PyrPatriot
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2019
- Threads
- 193
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- Location
- Kentucky, USA
- Vehicle(s)
- JT Sport S Max Tow; Honda Element
- Thread starter
- #1
So for Christmas my father-in-law took me off-roading in my Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow. I have to say, it was GREAT.
The terrain was the mountain coal mining roads of Eastern KY. They are usually wet, covered in fallen leaves, and rutted. You will sometimes find jagged rocks pocking out, or roots/branches big enough to bump you off the ledge if you hit them right. It doesn't look like it in the video, but the climbs/decents got to about 23 degrees according to my pitch/roll display.
I was running a stock JT, the tires were Falken Wildpeak M/T in 255/75/17 specifically bought in that size and mounted on a spare set of wheels to have just for off-roading purposes without affecting the speedometer/odometer to where it need re-calibration. They were bought used, with with about 3000 miles on them (had 17/32 tread left, factory is 18/32). I was slightly concerned here as these are C-rated tires, and with 4 men in the truck and tires down to 37-40psi, I actually had a concern they would fail if we hit rut/hole too quickly. They didn't.
This was my first time off-roading period. Prior to this the most I had done is gone through a muddy grass field in a Honda Element (and got stuck in a lower area because of worn tires). I was both nervous and excited, because if I hit mud and went sideways causing me to go downhill (as was my previous experience with the Element) I'd be going down a mountain side. The roads had not been used by coal trucks for several years at this point. They usually saw side-by-sides and when I had ridden up them the little vehicles struggled on sections and slipped/slid sideways a bit. Not as much of a concern with a 2-seater ATV-type vehicle, much more concerning (I thought) with a near 5k lb vehicle.
The Jeep made it up everything like a champ! At no time did I feel I was losing control. It climbed when I needed, had good traction. Downhill it slid ever so slightly (noticed in the videos when I am going particularly slow) but not where I was concerned. Uphill was done in 4H. I couldn't get it to get into 4L right, part way up a hill early on it went out of 4L and into N so I went 4H up until I got to a flat spot to get it into 4L, and even then it took a little distance to coast long enough to get it in 4L. Should get easier with more shifting. Downhill was 4L. I went up another similar path in 4L, and that seemed too easy for the Jeep!
After the mud roads, we went up an old strip mine. Jagged rocks and ruts galore in parts where the gravel wore out. But we did fine. I got the 4H going to about 35mph and it did fine. The M/Ts DO NOT do well on corners at speed on small/fine gravel with damp under layers.
The JT needed a bit of a cleaning after that. But well, it was Christmas so all the places were closed. So we drove down a ROAD that was actually a creek. Now this is where I got really concerned. Not for being in any danger of sliding off or not having control, but because rocks there are sharp, and I was praying I didn't slice a tire open on a path that was taken by smaller vehicles. We did fine.
Yes, the creek video is upside down. I will try to fix it
The terrain was the mountain coal mining roads of Eastern KY. They are usually wet, covered in fallen leaves, and rutted. You will sometimes find jagged rocks pocking out, or roots/branches big enough to bump you off the ledge if you hit them right. It doesn't look like it in the video, but the climbs/decents got to about 23 degrees according to my pitch/roll display.
I was running a stock JT, the tires were Falken Wildpeak M/T in 255/75/17 specifically bought in that size and mounted on a spare set of wheels to have just for off-roading purposes without affecting the speedometer/odometer to where it need re-calibration. They were bought used, with with about 3000 miles on them (had 17/32 tread left, factory is 18/32). I was slightly concerned here as these are C-rated tires, and with 4 men in the truck and tires down to 37-40psi, I actually had a concern they would fail if we hit rut/hole too quickly. They didn't.
This was my first time off-roading period. Prior to this the most I had done is gone through a muddy grass field in a Honda Element (and got stuck in a lower area because of worn tires). I was both nervous and excited, because if I hit mud and went sideways causing me to go downhill (as was my previous experience with the Element) I'd be going down a mountain side. The roads had not been used by coal trucks for several years at this point. They usually saw side-by-sides and when I had ridden up them the little vehicles struggled on sections and slipped/slid sideways a bit. Not as much of a concern with a 2-seater ATV-type vehicle, much more concerning (I thought) with a near 5k lb vehicle.
The Jeep made it up everything like a champ! At no time did I feel I was losing control. It climbed when I needed, had good traction. Downhill it slid ever so slightly (noticed in the videos when I am going particularly slow) but not where I was concerned. Uphill was done in 4H. I couldn't get it to get into 4L right, part way up a hill early on it went out of 4L and into N so I went 4H up until I got to a flat spot to get it into 4L, and even then it took a little distance to coast long enough to get it in 4L. Should get easier with more shifting. Downhill was 4L. I went up another similar path in 4L, and that seemed too easy for the Jeep!
After the mud roads, we went up an old strip mine. Jagged rocks and ruts galore in parts where the gravel wore out. But we did fine. I got the 4H going to about 35mph and it did fine. The M/Ts DO NOT do well on corners at speed on small/fine gravel with damp under layers.
The JT needed a bit of a cleaning after that. But well, it was Christmas so all the places were closed. So we drove down a ROAD that was actually a creek. Now this is where I got really concerned. Not for being in any danger of sliding off or not having control, but because rocks there are sharp, and I was praying I didn't slice a tire open on a path that was taken by smaller vehicles. We did fine.
Yes, the creek video is upside down. I will try to fix it
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