URE for a noobie

HyperOnExperience

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Location
Chapel Hill
I got an old 4x4 isuzu but this will be my first time off roading! When april rolls around, does any one have any tips for a noob about the area? what trails would you guys recommend? i don't have a limited slip or locker so it's got to be chill. Sorry about the broad post, I just like thinking about heading out and want to avoid any mishaps!
 
I really can't say what trails to take but I will tell you if you take it easy and it is on a dry day depending on experience you should not have any trouble anywhere if you use common sense . If it is wet you may have alot of difficulty
 
HyperOnExperience said:
I got an old 4x4 isuzu but this will be my first time off roading! When april rolls around, does any one have any tips for a noob about the area? what trails would you guys recommend? i don't have a limited slip or locker so it's got to be chill. Sorry about the broad post, I just like thinking about heading out and want to avoid any mishaps!
Click to expand...

I sent you a PM, check out the information in there.

But as far as trail specifics go lets look at the trail map:

badinlaketrailmaprevise.jpg

(Ignore the arrow with "Here" I added that for another thread)

I don't know what size tires you have, if they are A/T or M/T, and if you have any lift but just about all those trails are doable when its dry by a stock truck. The only one I would absolutely stay away from is Daniel. Dutch John is iffy, its not extremely difficult but if you can't make it up the hill climb it means you have to turn around and run 90 percent of the trail you just did. The rest of the trails have bypasses for just about all the hard spots, so you shouldn't have any big issues.
 
Welcome to the club! Hang out here and get to know the folks a little and then watch the upcoming events section for a group of similarly equipped rigs that are headed up there and tag along. I'd avoid Daniel and some of the tougher trails until you know what your abilities are as well as those of your vehicle. You definitely want a dry day as when it's wet it's all pretty tough.
 
I'm rockin 31 inch Wild Country RVT's which look to be a mud terrain tire! I got a 3 inch lift, but its just a body lift. I was thinkin of crankin my t bar for a couple more inches, but I dont know if it's quite worth the price of an alignment. Thanks for all the info, maybe i'll run into you guys some time. I'll be in a 1990 red isuzu pickup with a grille guard, a roll bar, and 3 lights on the front and 3 more on the roll bar.
 
I was on 31s this past year and open/open and I made it every where but Daniel, and I had to take the by pass at Kodak. Once I went when it was raining... now that is a whole different beast
 
I'm still pretty new to all this too, and I've only ridden at Uwharrie once... but my advice would be don't go alone.

I took a stock XJ on street tires up there last summer, and I had a blast! Did a few of the easy trails on a dry day and didn't have any real trouble. But I would have been completely lost (and probably stuck) without the group I was with.

Try to find someone to go with who knows the trails pretty well. Preferably someone with a rig at least slightly more capable than yours, and a good set of tow straps or a winch, so they can pull you out if you get in a jam.
 
Welcome to the forum guys!
 
I agree with all the above. I have a pretty stock 4runner with 31 mud tires and have done every trail except daniel. In fact I've done part of daniel but not the whole thing. It's really not bad if you stay safe and be smart about things.

NEVER GO ALONE every time I have been I have needed at least one tow out of a sticky situation or some advice from someone more experienced than myself.
 
lbyota85 said:
I've done Daniel with radial tires, I guess I just got lucky.
Click to expand...

I have done Daniel on radial 31"s in the past (no strap/help), but the trail rating I have on there is suggested equipment. There are plenty of people that have run Daniel with radial tires and continue to do so. It's just for the amount of rock and for that matter roots on Daniel a Bias Ply Mud tire like a Swamper with a thicker/more rigid sidewall and more aggressive tread will help. All those diamond trail ratings are suggested equipment, just like any other trail map. Take the Orange Diamond rating for example, I am sure you can do Dutch John, Dickey Bell, and Rocky Mnt Loop open/open but if you want to take the harder lines and have less issues you will probably want to have at least an LSD or one locker as the trail rating suggests.
 
I've done Daniel every time I've been there on 31 inch BFG all terrains in a stock solid axle yota, and only had to pull strap once a couple of years ago...But then I've probably been wheeling for longer than the OP has been alive. A lot of where you can go is driver skill and being that he's new, I wouldn't try it. Once he's hooked like a crack baby then we'll get him up there!
 
sorry for bringin a old thread up,but i didnt have any maps or anything and i did dickey bell when i thought it was gonna be a easier trail. it was my first wheeling experience and even with running issues my bronco 2 made it just fine. i wish i had a group,and a few parts where kinda rough. i know next time to print the map out and take it with me and hopefully ride with group.
 
Back
Top