Off Roading

[marcspaz]

 

I have to cancel my trip California.  I was looking forward to doing some wheeling on the Rubicon Trail and (possibly) wheeling with @OffRoaderX in Southern California... but 2 years in a row, my job has taken priority. I did get out and play on some East Coast trails last weekend. Of course, GMRS was our primary comms method, which was a great asset as always. 

 

I'm going to put a full-length video together soon, but wanted to share a teaser video with my radio-dork friends who are also my offroad-dork friends. LoL

Mine is the white Gladiator. Can't wait to share the full video.

 

 

 

[gortex2]

Assume you mean AOAA in PA ? We will be there this weekend for Jeep Jamboree. Got home from Uhwarrie last night and had enough time to pressue wash semi clean to head north Wednesday night. 

 

[marcspaz]

1 minute ago, gortex2 said:

Assume you mean AOAA in PA ? We will be there this weekend for Jeep Jamboree. Got home from Uhwarrie last night and had enough time to pressue wash semi clean to head north Wednesday night. 

 

 

Yes, Sir. We went there specifically to run Bee Line.  It was a great trip.  We will be back on August 9 for a club trip.  I am heading back to Uwharrie in October.  I am going to try to hit Good Evening Ranch soon, too.

[WSIC904]

Installed a Midland MXT105B with a MXTA26 Antenna using a Midland Magnetic Base NMO Mount.  

[marcspaz]

@WSIC904  Is that a TJ or a JK?  Your thumbnail looks like a TJ.

[WSIC904]

Hi marcspaz.  Its a '06 LJ Rubicon

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, WSIC904 said:

Its a '06 LJ Rubicon

The NotARubicon approves!

[marcspaz]

13 hours ago, WSIC904 said:

Hi marcspaz.  Its a '06 LJ Rubicon

Nice! I bought a '97 tj in November. Its going through factory rehab right now. Going to be all original. 

[WSIC904]

Cool!  Post some photos when its done.

[gortex2]

On 7/28/2025 at 6:31 AM, marcspaz said:

 

Yes, Sir. We went there specifically to run Bee Line.  It was a great trip.  We will be back on August 9 for a club trip.  I am heading back to Uwharrie in October.  I am going to try to hit Good Evening Ranch soon, too.

Cool. Looking forward to getting the wheels dirty in PA. First week of October is Uhwarrie JJ so will be there for that one as well. We have busy summer with events. SMJI is in August so will be there, then October have 3 JJUSA trips planned and Windrock for hopefully November.

[WSIC904]

We were in silty mud this past June.

[WSHH887]

Really, is anything after a CJ really a Jeep?

[OffRoaderX]

13 minutes ago, WSHH887 said:

Really, is anything after a CJ really a Jeep?

Yes.. LJ... 

[WSIC904]

At the last weekend's Two Rivers Off Road Club's 4x4 Blast, the Club made it official, they are moving from CB to GMRS.  All of us on Saturday's run used GMRS and were impressed by the transmission clarity.  There was a mix of HT's and mobiles.

[mb523]

3 hours ago, WSIC904 said:

At the last weekend's Two Rivers Off Road Club's 4x4 Blast, the Club made it official, they are moving from CB to GMRS.  All of us on Saturday's run used GMRS and were impressed by the transmission clarity.  There was a mix of HT's and mobiles.

Nicely done - a huge improvement in group run communications! I helped our club migrate to GMRS a couple years ago and it was very well received. It is now a requirement for all club sanctioned events. We've got a thread detailing the change and the pros of GMRS, along with a rundown of our favorite and suggested gear to get folks started.

I joke the radio is so you can hear good dad jokes on a long trip but we do a lot of training and guiding, so it really aids with instruction, direction, and safety. I can also run a separate channel on dual watch with the group and my tailgunner so we can talk logistics if need be.

[H8SPVMT]

Virginia 4 Wheel Drive Assoc. (VA4WDA) held their Oak RIdge Off Road event this past weekend. Think we had a full crowd of 200 vehicles over the Friday and Saturday.  

We have been a "CB" user group from 2000 on and this years event was mainly done with GMRS for comms.  Some still used CB's but I think there was enough handheld GMRS units to cover those that are resisting the swap.

I missed the Saturday ride due to a faulty tie rod & stabilizer that I repaired.  Sitting back at home now I realized, I should have left the radio on (scan) while doing the repairs  and could have at least (maybe) listened in on the various conversations while working on the front end.

 

[gortex2]

Completely missed that on the calendar.SFWDA Dixie Run is this weekend at Windrock and hope to be there, then head to Uhwarrie for UhwarrieJJ next weekend. 

[H8SPVMT]

2 hours ago, gortex2 said:

Completely missed that on the calendar.SFWDA Dixie Run is this weekend at Windrock and hope to be there, then head to Uhwarrie for UhwarrieJJ next weekend. 

Is that event actually held in the forest or on private grounds?  Never been to one tho I use to get up there in park quite often.

 

I did a SFWDA Dixie Run many years ago at Windrock and had a ball! Lot's of good people there!

[Destro]

14 hours ago, H8SPVMT said:

Virginia 4 Wheel Drive Assoc. (VA4WDA) held their Oak RIdge Off Road event this past weekend. Think we had a full crowd of 200 vehicles over the Friday and Saturday.  

We have been a "CB" user group from 2000 on and this years event was mainly done with GMRS for comms.  Some still used CB's but I think there was enough handheld GMRS units to cover those that are resisting the swap.

I missed the Saturday ride due to a faulty tie rod & stabilizer that I repaired.  Sitting back at home now I realized, I should have left the radio on (scan) while doing the repairs  and could have at least (maybe) listened in on the various conversations while working on the front end.

 

Man, I was a member of that group way back in the day. I still have a few T shirts from it. I left VA back on 2009.

[gortex2]

I've not been to Oak Ridge yet but was told it was private property. 

Dixie is at Windrock again this year. Trailfest in spring was at Colamont OHV Park. Think its moving to central TN next year.

Uhwarrie is a mix of public (Forest) and private locations, which I like. 

Looks like it may be wet this weekend but at least my softop doesn't leak on the new JK yet...

 

[Northcutt114]

30 minutes ago, gortex2 said:

Looks like it may be wet this weekend but at least my softop doesn't leak on the new JK yet...

I just took the soft top off my JK and buttoned her up for the Fall/Winter with the hard top. I always hate that day. But, it's the cleanest day of my Jeep's life.

[WSHH887]

You know, I have been to a few large events but they are just not my cup of tea. Mostly, I like to wander the SoCal deserts. I no longer seek out the hardest trails. I don't need to prove either my vehicle or self. I prefer to go alone. 
 

I have had folks tell me "that's dangerous, what if something happens?".  Well then I either get out of it by myself or I am SOL. 
 

I have been off-roading since the 70's. To date I haven't found anything That determination, ingenuity and time can't solve. The right tools make a huge difference. 
 

If ask what the most valuable extraction tool is, most will say a winch, maybe a high lift. But really it's your brain. And if you don't have the mechanical skills and experience to fix what breaks you shouldn't be out there. Now you can't always fix it on the trail, maybe you need to wait until you are home. But you should be able to do it. 
 

 

[Davichko5650]

3 minutes ago, WSHH887 said:

 I prefer to go alone. 
 

I have had folks tell me "that's dangerous, what if something happens?".  Well then I either get out of it by myself or I am SOL. 
 

 

I also have no trepidation in soloing off road. Like you I'm into moderate trails as I use my (not a Jeep) Daily Driver.  And agree that a winch is essential. Tree savers, ropes, etc. to go with it also a must. Haven't had much success with recovery boards other than crossing leads on ice covered trail in late winter, but have them with just in case.

Just not into those nose to tail 30-40 or more vehicle runs. Too slow for my taste. SPend more time waiting to get moving on the trails than moving in my experience. 10 or so is more doable, but I'll fly solo more often than not if I can.

Cell phone, Garmin In Reach, GMRS and Amateur radios also just in case.

[gortex2]

Great weekend in Uhwarrie. Wife wheeled most of the event but I got some wheel itme on Wednesday and Thursday before the event. Need to pressure wash, nut, bolt fluid check this weekend then off to Cumberlands JJ the following weekend. Also won the free Jamboree this weekend for next year so probably do 5 of them. 

[H8SPVMT]

17 minutes ago, gortex2 said:

... Also won the free Jamboree this weekend for next year so probably do 5 of them. 

That's wonderful!  Had that happen to us as well a couple years ago!