05/13/2024
Good day, fellow off road enthusiasts wanted to give recap of my Arizona Peace Trail experience back in March. We did the northern half. Started in Quartzsite the first day was to Lake Havasu. Let me start by saying three cars got turned around to head back to Quartzsite after having issues due to poor prep, I can't express how important prepping your vehicle for ride like this is. They were having clutch issues, because they haven't cleaned the clutches before the start of the ride. Another car was having axle boot issues and did not have a spare axle and third car was part of the group of three. They were only doing the first day then heading back the next day. The rest of day went great. Saw a lot cool stuff. Got to Havasu around 6 roughly did a little over 100 miles.
Day 2 Havasu to Kingman started the day around 9 AM pounded the pavement for 10 or so miles. Got in dirt for 10 miles stopped for break, found one car to making a noise in front end, checked it out found the front wheel on right side to play in it, thought a wheel bearing going bad, luckily it was just loose axle nut. Got going again stopped at a memorial to bunch of different off roaders. Was pretty cool. Got going again about 10 moles from going under I40 had a guy slice a tire due to not checking his tire pressure he had 4, 6, 8 psi in the tires. Got that fixed and got going, next Oatman. Oatman was cool a town with the donkeys roaming around town. Had lunch and got going again. Did 2 or 3 spurs down some bad terrain. Was pretty awesome. Side note carry Benadryl in your first aid kit we had scary moment the chase guy James got bitten by something and this tongue started to swell up. Luckily Larry had some. Got going from that stop and then Larry's Honda lost the steering coupler bolt. Luckily they found the bolt. Now it is starting to get dark. Final got to Kingman around 9. Dinner and bed.
Day 3 Kingman to Wikiup
Get up go to breakfast and Steve is out looking for a tire or fix the slashed sidewall. Couldn't find a tire so got the sidewall patched. Pounded pavement to Indian reservation and hit the AZPT, ran into some snow, went to a couple of mines. Stopped old ranch before heading over the mountains to Wikiup, very rough and steep for 18 to 20 miles. Here's where the fun starts. So Steve slashed another tire, replace the tire with repair spare went 2 miles the patch gave out. We had to take the spare from another Pro R it was different size so had to remove the front tire from Steve's car and more it to the rear and put the spare on Steve's front. Starting to get late and we have to get to Wikiup by 6 to get our 4 rooms. We made it time. Wikiup is very small. We were trying figure out dinner, there really are on restaurants in Wikiup. The Shell station had Burger and Mexican restaurant but they were closed due to being out propane. So frozen dinners were on the menu, Yummy! So Steve doesn't have spare and now the other Pro R has no spare. So Steve went to thegas station to see if he could get one of locals drive him to Quartzsite to retrieve his truck trailer, he found someone to drive him for 200.00 bucks, he spent the night in Quartzsite then drove back to load up his car, then we Larry's Honda steering was going bad so he loaded his car up on Steve's trailer. Then swapped all the tires back to there proper locations. Larry rode in the other Pro R for the rest of the trip.
Day 4
Wikiup to Solome
Good day no issues. Fun roads fast, wash board washes. Awesome views. Got to the hotel before 5. Closed the bar at 2.
Day 5
Get up not feeling every good. Breakfast.
Then start working on Mike and Stella Can Am.
Their car was pretty sacked out. Remove rear shocks and set ride height for them also did the front. They were super happy with the ride of the car. Did 40 mile loop around Solome. Back to hotel get cleaned up and dinner, closed the bar again. If you go to the Stage Coach hotel don't ask why the six bottles are cover in bags at the bar, you will have to play the game.
Day 6
Get up breakfast and head back to the trucks short ride. No issues.
Thanks Ted Williams from Quest SXS.
12 cars started 7 finished.
On way home drove through a snow storm.
