XPLORE Makes The JK Unlimited Live Up To Its Name

by Harry Wagner

It takes a sense of adventure to introduce a new Jeep to thousands of grizzled off-roaders in Moab, Utah, but that is exactly what XPLORE by Venchurs did with their new Adventure Series Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.  In fact, adventure is what this Jeep is all about.  Shortly after completing the first Stage IV Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Venchurs CEO Jeff Wyatt, Venchurs Director of Operations Kevin Fry, and XPLORE Program Director Ron Flint jumped in the Katzkin leather seats and drove over 700 miles straight to Moab.  How is that for a sense of adventure?

The timing could not be more appropriate, as Moab was not only playing host to the annual Easter Jeep Safari, but it was also National Parks Week, when all 58 national parks are free to the public.  The remaining 51 weeks of the year you will need to purchase a park pass, unless you own a Stage 2, Stage 3, and built-to-order Stage 4 XPLORE vehicle.  These Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds and Toyota FJ Cruisers are available at select dealerships and come with a free, one-year annual pass to all national parks and other federal public lands, a one-year subscription to XPLORE Adventure Journal; a high quality quarterly publication featuring breathtaking destinations, fun things to do and interesting people.  A portion of the proceeds from each XPLORE vehicle sold are even donated to the National Park Foundation to help preserve these amazing places.

Speaking of amazing places to go, Moab is in close proximity to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, and at the first opportunity Jeff, Kevin, and Ron headed through the entry gates at Arches.  They barely made it to the Visitor Center before a crowd of both seasoned Jeepers and curious onlookers crowded around the XPLORE Wrangler Unlimited to admire the unique dark green matte paint and the host of ARB and Mopar components.  Inside the Visitor Center, Park Director Karen Schlom gave us some background on Arches National Park.  Over one million visitors came to Arches last year, but few of them venture off the pavement.  While Schlom did not have time to join us in her own Jeep Grand Cherokee, she did point us towards the Salt Valley Trail on the west end of the park. 

Schlom advised us to stay on existing routes and explained the distinction between “4WD routes” and “off-roading”.  “Going off existing trails is frowned upon in national parks regardless if you are in a vehicle, on horseback, on a bike, or on foot.  This is done in order to preserve the natural beauty of the area for future visitors.”  There is no shortage of natural beauty at Arches, and our stops were Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, and Delicate Arch.  We encountered crowds of park visitors in recreational vehicles and passenger cars at these popular locations, all fighting for the few paved parking spots. 

A sense of relief came over us when we finally left the pavement and started down the Salt Creek Trail.  While the route wasn’t paved, it was not overly difficult.  After the first seven miles on the Salt Creek Trail, we wondered if Karen Schlom had underestimated of capabilities of the XPLORE Wrangler.  It wasn’t until the map made a perceptible change from a solid line to a dashed line for the last 11 miles of the trail that the supple Old Man Emu suspension, rugged BFGoodrich KM2 tires, and robust Method Race wheels had to earn their keep.  Opening up the power uncorked by the free flowing Mopar intake and throaty Mopar exhaust delivered us to hidden gems like Tower Arch and Eye of the Whale Arch that few park visitors ever witness.

We completed our trip without needing to employee the Warn winch or IPF auxiliary lights on the front of the ARB Bull Bar, but the sense of comfort that these and the other XPLORE additions provide gave us the confidence to explore off the beaten path.  The XPLORE Adventure Series Wrangler completed the rugged trail unscathed and we never had to open the billet hood latches, which is fortunate since it will be auctioned off to one lucky explorer this fall, with the profits benefiting the National Park Foundation. (For more information on the auction please visit www.xplorevehicles.com). 

You don’t need 4WD to visit national parks, but it makes the experience infinitely more enjoyable.  And isn’t communing with nature and departing from civilization the motivation for visiting these magnificent parks in the first place?   That is all made possible when the XPLORE Wrangler leaves the pavement and crowds behind. 

Check out the full story and photos in Volume 14 Issue 1