RESQ1 was our trail rig for the day on Metal Masher.
RESQ1 was our trail rig for the day on Metal Masher.

The Easter Jeep Safari is a pretty unique and very cool event. Although there are informal business meetings at the event in Moab, cards may get swapped over meals or drinks, and much of Jeep aftermarket displays its latest gear at a trade show at the end of the week, but the event is also very much based in a love of off-roading. So pretty much everyone in attendance spends some time on the trail, because ultimately that’s what it’s all about.
We were fortunate enough to enjoy a day of wheelin’ with the Discount Tire crew, as the brand sponsored a trail ride on Metal Masher in the middle of the week. The sizable group gathered early to meet their fellow Jeepers and listen to a short safety intro from our Red Rock 4-Wheelers trail guide. Discount Tire’s Mark MacGuinness also thanked those in attendance, reminding everyone they had water, PB&J sandwiches, drinks, candy and other goodies. After that, we were on our way out of town headed toward Metal Masher.

Every organized run at Easter Jeep Safari features a guide from local off-road club the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, which is great since they have local knowledge of the trails and can offer advice on good lines for some of the obstacles.
Every organized run at Easter Jeep Safari features a guide from local off-road club the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, which is great since they have local knowledge of the trails and can offer advice on good lines for some of the obstacles.
Discount Tire's Jason Clark creeps his JK up the ledge.
Discount Tire’s Jason Clark creeps his JK up the ledge.
Jason Clark's JK is running a Level 8 Bully Pro wheel, which come with rock guards to protect the wheel when on the trail. The rock guards can also be purchased separately at Discount Tire - pretty cool trail protection!
Jason Clark’s JK is running a Level 8 Bully Pro wheel, which come with rock guards to protect the wheel when on the trail. The rock guards can also be purchased separately at Discount Tire – pretty cool trail protection!

We hopped in Discount Tire’s monster JK, the RESQ1, a unique Wrangler Unlimited stretched 22 inches and built for off-road rescue, recovery and serious trail capability. We jumped in with Travis Comfort, Enthusiast Marketing Coordinator, and cruised Metal Masher in style all day.

After working our way through the trail, we took a quick lunch stop at Rock Chucker, as some in the group wanted to tackle multi-level obstacle. The short-wheelbase vehicles had an easier time with it overall, but it was a perfect lunchtime show for the rest of us.

Metal Masher is a great trail in Moab. It offers a variety of different terrain, plenty of challenging sections and a few really difficult obstacles, but there are bypasses as well. MM really highlights some of the best that Moab has to offer.
Metal Masher is a great trail in Moab. It offers a variety of different terrain, plenty of challenging sections and a few really difficult obstacles, but there are bypasses as well. MM really highlights some of the best that Moab has to offer.
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The slick rock sections on Metal Masher offer some challenge but also plenty of traction for climbing.

As we made our way toward the end of the trail, the Discount Tire crew wasn’t quite ready to head back to town, so we ventured down Widow Maker, a brutal near-vertical obstacle claimed its share of victims over the years. Travis took RESQ1 up and over the obstacle in spite of its really long wheelbase, and Mark powered his JK up the ledge as well! Widow Maker is one of those hair-raising obstacles for drivers but also the spectators watching.

We had a large group of roughly 35-40 vehicles, but even with such a large group we didn’t get backed up on the trail. We had a great time with the Discount Tire crew!
We had a large group of roughly 35-40 vehicles, but even with such a large group we didn’t get backed up on the trail. We had a great time with the Discount Tire crew!

 

The XJs in the group really showed everyone how it was done. The short-wheelbase vehicles had much more success getting up Rock Chucker during our ride.
The XJs in the group really showed everyone how it was done. The short-wheelbase vehicles had much more success getting up Rock Chucker during our ride.
Off-road trainer and Off-Road.com contributor Tom Severin rode with us in his well-traveled and well-equipped 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser.
Off-road trainer and Off-Road.com contributor Tom Severin rode with us in his well-traveled and well-equipped 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser.

The trail run was great, and in spite of our large group we didn’t get too bottled up during the day. The Discount Tire crew was awesome, and they really embodied everything in this run that EJS is about – having a good time on the trail with fellow off-roaders. The Discount Tire team may have sponsored for trail, but really they were just there to have a good time. Actually, much of the crew brought out their personal rigs to enjoy the trails – they’re enthusiasts just like us.

We had the chance to get behind the wheel of RESQ1 during our trail ride on Metal Masher and had a blast driving it!
We had the chance to get behind the wheel of RESQ1 during our trail ride on Metal Masher and had a blast driving it!
Metal Masher offers a wide variety of obstacles, with some that favor the shorter wheelbases of CJs, YJs, TJs and XJs, and others that are easier for the longer wheelbase JKs.
Metal Masher offers a wide variety of obstacles, with some that favor the shorter wheelbases of CJs, YJs, TJs and XJs, and others that are easier for the longer wheelbase JKs.

We’re already looking forward to hanging out with the Discount Tire crew in Moab next year at the 50th anniversary of the Easter Jeep Safari.

The final test: Discount Tire's Travis Comfort got RESQ1 up Widow Maker at the end of our run.
The final test: Discount Tire’s Travis Comfort got RESQ1 up Widow Maker at the end of our run.

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