If there’s one event that perfectly kicks off the off-road season, it’s the Winter 4×4 Jamboree in Hurricane, Utah. Held at the world-class Sand Hollow State Park, this event brings out the best builds in the country to tackle stunning red rock sandstone, massive sand dunes, and technical rock crawling trails. But the Jamboree isn’t just about having a good time – it has a rich history of giving back. Organized by the Desert Roads and Trails Society (Desert RATS), the Winter 4×4 Jamboree raises crucial funds to support land use initiatives and keep our public trails open for generations to come.
For the Westin Automotive team, this year was hands-down the smoothest setup we’ve ever had. We brought the rigs, we brought the crew, and we brought the heat. Here’s a look back at an epic week in the desert.
Dusting Off the Cobwebs: Top Of The World and Wayne’s World
Upon arriving in Utah, we didn’t waste any time. We immediately met up with our friends from Offroad-n-Chill at Top of the World for a quick photoshoot before heading out to play in the dunes. If you’ve been following our social media, you probably saw the clips of us sending the Westin Bronco a little too hard!
Of course, this isn’t your everyday grocery-getter Bronco. Equipped with long-travel suspension, 40-inch tires, and triple bypass shocks, the rig just soaked up the landing. It was the perfect shakedown run to get ready for the hard trails later in the week.
After Darren Parsons showed up with ‘Goldie,’ we got the vendor area set up. With a little downtime to spare, we decided to hit a quick night run on Wayne’s World. Known for its fun, rolling slickrock and steep ascents, it was the perfect trail to dust off the cobwebs under the desert stars.
Finding The Hard Lines On Ledges
Day one kicked off with a run on the Ledges trail. Ledges is a solid 8/10 trail and is notorious for its steep, sandy climbs and off-camber rock steps that will test your vehicle’s wheelbase and your spotter’s nerves. Darren joined us, along with Marlon and Luna from Offroad-n-Chill.
Marlon knows Sand Hollow like the back of his hand. Whenever we found a hard line and needed an anchor point for a winch boom, he was right there ready to help. Having an experienced crew makes all the difference when you’re pushing your rig to the limit on vertical sandstone.
Redemption On John’s Trail
Later in the week, we tackled John’s Trail. It’s rated 7/10 and touts deep sand and several rocky, off-camber, suspension flexing gulches. Shout out to our amazing trail guides because that was probably the fastest we’ve ever cut through that run! The quick pace meant we had plenty of time to hit some extra credit lines.
The highlight of the day? Watching Oscar conquer a gnarly buggy line that literally cost him his front locker at last year’s event. The trail guide warned him that the line usually requires sticky compound tires. Oscar didn’t care. Running standard DOTs, he walked the rig right up the obstacle, securing his redemption!
The 2nd Annual Double Sammy Bronco-Only Run
Friday was a special day for the Westin team as we hosted the 2nd Annual Double Sammy Bronco’s Only Trail Run. Double Sammy is a legendary Sand Hollow trail packed with tight canyons, massive V-notches, and the famous ‘Drop.’
We started this run last year with 8 Broncos, and we were thrilled to see 15 participants sign up this year! We wanted to offer something specific to the Bronco community because spotting an Independent Front Suspension (IFS) vehicle is a completely different ballgame compared to a solid axle rig. This run gives Bronco owners a safe, supportive environment to learn exactly how to wheel their IFS vehicles in real, technical terrain.
From stock Broncos to fully built rock crawlers, this run was all about community and confidence. We did have one casualty – a rig suffered a broken steering rack on a tight line. But off-roading is about family. Oscar was right there with his recovery rig and a Westin Superwinch to safely extract the vehicle from the trail.
Putting Parts To The Test
This year’s Winter 4×4 Jamboree delivered exactly what it promised: tight lines, real terrain, and an incredible community. For us at Westin Automotive, it’s all about putting our bumpers, rock sliders, and winches to the test where it matters most – out on the trail.
We love sponsoring these trails and giving back to the off-roading community that supports us. We’re already counting down the days and looking forward to Winter 4×4 Jamboree 2027!
