Trail Rules and Rating Scale

[AZWILDYOAT]

Due to the BLM becoming more strict and closing trails due to abuse we need to be more conscious of treading lightly. Anyone that is going to join us on a run will need to meet the requirements specified in the trail rating scale. If you do not meet those requirements please do not come out and try to run it still. Or if your vehicle is leaking fluids please fix them before you come out; Otherwise I will ask you to not join us. While on the trail respect the land by staying on the trail, not purposely damaging property or the land, also if you pack it in also pack it out. Even if you see trash left behind by others please do your part and pick it up. If you start to leak fluids on the trail please try and fix it asap, and clean up the mess after you are done. Also you can purchase fluid clean up kits. If you need to stack rocks to get through an obstacle please remove them after you are done. If anyone that joins us for the trail runs abuses any of these rules, you will be asked to not attend another run w/ us. Also some trails require you have a state trust land permit, please read the next post to see how to get one. Thanks- Josh

Click here for trail clean up kits. (http://www.rallylights.com/Rally/Spill_Kit.asp)

[AZWILDYOAT]

Some trails require you have a state trust land permit. To get one please read the following...

Public Land Use Issue
AZ State Land Recreational Permit Fee and Process

The Arizona State Land Department issues an "on-the-spot" Individual and Family recreational permit to those applying in person at these State Land Department Offices:
*1616 West Adams, Phoenix AZ 85007
(602)364-2753

Another Phone number for the Phoenix office is:
Dawn Dillman, Supervisor Public Records
(602) 542-4631 FAX (602) 542-5223
E-mail: ddillman@land.az.gov

*3650 Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928)774-1425
*233 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701
(520)628-5480

OR the AZ Public Lands Information Center at 222 N.Central Ave., Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602)417-9300
Permit applications may also be requested by calling them.(They will mail you the application and you send it back) The individual recreational permit is $15, and the Family recreational permit is $20. The permits are valid for one year from the date of purchase. The funds are payable by check, money order or EXACT cash only.
You will receive a copy of the permit which must be in your possession at all times while on State Land. You will also receive a yellow placard to hang on your rear view mirror when on State Trust Land.

[AZWILDYOAT]

2WD

1.0 All-weather high speed paved or graded dirt or gravel road, regularly maintained, with excellent drainage. 4WD not needed, even in wet weather. Speeds of over 40 mph can be achieved. Passenger cars acceptable.

1.5 Maintained graded dirt road. 4WD not needed except in wet weather. May have potholes, dips, and sharp curves. May drain poorly in wet weather. Speeds of over 10 mph possible. Passenger cars can do, but will have to slow down considerably on washouts, etc. due to lack of ground clearance. No grades over 10 degrees.

EASY 4WD

2.0 Unimproved or rarely graded dirt road; 4WD and/or extra clearance occasionally needed at times, with no special driving skills required. Passengers cars NOT acceptable, due to insufficient ground clearance. 2WD & 4WD trucks with stock clearance are acceptable. Street tires are acceptable. Day runs are typically 20 miles in length.

2.5 Dirt road graded rarely, if ever. 4WD low range and good clearance often needed, with some extra care and a bit of driving experience useful. Suitable for novice drivers. Speeds often under 10 mph. Street tires are acceptable. 2WD trucks NOT acceptable, due to lack of low range gears. No grades over 20 degrees.

MODERATE 4WD

3.0 Ungraded road in difficult terrain, rarely maintained. 4WD low range and clearance required., with some driving skill and daring useful. Challenges for novice driver. Suitable for stock 4WD vehicles. Street tires are not recommended. No 2WD vehicles, due to lack of traction. Speeds often under 5 mph.

3.5 Road or trail in difficult terrain, probably maintained only by occasional users. Considerable driving skill and daring needed. Not recommended for the novice driver. Surface may include wash beds, sand, cinders, lava rock, snow, mud, water, etc. Vehicles with long front or rear overhang (beyond the axles) may scrape front or rear bumpers on wash crossings, etc. Street tires not acceptable. Approaching the limit of what a capable stock 4WD vehicle (with capable driver) can do. Stock 4WD vehicles usually not recommended. Upgrade to 31” tires, mild lift (1” or 2”), and rear locker or limited slip is highly desirable. Equipment failure is usually limited to flat tires. Grades may exceed 20 degrees. Occasional off camber situation may exceed 20 degrees. Water crossings should be 2 feet or less in depth. Spotting may be required on the more difficult sections, especially for long, wide vehicles. Average speed is 3 mph. A day run is typically around 10 miles in length. This is the most common numerical rating given to 4WD trails. Suitable for mildly modified 4WD vehicles & moderately experienced drivers.

HARD 4WD

4.0 Trail badly eroded. Off camber situations likely and may exceed 25 degrees. Grades may exceed 25 degrees. Water crossings can exceed 2 feet in depth. Stock vehicles NOT recommended. 31” tires minimum, (33” preferred), mild lift & hard locker, (not limited slip), in the rear probably required. Front locker or limited slip recommended. Speeds often under 3 mph. Spotting probably required on the more difficult obstacles to avoid body damage. Recommended for experienced 4WD drivers only. Body damage possible, but unlikely. More likely on long, and/or wide vehicles. Equipment failure possible, but unlikely.

4.5 Trail is TOUGH. Big rocks, grades exceeding 30 degrees. Off camber situations exceeding 30 degrees. Sometimes, but not always, best suited for short wheel base vehicles. (under 105”) 33” Tires minimum, (35” or larger preferred). 2” to 4” of lift and gearing of 40 to 1 (20 to 1 for automatics) or lower in first gear, low range probably required. Hard locker in the rear and limited slip or hard locker in the front probably required. Speeds often under 1 mph. A day run will usually be 1-3 miles in length. Body damage likely, but usually can be avoided by very careful driving and good spotting. Typically 10% of the vehicles on these runs will experience major mechanical failure, i.e. driveline or steering failure. (u-joints, axles, pitman arm, drag link, tie rods, etc.) Usually, but not always, these failures are due to improper and insufficiently tested vehicle modifications or poor (sloppy) driving technique. (Too much gas or steering pressure) An experienced driver with a properly setup vehicle can usually avoid most breakage.

5.0 Trail CANNOT be driven the whole way. Winching is required in at least 1 point on the trail. Water crossings may exceed 2 1/2 feet in depth. Grades exceeding 40 degrees. The biggest rocks with off camber situations exceeding 35 degrees. Rollovers possible. Usually only suitable for short wheel base vehicles. (under 105”) Winch, 33” minimum tires, (35” or larger preferred), 3” to 5” of lift, gearing of 60 to 1 ( 30 to 1 for automatics) or lower in first gear, low range, and hard locker in both front and rear axles probably required. Axle upgrades highly recommended. Speed continuously under 1 mph. A day run is typically 1 mile in length. These trails are typically very hard on tires. 1 spare probably required, 2 spares recommended. Plug kit and/or tubes recommended. Tires with sufficient sidewall protection (Boggers, Swampers, etc.) recommended. 50% or greater chance of body damage. 50% or greater chance of major mechanical failure. Breakage is usually due to excessive torque or torque spikes on axles or steering components. Only world class, experienced (5 years +) drivers with extra money , parts & energy to repair broken vehicles need apply.

NOTES

Runs are typically planned to keep the same trail rating along the entire trail. However, due to terrain, this is not always possible. Therefore, the single numerical rating applies to the most difficult part of the trail, that has no bypass, i.e., there is no easier way around it, you (and your vehicle) must do this obstacle to complete the run.

Each .5 increase in the trail rating, doubles the difficulty. Therefore a 4.0 rated trail is approx. twice as hard as a 3.5 rated trail.

Wet trail conditions can raise the trail rating by .5, and ratings can vary (+ or -) by up to .5 from year to year, due to changing conditions.

When evaluating trail ratings and suggested minimum vehicle and driver experience requirements, please realize that it is possible to drag any 4WD vehicle, (or 2WD vehicle for that matter), through practically any type of terrain, given enough time, energy and money and effort. The suggested minimum vehicle requirements and driver experience levels are based upon the following assumptions. 1. That the vehicle will be driven under its own power throughout the entire trail. 2. That no body damage will occur. 3. That the trail will not be altered. (by stacking rocks, etc.) 4. That the trail will be completed in a reasonable time frame. If these items are not important to you and you wish to participate in a run with a vehicle or driver experience level substantially below the suggested minimum requirements, please contact your trip leader as to the feasibility of your participation. Remember that the last item “reasonable time frame” affects everyone on the run, not just you and your vehicle.

Paint scratches from vegetation on narrow trails can be an issue on any trail rated 2.0 or higher. While not technically an obstacle, we realize that to some participants with newer vehicles this is a concern. Please contact your trip leader as to this possibility, and trip leaders inform your participants as to the probability of this occurring. The best defense against this is a good coat of wax, and very careful driving. Most scratches on a highly waxed surface will buff out after the trip. Black paint shows the most scratches, white paint shows the least.

EXAMPLES OF TRAILS IN ARIZONA

1.0 Florence-Kelvin Highway

1.5 Four Peaks Road

2.0 Old Senator Highway (Prescott-Crown King)

2.5 Lake Pleasant to Crown King

3.0 Saguaro Lake Coves, Montana Mountain

3.5 Telegraph Trail (Road #42), Lower Ajax

4.0 Oak Flat Loop (Powerline), Rocker Panel Pass-Otero Tank Loop

4.5 Upper Ajax, Martinez Canyon

5.0 Surprise (Axle Alley)