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The Pilaf Tank
'89 Jeep Cherokee Laredo
Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly!
is a nonprofit organization that encourages people
to "practice low impact outdoor recreation." People who use
recreational vehicles in a manner that is destructive to the
environment contribute to road closures and unneeded friction
with other outdoor groups. You can help protect the environment
through organizations like the
Sierra Club, and if you
take your vehicle off-highway, consider joining Tread
Lightly!
TREAD:
Travel only on designated routes.
Respect the rights of others.
Educate yourself.
Avoid sensitive areas.
Drive and travel responsibly.
Trips and Photos
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Old Nicaraguan Jeep
Nicaragua
Isla de Ometepe in the Largo de Nicaragua is a volcanic island encircled
with a dusty, bumpy dirt road. It takes its toll on the few vechicles
there, but this Jeep is still a good workhorse.
Photo: Old Jeep... maybe a CJ-3B, which were built from 1953
until 1964... based on the windshield, probably closer to a 1953.
)
Golden Age Hill and Fairview Peak (FS 2025)
Colorado
Just outside of Boulder up Lefthand Canyon is a Jeep trail leading
up to Golden Age Hill and Fairview Peak. The views east over
the plains and west to Indian Peaks are a fantastic reward for
climing the tough Jeep trails.
Photo: Bruce's very cool 1960 CJ-3B Willys Jeep on the
return trip
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Hagerman Pass (FS 105)
Colorado
If you are traveling to Aspen and want an alternative to Independence
Pass, try driving over Hagerman Pass. The mild Jeep trail going over
this pass asends to 11,960 feet and offers great views of the
surrounding valleys and the north side of Mt. Massive, the second
highest peak in Colorado.
Photo: Top of Hagerman Pass
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Arches National Park
Utah
There are only two roads that access the impressive Klondike Bluffs
area of Arches National Park. One is the washboarded Salt Valley
Road and the other is a Jeep trail. The Jeep trail is not extremely
difficult, but there are some interesting slick rock and sand
challenges. They say the sand is impassable going in the uphill
direction once the summer sun bakes the moisture out of it.
Photo: On the way back from the Klondike Bluffs
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Bill Johnson's Gold Mine (FS 509)
Colorado
The short Jeep trail passing Johnson's gold mine cuts across from
Left Hand Canyon to James Canyon. There are a couple challenging
sections, and luckily we were following a Ford truck with a winch. After
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he winched his vehicle up one section, he pulled us up, too. He
mentioned that his shorter wheelbase CJ got up it before without
a problem. On the way back we got a little lost, and the Pilaf
Tank fell half way into an abandoned mine shaft! Once again the Ford pulled
us out.
First Photo: The Pilaf Tank needs some claws
Second Photo: It got up that, but about three meters later it got
severely high centered
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Pearl Pass (FS 738)
Colorado
The road over Pearl Pass climbs up to 12,705 ft. and connects Aspen with
Crested Butte. We caught up to a 4x4 club on the trail and spent more
than an
hour getting everyone's vehicles over one tricky spot. A Bronco II and
a Pathfinder both had to be winched up the section. I confess it took me
two tries. It is kind of fun traveling in a group.
Photo: A cow on the Crested Butte side of Pearl Pass thought the
Pilaf Tank might be tasty
Montezuma's Mine (FS 102)
Colorado
If you follow Castle Creek south from Aspen, you eventually get to
FS 102 which goes to Montezuma's Mine and continues up to Montezuma
Basin at 12,200 ft. From there we followed the foot trail to the
top of Castle Peak, one of the 54 Colorado fourteeners. Great
views!
Mosquito Pass and Birdseye Gulch
Colorado
This classic Jeep trail over Mosquito Pass (13,188 ft) is the highest
through road in North America. The trail is not difficult, but travel is
slow due to a very bumpy ride over jagged rocks. I started at Leadville
and drove up over the pass. However, I encountered a large snow drift
on the other side of the pass and had to turn back. On the way back I
found a Jeep trail that forked to the right into Birdseye Gulch. Parts
of that trail were considerably more difficult, and at one point my Jeep
slipped off some wet rocks and hit a tree (only minor damage).
Rainbow Lakes (FS 505)
Colorado
The regular road to the Rainbow Lakes entrance of Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area was closed for construction, so we took the
FS 505 Jeep trail from the town of Caribou. The river crossing
was a bit harry, but having the Rainbow Lakes all to ourselves was
well worth it!
The Machinery
The Pilaf Tank is stock, including factory skid plates, rear Trac-Lock limited slip, and trail suspension package. A stock Jeep is amazingly capable.
Specifications
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