Grand Cherokees Flex in Tillamook

By Clay Cissell

     Every new Jeep model is required to run the Rubicon Trail to earn its nameplate.  In 1993 the Grand Cherokee earned its place in the long line of Jeep vehicles.  Even thought most of these technologically advanced sport utility vehicles never even see so much as a logging road the Jeep Grand Cherokee still yearns to flex its trail proven suspension system on something other then a pot hole in a mall parking lot.

      Many consider the Grand Cherokee to be in a class by itself. What sets it apart from its competition is its ability to suit the standard at a five star gala event on Thursday, take the kids to soccer practice on Friday, go out and conquer a most difficult rated trail on Saturday, and then take the family to church on Sunday.  Most other sport utility vehicles would come up short when it came to the trail.  Engineers at Daimler Chrysler set a new standard when they installed a four-coil spring suspension at the corners of the live axles under the Grand Cherokee back in 1993.  Most other manufactures were eliminating the trail-worthy straight axle while Jeep was improving upon its proven success.  This same suspension system was not added to the popular Wrangler model until 1997.

          With the price of early model Grand Cherokees reaching a level that is affordable to a larger consumer base, you will be seeing more and more of these high class 4x4’s on the trail in years to come.  What makes these vehicles so appealing is the ability to take the whole family on the trail with room spare for the gear.  If the trail gets a bit too dusty you can just roll up the standard equipped electric windows and flip on the air conditioner.

      Once a year there is a trail run in the Pacific Northwest that gives the owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees the opportunities to flex their suspensions in a unique setting.  Grand Slam NorthWest is a Grand Cherokee Only three-day trail run on various levels of trails.  For three years now, Grand Cherokee owners from as far away as Arizona have journeyed to the Northwest for the thrill of off camber trails surrounded by towering Douglas Firs.

     One might think that the owners of these rigs, with a base price exceeding twenty five thousand dollars, wouldn’t want to take them on a trail that heavily modified 4x4’s traverse.  You can throw all of your stereotypical opinions out the window when it comes to this group of Jeep owners.  These rigs might fit in at the local mall parking lot but they have also proven themselves as trail worthy rigs.  Grand Slam NorthWest provides a forum for the owners to push not only themselves but also their luxury 4x4 to new levels of articulation.

     Tillamook State Forest provided a perfect fit for this years GSNW event in the Northwest corner of Oregon.  This same trail system is also home of the grueling Team Trophy Challenge where world-class 4x4 rigs compete every May.  One of the big benefits that this trail system provides is its unique layout.  The trails cross over the logging roads frequently.  This allows the drivers to get off the trail for any reason from a mechanical breakdown to a bypass around an obstacle that your rig is not suited to conquer.

     Modified Grand Cherokees were the more prominent participants at this year’s event. Stock rigs are welcome and encouraged to participate on the trail runs.  Tow points, skid plates and rocker protection are highly recommended on any trail run.   New companies are appearing on the scene every year with new suspension lifts and off road accessories for both the ZJ (1993-1998) and the WJ (1999-Current) models of the Grand Cherokee. 

      This group also knows how to bring the amenities with them on a trail run.  For example the portable shower that pumps water from the nearby creek into a heat exchanger mounted under the hood then back to an enclosed shower stall complete with a soap dish and massaging showerhead.  While on the trail hot meals are the standard with entrées like elk meatball sandwiches with spicy Italian seasonings and grated Tillamook cheddar cheese vacuum-sealed in a Foodsaver. Just because you are in the wilderness it doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself.  These rigs are also equipped with the necessities as well.  Things like onboard air compressors, Hi-lift Jacks, shovels, water, blankets, spare parts and lots of tools.   

      Trails like Air Plane Hill, Firebreak 5 and Archers Firebreak were just a few of the trails that this group of adventurers flexed their rigs on over the weekend.  Bent tie rods, blown power steering pumps and broken track bar brackets are not uncommon casualties on these trails.  When something does break there is plenty of experience and spare parts to get you back on the trail or at a minimum get you back to camp.  When a track bar/upper control arm bracket broke off at the axle tube the rig was back on the logging road in short time with a few ratchet straps.  As one driver headed for town to pick up some welding rod the broken rig limped to Lee’s Camp Store.  Hoping that the owners (Cindy and Clint Haugen) would know if one of the locals had a welder, we were pleased to find out that they had a workshop behind the store complete with a wire feed welder. 

    Saturday night was the climax of the event with a banquet back in civilization.  Izzy’s Pizza Restaurant in Hillsboro provided the dining and banquet room for this year’s festivities.  The Blueribbon Coalition was chosen to receive the proceeds of the raffle drawing for lots of great prizes donated by our many sponsors.  Over $400 was raised at this years banquet.

       Each year the level of modifications has raised to a new level.  In 2001 33” tires were considered the big dogs.  In 2002 the standard was increased to 35” tires and long arm suspensions were the kings.  What standard will the 4^th Annual Grand Slam NorthWest set.  We will be there next year to keep you informed.   If you would like to participate in next years Grand Slam NorthWest or other regional Grand Slam events go online to the North American Grand Cherokee Association’s (NAGCA) web site at www.nagca.com or visit www.grandslamtrailevents.com  

See ya on the trail,

The Grand Pooh-Bah

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Revised: 09 Jul 2005 12:17:58 -0500