Thank you for being so respectful to the trail and the signs even the ones knocked down. Glad you asked and were able to take the trail. Hopes everyone watching your videos follows your lead and your advice. You really know your stuff.
Great seeing the Silver Slayer back on the channel. Going back to a trail you haven't run in a while is like meeting up with an old friend for a beer, in some ways it's like there was no time apart.
Thanks Brad, for the feel Good commentary and appreciation you show to the community of Trail Explorers. I will definitely be heading back to this Gem with my crew. ❤
GOOD video,Brad is clearly showing the how to do it safely an reading the terrain as well as respecting trail signs etc. I am slowly working my way through all the videos he has created. I have estimated his age at 45 ,his experience an ability to teach trail travel is top notch.
Yes sir, desert season is definitely upon us. I plan on spending some time this fall and winter in the central Nevada desert. Can't wait! Thank you for sharing another amazing adventure!
Totally agree about using 4L more often. Especially in the JL with the 8 speed - I basically use 4L all the time if I'm wheeling. Auto mode for the easy stuff & manual mode for the fun bits. It's so much nicer to drive
I love these videos. It's a good reminder to go back to the beginning and slow down. Take in the beautiful scenery and don't forget the old days and were you first started getting off road. And I like the way Brad makes his videos. He has a good eye for the right shot, and Brad's stile is unique and I love all his videos.
My favorite trail in SoCal. So fun, awesome camping! Gatekeeper never gets old, the rocks all the way to the back of the valley is super fun. Little tricky in my Tundra, but doable. Elliot’s Mine can get a little nerve recking going around that one Boulder that sticks out the side.
I surveyed the **** out of that area in support of the substation they built. I got to explore a little in my work truck always wanting to go back with my Land Cruiser. Just never got back out there. Thanks for the video.
Perfect timing! I'm here in SD as well and have never been. But that will change in a couple weeks as I'm headed out that way and will be checking it out. Thanks for the preview.
Great video! Watching you over the last view years inspired me to start fixing up our Ole 05 LJ Rubicon to do trail riding/camping during my retirement days. Unfortunately, we have to sell; not able to retire 😢. Fortunately, I still have my F250 SD 4X4. Great video really enjoyed it.
I’ve been smashing through the T/R video after thinking of getting into 4x4 in Australia. Loving this channel. The jeeps. Seeing the country side of the USA 👌🏻 But after watching this video I was like “ wow the camera work is awesome for someone out driving by themself👌🏻”. Keep up the great work Brad
Drove the S2 thru Anza Borrego today. Don't think I've ever seen the desert so green. Shelter Valley to Blair Valley had the desert floor covered in tiny yellow flowers.
Thanks again! This is a gift to us all. Watching this one made me think how cool it would be to ride shotgun with you and learn about your decisions regarding lockers, the sway bar, and the lines you choose -- and how you gauge camber and roll-risk . . .and . . . and . . . and. I wonder if you might ever consider making a slow-motion training video on a trail like this one? Just talking us through all your decisions as if we were sitting next to you.
Thank you Brad your videos are just what I need to make my day and gives me energy to plan our next overland adventure. Love granite rock trails:) You are right on about 4 low on trails and your tire placement on obstacles is right on.
I have seen you develop the JK to be suited to this trail, the ground clearence is such that it looks comfortable and low and slow is the way to feel at one with this great area. Thanks for sharing the trail.
I had a few border patrol agents help me change a tire when driving some trails outside along the border in New Mexico just outside of El Paso. Great guys who, like you said, know their areas like the back of their hands.
Really liked that trail Brad... You can the JK's suspension was really flexing nicely along that trail. It looks like you have set it up just right. Love to see it on Slick Rock trail again some time in the future.
I knew that we’d met at some point but I couldn’t place it. I’d kinda thought it was our Navy service but wasn’t too sure about that. It had to be through one of the SD clubs. I went to a few events and meetings for both SD 4wheelers and Terra Del Sol over the years. I was active in the early 2010s when I was a parts wholesale guy at the old Midway Jeep. Hung out with Dave Chapelle when he still had his shop in ElCajon.
Definitely more rutted than it was in 2015, the last time I was out there. There’s a spot like that cave near Red Rock outside Vegas. It definitely was used as a hideout, they used to rob the coaches going up and over the pass on the Spanish Trail, where the 160 goes over now.
Wish you could have made it back to Idaho this year. Endless trails and very few people. Good video. Magruder is calling for you or check out the many wilderness trails around Stanley Idaho.
Excellent video! You didn’t say what kind of a stove that was with the bottom drawer. Also, very interested in what kind of spice rack that was, I need to get something like that for myself. Love the solo videos you been putting out this week!
thanks for the video Matt I have been going to the valley of the moon since the early 70s when I was a kid. Elliot mine was a tungsten mine during the Korean War, James Elliott discovered it with his nephew Elliot, Stewart Elliot Stewart, is a friend of mine he lives in Jacumba. we have always called a smuggler’s cave if you were to walk east from the entrance of smugglers cave there’s one lone rock that has a hole carved in by nature that you could crawl the opening there’s no bigger than a small manhole cover, but the hole inside of the rock is hollowed out most people don’t know about this. Sam Merten.
Reminds me of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. No wheeling there though but great trails and cross country bushwhacking and peak bagging. Agreed on 4lo. Hard on the transmission in 4hi according to my mechanic when going up steep inclines.
There is such interesting scenery out West. The portable hot water heater seems like a nice gadget to bring out camping. I'm surprised that TV hasn't been cleaned up.
The one advantage a Tacoma has over a Wrangler is the tailgate, great for eating lunch. Beautiful trail. The hill descent advice is excellent. It's one reason I prefer manual transmissions.
Nice tour of that area, funny thing is I grew up in east county San Diego and have been all over the place especially Pine Valley and Campo area but for some reason Jacumba was never a place we explored, generally if we went past Campo we were headed to the Gordon's well, Glamis or Buttercup to ride the 3 wheelers. Pine Creek Rd. is where we spent most of our 4 wheeling time, plenty of mines to explore off that one and in the 70s there was a lot more dirt road/trail access than there is now, last time I was up there some trails were completely destroyed and hiking is the only way into certain places now plus the main road in is now paved.
I absolutely LOVE your channel. To the point that I want to start over landing. In order to do so, I ordered a lift kit from ROUGH COUNTRY. I AM POSTING THIS AS A WARNING TO EVERYONE..... I purchased a 4" lift kit for my 84 Ram Charger. I was told that it would have EVERYTHING that I needed. Well, the front sway bar links, the rear u bolts , and shackles all had to be repurchased due to the lift, being more of a 6" lift. So, it is a bit taller, but my husband is a double amputee, and this causes a problem.... Not including the $248 in parts that I had to purchase afterwards. OK, so I called RC directly and even though he agreed that the wrong parts were in the box, he REFUSED to help in any way! We live on a tight budget, and this f**ked me over , HARD! I just don't want any of you to have to go through the extra money, and crappy service!
Do you share gpx tracks of these types of trails (or do you save them to Gaia with public access?) This looks like something I'd like to try, but would be nice to have the gpx track of someone who's done it recently.
That JK is a beast. I love all your vehicles too. I know me I would have used at least the rear lockers, that's just not enough time out in the rocks to know better. I'm in the East Coast where there is just a lot of mud. Great video, production and music pick. Do you have any opions on Terraflex axles?
Really enjoy watching your videos. I always wonder though, How my two door jeep would do on them? I rarely hear about how a two door jeep versus a four door jeep would compare on these trails. That would be some nice info to have.
I love watching your video's and I save them cuz when I get a truck I want to go to theses trail's but I can't save some of them to my favorites is that you or youtube
Hi Brad, another great solo trip. I noticed your JKU doesnt have the rhino rack backbone system anymore. I fitted one to my JKU following your instructional video. Did you do a video of taking the backbone system out? What did you do with the holes that need to be drilled to originally fit? Great advice on using low range, I'm also a fan of low range when descending steep slopes, saves on brake pads.
Thanks! I sold my hard top with the rack on it a few years ago when I was slimming down and reducing weight on the JK. Have a Rhino Rack on the 392 now.
I’m enjoying these classic trail videos lately. Reminds me a lot of the original Trail Recon videos that I first started watching years ago.
I love these videos too
Thank you for being so respectful to the trail and the signs even the ones knocked down. Glad you asked and were able to take the trail. Hopes everyone watching your videos follows your lead and your advice. You really know your stuff.
getting hard to find people that respect not only laws but simple rules, norms and government policy.
I have noticed more videos like the old days. Good job keeping at it! Love these style of videos. 👍🏻❤️🇺🇸
Thank you!
Great seeing the Silver Slayer back on the channel. Going back to a trail you haven't run in a while is like meeting up with an old friend for a beer, in some ways it's like there was no time apart.
Exactly! I love revisiting trails I haven't been to in a while.. love Valley of the Moon!
@@TrailRecon living over in CO, that's one of the areas I've yet to visit. Have to add it to the Brad list!
Great run! 2 questions: 1. How does the4xe do in 4 low downhill? And 2. Any gouge on whether the 24 Gladiator is dumping the ecodiesel? Thx!
Thanks Brad for a little “vintage TrailRecon” adventure. Loads of fun to watch and you film and present it so well!
Thanks Brad, for the feel Good commentary and appreciation you show to the community of Trail Explorers. I will definitely be heading back to this Gem with my crew. ❤
Nice. I like the old school videos of just you and your Jeep going out!
Thank you for following along!
Great seeing the Silver Slayer back on the channel.
Kudos to the cameraman/ drone operator/ producer/editor. Very enjoyable. Makes one want to get out there.
Great tip on using 4 low. Simple, but very effective. Thanks for the awesome video and scenery.
Thank you!
GOOD video,Brad is clearly showing the how to do it safely an reading the terrain as well as respecting trail signs etc. I am slowly working my way through all the videos he has created. I have estimated his age at 45 ,his experience an ability to teach trail travel is top notch.
Yes sir, desert season is definitely upon us. I plan on spending some time this fall and winter in the central Nevada desert. Can't wait! Thank you for sharing another amazing adventure!
Great video! good to see the JK out there in its natural habitat! 😂👍🏻
Thank you! I was right at home on this trail!
Totally agree about using 4L more often. Especially in the JL with the 8 speed - I basically use 4L all the time if I'm wheeling. Auto mode for the easy stuff & manual mode for the fun bits. It's so much nicer to drive
Appreciate all your work in filming this incredible journeys! Keep 'em coming! ❤👌
I love these videos. It's a good reminder to go back to the beginning and slow down. Take in the beautiful scenery and don't forget the old days and were you first started getting off road. And I like the way Brad makes his videos. He has a good eye for the right shot, and Brad's stile is unique and I love all his videos.
My favorite trail in SoCal. So fun, awesome camping! Gatekeeper never gets old, the rocks all the way to the back of the valley is super fun. Little tricky in my Tundra, but doable. Elliot’s Mine can get a little nerve recking going around that one Boulder that sticks out the side.
Brad, you have built a beautiful and very capable rig with this JK. I personally love it!
-Chris Pannell
Incredible work on a solo trip! Thank you
Kinda nostalgic ... back on Valley of the Moon trail in the JK! Fun video Brad. 😉✌
Thks for the beautiful ride along Brad. Love the way your Jeep is set up. Looks great🤙😎
I surveyed the **** out of that area in support of the substation they built. I got to explore a little in my work truck always wanting to go back with my Land Cruiser. Just never got back out there. Thanks for the video.
Love seeing the JKU back in the action!
Perfect timing! I'm here in SD as well and have never been. But that will change in a couple weeks as I'm headed out that way and will be checking it out. Thanks for the preview.
Hi Brad, your Jeep build is amazing!! Thank you for taking us on this adventure and sharing your knowledge. 😊🚗
Great video! Watching you over the last view years inspired me to start fixing up our Ole 05 LJ Rubicon to do trail riding/camping during my retirement days. Unfortunately, we have to sell; not able to retire 😢. Fortunately, I still have my F250 SD 4X4.
Great video really enjoyed it.
Watching your videos can honestly be therapeutic. Truly enjoy them. Thanks for another great video Brad.
I’ve been smashing through the T/R video after thinking of getting into 4x4 in Australia. Loving this channel. The jeeps. Seeing the country side of the USA 👌🏻
But after watching this video I was like “ wow the camera work is awesome for someone out driving by themself👌🏻”.
Keep up the great work Brad
Another fun video. I like the mix of long, epic adventures and the fun, short trips getting back to your off roading roots. Until the next one. ✌
Very cool....some trails in so cal that you've shared on here I'd like to explore some time, Mahalo
Love the tips and tricks during your narration. Thanks for sharing another great video. 😎✌️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks awesome out there. Thanks for all the amazing videos... you always do a great job!!
Drove the S2 thru Anza Borrego today. Don't think I've ever seen the desert so green. Shelter Valley to Blair Valley had the desert floor covered in tiny yellow flowers.
Even though the rains have done a bit of damage in the desert, it made things much greener!
Awesome as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Thanks again! This is a gift to us all. Watching this one made me think how cool it would be to ride shotgun with you and learn about your decisions regarding lockers, the sway bar, and the lines you choose -- and how you gauge camber and roll-risk . . .and . . . and . . . and. I wonder if you might ever consider making a slow-motion training video on a trail like this one? Just talking us through all your decisions as if we were sitting next to you.
Classic TrailRecon.
Thank you Brad your videos are just what I need to make my day and gives me energy to plan our next overland adventure. Love granite rock trails:) You are right on about 4 low on trails and your tire placement on obstacles is right on.
I have seen you develop the JK to be suited to this trail, the ground clearence is such that it looks comfortable and low and slow is the way to feel at one with this great area. Thanks for sharing the trail.
Did you put a new head unit in this Jeep? Why did you go back to the stock radio?
Wonderful work and professional presentation.
Top notch! .....top notch, indeed!
Love seeing updates on local trails. Lets me know what I'm getting into! Thank you!
Great stuff brad love that area an trail some great trail tips San Diego jeep club is great for people new to off road as always be safe 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you and the SDJC is an awesome community of folks!
Awesome trails. Good to see they are not all closed.
Nope. Still plenty of trails to enjoy.
Great video! Nice to see the JK out
Nice trail run Thanks for the adventure. Until next time... Travel safe.
Thanks 👍
rumor has it, native peoples been using that TV as a landmark for centuries...love that landscape..
I had a few border patrol agents help me change a tire when driving some trails outside along the border in New Mexico just outside of El Paso. Great guys who, like you said, know their areas like the back of their hands.
That was a great video Brad
still one of the best trails in the county. Lots of memories out there for all of us.
It's one of my favorites for sure.
Your videos are keeping me up thru the night , but I don’t mind MANY THANKS 🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇺🇸🇬🇧🇬🇧👏👏👍👍👍
Nice boots Brad! Looks like Merrell sent some early swag your way... Rubicon Moab 3... jelly.
Beautiful aerial shots! I don't enter old mines because that is the recipe for the perfect nightmare.
Nice quick trip!
Really liked that trail Brad... You can the JK's suspension was really flexing nicely along that trail. It looks like you have set it up just right. Love to see it on Slick Rock trail again some time in the future.
I knew that we’d met at some point but I couldn’t place it. I’d kinda thought it was our Navy service but wasn’t too sure about that. It had to be through one of the SD clubs. I went to a few events and meetings for both SD 4wheelers and Terra Del Sol over the years. I was active in the early 2010s when I was a parts wholesale guy at the old Midway Jeep. Hung out with Dave Chapelle when he still had his shop in ElCajon.
Definitely more rutted than it was in 2015, the last time I was out there.
There’s a spot like that cave near Red Rock outside Vegas. It definitely was used as a hideout, they used to rob the coaches going up and over the pass on the Spanish Trail, where the 160 goes over now.
Wish you could have made it back to Idaho this year. Endless trails and very few people. Good video. Magruder is calling for you or check out the many wilderness trails around Stanley Idaho.
Love this video. The views were Amazing
When i went up to Elliots mine the horses were down in the Valley of the moon
Excellent video! You didn’t say what kind of a stove that was with the bottom drawer. Also, very interested in what kind of spice rack that was, I need to get something like that for myself. Love the solo videos you been putting out this week!
I always love your videos. Thank you for being such a great inspiration
Thank you so much!
We saw a small group of wild horses down in the valley while sitting at Elliot Mine having lunch, they’re out there.
thanks,some great intell 👍safe travels
Thanks, you too!
thanks for the video Matt I have been going to the valley of the moon since the early 70s when I was a kid. Elliot mine was a tungsten mine during the Korean War, James Elliott discovered it with his nephew Elliot, Stewart Elliot Stewart, is a friend of mine he lives in Jacumba.
we have always called a smuggler’s cave if you were to walk east from the entrance of smugglers cave there’s one lone rock that has a hole carved in by nature that you could crawl the opening there’s no bigger than a small manhole cover, but the hole inside of the rock is hollowed out most people don’t know about this. Sam Merten.
Reminds me of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. No wheeling there though but great trails and cross country bushwhacking and peak bagging.
Agreed on 4lo. Hard on the transmission in 4hi according to my mechanic when going up steep inclines.
another great advantage from you Brad.
There is such interesting scenery out West. The portable hot water heater seems like a nice gadget to bring out camping. I'm surprised that TV hasn't been cleaned up.
The tv is part of the charm now. Hope it stays around.
New to offroading and love your videos! Where do you get the patches you put up in your jeep?
Good job this is great
The one advantage a Tacoma has over a Wrangler is the tailgate, great for eating lunch. Beautiful trail. The hill descent advice is excellent. It's one reason I prefer manual transmissions.
You are a very brave man doing this alone.
Nice video,like the suspension shots, great trail for testing suspension out…😎
Yes it is!
Nice tour of that area, funny thing is I grew up in east county San Diego and have been all over the place especially Pine Valley and Campo area but for some reason Jacumba was never a place we explored, generally if we went past Campo we were headed to the Gordon's well, Glamis or Buttercup to ride the 3 wheelers.
Pine Creek Rd. is where we spent most of our 4 wheeling time, plenty of mines to explore off that one and in the 70s there was a lot more dirt road/trail access than there is now, last time I was up there some trails were completely destroyed and hiking is the only way into certain places now plus the main road in is now paved.
Lots of great places to explore in this region and Jacumba is just a small piece of it all.
That’s a beautiful vehicle right there!
Thank you!
Great! I need to go back!
You should! I forgot how much fun this trail is.
Great adventures ❤
The beast!
Another great video Brad!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video Brad! I still like your Silver Jeep best!
Master Chief, Looks like a blast! TMCS(DV)
I'll have to watch this one later. I came from Florida to Utah and on Chicken Corners trail. Tomorrow, The White Rim trail.
Terrible cell reception.
I absolutely LOVE your channel. To the point that I want to start over landing. In order to do so, I ordered a lift kit from ROUGH COUNTRY. I AM POSTING THIS AS A WARNING TO EVERYONE..... I purchased a 4" lift kit for my 84 Ram Charger. I was told that it would have EVERYTHING that I needed. Well, the front sway bar links, the rear u bolts , and shackles all had to be repurchased due to the lift, being more of a 6" lift. So, it is a bit taller, but my husband is a double amputee, and this causes a problem.... Not including the $248 in parts that I had to purchase afterwards. OK, so I called RC directly and even though he agreed that the wrong parts were in the box, he REFUSED to help in any way! We live on a tight budget, and this f**ked me over , HARD! I just don't want any of you to have to go through the extra money, and crappy service!
Do you share gpx tracks of these types of trails (or do you save them to Gaia with public access?) This looks like something I'd like to try, but would be nice to have the gpx track of someone who's done it recently.
That JK is a beast. I love all your vehicles too. I know me I would have used at least the rear lockers, that's just not enough time out in the rocks to know better. I'm in the East Coast where there is just a lot of mud. Great video, production and music pick. Do you have any opions on Terraflex axles?
Thank you! I don't have any experience with the Teraflex axles, I can only say these Dynatrac axles have served me very well!
It was great to meet you on the trail, found the drone 😊
Great meting you and glad you were able to find it!
Brad, part of those trails were closed decades ago. Sad to see more is getting closed.
Nice trail ❤❤❤❤
Really enjoy watching your videos. I always wonder though, How my two door jeep would do on them? I rarely hear about how a two door jeep versus a four door jeep would compare on these trails. That would be some nice info to have.
I caught something odd... I thought you had the stinger radio in the JK. Awesome video and scenery by the way.
Bummer! Awesome video brother
Thanks for posting. I’m planning on going here next month. :)
Have fun!
I love watching your video's and I save them cuz when I get a truck I want to go to theses trail's but I can't save some of them to my favorites is that you or youtube
Great video. Good choice in music too.
Can you take us through the navigation setup you have in this jeep? Also, what security measures can you speak of while out there especially alone.
I've talk bout it a few times in previous videos. I'm using Gaia as my main software.
Hi Brad, another great solo trip. I noticed your JKU doesnt have the rhino rack backbone system anymore. I fitted one to my JKU following your instructional video. Did you do a video of taking the backbone system out? What did you do with the holes that need to be drilled to originally fit?
Great advice on using low range, I'm also a fan of low range when descending steep slopes, saves on brake pads.
Thanks! I sold my hard top with the rack on it a few years ago when I was slimming down and reducing weight on the JK. Have a Rhino Rack on the 392 now.
Jk still looking good buddy!
Brad great video. Definitely going to plan a trip there. I have a motor home is there a good place to camp?
Your JK looks brand new...👍
Not up close... it's got some wear and tear on it!
have you been to American Girl road by interstate 8 close to Yuma ? that place is equally nice as Valley of the moon.. try it