moab?
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
If they want to spend three days in Colorado, they need something 4wd and high clearance.
Correct. Looking at possibly doing a true jeep rental for a day in Moab, but the rest of the time want a 4wd to do some mild stuff.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
I don't think you can go wrong, but one piece of advice I'd offer is to cut more than you think is reasonable from your itinerary. The trip to GC and LV is fine, but will take more than a day. If you plan on going to Canyonlands, Arches, Canyons of the Ancients, etc, each of those is a day. You might consider planning a general loop that starts/ends in Denver, hits Moab on the far side, etc. I'm not sure where you want to go in CO, but you could day trip through Cortez/Durango/Silverton/Ouray/Buena Vista/etc on your way back to Denver, or swing further south and hit Great Sand Dunes, Pikes Peak, etc if you did the San Juans on your way west. Save NV, AZ and NM for a separate trip. Every time we plan one of these, we start out with this long ass list of things we want to do, then cut and cut and cut as the plan starts to materialize and we realize there's no way we can fit all the things we want.
General plan was fly in to DEN early as possible and drive to Silverton/Telluride/Ouray and stay in the same place 3 nights to day trip. Drive to Moab and stay 3 nights (so basically 2.5 days there). 1 day for actual trails, day and a half for parks. Leave moab and hit GC, spend 1 night in that area. Then Hoover damn on way to Vegas. One night in Vegas and fly out.
8 nights total. Go out on a Tuesday back following Wednesday.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Again, depends on what you want to do. If you want to tour Utah, then yeah. Add Capitol Reef to your list. If you want to go to Leadville/Buena Vista/Tin Cup or RMNP, etc... not so much.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Also, that likely means 1 long trail, 2 or maybe 3 short ones. If you're talking about something relatively easy and fast like Fins N Things, that's almost a half day, plus transit time, then you do Chicken Corners or Cliffhanger or something in the afternoon, back to town for dinner.
Fins and things and Hells Revenge probably. I'd love to go back to the first overlook on Moab Rim but I think that's one of the excluded trails for most of the rentals.
kaiser715
Doing hard time
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2006
- Location
- 7, Pocket, NC
My first ever trip to UT was solo, back in '92 or so. Flew in to SLC, rented a pathfinder. I had ten days, but the first 3 was tied up in Vernal. Made a good drive....went to Vernal straight from SLC airport, then S to Grand Junction, CO, over to Moab, then worked thru Canyonlands, Grand Staircase, Bryce area, Back N and E to Vernal to finish up business, then back to SLC to catch return flight. Only places I spent more than one night iirc was Vernal and Moab.
Lots of driving, got in lots of dayhikes along the way. Mostly camped "wherever", and a couple of commercial campgrounds. On a short trip, I'd do the same route again.
Lots of driving, got in lots of dayhikes along the way. Mostly camped "wherever", and a couple of commercial campgrounds. On a short trip, I'd do the same route again.
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh
It's almost half the distance from ABQ to Durango as it is from DEN. Just food for thought.
rockcity
everyday is a chance to get better
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2005
- Location
- Greenville, NC
Fins and Things plus the 4x4 trail to Tower Arch in Arches is a good long day and doable in a stock Jeep and plenty of fun for the family. Tower Arch doesn’t get much traffic because it’s a good hike to get to it or a couple hour drive via the off road trail, so it’s mostly desolate and avoids crowds. Hundreds of people fighting for parking spots at the typical tourist spots but Tower Arch, we saw 3 people all day.
I’d recommend at least checking out Grandstaff Canyon Trail if you like a moderate hike that is kid friendly. Spring fed below source of the creek that is just 100’ below Fins N Things. Neat and different perspective from nearly the same spot on the FNT trail above the canyon.
Lots of other cool spots as well, Canyonlands included.
rockcity
everyday is a chance to get better
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2005
- Location
- Greenville, NC
Not sure what the appeal is for Vegas. There is certainly a lot there, but for an adventure type trip that it sounds like you have planned, I’d drop Vegas and possibly Hoover Dam. We were out there last summer and Hoover was closed due to Covid, so we cut it and Vegas out entirely. Best decision we made as it gave us more time doing adventure in CO and UT. I could spend 2 weeks in and around Moab alone and be just fine. Colorado as well. GC, not so much.