Back for another Moab Easter Jeep Safari, Off-Road.com joined the Superlift ~ Dynatrac ~ Superchips 3rd Annual Bunny Run. This year Bret Lovett from Superlift and his friends decided to switch things up by taking us on trail run through Kane Creek Canyon. The trail leaders were Pat Gremillion and Harold Off-Road.
This custom IFS Jeep built by Pat and Max Gremillion is trully one-of-a-kind. Both the front and rear suspension uses AM General Humvee differentials with custom A-arms.
The trail has beautiful red canyons and running spring water carving through the rocks. Kane Creek Canyon is one of the only trails that provides multiple water crossings and terrain ranging from easy dirt roads and mud to rocky vertical slick rock obstacles. Recently the trail was upgraded by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers to a 6 out of 10 because of erosion.
Jeeps started lining up in Moab early Monday morning for our 8 a.m. departure. When we left camp it was 36 degrees Fahrenheit. It definitely feels colder this year, and the LaSal Mountains to the East of Moab have the snow covered peaks to back it up.
Since this was an advance trail, we decided to find a seat in a trail-ready Jeep. We didn't have to go too far to find a highly modified Jeep TJ owned by Mr. Miller out of Ramona, CA. His green Jeep sitting on 40-inch Goodyear MTRs definitely was one of the big boys on this run. By the time we finished our drivers' meeting and set off for the trail head, we had over 30 rigs on this invite-only run. Some night owls missed the morning meeting and departure but later met up with the group. Among them was rock crawling professional driver Joey Archuleta in his rock buggy.
Wayne from Miller Off-Road shows off his new 40-inch Goodyear MTRs and Gen-Right fenders. We took a ride in Wayne's TJ and flawlessly crawled over rocks and through mud. Nothing stopped this V8 beast.
Moab EJS - Bunny Run
The trail started with beautiful reds shining off the high red rock canyons and reflecting into the Colorado River. As we left the paved roads of Moab and headed into the dirt, the smooth 2WD trail made for a nice transition. A few miles in we found a place big enough for our group of 30+ to pull off the road and air-down.
The Superlift Moparized Rubicon Jeep was along for the Bunny Run. It works as good as it looks.
During the air-down we had the opportunity to go up and down the row of Jeeps looking at the different set-ups. We had an early Willys, CJ5, CJ7, Wrangler TJ and JK—and let us not forget the Jeep Rubicon. Although the majority of our group had highly modified rigs ready to take on the hardest trails in Moab, there were a few stock Jeeps there from Jeep itself—all the way from Michigan. Even though the monster rigs give us a grin—seeing a stock Jeep try to take the same lines a Jeep with 40-inch tires and a long-arm kit just took makes for a good time.
It's no fun when a Jeep rolls. This Superlift Rubicon was quickly recovered by the Clemon 4Wheel Center Jeep. Nobody was hurt and the Jeep lived.
Traversing through the brush-lined creek, we came along some of the first obstacles. We were only about an hour into our Bunny Run when someone decided to take a leap. We had a black Jeep Rubicon roll on its side—right into the water. A large rock got it off camber and set it on its side. Thank goodness nobody got hurt.
Some quick thinking from a group of veteran Jeepers quickly assembled a plan for retrieval. Within minutes the swift action of the tenured 4x4 men unspooled their Warn winch, set out some lines and tow straps to turn this fallen Jeep Rubicon back on its feet.
The recovery was orchestrated beautifully. Bret from Superlift hooked on as a second Jeep to pull its friend out of the creek and to dry land. Letting the Jeep sit for a while, a successful engine start with no smoke gave driver and spectators a smile. Even the guys from Jeep corporate were amazed that no oil had filled the cylinders with the roll.
Moab EJS - Bunny Run
After this little episode, the Bunny Run was a brisk hop through the park for the next 5 miles or so. From the sandy floor of the creek we started to ascend into the canyons lining the creek. On our way up we came across our next obstacle that certainly wasn't for the weak of heart. Towering about 400ft above Kane Creek is an uphill road that hugs the canyon very tightly. In order to stay on the trail the driver needs to do the same. Halfway up the hill, we came across a slick-rock obstacle that made even the 40-inch tires with front and rear lockers loose their cool. Barking tires could be heard across the canyon.
The Superlift ORV Park Patrol Jeep was on the trail. No handcuffs or batons were used during this run. We were also spared from Lt. Dangle shorts.
Reaching the summit of the trail, we descended again to the floor of the canyon next to some amazing rock formations and carved canyon walls. The picturesque Kane Creek crossing was yet another photo op for us. We climbed out of Miller Off-Road Products' Jeep and ran next to the creek for some nice shots.
Most opted for the drive-around, but even that had some bumps that would send the rigs in the direction of the 400ft drop down into Kane Creek.
A total of 10 miles off-road and another 15 miles into town rounded up our day. The howling 40's came into Moab and we were ready for a late afternoon snackaroo. It was a good day, nobody got hurt, and only minor damage to rigs.
Even the Kilby desert dog made it out on the Bunny Run.
We want thank Bret and the gang from Superlift, Dynatrac and Superchips for inviting us on their run. “Let's Rock Doc” was the slogan for the day—and the 3rd Annual Bunny Run was nothing short of a rockin' good time!
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