What did you do WITH your Gladiator today?

[KevinM60]

Outstanding. Great view. How was firebreak? Any issues? It was a while ago, but someone once told me it was reasonably hard.

Firebreak was really good. Cedar tree is rated as a 4 and Firebreak is rated at 5-7 with the rock gardens and other options giving it the 7. There are 4 manmade rock gardens that I remember with one at each end that serve as a sort of gatekeeper and several during the run. I took all the harder options except for the longest rock garden. The trail runs alongside that one. It has bigger rocks and is about 100 feet long. Since I was by myself I skipped over that one but if I had others with me I might have considered it.
These are both SxS trails so there were a lot of narrow turns and passages between rocks and trees that took careful approach angles and some 3point turning. My wife is my co-pilot and we were constantly pointing out the scars on the trees from vehicles hitting them.
Overall it was a great time. The weather was perfect and we are glad we changed our schedule from doing it next Monday because it will be raining and that place was already slippery enough. I didn’t mention the many tree roots on the trail. They are pretty slippery even when dry and they block forward progress more than rocks do.

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[KevinM60]

Can’t wait to see the video. I used to make that run up the 5 twice a year, but I went an hour north of Seattle. As I get older, that run becomes a little less interesting and more of “can we just fly next time?” ?

When I don’t have to haul camping gear and a motorcycle we like to fly. I put my clothes in the carry on and my fishing gear in the checked bag. Food and whatever else we buy when we get here.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Firebreak was really good. Cedar tree is rated as a 4 and Firebreak is rated at 5-7 with the rock gardens and other options giving it the 7. There are 4 manmade rock gardens that I remember with one at each end that serve as a sort of gatekeeper and several during the run. I took all the harder options except for the longest rock garden. The trail runs alongside that one. It has bigger rocks and is about 100 feet long. Since I was by myself I skipped over that one but if I had others with me I might have considered it.
These are both SxS trails so there were a lot of narrow turns and passages between rocks and trees that took careful approach angles and some 3point turning. My wife is my co-pilot and we were constantly pointing out the scars on the trees from vehicles hitting them.
Overall it was a great time. The weather was perfect and we are glad we changed our schedule from doing it next Monday because it will be raining and that place was already slippery enough. I didn’t mention the many tree roots on the trail. They are pretty slippery even when dry and they block forward progress more than rocks do.

Thanks very much for the great review. When i eventually get out there to do those, I’ll know what to expect.

 

[KevinM60]

Thanks very much for the great review. When i eventually get out there to do those, I’ll know what to expect.

You’ll see a lot more when I make the videos.
I’m learning from producing others how to deal with the boring sections. I used to just speed the whole thing up to get past the boring sections but this time I think I’m going to make two videos. One with sped up sections and another with highlights. There actually weren’t many boring sections depending on how you look at it but being there is a lot more entertaining than watching them on video.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You’ll see a lot more when I make the videos.
I’m learning from producing others how to deal with the boring sections. I used to just speed the whole thing up to get past the boring sections but this time I think I’m going to make two videos. One with sped up sections and another with highlights. There actually weren’t many boring sections depending on how you look at it but being there is a lot more entertaining than watching them on video.

I’ve got loads of video I assume will never get watched. I’ve never had or taken the time to go through it and learn what it sounds like you have.

 

[KevinM60]

I’ve got loads of video I assume will never get watched. I’ve never had or taken the time to go through it and learn what it sounds like you have.

I started with dual sport motorcycle videos in the hills by my house and there’s a lot of casual trail sections that can be real boring. I don’t think anybody wants to spend 45 minutes or longer watching a video of a dirt road so I sped them up 5x to basically show what type of stuff I was doing. I need to find some good music to add because that helps the overall project.

here’s a sample of a quick throw together.
sped up and sound cut out. I could stand to spend more time on them. These BOH trails are with the time.
https://youtu.be/GTs9wucfhlw?si=T7Rb6Jh_Hr1VRIRA

 

[NonHyphenated American]

Actually, it was Tuesday. I was in Cades Cove and traffic was backing up for the bears, mostly anyway. Some lady drove her Kia into a ditch. Of all the trucks and Jeeps in line, no one had a winch or recovery strap. I winched her out, for free of course. First time in two years other than power tests I get to use my winch.

 

[MaximusTX]

I met up with my local 4x4 club and was able to put my new Gladiator on the ramp and see the flex on it. Hoping to be able to get it out on the trails in the next few weeks.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I met up with my local 4x4 club and was able to put my new Gladiator on the ramp and see the flex on it. Hoping to be able to get it out on the trails in the next few weeks.

Damn impressive.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I met up with my local 4x4 club and was able to put my new Gladiator on the ramp and see the flex on it. Hoping to be able to get it out on the trails in the next few weeks.

First off, nice rig.
Second, is that an EcoDiesel?
Third, will you adopt me????

 

[MaximusTX]

First off, nice rig.
Second, is that an EcoDiesel?
Third, will you adopt me????

Thanks and yes it is a 2022 Ecodiesel.

 

[KevinM60]

We’re back on the grid after 4 days at East Fort Rock OHV in Oregon.
We camped a few miles north of China Hat

we spent one afternoon trying to make it on the trails around Red Hill and to Paulina and East lakes but got stopped by the snow. We were okay when it was about a foot deep but once the drifts got to 2 feet deep I kept digging in so I turned around and tried to find another way but got turned back every time.

Paulina Lake road. Red Hill is in the background.

 

[WILDHOBO]

We’re back on the grid after 4 days at East Fort Rock OHV in Oregon.
We camped a few miles north of China Hat

we spent one afternoon trying to make it on the trails around Red Hill and to Paulina and East lakes but got stopped by the snow. We were okay when it was about a foot deep but once the drifts got to 2 feet deep I kept digging in so I turned around and tried to find another way but got turned back every time.

Paulina Lake road. Red Hill is in the background.

Looks amazing. I can’t wait to get to that area of the country.

 

[KevinM60]

Looks amazing. I can’t wait to get to that area of the country.

I forgot to add this picture

That’s my nephew. We camp with my brother and his friends who live up there. Those rounds are 2 foot diameter. Out there we cut our own firewood. We find dead trees, drop em, cut em, and bring em back to burn.
The only night we didn’t have a fire like that was Thursday. My wife and I got there first and nobody else showed up until Friday morning. We set up camp, collected branches for the fire, and had a small fire while eating pizza and drinking wine that we picked up in Bend before heading into the OHV. It made for a very good start of that camping trip.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I forgot to add this picture

That’s my nephew. We camp with my brother and his friends who live up there. Those rounds are 2 foot diameter. Out there we cut our own firewood. We find dead trees, drop em, cut em, and bring em back to burn.
The only night we didn’t have a fire like that was Thursday. My wife and I got there first and nobody else showed up until Friday morning. We set up camp, collected branches for the fire, and had a small fire while eating pizza and drinking wine that we picked up in Bend before heading into the OHV. It made for a very good start of that camping trip.

Oh my god that’s amazing.

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