Backway To Crown King Trail, Arizona // FJ Cruiser x2

In this adventure Brian and I head up to Crown King Arizona, the backway! This route gives easy options and plenty of options for serious 4x4 action. It's a long trail that anyone should do if they ever have the chance!

[@arizonatrailsadventures8682]

You and your friend helped get me over the last rocks on that hard line at 12:35 in my 2door Rubicon, one week after I bought it... Big thanks to you both! Stay safe out there on the trail.

[@Sonoran125]

What’s up dude! You broke her in the right way 👍🏽👍🏽

[@arizonatrailsadventures8682]

@@Sonoran125 thank you sir! Hit me up if you wanna go explore some trails sometime.

[@offroadhub.official]

It was a fun day! Glad we could help!

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@offroadhub.official cow,,,,another cow,,,same cow.. do those guys in the jeeps know about 12 psi. ??. plus,why spend money on a 2 door jeep. too short.

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@offroadhub.official 18:33,,see those smooth rocks at the gold mine,.?..that was a river bed..gitt yur selph a power tank.. arb comps rubbish,chinese..

[@SunDevilDave]

You put a lot of hard work into these videos. We all really appreciate it. :)

[@offroadhub.official]

Thank you! It's a labor of love!

[@joehardy7984]

I haven’t taken the back way yet. On the list. Crown king is a fun little town. In the spring there’s an annual horse shoe competition and it gets packed. The little bar there is filled with happy trailers. People bring their guitars and it turns into quite the party. Great memories!

[@mikehoffman3690]

Great recap of a great trail.

[@poweredbyrice5708]

Great adventure! So beautiful there.

[@offroadhub.official]

This is a great trail!

[@jbivvy420]

I can't wait to do these trails! I got a 2.0T Rubicon 4-door on 37's and cruise all over the PNW but moving to AZ soon so these should be a blast!

[@rickb5946]

Very cool vid! Well done.

[@frcon200340]

Another awesome video 👌.. keep them coming. (I still think you should've climbed obstacle at 10:21 lol )

[@jeremydean6103]

Looked like a really cool trail. It is nice to see how a mostly stock fj does on some of those obstacles. Especially a manual transmission. Thats what I have for a daily driver. Gives me a better idea of what mine could do. Great video! I also like how your videos are not over produced and filled with flash and useless group bantering. I like that they feel more one on one.

[@offroadhub.official]

Thank you! I really try to accurately depict trails and vehicle performance, so I'm glad that's what you got! I like keeping my videos straightforward to the point. Thanks for watching!

[@phantomwalker8251]

he has 35,s,lockers,& long travel susp..not std..needs a solid front diff. ive seen a lot of fj,s roll,being too short,no susp travel. even over a 1 ft drop. 1 front tire went over,then the rear followed..

[@jeremydean6103]

@@phantomwalker8251 he has a manual transmission, mostly stock cruiser on the trip with him. Im not talking about the off road hub rig.

[@troutriver58]

We wanted to run it last month but got to the area too late in the day. Since we weren’t familiar with the trail and didn’t have a buddy vehicle we went up the ‘front’ way. It was still fun and we loved the little town and saloon! Glad to see the FJ can do it!

[@offroadhub.official]

Crown King is a fun little place!

[@JesusRamirez-ci2le]

Thanks for the video. This is the best footage I have seen for this trail. I’ve been debating doing this trail but my truck is not 4x4. This video gives me a better idea of the trail. Probably going to wait till I can get my 4x4. Thanks again 👍

[@offroadhub.official]

I think 4wd would pretty much be required, yes. Glad you liked the video, thank you!

[@breeze787]

Wow! Your FJ has front and rear lockers? That's why Brian had a tougher time over some of these obstacles as your FJ just cruised over most of the stuff. Thanks for putting this up! Thoroughly enjoyed the trip, wow!

[@offroadhub.official]

Oh yeah the front locker is a game changer. Thanks for watching!

[@NigelNaughton]

holy hell it is amateur hour there!! Looks like a nice trail but all those people would totally ruin it for me. There is nothing worse when you are spotting someone and they completely ignore the instructions..."driver...driver...driver!!!!.. NO? Well F it then!" haha

[@davestevens4263]

Yes it was a good video & thanks for taking me along . I do love my almost stock Tacoma 2009 with just 100,000 miles . The best truck I’ve ever owned. & will ever own !!!!

[@richards6065]

Just found your channel. You have quality narration and videography

[@offroadhub.official]

Thank you!

[@steveg219]

Great video work- thanks

[@tenbear10]

Great video

[@gmsimanson]

Great video!

[@chrisydarg1268]

This trail is notorious for changing from very difficult to being freshly grated, one of the great west side trails. Awesome video!!! I have an announcement: I purchased an FJ cruiser today! 168K miles, auto, super clean, new 35", sliders, bumper and winch. YEA YEA!!

[@offroadhub.official]

Thank you! This trail is great. Congratulations on the new FJ! I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun in it!

[@Michaelscissorhands]

That was fun vid to watch

[@teamfreddy5945]

Great Video!

[@nsarboc]

Cool video, thanks!

[@stevegreen245]

Can't wait. My wife and I are moving to Prescott in January next year from southern California. Cuz California sucks now. We'll be doing that trail. We have a similar trail we do here. It's in Johnson valley where the king of the Hammers is held. It's a 45 mile loop. It's my secret trail. You will not see anybody on it. You're making me want to move sooner.

[@rpmurphey1981]

Lookup smiley rock trail. Thats up there too.

[@takingu2skoo462]

Leave your Californian views there dont bring them with you.

[@stevegreen245]

@@takingu2skoo462 for sure!! We're 62 and very conservative. Big gun rights people. No California liberal crap here. I hear ya brother

[@SquareLyfe]

Man it was painful to watch those jeeps, not gonna lie and then they didn't even stick around to spot you. I apologize on their behalf, not good trail etiquette.

[@highwayman1218]

Yeah, its unfortunate how these folks have gravitated to off road stuff.....

[@tengcha9277]

Ppppppppp

[@riz1a1]

Great video bro

[@philgriswold2133]

Nice trail and nice video. I've been a Jeep guy for years before buying a Toyota pickup and watching those Jeeps was painful.

[@andyschuldt7580]

It’s a great trail. My friends and I do it often. Great job on the obstacles! FJ is a good truck.

[@PeteHemdem]

Fun! Looks steep.

[@offroadhub.official]

Definitely some steep spots! It's a super fun trail!

[@PeteHemdem]

@@offroadhub.official Popular too! If I get there, I'll ago midweek.

[@highwayman1218]

Cool video, looks like a good trip! 👍 Haha, Stevie Wonder in the black JK..... Did that guy play the shots game for how many rocks can you run into? Great vid, sorry you ran into the car guys lost off road in Jeeps.... Lockers..... For sure, picking the right line for your rig also..... Those guys should have been left over the rock pile from the get go on that waterfall in those Jeeps.

[@takingu2skoo462]

Awesome great arizona video. That darn mine keeps getting bigger hate that darn pile of boulders it will one day block the path

[@offroadhub.official]

From what I've heard, the trail is always changing in the area around the mine. I hope the amount of traffic this trail gets would be enough to prevent it from ever being closed!!

[@Derekforeal]

I got stuck on the hardest obstacle about 20 years ago. Was driving a full size blazer with like 31" AT tires. Had to get pulled out.

[@watchchannel8201]

Fun fact, the road never used to be so bad where the mine is until they started ops recently. The water flow exposed the boulders

[@Gowherejeepsgo]

Hey bud you got a really nice fj, even b4 the 1 ton sas you did, which fyi pats on the back for getting her done in your garage that takes some serious b@lls/time/$. I've been watching back way to crown king vids cause I plan on trying it on my f150. Wish you the best on your wheelin adventures

[@offroadhub.official]

Thanks! Have fun on Crown King, it's really a good one!

[@bkerber100]

This 3rd section is real interesting when the water is deep.

[@offroadhub.official]

I can imagine! I'll have to try it in the spring. I assume that's when there is the most water. Correct?

[@cw50must]

Man I haven't been on this trail in years I need to go again.

[@offroadhub.official]

It's a good one. Totally worth it!

[@MrGunnerru]

That body damage is like awesome looking battle scars on a man.

[@Mike-01234]

Month ago wife and I went up this one while it was snowing. Took me 4 days get most of the mud off then another 2 days clean the driveway off. Was cool to see the snow falling in the desert. Little slippery as we went up the switch backs past Ora Bella mine. Up higher about 7 years ago guy and his wife went for a night drive down the trail drove off the road fell 500 feet both killed. No one really knows what happened they were driving an older 80's jeep if I remember. I think they got going little too fast on washboard road slid off a 180 turn easier to do then most think.

[@offroadhub.official]

Well I hope you had a good time despite the mud!

[@chrisanddeinnasadventures7857]

Wow, those guys in the jeeps need to learn how to pick a line!

[@inthewoods6111]

Another good video. Thanks.

[@offroadhub.official]

Thanks for watching!

[@topro941]

That guy covered up the bypass road with his mine. You didn't have to go through that creek bed of boulders before. What was with the guy that kept running his front diff into that boulder lol

[@offroadhub.official]

Interesting about the mine. Sometimes you just can't see what's going on, happens to everyone eventually. 😄 Thanks for watching!

[@krashnpa]

Was just looking up this trail the other day! Read a lot about the mines and history of the area, that was cool. Accidentally found the Backway to Crown King murders, which was kind of a downer but interesting. For the trails you do, it would be good to show the maps of them? That's always helpful.

[@offroadhub.official]

I show maps sometimes, but it's hard for a map in a video to be useful as a map for somebody else. I always say where the trail is and try to describe the location. I'm not into keeping trails a secret, but there's only so much I can do.

[@krashnpa]

@@offroadhub.official Gotcha man - I was thinking more from a production standpoint to give kind of a context of the area/surroundings, but not trying to make what you do harder. I really appreciate these videos and the work you put into them. I know there are couple of apps, google earth, etc. that let you do 3D flyovers. Again, thanks for doing these videos.

[@offroadhub.official]

@@krashnpa I'll look into Google Earth. I'm always trying to improve my content. Thank you!

[@9greatdanes981]

I did this trail twice alone at night forward and back. Wondered what it looks like in the daylight.

[@rconabudget7530]

Another Monday! thanks for the consistency! Gonna give the crown king trail a try. I just lifted my Montero sport. Don't have lockers but do have great low gearing 4:9. Think a Montero will get through?

[@offroadhub.official]

Oh yeah you'll get through fine! There's only one waterfall that is not optional that might be a challenge, but not impossible. Have fun!!

[@sonoranrocktrucks4172]

Let me know when you go.. I’d love to run it again 👍🏽

[@DR1665]

I did it years ago in a Gen 1 Montero on 31s. It looks a bit rougher in this video, but I'm thinking you could do it. Look up the Monteros USA group on FB and find some of the locals. We're huge out here.

[@offroadhub.official]

@@DR1665 you could still do it on 31's. There are bypasses for all but one difficult spot.

[@eimkeith]

quick questions: what do you use for an in-vehicle camera (mount) that stays horizontal while the FJ is pitching around? And what is your headlight setup (which retrofit components)? Love your videos, thanks.

[@offroadhub.official]

Hey thanks for watching! I have a magnetic mount that I stick to the outside of the vehicle, I don't have an inside mount. The shots appear really stable because of the GoPro 8's really nice stabilization. The camera is on a rigid mount. My headlights are made by a company that is local to me, called Nomad Retrofits. They have a website by the same name.

[@jeremyhayes1242]

Cool trail. It's too bad you didnt do Charouleau Gap in Tucson.

[@offroadhub.official]

I didn't want to do that one alone. It looks pretty long and intense...

[@GoodsDell7]

4 wheeling without lockers is no 4 wheeling. Thanks for the show. Happy Trails.

[@offroadhub.official]

That's true... With no lockers the best you can hope for is 2wd. 😆

[@xl6589]

Once again, awesome video! What model drone do you have and do you have both front and rear locker on that fj?

[@offroadhub.official]

Thank you! I use a Mavic Air 2, and yes, front and rear locker. Rear is factory, front is ARB.

[@xl6589]

@@offroadhub.official thanks you! Hope to run into you out on the trail one of these days

[@rondre3]

Another good video, nice to see the FJ taking the hard lines. I have a question about the air locker. Have you had any issues with it since installing? (breakages, etc.) If you could do it all over again would you go with the air locker? I have an appointment to get regeared (4.88) at the end of this month and I am thinking about also adding in the air locker while they have the front open.

[@offroadhub.official]

I would install an air locker again in a heartbeat! No problems! The air line down to the front differential is in a really safe place, and our ifs front differentials are stationary, very low risk. Thanks for watching!

[@frcon200340]

I agree 👍 4.88's with air locker was my best mod yet.. I would say 2nd best mod, rear long travel

[@zealousoutdoors]

I see the Idaho plates so I'm not sure if you're in AZ a lot. Rug road from Mammoth to Klondyke is pretty fun. I want to say it was about 26 miles and took us 7 hours at night. There wasn't anyone else on the trail the whole time. ADOT website had it listed as one of the worst roads in AZ.

[@offroadhub.official]

I'm not in Arizona very often, but I'll look into it for next time!

[@zealousoutdoors]

After looking at videos of your recent mods to the FJ I don't think it would give you any problems! Awesome rig you've built.

[@CalebErosa]

@24:40, not sure if the trail has changed but I did it for the first time April 2022 and there’s a bypass on the left side of this obstacle

[@DUNEATV]

Great Video! My 2dr JL Rubicon will walk through it...

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

I gotta take my LR disco2 there! One mistake I've noticed people make when they have the traction control that I have or that Toyota has and some Jeeps is when it starts to slip they let off right away instead of letting it do its job

[@offroadhub.official]

Yeah go check it out, very fun!

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

@@offroadhub.official for sure!!!

[@joebarron396]

Last time I was there these two guys had brand new xr 650s had to retrieve one oof the cliff.

[@offroadhub.official]

Yikes!

[@bkerber100]

Remember our history. Gold, Whisky, and hookers. This is a great trail for a day of fun, go prepared!

[@coopergroupsuccessproperty3531]

Great video. I know how much work this was. DId you hit Cleator on the front way?

[@offroadhub.official]

Thanks for watching! We went through Cleator but didn't really stop.

[@stevegreen245]

So Ken, how long would you say crown king trail takes? I'm going to Prescott at the end of June. I'd like to do it. We will be on our own too.

[@offroadhub.official]

Depending on how many obstacles you take, how much sightseeing you do, 3-6 hours I think. It's pretty awesome! Have fun!

[@jrcook927]

What camera do you use for the over-hood shots?

[@offroadhub.official]

The only camera I use is a GoPro Hero 8.

[@rpmurphey1981]

Great video. I love that trail but on the weekends it's way too busy. You should come back in a month or 2 and try it again. The trail changes all the time at the mine. It looks a lot more tame now than a year ago.

[@offroadhub.official]

With washes and a mine I can see how things could change fairly regularly!

[@pixbyeli]

Where does this trail start? Thanks

[@joeglennaz]

Hello from Phoenix Arizona. Really cool video. I’ve never been up to crown king. Can you take crown king can you get up there? Say something something like a Hyundai Tucson or Hyundai Santa Fe? I’m talking about the main road. Also, I hope you guys have, personal locator beacon. If you don’t get one, I recommend they bring a DCR. And not a satellite communicator too very different things. If you can have both great but if you only have one get a ACR personal locator beacon. It’s got 5 W of power it’ll get out of a canyon or snow covered canopy, where the others don’t. Do some research and you’ll see what I mean.

[@offroadhub.official]

You can drive any car to Crown King on the main road. Thanks for the info on safety devices!

[@bencross323]

It would be great to be able to see exactly which trails you're taking in your videos, for those that want to visit. Do you use a particular site or app to scout your routes that maybe you could link to in each video? I live in Phoenix and just got myself a capable rig and definitely want to get out to this one.

[@Cstepp]

This trail is on Gaia and many websites that you can download the trail from

[@offroadhub.official]

I name all the trails I do, this one is "Backway to Crown King" for instance. I use Gaia, Trailsoffroad.com, OnX Offroad and Google Maps to get around. Trailsoffroad has gpx files you can download and view in Gaia, very handy! There are so many trails in your area! Have fun out there!

[@rfrazier113]

What is the set up of the 07 Black Cherry FJ that is with you?

[@Sonoran125]

Ome medium springs front and back.. bilstein 5100 front /back

[@SunDevilDave]

Backway? Interesting.

[@offroadhub.official]

Yes, backway! There is an easier road to get there, which I guess you could call the frontway... Thanks for watching!

[@SunDevilDave]

@@offroadhub.official I believe from Crown King there is 'backway' to Prescott or Prescott Valley

[@rpmurphey1981]

The back way to Prescott is a paved road coming in from Kirkland Az. Fun on a bike. Then from Crown King you can take Old Senator Highway to Prescott. The whole Bradshaw Mountain range is fantastic.

[@coachbiggsremedy9634]

Great video. No disrespect but I was more impressed with the TJ stock height and open diffs making it the same obstacle as built rig. I personally rather have more of a challenge then just rolling over obstacles like speed bumps. just me brother

[@offroadhub.official]

I wasn't even "built" yet. 😉

[@zoeyharvey3475]

What offset are on the white fj rims?

[@offroadhub.official]

Those are -25 offset, 8x16, 35x12.5 tires.

[@at20rule]

After living in Colorado for 20 years most of us never really understood the "jeep drivers are dolts" thing but after living here in Arizona for a couple years HOLY F**K they cannot drive nor do they listen lol.

[@acepoolcare]

How long ago was this? There have been reports of the latest Mine lease holders blocking this road...

[@offroadhub.official]

This was a few days after Thanksgiving.

[@acepoolcare]

@@offroadhub.official so not blocked off or listed as private property? I called the authorities up there, right around then sounds like they assisted. Fantastic.

[@offroadhub.official]

@@acepoolcare yeah it wasn't blocked when we went through. There were signs telling people to stay out of the mine site, but that's it.

[@yotagang3705]

My biggest fear is always flipping my truck over

[@offroadhub.official]

That is the worst case scenario!! That's the one type of body damage I absolutely do not want...

[@numetheus]

Jesus. The problem with 4Runners is the suspension. Every time we wheel with them they can’t keep 4 wheels on the ground. They lift a wheel in the air frequently like a dog bat drank pee juice. That’s the fun part though. You learn your ride you make it work.

[@offroadhub.official]

That lifted IFS doesn't have any down travel... 😉

[@numetheus]

@@offroadhub.official not as much maybe. But IFS and solid axles are two different beasts. IFS will never do crawling like solid axles. But you can tear up the desert though. Lol

[@DH-gp3gp]

That jeep at 11:03 does not like to listen.

[@blake3376]

man I want lockers on my xterra

[@offroadhub.official]

Game changers!

[@blake3376]

@@offroadhub.official you think welding my rear diff would help xD I know it isn’t exactly good for daily driving but I’m on a budget

[@ryanl5208]

Did nobody else hear that 😳 🤨 15:13 🚶‍♂️💨

[@offroadhub.official]

What did you hear? 🤔😄

[@g8rayrr]

I'm going this Sunday jan 17th who's in????

[@offroadhub.official]

I would... but I'm not near by anymore. Have fun!!

[@vorhese]

New development feels like the beginning of the end. Also SXSs are a scourge that need to die.

[@offroadhub.official]

Losing areas to development is always sad.

[@isaacrodriguez2523]

When's the next time you run this trail? I wanna take my f.j up.

[@offroadhub.official]

Maybe in October.

[@piter6929]

that was close !

[@offroadhub.official]

I don't think there was too much danger, but it sure was fun!

[@dad3562]

Think I can make it in a Jeep TJ with a 2 inch lift and 31’s? Babysat by my wife in her stock 4 door Rubicon that is… ????

[@offroadhub.official]

Yes that'll make it for sure. There's only one non optional difficult spot, a small waterfall. Have fun!

[@dad3562]

@@offroadhub.official sweet thank you!

[@justinbgraf7565]

I have taken the Prescott to Crown King off road way twice in a Honda civic.

[@offroadhub.official]

There are ways to get to CK in a Civic! Definitely not on the route we took.

[@Eric_Tennant]

@@offroadhub.official Going to try it on a MTB.

[@shawnnelson3802]

Great video I would hit the like button but it will make me number 666 likes lol

[@offroadhub.official]

It's 666 now! Please go make it 667! 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@bradclem6226]

Looks like to many people to me.☹️ FJ’s rule.👍

[@offroadhub.official]

This is definitely a popular route! This was also a holiday weekend, so it's probably not so bad the majority of the time.

[@kota7824]

I see a Seahawks fan in this video! #GoHawks!

[@bquade70]

Got to hit me up if you get out this way and hit some local trails... @gmail. Are you camping through out all these trips? Lake Havasu-☀️ AZ

[@offroadhub.official]

Yes. I usually camp on BLM or forest service land in my truck camper. I'll make it known next time I'm down there!

[@bquade70]

@@offroadhub.official I do the same. Great free camping everywhere! Just gotta know.

[@davidbeezley6161]

Too crowded

[@offroadhub.official]

It was pretty crowded that day!

[@johnt6673]

Some of these jeep owners are just idiots. They do not listen, think they are inviceable. Jeeps are very capable, but have limits. Some drivers are new to offroading also. Some jeeps are modded and still have issues...

[@davestevens4263]

At first I wasn’t sure if you had lockers , because Toyotas do dam good almost stock . Serious trails locked up is a must . I’m liking that town, 100 people, fuck yah , I’m sick of over populated ca . Even here in the desert.