Can it be done? Pritchett Canyon on stock axles and ONE locker!

Moab EJS 2024 Part 3: We dedicated a whole video to Pritchett Canyon because it is THAT good of a trail! We headed out first thing in the morning knowing just how difficult this trail can be. Pritchett Canyon is no joke. It is becoming more difficult each year and is known for breaking parts, roll overs, and pushing rigs beyond their limits! Red Rock 4-Wheelers rate this trail a 9 out of 10 on the difficulty scale and recommend +37 inch tires, winch, and front AND rear lockers. Most of our group DID NOT meet those requirements! Both the XJ and WJ only had a front locker and 35 inch tires. The JL Rubicon only had a functional rear locker! Somehow, with good spotting, the proper line choice, and a little bit of luck we made it through! Follow along as we pick our way through one of the toughest trails in Moab!
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JT Gladiator suspension setup:
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JL Wrangler suspension setup:
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TJ/LJ Wrangler suspension setup:
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XJ Cherokee suspension setup:
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WJ Grand Cherokee suspension setup:
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From Red Rock 4-Wheelers:
Pritchett Canyon is becoming more difficult every year, and is now to the point where the average, well equipped trail rig may have great difficulty in completing the trail. Vehicles with large amounts of lift will find the trail especially harrowing, as the many off camber spots will induce body roll and severely test a driver's nerve. Rollovers and broken parts are very common, and there are no easy bypasses. We have found that the majority of rigs will require a winch or strap on at least a couple of the obstacles.
If you can take your eyes off the obstacles long enough, you'll find a splendidly beautiful narrow canyon. The trail climbs the lower part of the canyon and exits via a side canyon over a divide into the Hunter Canyon system. Depending upon how long it has taken to get to this point, your leader then will chose among several routes to head back to the highway.
Trail Details
Obstacle 1: Just a few hundred yards into the trail there is a ledgy down hill that got so bad Grand County graded it with heavy equipment a few years ago. It is starting to deteriorate again, so care should be taken on the descent.
Obstacle 2: After passing a small mud hole caused by a seasonal spring the trail drops into the drainage. The "Brickyard" is the name of the climb back out. Several options are available, none of which are easy.
Obstacle 3: Chewy Hill is the next challenge. Once a graded dugway, it has eroded to become a major challenge. It is slippery and very off camber, with numerous medium to large ledges that must be driven up.
Obstacle 4: Approaching Rocker Knocker, there is a sizable slickrock area. There is an optional obstacle, to the right called "The Waterfall" that can be tricky if it is wet.
Obstacle 5: Next up is Rocker Knocker. This double ledge requires the perfect line, and a successful climb will usually push a rig to the brink of tipping over. It is next to impossible if wet. Broken parts and tip overs are common here.
Obstacle 6: Next up is an unnamed hill that resembles a 30 foot wide staircase. This series of large ledges claims numerous axle shafts and drive lines, and tip overs are possible. A bypass to the left can be easier, but a large rock that must be driven over can easily create some body damage.
Obstacle 7: Axle Hill waits just a few yards up the trail. This hill starts in the wash bottom and climbs out in two stages. The first part is very slippery, and is the site of many rollovers. The second part is very steep, as well as ledgy and off camber.
Obstacle 8: The famous Rock Pile is next. It is an 8' ledge that at once had rocks stacked 2/3 of the way up. The rocks are all gone now, and the ledge regularly triumphs over some of the best rigs. A bypass we began calling Son of Rock Pile requires constant rock stacking, and even then may require a winch line.
Obstacle 9: the last obstacle is Yellow Hill, where the road reaches for the top on a very uneven and slippery ledge of multi-colored rock. Caution must be exercised here, as a single flop could easily turn into a multiple roll. Once the canyon top is reached, the leader has a few choices. The easiest is a moderate to easy, but very long, road back to US191.

[@atwebb26]

The 3 wheeling XJ at the top of Chewy Hill was awesome! It looked like he was going to roll.

[@IronRockOffRoad]

@atwebb26 It was sketchy watching it happen! Luckily nobody rolled but we got close a couple times!

[@user-ih2ee6gq6w]

He didn't seem to have trouble ,kept his momentum and climbed right along. What size of tire is he running?

[@IronRockOffRoad]

@user-ih2ee6gq6w The blue JL is driven by a very experienced off roader which helped a lot. His JL is running 37" BFG All Terrains but they measure small, closer to a 35" tire. There is a rumor he is upgrading to a bigger tire though.

[@kevinclevenger8741]

I was wondering if the grand Cherokee wj was on a 6inch lift with 35 tires?

[@IronRockOffRoad]

@kevinclevenger8741 Yes, the WJ is on our 6.5" Rock-Link PRO front and rear long arm kit with 35" tires. It has a JK Rubicon front axle with E-locker but still has the original D44A rear axle with the factory limited slip.

[@IronRockOffRoad]

Which is the correct way to say it? Willys or Willys? 😆Bruce Willis or Free Willy?