[HAWKDVM]

Anyone have experience with this trail? I saw a video of it today and I think it's on my bucket list, either hiked or driven. Any idea if a Trailhawk could make it?

 

[BizzyB]

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=79

High end rating of 5 so I'd say yes, but be extremely careful. There's tons of exposure with zero margin for error in spots. Make sure you go with a spotter who knows what he's doing.

Rating of 5: the highest challenge for a stock Jeep Wrangler without body damage, winching, or possible breakage. You may have to work on some of the bigger rocks and challenges, but you should make it through everything without too much trouble. You will need 4-Wheel Drive and you should not go alone.

A 5 on their scale is the highest I'd take a Trailhawk.

 

[CRZY4X4]

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Jeep Rollover
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[BizzyB]

Yeah, that's one trail I'd rather be on a dirt bike or ATV. So narrow. He's lucky he only went that far. Plenty of places to die on that trail.

In all fairness he took a terrible line, but even if you're on your A game I don't trust those washed out edges much.

 

[O|||||||O]

I was temped to do Black Bear Pass this last July but it was still snowed in. I have done it on my KTM motorcycle a few years ago. Black bear pass is very steep at the start with some steps. after that is just the switchbacks to worry about. A Trail Hawk should be able to clear the steps I would think with maybe some minor scraps.

I would try it.

 

[taatmk]

In the video, it looked to me that he got so close to the uphill side, that he actually came down on that wall which caused the roll over. Seemed very avoidable.

 

[TedB]

We're planning a trip to CO in July, to check out trails in the Gunnison-Salida area. I know we won't be doing any class 5 trail though, mostly 1-3. We're more interested in photography and scenery though, and have nothing to prove by bending our Trailhawk. It's too long a tow to get it back to Canada!
:wink:

 

[geoelectric]

I'd think something at the edge of stock wrangler might be a little much for a stock trailhawk. Are we really good up to that point? Based on that description, a 4 sounded more like our top end without incurring damage.

 

[ua_who]

I think a stock TH would match up well with a stock Wrangler.
The one difference would be more potential for some scrapes on the approach and departure facias.

 

[zzjdzz]

I think a stock TH would match up well with a stock Wrangler.
The one difference would be more potential for some scrapes on the approach and departure facias.

And the fascias are just collateral damage

 

[geoelectric]

Yeah, I'm not worried about plastic scrapes. I just had the impression we were maybe 80% or so as capable as a stock Wrangler, mostly because of the lack of true live axles and somewhat worse angles. So is the difference more in the ability to modify?

 

[O|||||||O]

Black Bear pass is rated a 5 because of the steepness and narrowness of the trail. There is almost no rock crawling involved. Subaru's have done it without much problems.

 

[ua_who]

Yeah, I'm not worried about plastic scrapes. I just had the impression we were maybe 80% or so as capable as a stock Wrangler, mostly because of the lack of true live axles and somewhat worse angles. So is the difference more in the ability to modify?

Ability to modify is the biggest.
Long term strength might be one too. A solid axle is stronger than the IS control arms.


Stock vs stock, one random trip like this, I'd say they are pretty close.

 

[geoelectric]

Ability to modify is the biggest.
Long term strength might be one too. A solid axle is stronger than the IS control arms.


Stock vs stock, one random trip like this, I'd say they are pretty close.

Very cool. As a rank beginner to this side of things I really appreciate being able to eavesdrop on these threads for info. Thanks!

 

[HenryH]

I watched many videos of people's running the black bear pass on youtube. I think a stock Wrangler would have done it easily. Trailhawk should be able to do it, but the ground clearance is really a bottleneck. There are steps, especially at some switchbacks, which makes it quite difficult for a trailhawk.

 

[BizzyB]

I think the toughest thing for a Trailhawk on this trail would be front end visibility. The Wrangler sitting higher and with a shorter front end will be easier to navigate the switchbacks. I can't even see my front end when pulling in my driveway at a slight incline. Then there are those massive A pillars...

As for their ratings in general, 90% I'd do up to a 4, but I might hit some 5s at times. Most of the trails in Colorado are 4 or less, and keep in mind high end rating means you might only see a 5 once during the entire trail section. It might only be a single obstacle. Reading the trail descriptions is key.

I do think the Trailhawk is pretty close to a stock non-Rubicon Wrangler. Ground clearance on a sport model is 8.8", TH is 8.7". Keep in mind ****'s Revenge is a 5 on the low end rating for their scale. That means, at a minimum, a TH has done 5 rated trails, even if they didn't do all the obstacles that warranted the 8 on the high end. Wouldn't do it without rock rails though for sure. When they did it, they scraped them quite a bit.

 

[BizzyB]

Black Bear pass is rated a 5 because of the steepness and narrowness of the trail. There is almost no rock crawling involved. Subaru's have done it without much problems.

Yah, if you go to the link, it's actually only rated a 2 for rock crawling.

 

[HenryH]

I do think the Trailhawk is pretty close to a stock non-Rubicon Wrangler. Ground clearance on a sport model is 8.8", TH is 8.7".

Not quite true. The ground clearance is measured between the ground and the lowest point on the vehicle's undercarriage. It's usually not between the ground and the rock rails. When you go over a rock, it is the clearance between the rock rail and the ground that mostly matters. A Wrangler Sport has much larger clearance there.

 

[BizzyB]

Not quite true. The ground clearance is measured between the ground and the lowest point on the vehicle's undercarriage. It's usually not between the ground and the rock rails. When you go over a rock, it is the clearance between the rock rail and the ground that mostly matters. A Wrangler Sport has much larger clearance there.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[Newislander]

Anyone have experience with this trail? I saw a video of it today and I think it's on my bucket list, either hiked or driven. Any idea if a Trailhawk could make it?

Hi @HAWKDVM, I'm actually planning to do Black Bear pass in my TH next year (or that is my wish), preferably after adding rock rails.

The intention is to tackle it sometime in September although not formal plans have been set yet. I'll be putting an invite out to anyone who wishes to join us especially since I would not tackle this alone. I do have a couple of TH's that have expressed an interest in a team effort.

I was inspired by a video of a stock Subaru that claims to have done this run more than once, so I figure a TH shouldn't have any problems with it's clearance and 4WD options.

Please let me know if and when you plan to drive it especially if the Sept time frame is anywhere close.