Vehicle Requirements

Easter Jeep Safari 2022

The Red Rock 4 Wheelers wish to clarify the eligibility of diff ering vehicles for the 2022 events, both Easter Jeep Safari and the Labor Day Event.

These events are off ered for full-size street legal production type four-wheel drive passenger vehicles that feature a transfer case which has a low

range gear in it. Our events are designed around this type vehicle and always have been. Years ago we found out the hard way that allowing vehicles that diff ered from this formula created problems and detracted from the fun for participants.

Our trails also usually end at a diff erent spot than where they began, so street legality is an issue too.

This should not in any way be viewed as a condemnation of sand rails, dune buggies, rock crawlers, motorcycles, ATVs, or UTVs. All represent a legitimate way to have fun off the pavement, and many of our members own them.

But we realize that they travel the trails at a much diff erent pace than the full-sized four wheel vehicles. It is the travel pace that surfaces as the most visual problem; gaps begin forming in the line as the terrain changes and people speed up or slow down to adjust to it. Once the gaps begin to grow, invariably someone misses a turn and part of the group gets lost. This results in a lot of down time while the lost group is searched for and then reunited with the trail group.

Another problem with the disparity of vehicles is the availability of adequate help in the case of a rollover or a serious “stuck”. Winches are marketed for the size vehicle they are expected to be used on, and rated accordingly. A small winch on an ATV just doesn’t have the pulling power and vehicle mass required to assist with the larger stuff .

What can owners of these other vehicles do if they want to attend an event? Joining or forming a club of similar vehicles is a good choice. That’s how we got started!

There are many other ATV and UTV events in Utah, visit www.atvutah.com. The San Juan ATV Safari will be held in Monticello, information is available at www. sanjuansafari. com. (A great calendar of events can be found at pirate4x4.com.) Another problem we frequently encounter is questions about purpose-built rockcrawling rigs. All but a couple of the Jeep Safari trails are no challenge for these purpose-built rigs, so don’t register for them. Since we do encounter them on a couple of trails, we must visit the issue. First, our initial statement stands, the trips are for street legal production type four wheel vehicles. As already mentioned, most of our trails exit at a diff erent point than where they enter, so it becomes diffi cult to get past the street legal aspect. The Utah Highway Patrol enforces the Utah street legality situation pretty strictly, and Jeep Safari time is no exception. Please note that even if you have your vehicle licensed in another state,

UTAH LAWS APPLY IN UTAH.

The safety inspection book is lengthy but pretty straightforward. Windshields, lift height, and fender coverage of the tires are a few of the items of concern, but by no means all.

Red Rock 4-Wheelers didn’t make the laws, and we don’t want to be in the business of enforcing them. We ask that you read the requirements of our events, and comply with them.

If you, as a participant, are stopped on the way to a meeting place or on the way to the trailhead, we are not responsible if you miss the trip, and will not issue a refund for the missed trail.

Since 2013, Tread Lightly! has hosted a total of 11 stewardship projects in Moab during Easter Jeep Safari and other off roading events. These projects have brought in over 200 off road enthusiast volunteers to improve, enhance and clean up over 60 miles of trails in Moab.

It goes without saying that the participants and organizers of Easter Jeep Safari embrace the Tread Lightly! ethic. As you prepare for your next trail ride, let us remind you of the T.R.E.A.D. principles: • Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails and area.

Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. When possible, avoid wet, muddy trails. • Respect the Rights of Others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. • Educate Yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes and know how to operate your equipment safely. • Avoid Sensitive Areas on land such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don’t disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. • Do Your Part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fi re, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas.

Through education, outreach and stewardship, Tread Lightly!, volunteers, and partners in the four-wheeling community are working to protect off road trail access and to ensure that we can continue to enjoy these activities in the future. Want to learn more? Find responsible recreation tips, future projects and more at treadlightly.org/learn.

About Tread Lightly!

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofi t organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs. Tread Lightly!’s educational message, along with its unique training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment. Tread Lightly!’s award-winning materials, programs and services are solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing recreation issues. Individuals and businesses can commit to Tread Lightly! and protect outdoor access by becoming a member at www.treadlightly.org.

Trail Restrictions -Why?

You may wonder why we have special restrictions on some trail rides we off er. The Red Rock 4-Wheelers think long and hard about these before we put these restrictions on any trip. Trail offi cials contribute their ideas, backed up by actual experience with participants on the trails. Changing trail conditions (usually due to weather-related events) warrant new restrictions on familiar trails. Even the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management provide Red Rock 4-Wheelers with some trail restrictions because of their requirements.

Red Rock 4-Wheeler trail offi cials are well aware of the Club’s restrictions on their trips. They are expected to enforce them. Don’t abuse the messenger when he/she asks to check on your equipment. If you are bounced from a trail for inadequate equipment, whose fault is it really? Yours.

Your fi rst reaction to a restriction may understandably be “why can’t I go?” but we hope the next reaction will be “OK, I understand” after a careful review of the whole picture. The Club has to consider the safety and enjoyment of all participants on the trips.

If a trip is constantly delayed at the obstacles by a vehicle that has to try 3, 4, or 5 times (or be towed or winched) at these obstacles, a normal six-hour trip can easily become eight or nine hours. Factor in the increased chance for breakage or accident in these situations and the trip can become a nightmare for all involved. Then what are the offi cials most likely to hear from the ill-equipped vehicle? “Why didn’t you tell me?”

So we are telling you now, before you break something, get hurt, or before you make 20 new enemies on a trip. Look at the restrictions as trail obstacles to be surmounted. Each new item installed on your vehicle is another obstacle to be overcome so that in the end you and others will have an enjoyable trail experience.

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