Lex2BMW I'd take my X5 onto Reddington Pass by Saguaro Monument East, but beyond that, ehhhh.

You can search youtube.com for videos of the training you've read about. The stuff they take the X5s on is on the minimal end of what I'd consider off-roading.

Mechanically, I'm sure the X5 can rock crawl just fine. But, given it's cosmetic appendages, I certainly won't take it rock crawling. Fire-roads are and what's involved in the African Trip are the limits, I'd say.

Volvo offers similar training with their X90, or at least they did some years back. It was pretty funny to see an X90 rock crawling, but it too is a fine vehicle from a mechanical standpoint.

Though, anything without a transfer case is pushing it, when it comes to true technical off-roading, of which Tucson is fantastic for!

Get yourself a 2001 Wrangler for $5 or $6k and beat the heck out of it. Tons of trails out by Chiva Falls, Oracle, San Manuel, etc.

There's an awesome 30-mile pass over Madera Canyon into Sonoita, as well. Actually, that's a nice pass for the X5. It's not technical at all, but might have some snow toward the top. I've say that Lemmon got hit pretty hard a few weeks ago...

Incinerator Ridge, just before Palisades Ranger Camp is a nice little 1.25 mile jaunt....

:-)