Chihuahua Gulch Trail in a Stock Jeep - Will this be a Trail Fail?

My name is Dewie and this is my quick video covering Chihuahua Gulch from start to finish. My stock Jeep Wrangler Rubicon had no issues... only used 4low. Didn't need to air down and I kept the sway bar connected. A full trail guide including camping spots as well as other vehicles will be shot later. To see what a full trail guide looks like, check out Slaughterhouse as that's my most recent one. Chihuahua Gulch is off of Peru Creek near Montezuma CO (Near Keystone Co aka Summit County Colorado).
For trail planning, I use the Funtreks Books (amazon search: Funtreks books). I have the current editions of the Colorado books and Moab. I finish up my trail planning with trails offroad as they can sometimes have more detail as well as user submitted current conditions feedback. I’m testing GPS apps and currently don’t use one. Here’s my video that tells you how I do it. • Find off-road trails t...
As always, thanks for watching!! Your feedback helps me, so let me know if you can help me improve these. Share them with your nervous wheeling buddies so they can know that they can do the trail. Subscribe for more trails and off-road Colorado content.

[@lonnieculp]

I dig that drone footage, it gives a better view/perspective of how steep the inclines really are

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks! I’m getting better with it and will be using it a lot in 2023.

[@OXFOOT]

Looks awesome. Made that trail look easy in the stock Jeep. Look forward to more vids.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks buddy! I’ll say I’m a bit worn out after today, but looking forward to going through our footage!

[@zenitram225]

A stock Wrangler, especially a Rubicon, is the most capable off-roader out of the box for a reason!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Absolutely!

[@lastminutetravels3034]

amazing views, love Colorado

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Last Minute Travels thank you! Me too... fantastic state! Thanks for watching!

[@EndersVRcade]

The drone footage was great on this scenic trail!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks buddy and thanks for shooting it with me!

[@Colorado4x4]

Great video Dewie! The footage was impressive. Great job.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Colorado4x4 Thank you!! I hope we can wheel together in the future!

[@Colorado4x4]

Dewie’s Colorado we can make that happen

[@omarbah3380]

Awesome content dewie! Beautiful scenery 👍👍👍 keep up the good work !

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks buddy!

[@JustMe-fs2yh]

Beautiful jeep and awesome scenery

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you or watching! My Jeep is looking a little rough right now, but you’re right, she’s beautiful... but if talking about Alex’s, that’s a good looking Jeep too!

[@jeremyoliver]

Dewie, video idea... I know you have a stock Rubicon, could you do a short video on what kind of protection you have on the bottom of your Jeep, or just what it comes with stock? Also any damage you've taken and things to look out for? I'm always mostly afraid of my differential getting hit, but it seems like your Jeep takes the punishment pretty well. Also, you we're asking for some other suggestions... 1. Could you leave your captions up a little bit longer. I feel like I'm constantly having to pause the video to be able to read all the information on them, but I love the information!. 2. When you are showing the map of the area you were exploring, could you start zoomed out at the state level, then zoom in to the area that you are going to be exploring. It would be more helpful for those of us that are from out of state to know where you're at. 3. Could you do your summary caption (The one where you list the difficulty rating etc) at both the beginning and end of the video? 4. Maybe a video, or a little more explanation on what your thought process is as you are picking the right line. Thanks for all you do!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks for ideas! The JL is completely stock and the JK only required an upgraded rear differential cover as I knocked the stock one up a bit. No real damage tho, just a rear differential leak. If I can get some time, typically the non-trail guides don’t get watched and I have very little free time, but I’ll try to get it filmed eventually. In the meantime, ExtremeTerrain has a write up on the stock skid plate locations and what they suggest upgrading. I haven’t upgraded tho. The liberty will get a minor build (skids, rails, better tires), maybe I’ll discuss it in that video. 1) I think the newer ones have them up longer… I’m trying to find balance between everything. For some the boxes obscure the scenery and they don’t like that, for others, they want it up longer. 2) I’m going to be putting the trail guides in playlists based on locations, and the new ones have how to get there usually. Everyone comes from different locations so I pick a location in google maps as a common point. That way you can put that in your phone and see how long it’d take you to get there from wherever. I’ll try to get more map info in there tho, but these videos keep getting longer and longer and most people told me they want 15 minute videos when I did a poll. 3) The new ones definitely have that as I use the initial overview box to build the review/breakdown box. There’s a lot of info I’m trying to put in these, but my idea is that maybe they’re watched on first viewing to see if it’s a trail they’d like to do. The second viewing would be for trail planning… at least that’s how I would use these. I’m constantly learning and trying to improve these so I’ll re-evaluate before publishing the 2022 guides. 4) Had an idea to show more of that when it’s warranted, but just haven’t filmed that kind of stuff yet. Usually use arrows now and let the footage speak for itself. You’ll learn the lines for your vehicle by wheeling. Thanks again for the feedback and for watching!

[@chrisandscottscoloradoadve4780]

We've done this trail. It's beautiful!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It sure is! One of my favs!

[@jdreaper2176]

Awesome man !! I've been running some trails in this area. This trail looks cool. I'm gonna hit it soon.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

You’ll love it! It’s a great trail!

[@Mike_hocksbig69]

Awesome video and thanks for the shout out!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

B my buddy Brandon! Thanks for those comments. I get we all have bad days so no harm and this was just in fun, but I was surprised by the hate. Hope life finds you doing well!

[@Anthony_Adventures]

Great video. This trail looks so beautiful. You gotta take me there sometime haha.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Definitely buddy! Come with us when we go back... not sure when, but we’ll probably camp and cover those spots as part of the full guide.

[@Anthony_Adventures]

Dewie’s Colorado ya I’d be down. Just hopefully be on my check that I don’t have to pay rent but I’d be down. Kinda looks like I’d struggle a bit with my ranger tho with my small 235 tires haha

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Solo Assassin I think you’ll be fine... I searched hard to find the more “difficult” line. Just used 4low, kept the sway bar connected, and I was aired up... ironclads is tougher than this.

[@Anthony_Adventures]

Dewie’s Colorado oh well I should be fine then I did all of ironclads besides the ledge and didn’t have any problems so. Ya I’d be down for sure to go camp and wheel that area for sure.

[@WorkFromHomeFriday]

I've turned back at the mud pit twice. Once in a stock FJC and once in a stock Taco. Both times I was alone and didn't feel like risking it.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Definitely a smart call! Luckily I had a really good off-road rig in Alex’s Jeep to save me 🤣. The Toyotas would have made easy work of it too since they are also really good off-road rigs!

[@vastcosmos2051]

Nice drone work!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Vast Cosmos thank you! I’m working on it!

[@TomCrosman]

I did it in a stock jk sport.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Nice!

[@slavalatyshov7864]

Another great vid. You should do a meet up. Would be fun to wheel with you on one of these outings.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Yeah! I love wheeling with others! Find me on Facebook as I kinda give a heads up on plans there... Pickle Gulch was a little out of control with how many vehicles we had, but it still worked out! Tincup pass on Sunday with the Cherokees, maybe a Renegade, and if free, could probably get another vehicle shot.

[@ebenezercunningham9073]

On the drone shots: Sometimes I see drone clips in videos that seem to be covering the off road action, but the drone is too far away. Sometimes the drone shots seem to be covering the surrounding views like @ 4:15 , and that is nice, but I personally really liked the angle and distance @ 3:33 for covering driving action. Nice video 👍

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

This is perfect feedback! I want to have the off-road action as close ups and use the drone to reveal the scenery... going to have to play with it a little this weekend. We have a big water crossing tomorrow but I think I can only use the drone for it as there’s no place to get a camera placed. I’ll keep this in mind and thanks for watching and the feedback !

[@jlopes68]

for goodness sake, air down lol save whats left of your poor tires. very beautiful scenery and that drone shot was bomb!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Haha, it was going to be a full trail guide so I’m following Jim Allen’s take on airing down for those... but I’m getting new tires soon anyway. Thanks buddy, I was so happy with that drone shot 😂

[@dalepellerin]

30 years of off-roading Colorado and Utah and I’ve never aired down once. The old timers I wheel with have been doing it for 50+ years and they’ve never aired down once. Not saying there aren’t some advantages in certain situations but I’ve never needed to.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Dale, John and I harass each other about this on messenger… not as much lately because he has realized I’m right 🤣. I’m with you… I haven’t been wheeling as long as you, but I started in the early 2000s. We never stressed about it like modern off-roaders seem to do. I think a couple popular off-road KZbinrs got on an airing down kick and made a bunch of videos about it. It kinda convinced a lot of people that you need to do it. I have always had tire deflators and a compressor, but I still rarely do it. Nothing wrong with airing down, but it’s amazing how many comments I use to get about airing down and that I don’t know what I’m doing. To date, only needed to air down on Wheeler lake and that was likely due to bald tires. Thank you for the back up, but with John, I know it’s all in good fun even though he thinks I don’t wheel hard trails like him 😉😂

[@dalepellerin]

@@coloradomallcrawlers if you can’t rib each other while off-roading, when can you. There’s definitely been loose sandstone rock I’ve gone up that would have been easier aired down. My cousin who works as RSG off-road recently told me, “all the guys there air down so it makes the trail feel less harsh.” I responded, “I’m not out here for it to be less harsh.” :)

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Lol, absolutely! Yeah, I agree it definitely softens the ride, but compared to my TJs, the JK feels like a caddy! I also like that I know if I’m being too hard on the Jeep since I can feel it better with air. I’m pretty sure I was aired down for tincup pass and that was some of my worst off-roading to date. Well, I definitely appreciate the back up, I really did get a ton of negative comments about airing down at first… now people generally let me be tho. Still, even though talking videos aren’t my thing, I’ll probably make a video on airing down and why I don’t do it religiously in the future.

[@theortegas5502]

Hay Chihuahua lol. They lied to you brother 🥊👊🏼💥

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I can’t pronounce much right if it’s about my pronunciation of Chihuahua… I’m dyslexic. Thanks for watching!

[@NotICON]

I was stationed in CO back in 2010, I really miss the are a lot. I'm hoping that I can eventually go back and wheel some of the awesome trails that the state has to offer.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

If you do, hit me up! That’d be fun!

[@willcuthbertson5008]

I’m fairly new to off-roading and was planning a day trip to do one of the trails off Peru Creek. I’ve got a stock 4-runner with oversized tires. Which one of the trails would you recommend for a beginner?

[@willcuthbertson5008]

Was maybe thinking Warden Gulch

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I think you’d be fine on either Warden or Chihuahua. Chihuahua is actually easier now (than this video shows) as the mud pit dried up and the water crossings will be lower. Well unless it has been raining. Good luck! Biggest key, is to not go alone if new, but on the weekends, that area sees a lot of traffic.

[@fishsticks5175]

Does it come stock worth 4. 56? That's cool if does

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

4.10 in Rubicons... with a stock and 32-33s, it works nicely! Thanks for watching!

[@ski4life9]

Is there camping there?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

For sure, Sean and Drew camped there in this video. There’s definitely a few spots here tho. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKPHfZicZplkftk

[@nbernardi402]

Is the one dislike Brandon?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

That made me laugh, but I have no hard feelings towards Brandon. He just gave me an excuse to make this guide a story. However, I can share that one of our serial dislikers is a super fan. I upload randomly and we have someone who has the bell on to just dislike each video once it’s uploaded… I think it’s hilarious. Thanks for watching!

[@samohtw1]

Your Jeep is not stock. It's a Rubicon!!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Why don’t you read the response I already gave you on a previous comment, but again... “A stock car, in the original sense of the term, is an automobile that has not been modified from its original factory configuration.” A rubicon is built in a the Jeep factory alongside other Jeeps on the same line as Sports, Saharas, etc.