Colorado ZR2 & Jeep Wrangler on Manix Wash, Mojave River, Afton Canyon, Megaphone - Mojave CA 4k UHD

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Enjoyable off-road trip in the Mojave Desert. We took our 4x4's (Jeep Wrangler and Chevy Colorado ZR2) through Manix Wash, Mojave River Wash, Afton Canyon, and down to the Desert Megaphone. The water was running in Afton which the water crossings were very deep. Roughly 3 1/2 feet deep which was near our vehicles limits. This area is an amazing overland area making for great dispersed camping, and top notch exploring. There was also some train spotting but it wasn't recorded. So the next time you are near Barstow California or Calico or even Baker, turn off and explore some of the back country of the Mojave Desert.
This trip report was filled entirely in 4k UHD
Get the trail details and download a GPS route today at:
TrailsOffroad.com

[@gregsall5872]

Love seeing Chevy bring some heat into the offroad game!

[@Trailsoffroad]

It is one clean truck...

[@johnathoncastro]

@@Trailsoffroad how has the zr2 held up? Im thinking of buying the v6 version for the florida swamps lol. Ive always had toyota trucks and jeeps. This will be my 1st chevy.

[@Trailsoffroad]

@@johnathoncastro Still driving and wheeling it... Held up good.

[@Squishysforbreakfast]

Damn that's some deep water for those rigs. But it's nice to see the ZR2 out there doing what it was made to do.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Couldn't agree with you more.

[@calid5933]

It's like a love story between two vehicles.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Has that feeling to it...

[@emunoz587]

Always enjoy watching GM GM’s truck... already and impressive amount of off-roading done by this single rig.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Couldn't agree more

[@cliffordbennett4863]

What makes this such a great video is the use of cameras. Great camera placement, drone shots, action shots like when the truck approaches and runs over the camera, and then departs. The drone following the truck through the water, and then the shots of the truck exiting the water by a camera on the ground. Both interior shots as well as outside handheld shots. Also, Acton Canyon is a popular place to go with water crossings, sandy areas, and the high canyon walls. Great video, thanks.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you, we are always looking for unique ways to improve our videos for the views... Please feel free to share ideas anytime.

[@gfinnstrom]

well you did it great video and music

[@bowtiebonanza]

Nice video. Nice shots, not too long. Pleasant to watch. I'm impressed that the ZR2 driver was willing to drive in that deep of water...wouldn't catch me in there!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you... He is willing to push that truck and use it what they way they said it could be used.

[@Joshyutah]

Very cool... It is great to see so much water flowing in Afton. Brings back old memories of when we used to float down the canyon in inner tubes.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yes, it was really nice to see. Been a while.

[@WorkFromHomeFriday]

It's just so amazing how far technology has come. 30 years ago, Warren Miller would have killed for a film of this quality. Now, you can do it for less than a grand! Great work, guys!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you Trint99.... And yes, it is amazing that you can have a little handheld camera that is shock proof and water resistant and film in 4k.

[@luckyc3920]

This is a great way to show a video of 4 by 4 with a drone showing the Jeep and the Toyota. You guys have just won me over. Great job.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you, Lucky C! If you go 4x4 often, and make your own videos, post them in the "Trip Report" section at the bottom of each trail guide page. We enjoy watching videos produced by people who use the trail guides! Who knows, we might use your video or trail photo as a Facebook post to feature the trail!

[@BS-ev2eo]

Awesome! We are headed there this weekend. Hope my ZR2 on 31's makes it across...

[@Trailsoffroad]

The truck in the video was on 32's if that helps you at all. Also, the was deepest on the downstream side (Away from the train tracks)

[@tracybarker7746]

wow, quite possibly the best Trails Offroad video yet! And with over 1,000 trail videos published that's saying a lot! Really gorgeous country and great camera work!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you Tracy... We have many great videos and trail reviews. Please take a look at everything we have to share and tell us what your favorite trail is.

[@paulairola7041]

Drove here in 2017 via I-40 going north from Lodlow springs I think . went to Beacon Strip .saw a few cabins , and megaphone . Did not climb up to old . From here drove up to R-R tracks then west to Afton canyon ,was a long day as we drove from Brenda ,AZ in 2003 Nissan Xterra 4x4

[@Trailsoffroad]

Sounds like a good trip, please post up some pictures and videos on our website under the trails you did.

[@dennisclark3303]

Awesome Vid! The area, the quality, the off-camera shots and the drone!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you Dennis

[@chrism7631]

Best off road zr2 video yet

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you for watching

[@RobDTom]

Some of that drone footage is amazing!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you, we are learning.

[@anthonycoffey4699]

Beautiful landscape, wish I had a place to drive like that.

[@GIJose-mw9zy]

Great video. Keep’em coming! Gives me ideas of where I can take my ZR2.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Glad you liked it. You can find many more trails like this and near you at www.trailsoffroad.com

[@brandoncomer6492]

awesome to see the ZR2 can handle water that deep. I''d still never try it myself.

[@Trailsoffroad]

It was deeper than expected... But still a lot of fun.

[@dannybel]

Great stuff. Very calming yet intense

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you for watching

[@nlesiak3]

"when your the best of friends...ha-ving so much fun to-ge-ther..." (fox and the hound)

[@OshiesWorld01]

That looks like a blast! I need to get out and do more adventures like this in my ZR2! Gonna have to look up how far this is from me!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Oshies World, check out our website. www.trailsoffroad.com . We have many great trails all over the U.S. These trails, in particular, is in the Mojave Desert almost exactly half way between L.A. and Vegas off the 15 Freeway.

[@OshiesWorld01]

trailsoffroad.com Awesome thanks. We live in SoCal so I might have to add this the list of trips to make. Relatively new to the area and brand new to off roading so figuring out the many trails avaialbe is daunting.

[@Trailsoffroad]

make sure you sign up to our Facebook page and also sign up to our meetup page for events and trail runs here in SoCal. www.meetup.com/trailsoffroad-com-Crew-and-Fan-Meetup-So-Cal-Chapter/

[@OshiesWorld01]

trailsoffroad.com awesome, off to do that now. Thanks!

[@tronaboron2064]

Oshies World never to far for the adventous ones!🏜️🌎✌️

[@Trailsoffroad]

Great trip, had a lot of fun. I was surprised by how deep the water was at the Mojave River crossing in Afton Canyon.

[@dmagargle]

trailsoffroad.com it's almost always the same depth... One of my favorite parts!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yes, it usually is. The water didn't look like it would be any deeper than normal. But it was by roughly a foot deeper then average. It was suppressing as I watched the 33"s go completely under water and then watch the water start creeping over the fenders on a TJ Wrangler with a 4 inch lift and 33"s . At one point it was about turn around depth but we were so close to the other side we choose to keep going. The water filled inside the jeep about 4-6 inches. The Colorado ZR2 has waterlines at roughly halfway up the door and we believe was actually floating to an extent.

[@dmagargle]

Yikes... I have an Xterra on 33's and 2" lift... I usually hug the one side so I'm not in the thick of it... Not nearly as fun though, lol

[@thaguvofftheedge5107]

trailsoffroad.com I tried to sign up on your web site but it kept freezing

[@Trailsoffroad]

The downstream side was much deeper than the rest of the crossing.

[@justin_daniels]

That looks like a great trip. Nice video also!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you Justin

[@rocnktm]

Excellent video! Drone footage was awesome!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you for watching

[@RVHabit]

Awesome trails. Water just a little to deep for me. Great video.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yes, that was the deepest we have ever seen this water at which we still crossed it. Normally it is at the rocker panel on the Jeep. This time it was halfway up the door.

[@SnowroxKT]

Great video guys.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you

[@providentpp3750]

Cool video and interesting views of the area.

[@Trailsoffroad]

That part of the Mojave really is something amazing... It is always a ton of fun to go wheel there.

[@jlopes68]

fun stuff, that water can be stanky some years, especially in the slow moving sections. nice shots. thx for sharing.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you

[@rixiv7868]

Damn I’ve never seen that much water in Afton before. I go on a ride every year from Lake Isabella to Laughlin, Nevada and part of the ride goes through Afton like you guys did. It’s a bitch going through that water on a dirt bike but if it was that deep then we’d have to hop onto the rail road to get past it.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yeah, this is the deepest I have seen the water without the water rushing through the canyon.

[@BigFrogs4x4]

That's deeper than I am ready to take mine through. Really it's the wife's truck.

[@Trailsoffroad]

We were starting to think that ourselves, even though we have crossed this river dozens of times.

[@timothypalmer763]

Great Video

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you

[@daveninjaneuro7089]

excellent. thanks!

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

Great Video!, Damn, now I'm jealous :)

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you. We are out exploring every weekend. Make sure you comment on our Facebook posts and get on meetup to join us on our next adventures.

[@garyjonson1872]

nice drone work!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you, still a new toy and need a lot more practice.

[@lundysgarage]

that was fun

[@Trailsoffroad]

great trail isn't it?

[@jimlong4259]

That's a lot of water for the Mojave!

[@Trailsoffroad]

We agree, with how dry it has been so far this year, we were not expecting that deep of a crossing.

[@clintperry8223]

Jeep to the rescue.

[@tylerd947]

awesome video

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you for watching

[@zztop5911]

Badass!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you

[@rruggeri]

Great shots and camera work. Just too much water for my taste 😁

[@Trailsoffroad]

I can understand... It was a bit deeper than I traditionally would go for.

[@nuclearlemon]

nice!

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you

[@joehall7770]

No water leaks inside ZR2 threw that much water? Nice

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yes, the truck was watertight... But the Jeep had the drain plugs out so it filled in pretty high. The water line was halfway up the door on the wrangler and ZR2

[@rueben44]

Thanks for asking that is what I have been wanting to know.

[@SkodzGaming]

nice place

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you,

[@dongreens9093]

It’s so bad ass in those areas! Anyone think a Subaru Forester can make it thru the water ?

[@sunnydlight2375]

Beautiful truck. I heard though there's a high rate of lemons and seals blowing. Not sure I'd wanna be on a trail w one if that's the case!

[@tjsgarage11]

Killer Video. Never been a chevy fan but those Colorados are awesome. How deep was that water? And what size tires are on the TJ?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you TJ... The water was about 3 1/2 feet deep in the deepest spot. The tires are 33" on the TJ with an older 4" Pro Comp lift.

[@mikemissouri5152]

Wow! That was some deep water. Did any water get in the ZR2? Great video.

[@gm4x4]

No. I think it actually floated a little.

[@aarondavis5000]

I have a feeling the zr2 engine was trashed after this. I forded mine through fsr shallower water, sucked muddy water into the intake (which is inside the right front fender well) and trashed my engine. Cost w installation: $9500. So to my fellow or aspiring zr2 owners, dont do this without a snorkel intake or you might pay dearly! #truestoryfolks

[@Trailsoffroad]

No problems for us after the trip. The truck is still running strong. But we were worried about that.

[@KAREKINFPV]

Good video! I’m not very impressed with the ZR2 though. Maybe for desert running but not for super tough stuff.

[@Trailsoffroad]

The Jeep and the ZR2 are two different types of off-road vehicles. In this case, it did great.

[@luckyc3920]

Sorry I meant Chevy

[@Steven.z8]

What is the maximum amount of water that the ZR2 can go through, I have been trying to get that information for quite awhile now.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Check the owners manual. The water was about 6 inches up on the doors.

[@Xerroh]

Is there a way to go across without having to go through that deep section of water?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Yes there is, head over to our website www.trailsoffroad.com and go to the map page, you can track out a path from there. But, there is no way around going through Afton.

[@NuvolariF1]

Excellent video. You should consider making trailsoffroad a club. Where are you based at? I'm here in Cali. Thank you.

[@Trailsoffroad]

NuvolariF1, we have several different social media on which we post events and runs. We are on Facebook and also Meetup. I would get on there and follow us. Our next planned event will be TDS which you are welcome to join us on the trail.

[@NuvolariF1]

trailsoffroad.com Thanks for the informations. I will check all your social media.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Great, here is our meetup page if you are on meetup. www.meetup.com/trailsoffroad-com-Crew-and-Fan-Meetup-So-Cal-Chapter/

[@TheCordova1014]

chevy colorado alternator did u install a different one or was the oem

[@Trailsoffroad]

OEM

[@gfinnstrom]

on this zr2 which engine did you have in which would you recommend and why

[@Trailsoffroad]

You can find more details about this writer on our website at, www.trailsoffroad.com/users/802

[@pra3t0rian]

What’s the structure at 2:30?

[@Trailsoffroad]

That object goes by several names, including Desert Megaphone, Megaphone of the Desert, and Mojave Megaphone. No one knows who built it or when it was placed there. We just know it is there now and it has been there for some time. You can find more information about where this item is at the link below. You can access it from Afton as long as you stay on the west side of the tracks at the end of the canyon. www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2186-bl9470-hidden-valley-wash

[@georges4562]

So no water got into the cab of the Colorado ?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Stayed dry... But it did seem like the truck was floating.

[@daveninjaneuro7089]

How much did you air down for this (psi)?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Depends on tire size vs rim size vs expected speed you will be traveling. 10 - 20 psi is a safe range for most offroad. But there is times where this rule doesn't apply.

[@georges4562]

Did the Z R2 take on any water ?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Stayed dry inside...

[@davidmay456]

Great Video! What is the metal megaphone on the top of the mountain?

[@Trailsoffroad]

Thank you, David, So the Metal Megaphone is Mojave secret. Meaning, no one knows who put it there nor how long it has been there. What we do know is it has several different names includes Desert Megaphone and Mojave Megaphone. If you are interested in seeing it, you can get to it from several ways including Afton canyon and BL9470. www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2186-bl9470-hidden-valley-wash

[@doomer2011]

Do you think a lifted 2wd on 33s can drive over that depth of water?

[@Trailsoffroad]

depends on the lift... The water was deep. Just pay attention to where your intake is at and the depth to that level.

[@slinkyjett]

i go out with a burro

[@SuperSolo67]

Holy shit, the ZR2 looked seconds from disaster in that high water crossing. The intake is lower grill. Hmm I will need to look I luv my ZR2 just wish Chevrolet employees did. Missing screws, loose drain plug, bed not straight etc. MAGA

[@Trailsoffroad]

Hahahaha, it was deep. Thank you for watching

[@mega-hb4re]

Trucks are great but not so much for off roading in comparison with a jeep but great video.

[@Trailsoffroad]

Both have their places... But the truck does pretty well off-road.

[@daveninjaneuro7089]

zr2 did the rubicon trail stock; it's pretty amazing

[@americanmade9002]

Mid sized trucks are too high in cost

[@Trailsoffroad]

Just mid-sized trucks?