New to FL

[DoctorDecoy]

I just moved my family down to SoFlo. Do we ever get to take the top off here? I’m used to having full weeks with the top off in TN, but of course it rains pretty much every day here .

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[PBCounty]

Welcome to the area. We're weeks away from much better open-air weather. That said, it's still South Florida, and it can still rain any time. I'm sorry you missed the 1990's, when South Florida was awash is great trails seemingly everywhere, and we had a robust off-roading community.

 

[DoctorDecoy]

Welcome to the area. We're weeks away from much better open-air weather. That said, it's still South Florida, and it can still rain any time. I'm sorry you missed the 1990's, when South Florida was awash is great trails seemingly everywhere, and we had a robust off-roading community.

I’ll take what I can get. I’m in WPB and ready to take the top off!

 

[PBCounty]

West Palm myself (well more like Loxahatchee). When hunting season is over and the water levels come down a little, check out J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area for some mild trails. Trail 6 is traditionally more for the Jeep crowd, when it's open.

 

[DoctorDecoy]

West Palm myself (well more like Loxahatchee). When hunting season is over and the water levels come down a little, check out J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area for some mild trails. Trail 6 is traditionally more for the Jeep crowd, when it's open.

Awesome! I’ll definitely look into it.

 

[Mr Miami]

I just moved my family down to SoFlo. Do we ever get to take the top off here? I’m used to having full weeks with the top off in TN, but of course it rains pretty much every day here .

Welcome to SoFlo. Enjoy the upcoming season, what they call the Dry Season (Oct-Apr) when it rains much less than the rest of the year when you can expect a 15 minute thunderstorm and downpour virtually anytime in the afternoon or evening (called monsoon in some countries ... lol).

In answer to the "do we ever get to take the top off here?" question, well, at first you will experience taking the top down on a sunny day, going into a store, and coming back to your Jeep with the sun shining but the seats and carpeting are soaked.

Let me just say, in my 35 years of living here (Miami area and Key Largo), I have had 4 Jeeps with soft tops. Both of my Wranglers now in the yard ('99 and '16) have soft tops and half doors. I have never, and I mean never, taken the top off of either (ok, maybe the '99 once or twice when I first bought it). I just prefer the "golf cart" effect with the side windows removed all around and at times, the doors taken off completely. Once you live here awhile, having the sun beat down on your head while driving is no fun. With my new Gladiator, I will be getting the tube doors for "fun" but it is unlikely that I ever unhook the panel things on the roof and take them off either. The tube doors (or no doors) is far more enjoyable, at least to me, than the sun beating on my forehead.

Have I been caught down here with one of the quick afternoon storms and gotten wet? You bet, many times. That's the reason the first thing I did after driving the new Jeeps home was to take out the carpeting, pop out the drain plugs, put in rubber mats and live happily ever after.

 

[FLAGladi]

Give it another month and you will enjoy the weather.

 

[Mr Miami]

West Palm myself (well more like Loxahatchee). When hunting season is over and the water levels come down a little, check out J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area for some mild trails. Trail 6 is traditionally more for the Jeep crowd, when it's open.

Hello fellow Floridian. I don't mean to highjack the thread, but since this is a "Welcome to South Florida" thing, some additional local information may be helpful to all.

I have never been up to the Corbett WMA but you are saying it's a relatively good place (by out standards) for off-roading? You mention, "when it is open." Is that based on just getting through there when it floods and deep mud or something? I would like to drive up since good off-roading places in the Keys are extremely limited and I end up going to some places around the Everglades when possible. The area where I lived for many years here close to Miami (Hialeah Gardens) used to have some good off-road places near the rock quarries that flooded in the rainy season. It was good, at least by South Florida standards. But so much of what was fun to drive in 15-20 years ago is gone and is now condos, townhouses, highways and shopping malls.

I will look further into the Corbett WMA thing.

 

[PBCounty]

Hello fellow Floridian. I don't mean to highjack the thread, but since this is a "Welcome to South Florida" thing, some additional local information may be helpful to all.

I have never been up to the Corbett WMA but you are saying it's a relatively good place (by out standards) for off-roading? You mention, "when it is open." Is that based on just getting through there when it floods and deep mud or something? I would like to drive up since good off-roading places in the Keys are extremely limited and I end up going to some places around the Everglades when possible. The area where I lived for many years here close to Miami (Hialeah Gardens) used to have some good off-road places near the rock quarries that flooded in the rainy season. It was good, at least by South Florida standards. But so much of what was fun to drive in 15-20 years ago is gone and is now condos, townhouses, highways and shopping malls.

I will look further into the Corbett WMA thing.

Keep in mind that J.W. Corbett is first and foremost a hunting area. That's what JWC is primarily about. Coming in second place it's a hiking / camping preserve, with scout and youth activities coming in third place. Somewhere down the list it's a place where Jeepers / dual-sporters can enjoy some mild trails, comprised of mostly sugar sand, mud, some fun rutted up areas and some inclines.

As it's not an off-road park, the trails are SUPPOSED to be used to access hunting and fishing locations, and not so much for recreational off-roading. That said, people do it. Trail 6 has historically been an exception and a bone thrown to the trail riders, but it's closed during some hunting seasons.

I'd recommend waiting for dry season (outside of hunting season) and checking it out. The rules are always changing and there's no real source of info outside of word of mouth....everything from rules related to campfires, alcohol, trail access, wheelbases, motorcycles, etc. seem be everchanging. I get most of my updates on rules / conditions from my many hunting friends, some of whom live out there.

At minimum, pulling the top off and even just cruising down the main-grade (which connects all the trails), which you can do anytime, is worth a trip if you live close enough.

I should add: JWC is WET. In the wet season, only swamp buggies can traverse most of the place (outside of the improved travel areas). Go in the dry season.

 

[Gladiatorguy]

If you’ve never been, check out Jeep Beach in Daytona the end of April. Maybe not your thing for a whole week, but the Speedway is packed with vendors and some cool old and rare Jeeps. There is also a car show, and of course you can drive on the beach. Great Jeep parade on the beach the last day. Info on line if this interests you.

 

[Mr Miami]

If you’ve never been, check out Jeep Beach in Daytona the end of April. Maybe not your thing for a whole week, but the Speedway is packed with vendors and some cool old and rare Jeeps. There is also a car show, and of course you can drive on the beach. Great Jeep parade on the beach the last day. Info on line if this interests you.

Interesting. Maybe good for a 3 or 4 day weekend for wife and I (about a 5 hour drive from Key Largo and she really likes to spend a day in St. Augustine and the shops there). Will check the information on the website. Thanks.

 

[Dhstec]

I just moved my family down to SoFlo. Do we ever get to take the top off here? I’m used to having full weeks with the top off in TN, but of course it rains pretty much every day here .

My condolences . I moved from Florida to TN.

 

[Mr Miami]

My condolences . I moved from Florida to TN.

To each his own but I spent my first 35 years (South NJ) with the winters where you get the cold fronts with 10-20 degree weather and 25 MPH winds. And then some snow, sleet and freezing rain to add to the mix.

When people are inside with their heaters and blankets, I am sitting here on the deck in the Keys in January with a cooler full of beer and some fish, lobster or crabs I caught earlier in the day. Again, to each his own, but why a person would want to move back to the cold is beyond my comprehension.

 

[nbennettksu]

Keep in mind that J.W. Corbett is first and foremost a hunting area. That's what JWC is primarily about. Coming in second place it's a hiking / camping preserve, with scout and youth activities coming in third place. Somewhere down the list it's a place where Jeepers / dual-sporters can enjoy some mild trails, comprised of mostly sugar sand, mud, some fun rutted up areas and some inclines.

As it's not an off-road park, the trails are SUPPOSED to be used to access hunting and fishing locations, and not so much for recreational off-roading. That said, people do it. Trail 6 has historically been an exception and a bone thrown to the trail riders, but it's closed during some hunting seasons.

If you're on a trail and its not hunting season, FWC WILL fine you.


To the OP, I take my back window out (soft top) usually end of October, and it won't go back in until march or so.

 

[Gatorac]

Bestop Sunrider. I put it on from October to April. I don't care for it on long interstate drives. But it has allowed me to open up the roof more often without concern over the what the weather is going to do.

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