Offroad baby, pucker up.

[93civej1]

Where are you in Tennessee? We moved to Middle TN (Lewisburg area) last year and have been sort of looking for a group that enjoys mostly forest roads and such rather than extreme rock climbing (we used to live in California and have never wanted to try the Rubicon!).

im over on the East Side of TN near the mountains.

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[UTDieselRubi]

As many have said, time off road will gain you the most but I also recommend staying as stock as you can for as long as you can, i.e upgrade only when you have to for specific trails or challenges. How I gained my comfort level while never wheeling with anyone (I also have no one to go with), was via less capable means. Starting in a Ford ranger, I wasn't able to "rock crawl" like a jeep, but that was a good thing or I'd probably kill myself. It made me start small, working my way up till no matter how I modded the truck, I was gate kept at real problematic stuff which led to moving to a jeep. Then, my stock jeep did everything my super modded ranger did. once you get good with stock equipment, move on to lift, then tires and so on, making you able to handle more and more. Its easy to build confidence that way. I 100% would have rolled if I started on a lifted jeep with 37s lol, thinking I could hit the hardest stuff in Moab.

 

[Janster]

So because a hammer exists today, but didn’t in the past, they should use a rock instead? Use the tools you have. No need to walk uphill both ways in the snow barefoot.

Relax my friend……. did you take notice to the ‘laughing’ emoji??

 

[Figmo]

Four wheeling is like sex: You really don't know what you're missing until you do it. Once you do, you will find it exhilarating even after you've done it 100 times. And, most importantly, you'll get better at it the more you do it.

Keeping with that analogy, like porn, sure you can watch vids of others doing it or join a club and be a voyeur. And that can help teach you the mechanics. But really, there just is no substitute for "just doing it". Slowly at first. Becoming more bold as you start to feel the rhythm.

Doing it with a partner (or partners) will give you the confidence in that, if you go too far....someone will be there to help you pick up the pieces or give you a lift back to safety.

I envy you. It's been decades since I've felt how you are feeling right now. Enjoy the ride!

 

[GeneralMaximus]

The groups consist of those who see how gawdy they can make their vehicle look, see how many ducks they can cram in it, and if your really all jeep....you would be a heavy set woman that looks like a male and prefers to play the male of their relationship. (no hate if thats your thing...just not mine). Personally i find a TON (not all) of the whole jeep community a bit weird and people who have 0 mechanical knowledge. Luckily thats why i come here to get most of my info.

Well, that pretty much explains why I dont go on any big organized trail rides. Nor do I ride in any motorcycle gatherings. And I thought I was just getting old and grumpy.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Well, that pretty much explains why I dont go on any big organized trail rides. Nor do I ride in any motorcycle gatherings. And I thought I was just getting old and grumpy.

Nope, just smart. But I’m old and grumpy.

 

[93civej1]

Well, that pretty much explains why I dont go on any big organized trail rides. Nor do I ride in any motorcycle gatherings. And I thought I was just getting old and grumpy.

I consider myself both old and grumpy. My wife says I am not old.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I consider myself both old and grumpy. My wife says I am not old.

My wife says I’m both. If I had a lawn I’d tell the damn kids to get off of it. And they’d be my kids.

 

[93civej1]

My wife says I’m both. If I had a lawn I’d tell the damn kids to get off of it. And they’d be my kids.

Same here. I was mainly meaning she just says im grumpy. Shes not wrong. I dont even know why im talking to yall . I dont like any of ya!

 

[AmishMike]

As others have said, speed has a lot to do with it! If you load your suspension, at some point it unloads and causes momentum. 15° with momentum can be deadly!
I have seen 30° where I reached out and touched ground, I have scraped a fender on a tree root, but it was that time where I was at 27-28° and there was a 1.5" tree root sticking up on the high side......I crawled over that in major pucker mode!
When you are in the high 20's any change can be huge, soft ground, rock moving, steering angle, speed, suspension, tire giving out, beer cooler sliding, fat passenger leaning, even hitting the brake pedal hard and suddenly will shift suspension.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

Experience is King. So do mild stuff and find your comfy zone.

Learn from those with experience... trail runs with a Jeep club is a HUGE HUGE HUGE PLUS. Talk to people on the run, be honest, tell them that you are new to this. Mostly, someone will take you under their arm, observe how you drive, and help you. Unless you are arrogant or an asshole, you will learn A LOT.

Go straight up hills. No side slopeing.

I was a baby offroader in 1976. We ALL were there at one time.

OP, You have a Good honest post / thread. Thank you. As you were, continue.

Be well. Jeep on.

Eric

 

[WILDHOBO]

As others have said, speed has a lot to do with it! If you load your suspension, at some point it unloads and causes momentum. 15° with momentum can be deadly!
I have seen 30° where I reached out and touched ground, I have scraped a fender on a tree root, but it was that time where I was at 27-28° and there was a 1.5" tree root sticking up on the high side......I crawled over that in major pucker mode!
When you are in the high 20's any change can be huge, soft ground, rock moving, steering angle, speed, suspension, tire giving out, beer cooler sliding, fat passenger leaning, even hitting the brake pedal hard and suddenly will shift suspension.

INCREDIBLY ACCURATE. Off camber dictates low speed.

 

[Blade1668]

These didnt look too bad. In my mind I am speaking more of where you have the offcamber and on the other side you have a drop off down the side of a mountain. I dont think ill feel as tingly if its relatively flat on both sides where if you do tip over your not rolling down a mountain.

I understand the angles concerns especially now that I'm older too. My XJ I was of the f### it it's on its side. But shelf roads and sheer drop offs now are a major flag to me now. I'm someone who has been driving many years and miles. Along with driving a up armored suburban up the sides of mountains with switch backs and stupid drop-offs along with AT mines laying on the sides of the road. Skidded M-113's down side of same types of places but without the mines on ice. Might be I've had a few really close calls and most of the time out by myself.
Finding a good crew is a challenge, likely why I was have a lot of friends only a few are involved in my hobbies. Then the right time available. Do find someone or some people who know and you can trust. Definitely not the jokers setting up on obstacles many are there for the carnage and damage videos. The Jeep club I was in went from off-roaders to mall crawling and few off-roaders became the fringe side. Most of the latter moved on, myself included.
Damn sure not as mach some here of experience. A good amount of mud running that I started with back with 3 wheelers ATV's and 4×4's trucks. There wasn't any mountains in Illinois, my experience there started later but definitely not the S.W., Colorado, Utah. A fair bit of Desert driving too.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

I have seen 30° where I reached out and touched

OP if you take nothing else from this post, do not ever put your arms out the window. The number of people who’ve had horrific injuries doing this is very, very high. There’s no scenario where you are stopping the jeep from damage using your appendages.

as far as learning to deal with tilts triggering the fear of falling is by going with people who have experience, never going on things beyond a fire road with one vehicle and hopefully never going alone even on those.

there are people here would surely would consider going with you but other great times to learn would be Jeep Jamborees that are more or less designed to cater to people in the begging stages.

as others have mentioned, theres no set tilt threshold where physics takes over. Every jeep, its occupants, fuel tank status and equipment is different but 20* is generally safe but I would advise against driving based on what the inclination on the dash says. The calculations also change whether you are climbing and descending and especially whether your tires are turned, particularly which direction.

last piece of advice is to learn what two pedal driving is and to practice it. It will provide greater traction and help keep momentum from deciding where the jeep goes instead of you. In 25 years of wheeling there are still moments I still get nervous in certain scenarious that involve heights. Ive just learned to be careful, take my time and not let fear make me make mistakes.

Tossing up a couple pics of a recent tense moment I had. Pics never represent these situations accurately but this is very, very steep there were moments I was heavily tilted toward the passenger side

 

[Janster]

OP if you take nothing else from this post, do not ever put your arms out the window. The number of people who’ve had horrific injuries doing this is very, very high. There’s no scenario where you are stopping the jeep from damage using your appendages.

Agreed!!
There ain’t a body builder on the planet that can stop 5,000 lbs & overcome momentum.

Note: Even if you’re teetering…..gut reaction is to reach out - DON’T!!! Instead….STOP (…. stop moving and let the rig settle). Gather your wits, keep your arms inside the rig, understand the situation you’re in (hopefully, you have friends with you that can help you get the lay-of-the-land). You have some very important decisions to make on how-the-hell to get yourself out of the situation safely.

Ooo I have a photo that’d be perfect here…but it’s on a USB stick.

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