Dealer Sponsored 101 Offroad Experience Word of Caution

[Gvsukids]

I realize this isn’t total carnage

Not a big deal to do the work for us. Just disappointed at having to replace a $600 fender due to a “101” “we won’t take you down anything extreme” event.

Maybe time to upgrade, or buff it out. At least they didn't pop off.

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[Blitzinger]

They said you would learn. They didnt say what you would learn

 

[JWM PLAYS]

They said you would learn. They didnt say what you would learn

Ha! Fair call. Learn I did.

 

[DocMike]

Hate to be that guy...but you popped its cherry. Go have fun now. I ripped a taillight off yielding for uphill traffic. Wacked a fender yielding for an adventure van...pulled a crap ton of aspen tree out of it. It sucks for your new baby. But so many Jeeps never hit trails. You are using it as intended. Build a monster. Lets go have fun!

As promised. This is the major damage that I am most upset about. Were I not a hobbyist detailer with experience polishing clear coat, I would be upset about the severity of the pinstripes. This because I witnessed her having to take lines far to one side or the other hard against trees just to get her Jeep through the trail. Hands down, no one else in our group sustained pinstripes like she did due to them having built rigs capable of taking lines more in the center of the trail. Out of what had to be 30 or so Jeeps there, I didn’t see any others with as heavy pinstriping as hers. To be fair to the hosts, they did say you would get pinstriping but AFTER we got away from their event, we went around on our own using the provided map taking green trails and didn’t experience anything close to what their “beginner” trail ride took us through so I know we sustained way more pinstriping than we should have. I know for a fact I saw at least one other gladiator with plastic running boards like my wife’s used to have before we put rock rails on and had they gone through what our guide took us through on the beginner course, they would have left both those running boards on the trail. They came back with both so I assume their guide adhered to the Level 1-2 trail rule.

I realize this isn’t total carnage but given this was our first time out, we were promised nothing beyond pinstriping and we had already spent $3k + adding bumpers, rock rails, skid plates, winch prior to her first outing to protect against damage and try to be reasonably prepared, I think we are beyond justified to be upset. It’s not about the $ or the labor to fix it up really, it’s just about the disappointment of thinking your getting eased in to off roading and getting stuck with damage you would not have chosen to take.

 

[JWM PLAYS]

Hate to be that guy...but you popped its cherry. Go have fun now. I ripped a taillight off yielding for uphill traffic. Wacked a fender yielding for an adventure van...pulled a crap ton of aspen tree out of it. It sucks for your new baby. But so many Jeeps never hit trails. You are using it as intended. Build a monster. Lets go have fun!

I’ll work on chilling out. It’s not mine anyhow it’s hers. She drove the whole time.

 

[DocMike]

WE call those kinda women....keepers.

I’ll work on chilling out. It’s not mine anyhow it’s hers. She drove the whole time.

 

[PlayfulBird]

I appreciate your validation. Us all knowing what Gladiators cost and having spent the $ to replace both bumpers, add a winch, add full rock rails and a front skid plate plus having bought all necessary recovery gear as well as the equipment to properly deflate and inflate, you can obviously see why we were upset to have been lead into a trail that resulted in damage. Certainly anything can happen but the verbally assured everyone that the morning session would be nothing too wild that damage would occur.

I want to be perfectly honest, you said you got recovery gear, bumpers and a winch. When you roll up to a meet, people will think you know a thing or two if you have all that stuff.
Damage happens. Even if it was a light forest road, heck you might hurt your vehicle beyond a rash.
I get you are disappointed, sad, felt betrayed....
totally understandable.
Maybe you should have stopped, gotten out of your vehicle and told them: Hey I am not comfortable, have no idea driving this..., you told us X,!
If there is no way back, maybe let an experienced driver take your rig through that stuff. One can learn from the passenger seat or while standing with the spotter also.

You kinda sound like it was a do or die thing. Nothing ever is. With built rigs and experienced drivers(sounds like there were some there) they could have easily guided you, pulled you, winched you(can also use to secure angles).
It doesn't make sense to me. It does not add up.
Also, hurting your fender, is not really damage. I don't think you need a panel beater or a spray booth. It is just something that will happen. Also, you say they took extra time with your wife, what about with you?

I ask because I used to drive a pickup in mines in Afrika, and when I am asked about my skill level here at the offroad park I say beginner level. Afterwards everyone states but wow you know so much. I drive safe, and I have experience. But that experience is not dedicated offroading or crawling. It is everyday stuff and obstacles that gave me a feel for what I am doing. Also theoretical knowledge is not the same as experience. And if you have a winch, recovery gear etc., it is super important to practice and learn how to use it right. Having the stuff is not everything.

Please don't take it as us being rude. I just think your expectations of off-roading are not super realistic, especially with people you don't know. Stuff will break, even if everything is perfect and easy trails.

 

[PlayfulBird]

She drove the whole time.

That is great.
Truly important. (still working on myself to completely let her do everything)

Also small experience and advice, with my wife it is good to let her make mistakes and learn by herself. No fuss no consequence. No you could have or should have, or worse backseat driving. We bought the jeep for 70k Euro and guess what, damage and scrapes. We agreed, it is a Jeep. That is why we bought it. To drive and have fun, not to be upset about damage or stuff that we can't change. Even if that is Jeep style issue with engine or tech.
Sometimes, just being present right there can make another driver nervous.
So I get out of the vehicle to give her peace and freedom to do it her way, or a friend of ours lets her drive his Cherokees. It is built up, but that means she can make mistakes or try something with less or no consequence first, before doing it in a less capable rig

 

[PlayfulBird]

Also. No shame in asking to ride along in someone else's truck, watch and learn.

 

[ajkaz]

It definitely sucks that you had a bad early experience, I would however consider you lucky that you didnt have any real body damage. Those fenders are fragile and should be expected to break off and need replaced every so often when running trails. I definitely consider them a wear item on the JK/JL/JT if you off road often. Consider moving to black or aftermarket depending on your future use plans.

 

[PlayfulBird]

my own way in the off road park and chosen my own trails to take and we wouldn't be making repairs

Don't think that is that great of an idea.
Better idea is to go do a course, in one of the organizers vehicles. Then take yours and then go by yourself and practice what you did in the course. Explore the angles of the vehicle, etc. slowly by yourself and feel out the limits slowly.

If you go by yourself first it is really hard to judge, some things that look easy might trick you, and without challenging a little bit you won't learn anything.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

If you are going to spend money to replace it, go with Rubicon flares for the higher clearance

Good advice. If we can find a used one, we will just buy the one.

That won't work. Rubicon flares are significantly different. You can replace both with Rubicon flares but not one.

As promised. This is the major damage that I am most upset about.

Was there any consensus of Jeepers who were incredulous about the damage you sustained on that trail?

Does your wife feel the same way about the events and "souvenir" as you?

 

[PlayfulBird]

Does your wife feel the same way about the events and "souvenir" as you?

<That is a very important question actually.

 

[JWM PLAYS]

I want to be perfectly honest, you said you got recovery gear, bumpers and a winch. When you roll up to a meet, people will think you know a thing or two if you have all that stuff.
Damage happens. Even if it was a light forest road, heck you might hurt your vehicle beyond a rash.
I get you are disappointed, sad, felt betrayed....
totally understandable.
Maybe you should have stopped, gotten out of your vehicle and told them: Hey I am not comfortable, have no idea driving this..., you told us X,!
If there is no way back, maybe let an experienced driver take your rig through that stuff. One can learn from the passenger seat or while standing with the spotter also.

You kinda sound like it was a do or die thing. Nothing ever is. With built rigs and experienced drivers(sounds like there were some there) they could have easily guided you, pulled you, winched you(can also use to secure angles).
It doesn't make sense to me. It does not add up.
Also, hurting your fender, is not really damage. I don't think you need a panel beater or a spray booth. It is just something that will happen. Also, you say they took extra time with your wife, what about with you?

I ask because I used to drive a pickup in mines in Afrika, and when I am asked about my skill level here at the offroad park I say beginner level. Afterwards everyone states but wow you know so much. I drive safe, and I have experience. But that experience is not dedicated offroading or crawling. It is everyday stuff and obstacles that gave me a feel for what I am doing. Also theoretical knowledge is not the same as experience. And if you have a winch, recovery gear etc., it is super important to practice and learn how to use it right. Having the stuff is not everything.

Please don't take it as us being rude. I just think your expectations of off-roading are not super realistic, especially with people you don't know. Stuff will break, even if everything is perfect and easy trails.

I hear you and I’m hearing from others that my expectations are unrealistic. Perhaps that is true. Perhaps this isn’t my cup of tea. I’m willing to admit that.

 

[bleda2002]

This is a lot less than I expected honestly. No need to replace it, just go get it repainted if it bothers you. The replacement will come in primer so you might as well just paint the one you have.

The first real big scratch is always the hardest and I know it takes me a few days to get over it, but after that it's freeing.

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