I chronicled my first trip to Moab here:

https://www.rzrforums.net/threads/1-326-miles-to-moab.571236/#replies

Stock tires are fine unless you’re wanting to get into the most gnarly stuff. There are some stellar views if you’re willing to scrape up your skid plate a bit.

This book was a valuable tool for planning, and at times navigation. There’s so much to explore outside of the main trails.

Guide to Moab UT Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails - FunTreks

moab, easter jeep safari, hells revenge, golden spike, golden rim, top of the world, offroading, jeep trails, trail maps, trail info, gps

funtreks.com

 

Air down your tires to a safe pressure for traction, wear your seal belt, roll overs can can happen at any time on slick rock. Take plenty of water and snacks on rides and sunscreen a 5 mile trail can take much longer then expected in moab and enjoy the country its beautiful there.

 

Prepare for the worse, water, blankets, food ect. Plenty of water. Unbelievable how dehydrated you get. Also get the book listed above. Great stuff. Metal Masher was a favorite.

 

All good advice above ^^^ Start with Fins & Things, close to town and fairly easy, it will give you some good practice for the other more difficult trails.

 

Chicken Corners is one of my fav's, Monitor Merrimac trail, Newspaper Rock is another, and as has already been mentioned, take LOTS of water, I just got back from a Sand Hollow trip , temps 107ish, in 6 hours of solid crawling, I drank 8 24oz of water, and 6 poweraide electrolyte replacement drink and was still on the dehydrated side..

My riding partners felt the same, Another thing, those thin nylon sunshirts so popular with fishermen, a must have as sunscreen will quickly become abrasive sunscreen. The ones I have are made with thin hoods which are nice, especially if you don't have a roof..

Highly recommend a set of these if you don't have a flip up windshield, it gets hot fast

USA Wind Wings

Set of TwoDeflects and reduce the dust and/or cold windEasy Installation, hardware included

sxswindshields.com

Have fun, and be ready to start riding at 0500, cause when noon rolls around, it's just too hot..

 

You should also have a winch. Stay on the popular trails, any hard spots will have an anchor on top.
Buy this book, many stores in town will have it. A great guide for beginners.

 

When are you planning to go? It is pretty hot out there this time of year. You can do a lot with stock tires out there. They call the petrified sand dunes "slick rock" but that's only because it is slick for horses with steel horse shoes. It is very grippy for rubber tires, you will be amazed at what your machine will climb. Fins & Things, Merrimac and Monitor, Chicken Corners, Metal Masher are all good intermediate trails to start out on. If you don't have a good aftermarket skid plate, and a winch, I'd add those items before you go. I can set you up with either or both. If your machine just has seat belts, I'd upgrade to harnesses and make you keep them on and properly adjusted at all times on the trails and on the pavement out there. Also, if you can get your machine plated/street legal, I highly recommend that. It is so much nicer to drive to the trail heads out there rather than trailering.

If you don't have a radio, I've been programming dual band UV-5R radios and sell them. It's nothing like a full comm system but if you end up in a group with radios, you'll be glad you have it.

 

Another thing I always recommend especially when riding in an area where you may not be familiar. Have everyone (drivers, co-drivers, passengers, etc) down load an app called What3Words. It's one thing to be able to call for help it's even better to tell people where you are. Also if the cell phone coverage is spotty think about getting a personal locator beacon. I have a Garmin Montana which has InReach which allows two way communication.

 

Along those lines, has anyone successfully sent a text message with starlink from their T-mobile phone? I switched to T-mobile a while back and now when I am out of cell coverage, I have a satellite icon on my iphone. I tried to send a text once but it never went through. I haven't tired since but it was one of the reasons I switched to T-mobile as I thought it would be nice to be able to do that in an emergency situation.