Beginner off-road course?

QCB_Preacher

New Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Location
Charlotte, NC
I have owned 4x4s before, but used them for the beach, for a few trails & muddy fields when I had to get somewhere. I have never gone off-road just to go off-road, if that makes sense.

I just bought a Jeep and was wondering if there were places where a newbie to the sport could go and learn, try things out etc.

I am in Charlotte and I see that Uhwarrie is not far away... are there beginner trails there for stock vehicles?

I was even thinking about going and seeing if the Land Rover people would let me drive my Jeep on their demo track :fuck-you:
 
If you get a map when you get your trail pass they list the difficulty but I still wouldnt recommend going alone. When it starts getting closer to opening time im sure you'll have no problem finding some people to ride with. The land rover folks probably dont want you showing them up in your stock jeep.
 
One of two things are going to happen when you go to URE for the first time.


1. You will fall in love with going off road and taking your jeep down trails that you can't really walk on. You will spend lots of money to make your jeep awesome.

2. You will hate going off road and taking your jeep down trails that you can't really walk on. You'll wind up getting a little bit of body damage that you just can stand that your insurance won't cover and you'll spend a bunch of money getting fixed back to new.

But for most of us here it is #1. If you have a ton of extra money laying around that you want to spend. Then get ready once you find out how exhilarating going crawling is you will be hooked. I know I was. This is no poor man's activity.

There will be plenty of people going to URE the first weekend and even after that. It should be very easy to find some good folks that are like minded and want to tackle the same trails that you want to tackle with that brand new jeep.
 
I'm going to disagree w/ BigBody just a little.
Yes, thsi can be addictive and can be expensive, and for many people is, but dosn't have to be. I have had several friends who own Jeeps and were happy w/ them being stoock, took them off road 1-2 times a year and were perfectly happy w/ that.
IMO everybody needs a hobby. For most folks on thsi board, thsi is it. However for some guys, other things aret he primary hobby and "playing" w/ the Jeep is just extra time killing (like a 3rd-4th tier hobby.

Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events section here, come April there will be many groups going. Find a group and tag along, they will show you the ropes.
 
Thanks for the tips, folks.

Unless I really get the bug, this will be a third or fourth tier hobby for me. My motorcycle is still first, Photography second, Vette third.... the Jeep, if it is as much fun as I think it will be, will be fighting for fourth with my guns... LOL

The problem is that I have too many expensive hobbies already and not enough money to support them all :(
 
didnt PJ from M&M fabrication mention that they do a driver training thing using landcruisers?

whats his board name?

im sure there is a bunch of guys on here that would let you tag along and show you a few tips.

I dont want to volunteer him for anything, but if JC ever posts up that he is going to URE try to go then. he's is a great spotter and very knowledgable.
 
QCB_Preacher said:
I was even thinking about going and seeing if the Land Rover people would let me drive my Jeep on their demo track :fuck-you:
Click to expand...
Good Luck...they won't even let me or my dad take our Rovers on the test tracks and we bought both from the dealerships.......
 
Uwharrie (URE) - Falls Dam trail - I have used it to addict many a newbie to the "sport"

You can take a stock wrangler down it with no issues, other SUVs with steps/running boards, "should" be able to do it as well but will have to be more careful.

They open again on April 1st, and I am sure we will have folks posting rides there all the time. (Best to go with someone else)

There are countless miles of trails (old forest roads, etc) within a few hundred miles of here that stock 4x4s can go down, see the wonderful sites and enjoy.

Next level up from that is a bit of "rockcrawling" which means we look for harder stuff...because we can. This usually means 32-35" tires, small lift, and as you get more serious, a winch and a locking differential.

Then...you go nutz. Harder trails yet, tired of watching others play on "Kodak" you decide you must be "locked" front and rear, 35+ inch tires, axles that can stand the abuse, winch to pull yourself out of the impossible line you just tried (or to keep from flipping....or to pull over your buddy who just did - he will return the favor soon..)

Then there is the buggies. They are like the guys that go to the local circle track on Friday nights to race. Budgets are now meaningless, it is all about the bragging rights and the ability to tell others they are just not as serious (cool) as you.

(I haven't got to join them yet, but durn KOH threads keep tempting me / it really is a matter of WHEN, not IF)

I hope that helps
 
Nearly every trail at URE can be run in a stock rig. Rocky Mountain Loop has hard lines but it has easy bypasses. Daniel might be the possible exception. There is a ledge that be be hard to run in a stock rig unless it's really dry.
 
Thanks for the tips guys... got to get some basics (straps etc) and I am definitely going to check it out....

Sound like fun!
 
URE got me started in this hobby.Done fell off the deep end now.:alien: Good luck,Neck......:driver:
 
Come out to Stewart farms this saturday it is a nice easy place to start and there will be a few people to give you some tips and advice on wheeling. There is also a hill climb for you try if you feel like it.
 
Nice place to ride.pm H-H transport for directions.:driver:
 
I wanna go to the farm!!

QCB Preacher ~ I havent been to Uhwarrie either. Im not a beginner but Im definately down to go when they open. Send me a PM if you wanna join.
 
vanguard said:
Nearly every trail at URE can be run in a stock rig. Rocky Mountain Loop has hard lines but it has easy bypasses. Daniel might be the possible exception. There is a ledge that be be hard to run in a stock rig unless it's really dry.
Click to expand...


ditto. Rain/Mud changes that places big time.

and you prolly should go to Stewarts (Andy's) Farm first.
Not that challenging but pretty open to bone stock rides.
 
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