Four Wheeling
 

Hey,

Is anyone here into trail-riding, whether on a 4 wheeler or in a Jeep (or any jeep-like suv)?

Up until a few weeks ago I had a '00 Cherokee Sport (totaled, different thread) which was mostly stock. I always wanted to take is off road and into some mud, but I never could think of any place to take it. I hope to be getting another Cherokee pretty soon, so I was wondering:

How do you find trails that you can just go out and ride on?

Talk to people. Go out to shops that sell 'wheeling accessories and ask them where. I live in Oregon, and I can drive 15 minutes and hit up some crazy trails, so it's not a real problem here, and I heard about most of them from friends or just driving around.

4x4 Trails.net

I have found some great trails through this website. Otherwise, I tag along with friends, and see where they go.

I would definitely suggest buying one of those state topo/road maps for your state. When I get bored, I just have a couple friends come with me, and find some strange tiny road I've never been on before, and go till it becomes too technical, or private property/no trespassing signs start showing up.

go to jeepsunlimited.com and look around their forums. They've always got trail rides being put together.

Go to a large newsstand type bookstore and buy several off-road magazines. I like "JP Magazine", "Four Wheeler" and "OFF ROAD". Besides having articles about places to four-wheel, they have ads in the back for lots of package deals on maps. If you lived out West, you wouldn't have much of a problem finding a place.

By the way, mudding is a special problem for four-wheeling vehicles. They are not set up for it from the factory. If you want your 4X4 to last and insist on mudding, you should research about sealing and venting to a safe place everything that you can like both the front and rear axle. Solid brake disks might need to be replaced with grooved ones for selfcleaning. Special splash shields built for the alternator and starter. The flywheel/clutch housing totally sealed from below, but vented above. The radiator needs to be shielded also to prevent clogging. You might consider placing those little caps on all the zert grease fittings. One last factor to consider..........not all car washes welcome really muddy vehicles. You have to have a good selfwash place in mind before you get muddy.

This is my rig, a geniune 1946 Wilies CJ2A. Except for a small overheating problem, still running perfect after all these years. Still has a little mud from our last expidition trail-riding. You have to go slow, but it will go over anything
http://img5.exs.cx/img5/1091/Williesatnight.jpg
direct link in case img tag doesn't work: http://img5.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img5&i...iesatnight.jpg

awesome rig! how many miles does that thing have?! :)

Do a lot of 4 wheeling here in Louisiana. Have a Yamaha 4wd. Lots of fun. My kids love to get muddy..even mud ski on an old water ski. Real cheap entertainement. not the safest thing around for kids, but I watch 'em and we have fun.

most of the trails i have found near me i have found by just talkin to people i meet, but the best trails i have found were at the different off-road parks i have been to. Just because im excited i also have to tell every one that i flopped my jeep over for the first time today.

ouch maverick?! You and passengers (if any ok), and is the jeep recoverable, or rebuildable?

i was alone when i did it and im ok. As far as the jeep goes, its no worse for the wear since its just a wheeler anyway