For Me, No More Wheeling at Large Events

[antihero23]

Damn what a shitty tale. Sorry that happened. This is why I am reluctant to get involved in Jeep events and get-togethers.

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[Neomonk21]

This is why I don't like people. My buddy and I go offroading together and occasionally we see an event that we think might sound like fun. Then we see they are expecting 20+ vehicles so we just pass on it. There's always someone that ruins it for others, which is just sad.

I hope you find a good group to go with and that any future events are better!

 

[VA6489]

On the flip side, Larger event tend to get the word out better. Tread lightly is one of those words. If you go on Big Group rides take a look at the folks leading and talk to them. Get a read on what their expectations for the day are and how they are going to deal with delays and break downs.

As Part of a group you have a role to play in the group too. Leads set a tone right from the beginning, if that tone isn't right for you then the group is likely not going to be fun. Look at the rigs involved. If they are beaten and battered you have a good indicator as to how they drive.

Big event can be fun and a great opportunity to meet new folks and learn new techniques from that particular location. The gathering after the trail can be as much fun as the ride itself.

Something I try to live by, " if you let them make you mad they win....". Bigger man always wins, be that bigger man and enjoy our sport and work withthe team you have.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

I don't do the big crowds very often anymore. and I certainly won't camp at the events either. It's crazy the things people do at these things. I attended Monkey Creek near Wichita Falls, TX probably 20 years ago. The day time was ok, fun even. Till after lunch.. Seemed like some unheard bell had rung and the beer started flowing. Once the sun started to set everybody on the trails were drunk or worse and Life Flight was there twice in the first night. I'll never set foot at Monkey Creek again. Up in Altus, OK, the Copper Mines were the same thing. Smaller pocket of assholes and more reasonable people, but don't stay past dark. Sobriety is not welcome after dark. I'm pretty sure Copper Mines eventually shut down the public side of things because liability got too much. Last I heard it was just the owners and their select crew allowed to wheel there.

 

[WILDHOBO]

That sucks. I can't imagine how you feels on the drive home. I would've told them to fuk off and find my own way out. The locals usually don't mind banging up their rigs for clicks because they live nearby, while others has to drives hours back home.

As an introvert person, i love going solo or with my wife and kid. I can stops anytime, camps anywhere and do whatever i wants to without the anxiety of dealing with knuckleheads.

I wanted to tell them exactly that. My impression of the people was that it would get worse.

 

[WILDHOBO]

@WILDHOBO ,
I understand your situation and I'm sorry you had to go through that. A long time ago we stopped running with an organized group because they gave us the cold shoulder


Our damage off-road was considered an at-fault accident, but insurance covered it. Then raised our rates.


We use that method with our group. My wife makes that call.



That's why I have held out from going to 35s; I don't want to minimize somebody else's vehicle, because I was there once.

Thanks. Hopefully the rates won’t skyrocket, as it’s the first claim in more than 25 years. But who knows. I didn’t want to pay to fix it out of pocket.

 

[WILDHOBO]

@WILDHOBO
Sorry to hear of your tale. I have been wheeling for 40+ years. The community has changed quite a bit. Smaller groups tend to have nicer people a that are not fueled by others egos. A trail 11 out of 10 is a tough trail and tend to draw those who have more money than brains fueled by bigger egos. Not always the case but it happens.
I have lead groups in the Topless for Tata's organization and it still amazes me how stupid folks can be. I think they take it as a challenge. I have also wheeled with a self proclaimed Elitist group that frowned on winching, stacking rocks(what they called Road building) and Damage, was a badge of honor to them.... funny how groups like that tend to fall apart after a bit.

Unfortunately this is what happens when a sport explodes like ours has. People get stupid, trails get closed, and they just get ugly as it doesn't fit their "style" or time line.

Recently ran a West Coast trail. Planned on Three days , the group pushed and we ran very long day one and pushed even harder day two. Totally missing the point of enjoy the trail and view. Lesson learned, run at your own pace. I am confident enough to say Have fun I will see you when I see you and let them "leave me behind" .

I always work toward the least or the slowest member of the group. No one gets left behind. Schedules are nice but much like sailing they are often optimistic at best. A 4 hr trail ride can turn into a all day event.

I no longer have expectations from people, they usually show the true self soon enough. When I lead a group I also have some rules for capability, if you are going to take you stock JLU on a 11 out of 10 trail I am going to explain why that is not a great idea and what could happen. I have also had these very same folks loose their ever-loving mind when they get a scratch or dent on a trail they were advised not to attempt.

I am a military type I will not leave any one behind. I am usually the first to jump in and lend a hand. I run with a small group that shares this mentality. Now I tend to let those who drive big egos do their thing and will watch from the side lines until they are done. Down side is it tears up decent trails.

Keep the faith, there are good wheelers still in the community.

I’m definitely not done wheeling. Just done with large groups and events. Thanks. Annoying, but that’s life.

 

[WILDHOBO]

The leaders were great. But they

On the flip side, Larger event tend to get the word out better. Tread lightly is one of those words. If you go on Big Group rides take a look at the folks leading and talk to them. Get a read on what their expectations for the day are and how they are going to deal with delays and break downs.

As Part of a group you have a role to play in the group too. Leads set a tone right from the beginning, if that tone isn't right for you then the group is likely not going to be fun. Look at the rigs involved. If they are beaten and battered you have a good indicator as to how they drive.

Big event can be fun and a great opportunity to meet new folks and learn new techniques from that particular location. The gathering after the trail can be as much fun as the ride itself.

Something I try to live by, " if you let them make you mad they win....". Bigger man always wins, be that bigger man and enjoy our sport and work withthe team you have.

The leaders were great, but weren’t really there when this stuff went down. The story is that they thought everyone was doing fine, and kept moving.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I don't do the big crowds very often anymore. and I certainly won't camp at the events either. It's crazy the things people do at these things. I attended Monkey Creek near Wichita Falls, TX probably 20 years ago. The day time was ok, fun even. Till after lunch.. Seemed like some unheard bell had rung and the beer started flowing. Once the sun started to set everybody on the trails were drunk or worse and Life Flight was there twice in the first night. I'll never set foot at Monkey Creek again. Up in Altus, OK, the Copper Mines were the same thing. Smaller pocket of assholes and more reasonable people, but don't stay past dark. Sobriety is not welcome after dark. I'm pretty sure Copper Mines eventually shut down the public side of things because liability got too much. Last I heard it was just the owners and their select crew allowed to wheel there.

That sucks. Sorry. Sounds very similar.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Related to being patient and helping people, even if it isn't in the plan...

In 2019 in Uwharrie National Forest we came across a first gen 4x4 Dodge Durango on highway all terrain tires in the woods. Evidently him and his wife and little kids went for an adventure and got in over there heads. They were 'well equipped'. A come along, food, water, tools - but just outmatched by the terrain. We found them in the valley of a trail and they were not getting out either direction unassisted.

We had a pretty gnarly climb to get out. Not rocky or whatever, just steep and muddy and curvy. So we sent two Jeeps up in front of him that we knew would make it (my two door and a buddies two door) and got turned around at the top so we could use one as an anchor and one as a winch truck. Then we walked his wife and kids up and told him to 'send it' to get him close enough we could pull. Well he got close enough that all but one layer on the drum and a snatch strap on the end was able to reach him. Got him pulled to flat ground where he would be able to drive out (sort of). We got all turned back around without sliding off the side of snot mountain (as we named it) and put him between two of us as he high centered a couple times and needed a gentle pull and got him to the parking lot.

It was unplanned, and he should have never been down there - but we wasn't leaving the guy. So it added a couple hours to our ride and we were in the dark getting back to town - and covered in mud from winching this guy in the rain in the forest

But we got it done because that's what we do.

 

[ChrisNLA]

As I mentioned to you before, I ran into a similar instance in Moab last time I was there. We had some....folks we knew...from California that trailered there rigs in and got pretty upset that we were taking so long to get down a trail in our rigs that we drove 3,300 miles round trip to be there.

Anyway, we shuffled them to the front and continued to take our time. They hauled ass out of there, lol.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Related to being patient and helping people, even if it isn't in the plan...

In 2019 in Uwharrie National Forest we came across a first gen 4x4 Dodge Durango on highway all terrain tires in the woods. Evidently him and his wife and little kids went for an adventure and got in over there heads. They were 'well equipped'. A come along, food, water, tools - but just outmatched by the terrain. We found them in the valley of a trail and they were not getting out either direction unassisted.

We had a pretty gnarly climb to get out. Not rocky or whatever, just steep and muddy and curvy. So we sent two Jeeps up in front of him that we knew would make it (my two door and a buddies two door) and got turned around at the top so we could use one as an anchor and one as a winch truck. Then we walked his wife and kids up and told him to 'send it' to get him close enough we could pull. Well he got close enough that all but one layer on the drum and a snatch strap on the end was able to reach him. Got him pulled to flat ground where he would be able to drive out (sort of). We got all turned back around without sliding off the side of snot mountain (as we named it) and put him between two of us as he high centered a couple times and needed a gentle pull and got him to the parking lot.

It was unplanned, and he should have never been down there - but we wasn't leaving the guy. So it added a couple hours to our ride and we were in the dark getting back to town - and covered in mud from winching this guy in the rain in the forest

But we got it done because that's what we do.

EXACTLY. I’ve encountered several of these. And once or twice have been in a spot that needed a slot from a passerby. But you never leave anyone. And you’ll never insult them, their rig, etc. it’s just wrong. An older gentleman was on top of the world alone with a stock JL and was really having trouble finding a line that worked for his ground clearance. We stuck with him until he was out of the harder stuff. Until he said thanks and he was good. I was solo that day, and met some others in a small group. Perfect relaxing day. I enjoy slow. I hate fast. I just want to be out there.

 

[WILDHOBO]

As I mentioned to you before, I ran into a similar instance in Moab last time I was there. We had some....folks we knew...from California that trailered there rigs in and got pretty upset that we were taking so long to get down a trail in our rigs that we drove 3,300 miles round trip to be there.

Anyway, we shuffled them to the front and continued to take our time. They hauled ass out of there, lol.

So frustrating. I’ll join you if you go back. We’ll go as slow as anyone wants. I love feeling the terrain without feeling like I’m going to break something. Bump stops shouldn’t be used every two seconds.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I didn’t mean this thread to be such a bummer, but I guess it wasn’t really avoidable, considering the subject. Just wanted to get it out there. It felt like a way to move past it. It might have temporarily backfired, but screw it. It’ll get fixed and it’ll be back on trails by fall hopefully.

 

[UTRocky]

Tough day, but it’ll change how I handle situations like this in the future. I should have let them leave when they threatened it. It would have been more fun to figure it out alone. Even if it took 12 hours. Who cares. I keep going over it in my mind to figure out how it could have turned out better. That’s all I’ve come up with.

Ya I would of said how do I get out of here, bye, if you dont hear from my by X time - im stuck out here and please look for me come AM.....etc. - Basically pro of con of my time/rig and enjoying the enivorment if safe....etc. vrs being with punks

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