Morrison Jeep Trail

[chorky]

I know theres a couple fellow Montanan's here. Morrison doesn't look nearly as difficult as other YouTubers portrayed it. Seems like a cake walk for the JT



Anyone down this, along with Goose Lake?

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[chorky]

It’s on my bucket list but will have to wait til I have enough time off to get up there.

Same. I was thinking it was super sketchy based on some of the past YouTubers videos but this makes it look way less problematic. Only that one turn that could cause issues. I think the biggest concern would be a random breakdown or needing to winch.

Thinking of taking a group out that way this summer for a little event - we might look at doing that and Goose lake.

 

[Mad Mac]

It looks great at first blush.
But both of those were JL Rubicons.
The 4-door was highly modified.
The 2-door not so much
but even with a short wheelbase
it was struggling on some switchbacks.

Knock yourselves out
but as for me
my JTR shall remain
an overcompensated ranch truck.

 

[chorky]

It looks great at first blush.
But both of those were JL Rubicons.
The 4-door was highly modified.
The 2-door not so much
but even with a short wheelbase
it was struggling on some switchbacks.

Knock yourselves out
but as for me
my JTR shall remain
an overcompensated ranch truck.

What is your definition of 'highly modified'? The 4 door just had a lift and tires, pretty standard for Jeeps. It doesn't look to be running on tons and 40's

I have a JTR - so already have factory lockers and sway disco.... The longer wheel base would make for more difficulty in the switchbacks for sure! I'm just comparing this video from others I have watched some years ago where people were winching up almost every switchback or having significant problems. I don't see how they had such a problem now that this video actually shows the majority of the switchbacks.

 

[Mad Mac]

These jeep trail videos are entertaining
and allow us to vicariously go along for the ride.
But I wish they would take one minute
to talk about their rig
and tell us how it is equipped,
what they would do differently if anything
and the minimum rig recommended for that trail.

 

[KevinC]

Doesn't look like a difficult trail. The 2 door has the same issues the 4 door had. The JT may struggle more on all those switchbacks and that may present more challenges than we are seeing in this video. I'm not sure I would take a JT knowing I can't turn around.

KevinC

 

[dajudge]

 

[chorky]

That's one of the videos I'm kinda referring to. They did it with a trailer even. A JTR I think would be much more successful with sway disco's and lockers on both ends.

 

[Mad Mac]

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard," President Kennedy told the crowd at Rice University in Houston.

Driving a Gladiator up the Morrison falls in this category, in my opinion. But go for it. It has been done. Reddit pic here. On that trail the shallow departure angle of a Gladiator should not be a problem.

It was not until I looked it up that I realized just how long the wheelbase actually is on a Gladiator, 137 inches. Compare that to a 4-door JK at 118 inches and a 2-door at a scant 97 inches, 40 inches shorter than a Gladiator! The typical 4x4 SUV like a Toyota 4Runner is about 110 inches. A long wheelbase is an advantage on a steep uphill, but otherwise, not so much. Hell, I can't even park my JTR straight between the lines in a parking lot.

Most of those trails were laid out with CJs and Wrangler YJs and TJs like my 1998 Wrangler Sahara with a 93 inch wheelbase. That is what I would take to the Morrison, if I was so inclined. But like Woody Allen said, "My goal in life is to climb a low mountain".

 

[chorky]

that I realized just how long the wheelbase actually is on a Gladiator, 137 inches. Compare that to a 4-door JK at 118 inches and a 2-door at a scant 97 inches, 40 inches shorter than a Gladiator! The typical 4x4 SUV like a Toyota 4Runner is about 110 inches. A long wheelbase is an advantage on a steep uphill, but otherwise, not so much. Hell, I can't even park my JTR straight between the lines in a parking lot.

Most of those trails were laid out with CJs and Wrangler YJs and TJs like my 1998 Wrangler Sahara with a 93 inch wheelbase. That is what I would take to the Morrison, if I was so inclined. But like Woody Allen said, "My goal in life is to climb a lo

Man that photo offers a great perspective! Yeah vehicles are way different than even 10 years ago. I had the same thought when I looked up the wheelbase of the Gladiator. Double edge sword because it's nice for the front wheels to be so far forward, but it definitely pushes it past that sweets pot 126" number. Personally I would rather deal with scraping the rear end with a lower departure angle than risk rolling. Which is where I think the Gladiator excels with its longer wheel base.

 

[Mad Mac]

These jeep trail videos are entertaining
and allow us to vicariously go along for the ride.
But I wish they would take one minute
to talk about their rig
and tell us how it is equipped,
what they would do differently if anything
and the minimum rig recommended for that trail.

This one is great. It's all about setting up a Gladiator for the Rubicon.


And here is one that explains approach, departure and breakover angles.

 

[chorky]

That's a pretty decent video - I wish he talked about that bed replacement though.

But the Rubicon and Morrison are totally different trails. Theres no big boulders on the Morrison so I dont know if the same concerns would exist. Do people actually take their tail lights off? Thats weird.... in all my driving years never once hav I even gotten close to body damage or hitting a tail light Weight is always a concern, and breaker angle is as well with the Gladiator. But theres no big ledges like at MOAB - only a couple spots where the belly might drag some. Now on the Goose Lake trail there would be more of a concern with boulders.

 

[ShaunTOR]

That TJ showed how to conquer that trail!

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