[Nevada/California] Minden to Tonopah to Las Vegas to Salton City Late February Early March 2022

[bigrig]

It is that time of year again when I start planning a trip for late February to early March (depending on the tdsdesertsafari.com date which is to be scheduled soon). I would like to take the route from Minden to Las Vegas via Tonopah with the possibility of an excursion out to Area 51. From Las Vegas, I would take the the asphalt to Salton City where the TDS is being held.

I would be interested in organizing a group who would like to meet up to do this. There were two trucks last year and we had a good time making the trip.

DM me if you are interested in a trip around that time and I will follow up with specific dates.

Here are some pictures of the trip last year:

 

[Turbro]

Interested!

 

[Dylan Landeros]

Interested

 

[bigrig]

The schedule is looking like this:

• March 2: Minden to Tonopah
• March 3: Tonopah to Vegas via a South-Westerly route to Southern Vegas or a South-Easterly route through Area 51 to Northern Vegas (group will decide once everyone has checked in).
• March 4: (Optional) Vegas to Thermal, Tierra Del Sol for the weekend.

Truck requirements if you would like to participate in the ride:

• All truck maintenance should be done. Truck should be in good working order.
• VHF radio.
• GPS (Lowrance preferred).
• 1 - 2 full size spare tires.
• Minimum of 5 gallons of extra fuel.
• Auxiliary lighting (chase lights are preferred, unlikely to run in the dark, but extra lights are always great).

Accommodations:

• I plan to stay at lodges/hotels throughout the trip (Minden, Tonopah, Las Vegas). Accommodation suggestions will be provided for your review.

Pace of run:

• This isn't a race, it is just a fun trip where you can drive your truck the way it was meant to be driven. Easy going, fun attitudes with mechanical aptitudes welcome. Hot-heads and bros need not apply.

Direct mail me if you want to commit to the ride and I will make sure you get the info you need to meet up with the group and be able to participate. I won't follow up to "interested" responses to this thread since it is hard for me to keep track of who is really interested that way. The first 5 people who mail me and commit to the trip will make up the group, others will be put on a waitlist if someone bails.

Hope to see you out there!

 

[Icecobra]

Is this Raptor only event?

 

[bigrig]

Is this Raptor only event?

Nope! As long as your truck is in good working order and can handle the terrain at a reasonable speed, you should have fun on this trip.

 

[Icecobra]

I have a 2021 Jeep Wrangler so ability should not be an issue

 

[bigrig]

I have a 2021 Jeep Wrangler so ability should not be an issue

The trails themselves would pose no problem for a Wrangler. Depending on if your rig is stock or modified would determine how fast you could cover ground. I would guess the wheelbase (and stock suspension) of a Wrangler would make for a pretty rough 500 miles though. But don't listen to me, I'm the guy who drags his Raptor around on Jeep trails so I am in no position to say a Jeep doesn't belong on "Raptor trails"

If you are seriously considering coming, a high watt VHF radio would be important to keep in contact with the rest of the group in case there becomes a greater separation between trucks.

 

[Jeff Eyer]

I'm interested. Let's do this

 

[Icecobra]

My Jeep Wrangler is mostly stock. It's the 4xe so its electric and turbo 4cyl. Single tank range is about 350 miles. I have the quad band 50 watt vhf radio installed. I programmed several people with Raptors radios for them. Not sure what channel you may want to use weatherman is common. I can run about 90 miles an hour with out too much effort. Do have a 13k winch also in case of emergency. I also have all recovery gear and first aid kit battalion size. I'm hoping I can make this trip...