White Rim Road Trip: 2025 and 2012

[John E Davies]

Taken 13 years apart (in early April) by my wife, the descent to Lathrop Canyon, Canyonlands NP. The RR did just OK, the longer wheelbase was a big liability, even though it has the same size tires as the LX450, which was lifted and fully equipped with overlanding gear. The RR was way more comfortable inside, even though the trail is GREATLY deteriorated since then (lots of erosion, constant lurching through holes and ledges). The LX got 8 mpg, the RR got 11 mpg. I never worried for a second about the LX, the RR threw a “ Pre-Collision Assist Not Available” error message plus a “Service Soon” alert, AND simultaneously a P061B code (which I later cleared using an OBD2 dongle) and went into limp home mode, causing us to abort the two night camping at White Crack. The 2012 trip was a complete circuit, and uneventful.

Moab is full of tour companies, guess which one I would choose?

NavTec Land Cruiser tours

The RR is a great gravel road truck, it just isn’t at home in rocks. I detest the 4Lo shift programming, it is WAY too harsh shifting, and the rpms are way too high in all gears, I do not need to be revving at 3000 rpm constantly on a level track. (I will mention this at my next service.)

I can no longer recommend the White Rim Road, it just beats you up. Every driver I spoke with said the same thing…. The NPS maintains it for the first ten miles, up to Mussleman Arch, after that it is completely neglected. It’s a great big mess.

BTW we attempted this in April 2024 in a Land Cruiser 200, completely stock except for 33” tires and a RTT, that trip got aborted near the same spot because of the excessive roughness and the crappy OEM suspension. We had high hopes for this 2025 trip. We will not be back again.

Two days later in Montezuma Canyon, near Blanding UT, cliff dwellings in the background. 35 miles of poorly maintained gravel and muddy ranch roads, what a hoot! The RR is stellar here.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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[Sizzle Chest]

Looks like an absolute blast! Beautiful country there! Sorry to hear that the trails have degraded so much, as well as the limp mode kick in the nuts. But...still sounds like a great little getaway, thanks for posting, I enjoyed the pics and the read!

 

[pablo94sc]

Shame to hear, but thanks for the Intel.

 

[werkout52]

I'm going to Moab next week with my XLT FX4 2.7. Doing Long Canyon Rd and Arches, and whatever my truck and inexperienced off roading crew can handle.

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