Week of wheeling

StretchASU said:
The "Save the rig" idea keeps me thinking for just one week of wheeling, I'm staying regional. A couple days at Windrock, a couple of days in Harlan, finish the trip at the WV parks. At least if anything happens at any of those locations outside of a standard spare parts cache, I can probably con one of the other people on the board to meet me halfway or something to get what I need to keep the trip going.

For a Colorado/Moab/SandHollow distance kind of trip I'd like to have two weeks.
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As much as I dream of wheeling out west, I just don’t see it happening unless I talk my wife into selling everything and we buy a Sundowner and a dually, home school the kids, work remote and live on the road.

Or I wait till I can retire, but then get cancer and spend all my retirement fighting it, having never wheeled the Rubicon or any of those places :shaking:
 
77GreenMachine said:
Or I wait till I can retire, but then get cancer and spend all my retirement fighting it, having never wheeled the Rubicon or any of those places :shaking:
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Or Syria bombs Israel after Afghanistan falls and becomes too large to contain, and new Babylon starts going up and the anti-Christ presents himself.....sparking the rapture and none of us get to do it :popcorn:
 
77GreenMachine said:
As much as I dream of wheeling out west, I just don’t see it happening unless I talk my wife into selling everything and we buy a Sundowner and a dually, home school the kids, work remote and live on the road.

Or I wait till I can retire, but then get cancer and spend all my retirement fighting it, having never wheeled the Rubicon or any of those places :shaking:
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Well that took a dark turn. :lol:

My justification for the 2 weeks out west is that after making the bombrun out and back to hunt in Wyoming, leaving on a Friday and getting home the next Sunday, I would be hard pressed to tow out there just to wheel for a week. Its a lot to cram in a week even on a hunting trip let alone having to tow a trailer, rig, spares etc.
 
I did a week at Windrock earlier this year. Took it easy the first 2 days. Spent one day at Pigeon Forge then back to wheeling for the rest of the week. It was nice not feeling rushed or like I was missing something because I wanted to hang out at camp for a couple hours.
 
Have you thought about doing something Ultimate Adventure style??? Really good friend of mine (might know him as cheeto from Pirate or ford forums) made the dirty dozen last year and was invited again this year. Easy enough he makes it through a week of wheeling and can drive his rig the required 1000 miles round trip...but fun enough to where it's not a waste of time. Only knock he has on it is all the wasted time waiting for magazine requirements.

(Dave's is the 6th rig down the page, 78 F150)-
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These are the Dirty Dozen final 12 Reader Applicants to Go On Ultimate Adventure 2020! #UA2020

How to get selected for Ultimate Adventure UA2020! #UA2020
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UTfball68 said:
Have you thought about doing something Ultimate Adventure style??? Really good friend of mine (might know him as cheeto from Pirate or ford forums) made the dirty dozen last year and was invited again this year. Easy enough he makes it through a week of wheeling and can drive his rig the required 1000 miles round trip...but fun enough to where it's not a waste of time. Only knock he has on it is all the wasted time waiting for magazine requirements.

(Dave's is the 6th rig down the page, 78 F150)-
www.motortrend.com

These are the Dirty Dozen final 12 Reader Applicants to Go On Ultimate Adventure 2020! #UA2020

How to get selected for Ultimate Adventure UA2020! #UA2020
www.motortrend.com www.motortrend.com
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I used to dream of doing that. Still wouldn’t be opposed to it.
 
A week of wheeling is awesome! While you do generally need to drive a little milder, it's not totally necessary, it just depends on how much work you want to do in a park. On BAS 2021 we changed a transfer case and a complete rear end in an evening in order to drive to the next park.
 
k5-1402 said:
A week of wheeling is awesome! While you do generally need to drive a little milder, it's not totally necessary, it just depends on how much work you want to do in a park. On BAS 2021 we changed a transfer case and a complete rear end in an evening in order to drive to the next park.
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I'm not scared to try and fix or replace just about anything in the park, the problem is I can't carry everything with me (as much as a try lol.) And those of us with more odd ball rigs it's harder to source parts while on a trip. But like @StretchASU said if I'm close-ish to home I can get just about anything I need and salvage most of the trip.

Duane
 
Idk I been discussing it with the people that are going and we keep circling back to going further away. All of the localish parks mentioned I can go to whenever, nothing but planning holding me back from visiting. So if I’m gonna take the time to go, I may as well go to one of those places I can’t go to just any ole time.

My biggest hang up is my old base model Chevrolet really brings the suck on a long trip. I continue to fail at finding a nice pair of power seats from a Tahoe/Suburban to upgrade from mine. So if I remove my camper from my trailer and we use my buddys truck to haul 2 rigs, we can take turns driving and be much more comfy and cover a lot more ground. However I guess that means tent camping once we get wherever we are going. But I’m willing to seriously consider that.

Or maybe we don’t go all the way to Oklahoma. Maybe we just hit Alabama and hit Hale Mountain, Hawk Pride and Chocco?
 
Buy a JLUR and just drive everywhere. If something breaks, cash in that warranty.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I continue to fail at finding a nice pair of power seats from a Tahoe/Suburban to upgrade from mine.
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@HGSR had a bunch of GM interior stuff on FB marketplace recently. Noticed he hasn't been on here in a while though, maybe this tag will alert him or I can message him through FB if y'all are connected.

Duane
 
Bebop said:
Wheeling for a week sound like a lot of fun until you realize that you have to take it easy in order to save the rig.
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FIFY Sorry not sorry, people calling a solid axled vehicle on over sized tires a “car” makes my brain hurt, I’m special;)

@77GreenMachine I’ve done CO before in 10 days but we drove straight through both ways and my wife can pull a trailer like a boss. If you have that much time wheel, hit places you normally wouldn’t on a 3-4 day wknd. Pack every spare you can think of and have back up plans in case of breakage.
 
UTfball68 said:
Have you thought about doing something Ultimate Adventure style??? Really good friend of mine (might know him as cheeto from Pirate or ford forums) made the dirty dozen last year and was invited again this year. Easy enough he makes it through a week of wheeling and can drive his rig the required 1000 miles round trip...but fun enough to where it's not a waste of time. Only knock he has on it is all the wasted time waiting for magazine requirements.

(Dave's is the 6th rig down the page, 78 F150)-
www.motortrend.com

These are the Dirty Dozen final 12 Reader Applicants to Go On Ultimate Adventure 2020! #UA2020

How to get selected for Ultimate Adventure UA2020! #UA2020
www.motortrend.com www.motortrend.com
Click to expand...
I was in Harlan when they ran it one year for UA. I was disappointed when I learned they only ran Rail Bed while there that day. Some hit lower rock garden but that was it. I'm sorry but If you go to Harlan with all the rigs on 40's or bigger and that is all you do I'm going to call you out. To me I would expect Mason Jar and Lions Den from a group like that. Hell I've taken a group from Rail Bed to Fish Fossil to Lower Rock Garden and finished on Killin Time. I no longer think UA is cool..... I think it's lame. I keep getting told it's more about the ride between each park. Yea ok I'm out.
 
ghost said:
I was in Harlan when they ran it one year for UA. I was disappointed when I learned they only ran Rail Bed while there that day. Some hit lower rock garden but that was it. I'm sorry but If you go to Harlan with all the rigs on 40's or bigger and that is all you do I'm going to call you out. To me I would expect Mason Jar and Lions Den from a group like that. Hell I've taken a group from Rail Bed to Fish Fossil to Lower Rock Garden and finished on Killin Time. I no longer think UA is cool..... I think it's lame. I keep getting told it's more about the ride between each park. Yea ok I'm out.
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UA is a media operation, not a trail ride with buddies. Big difference.
 
We are leaving at the end of the month on a 2 week west adventure through the Rubicon, Moab, and Colorado. If you wanna go out west for 2 weeks its pretty doable just needs a ton of planning. our trips has been about a year in the making. We found If you book places early the price are pretty good and open. The biggest issues we have had is rental cars due to companies selling off there fleets jacking up the rates. As for "saving the Rig" we have a 20' deck under the wedge trailer full spares to basically rebuild the rigs. Cause what fun is to go out west and not drive over every rock you can. The spare we couldn't fit we basically built a list of who has then in stock or what local guy has them in the towns we are staying at.
 
Bebop said:
UA is a media operation, not a trail ride with buddies. Big difference.
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Yeah, heck this last year, i think they only hit like 2 parks. Most of it was driving around the PNW to different tourist type spots. It would still be fun, IMO, but could be done in a rental jeep.

As others have mentioned, I really think it all depends on how hard you want to push yourself and your group. Ideally you want to pack your schedule so that you can hit the most possible, but that likely means staying up all night driving or working on the rigs, most of the week. And also possibly only hitting a few trails at each or some of the parks, due to travel/repairs/sleep. Depends on the areas that you go, but you might spend a good part of the day riding the park to see what they have to offer, vs hitting obstacles. Trying to get a local trail guide would be worth $$ to me. They could even help with locating parts and what not, as needed. I would also plan to have plenty available cash/credit with you, as trailer/truck/rig repairs could be pricey, since you are on a time/location constraint.

I personally love the idea. While I might could plan the time, it is doubtful that I would have a rig and ducks in a row to wheel a trip like this anytime soon.
 
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77GreenMachine said:
Or I wait till I can retire, but then get cancer and spend all my retirement fighting it, having never wheeled the Rubicon or any of those places :shaking:
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NCJeeplover said:
This is one of my greatest fears in life. I work and get everything set up to enjoy retirement and never get to benefit from any of it...
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I can relate to this 100%. I'm pretty much locked into wheeling places for day trips or short weekends. Leave Friday come home Sunday. Mainly because with trucking I never know when I will have a slow or busy week. @77GreenMachine you are very lucky in that you have places close. I know we dream but be don't forget what we have. Like I've told you I would love to tag along on some of you closer shorter excursions with your merry band of misfits...
 
I've been meaning to throw my two cents in on this. You could wheel around the southeast and easily make a week of it. Windrock has miles of trails and enough to keep you busy for at least a full weekend. If Walden's Ridge and the Stairs is all you hit, you missed a lot. Harlan would give you another two to three days and I don't know about Hollerwood. I hear it can be fun and I really want to put that on my list either this year or next. You've also got GER, which again I haven't been to but according to your tales, could take some time.

Now in saying that my counterpoint is this. From what I gather you can hit all of these from your current location and they're all within easy striking distance. If you're looking for an adventure then make it one. The only downside I see is the travel. That's gonna eat up a lot of your time. Maybe roll out to Disney, check the box and then head back through Alabama and hit Chocco, Grey Rock and Morris Mtn. I can tell you Chocco has some good stuff worth checking out.

77GreenMachine said:
Idk I been discussing it with the people that are going and we keep circling back to going further away. All of the localish parks mentioned I can go to whenever, nothing but planning holding me back from visiting. So if I’m gonna take the time to go, I may as well go to one of those places I can’t go to just any ole time.

My biggest hang up is my old base model Chevrolet really brings the suck on a long trip. I continue to fail at finding a nice pair of power seats from a Tahoe/Suburban to upgrade from mine. So if I remove my camper from my trailer and we use my buddys truck to haul 2 rigs, we can take turns driving and be much more comfy and cover a lot more ground. However I guess that means tent camping once we get wherever we are going. But I’m willing to seriously consider that.

Or maybe we don’t go all the way to Oklahoma. Maybe we just hit Alabama and hit Hale Mountain, Hawk Pride and Chocco?
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and I just saw this scrolling back up... :lol: Sounds like great minds think alike. That being said make it an Alabama Invasion and hit as many as you can until your Jeep shits the bed.
 
untchabl said:
On the other hand, once I get my buggy finished making a trip out to Oklahoma is definitely high on my to-do list. Want to hit Rugged Mountain Ranch, Green Acres and Disney.
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I still like Johns idea. I think there could be a week spent just in Oklahoma. One other thing you have to look at is alot of the private parks are only open thur-sun. I've noticed that could throw a monkey wrench in things.
 
I believe I have settled on going to Oklahoma and hitting Green Acres and Rugged Mountain Ranch.

@McCracken youre right, I can hit all you mentioned on any given 4 day weekend which is quite common for me. I’ve been to Chocco and it’s a fantastic park. Certainly plan to go back.

I think I’m going to pull my camper off for this trip so I can pull doubles and split driving with @D2320M with his truck. Do our best to drive all the way, or at least more than half way to Green Acres, spend 2 days or so there and tent camp, then head to RMR and then rent the house they have there so we can get showers and some good rest. Spend a few days there and then split the drive home with a hotel.

I do believe that any hotel I would stay at along the way I would call and ask if we could park somewhere close to the lobby and/or right in front of some cameras. My biggest fear is our rigs being stolen and hotels seem to be the most common place that happens. I would even consider installing a hidden GPS tracker before hand.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I believe I have settled on going to Oklahoma and hitting Green Acres and Rugged Mountain Ranch.

@McCracken youre right, I can hit all you mentioned on any given 4 day weekend which is quite common for me. I’ve been to Chocco and it’s a fantastic park. Certainly plan to go back.

I think I’m going to pull my camper off for this trip so I can pull doubles and split driving with @D2320M with his truck. Do our best to drive all the way, or at least more than half way to Green Acres, spend 2 days or so there and tent camp, then head to RMR and then rent the house they have there so we can get showers and some good rest. Spend a few days there and then split the drive home with a hotel.

I do believe that any hotel I would stay at along the way I would call and ask if we could park somewhere close to the lobby and/or right in front of some cameras. My biggest fear is our rigs being stolen and hotels seem to be the most common place that happens. I would even consider installing a hidden GPS tracker before hand.
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I'm late to this party 😎
 
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