The 53rd Annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari was filled with blue skies, amazing dirt terrain, and a show-packed desert floor full of semis maned by leading off-road parts manufactures from across the U.S.  Held early March at the Truckhaven Hills, in Ocotillow Wells SVRA, this off-road event brings out one of the largest collection of off-road vehicles.

Bill Kassler, President of Tierra Del Sol four-wheel drive club of San Diego, noted that TDS Desert Safari is the “Largest 4-wheel drive event on the West!” For the annual trail ride there was more than 900 registered vehicles ready to tackle the guided trail ride, which offers something for off-raoders of all skill levels. At the show, more than 100 vendors/exhibitors were on display.

Off-Road.com has been attending the event for over 20 years, and it only gets bigger and better every year. If you own a 4x4, Jeep or side-by-side, add TDS Desert Safari to your bucket list.

One of the big changes at this year’s event was no TDS Safety Inspection. The long lines were nowhere to be found, as this was the first year the Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club didn’t require Desert Safari participants to go through a 4x4 vehicle safety inspection before going on runs.  Even though the physical inspection was forgone, TDS still has requirements including a roll bar or metal roof, seat belts, emergency/parking brake, muffler, and a fire extinguisher. Some additional items like a first aid kit, tow strap and spare tire were also recommended. Most participats seemed to be happy with this year’s process since it was far less time consuming.

Believer it or not, Ocotillo Wells SVRA has received some decent rain in the past few weeks.  Desert flowers are in bloom.

The Truckhaven 4x4 Training Facility championed by the Tierra Del Sol 4x4 Club offers 31-acres of off-roading with over 21 obstacles that range from Easy to Black Diamond. The area is located behind TDS Desert Safari center, offering a great spot for watching rigs tackle obstacles. Drivers can hone in on 4x4 skills and learn more about their vehicle in a safe environment. From novice to expert, there’s something here for everyone.

On our way into TDS Desert Safari, we spotted the Jeep Wrangler Unlimted “MOJO” outside of Anza-Borrego. This good looking Jeep is runing 37-inch tires with very little suspension lift (2.5 inches).  The high fender kit helps make the low center of gravity setup possible, all while keeping the ride height and overall geometry at optimal on and off-road performance.  All this can be had through http://www.mopar.com/.

The Tierra Del Sol Four-Wheel Drive Club leads organized runs on both Saturday and Sunday. The Truckhaven hills and surrounding Ocotillo Wells SVRA also keep many busy over the weekend, exploring and climbing trails in this majestic desert playround.

Come out to TDS Desert Safari and you’re sure to run into some interesting off-road rigs, like this equippped full-size 4x4 truck.

From classics to late-model four-wheel drives, the Truckhaven hills are crawling with some of the coolest 4x4s in the West, like this nicely built early Ford Bronco.

The Tierra Del Sol Safari club members plan this big event all year long.  Many of the families, including the Millers (shown above), arrive up to a week early to set up and make sure the trails are well marked and the vendor show area is laid out for everyone to enjoy.  The weekend is also busy with last-minute registrations and raffle ticket purchases. The TDS Desert Safari Raffle is one big piñata, with over $100K in product giveaways. Many lucky winners walk away with tires, suspension parts, axles, bumpers and recovery gear.  This year there was even a Polaris side-by-side up for grabs.

ICON Vehicle Dynamics made a big splash this year with a full display, including the latest suspension systems for Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Cruisers.

Wild Boar Products always brings out some interesting vehicles to TDS, like their six-wheeled Jeep Wrangler. This year they brought out a Bushwagon trailer, ready for adventure (ATV ramps and faux fur sold seperatly).

The Nitto Tire semi (above) made a stop at Tierra Del Sol this year.  A full line of new off-road tires, including the Grappler G2 and Exo Grappler AWT were on display (see related story).

Savvy Off-Road and Currie brought out some Jeeps and crawlers to TDS.  Atendees get to see some of the best built 4x4s and also talk to the manufactures—all in one place!

TDS Desert Safari paid registrations help fight land closures and worthy charities, like this year's selected 4 Wheel 2 Heal. The 4W2H is dedicated to taking wounded and disabled veterans, from all branches of military service, to off-roading events. Learn more at http://www.4w2h.org/.

If you haven’t attended before, start making plans for the 54th Annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari next year. Learn more about TDS at http://www.tds4x4.com/.