312: 4×4 Off Road Trail Ettiquette

[ST4x4 Podcast]

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Trail Ettiquette, Spinning Tires and Stacking Rocks!! Join Jimmy and Tyler on today’s episode as they talk about some ideas that you should consider when going off the beaten path. Check em out and let us know some other ideas!

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Continue reading...

 

[MSO Ash]

You guys are so kind calling them Bypasses. We call them Chicken Tracks. And all that implies.

 

[Bendover]

The person going downhill backs up because its easier to control. If you drop a tire off a ledge backing up you can probably pull forward. If you are backing downhill you might not be able to get back up. Also backing downhill its harder to stop if you take off.

 

[Seth_PDX]

Wheel spin on muddy trails seems unavoidable. Thoughts on how this could be achievable up here in the PNW?
I’m guessing excessive wheel spin is what you two were talking about during the rock stacking segment.

 

[4x4toyotatyler]

Wheel spin on muddy trails seems unavoidable. Thoughts on how this could be achievable up here in the PNW?
I’m guessing excessive wheel spin is what you two were talking about during the rock stacking segment.

Ya correct. Excessive wheel spin. I haven't done any wheeling up there yet, but here in norcal, if a trail is still really muddy, we are supposed to stay off of it. But our trails also eventually dry out lol

 

[MSO Ash]

Wheel spin on muddy trails seems unavoidable. Thoughts on how this could be achievable up here in the PNW?
I’m guessing excessive wheel spin is what you two were talking about during the rock stacking segment.

Do you have those hills that are so slippery that the vehicle won't hold on the brake unless you bake little holes with some wheel spin before stopping? Not excessive but necessary wheel spin.

 

[4x4toyotatyler]

Do you have those hills that are so slippery that the vehicle won't hold on the brake unless you bake little holes with some wheel spin before stopping? Not excessive but necessary wheel spin.

This is curious to me... because that doesn't seem sustainable. Serious question... What do you guys do when 5000 rigs go up that hill and all bake in little holes which turns the hill into impassable deep ruts? 🤔

 

[MSO Ash]

This is curious to me... because that doesn't seem sustainable. Serious question... What do you guys do when 5000 rigs go up that hill and all bake in little holes which turns the hill into impassable deep ruts?

If it's a competition stage then there is no chance of a lot of rigs going over it before nature reclaims the hill.

If it's a forestry track we as recreational 4wders do nowhere near the amount of damage that logging vehicles do. After a few years of ruts forming , the local operators grade the tracks and they become smooth as any dirt road again.

A few things to note are that we don't go 4wding in these areas during the Summer months. The risk of bushfire is usually too great and we have machinery bans in a lot of bush areas and in Australia we don't really have the population to support trail systems as an infrastructure type deal. We just go out in to the bush and drive challenging tracks. Remote destination travel is a totally different type of deal compared to rec wheeling. Some of the most challenging trails near where I live would be lucky to see 100 vehicles a year. Big tyres are illegal so they are not as common, the ruts can only get so deep before the IFS vehicles with little tyres scrape off the centre mound if they choose to winch it. And like I mentioned, the tracks that are important to industry get graded every few years regardless because water run off does just as much as damage as driving on them.

 

[4x4toyotatyler]

If it's a competition stage then there is no chance of a lot of rigs going over it before nature reclaims the hill.

If it's a forestry track we as recreational 4wders do nowhere near the amount of damage that logging vehicles do. After a few years of ruts forming , the local operators grade the tracks and they become smooth as any dirt road again.

A few things to note are that we don't go 4wding in these areas during the Summer months. The risk of bushfire is usually too great and we have machinery bans in a lot of bush areas and in Australia we don't really have the population to support trail systems as an infrastructure type deal. We just go out in to the bush and drive challenging tracks. Remote destination travel is a totally different type of deal compared to rec wheeling. Some of the most challenging trails near where I live would be lucky to see 100 vehicles a year. Big tyres are illegal so they are not as common, the ruts can only get so deep before the IFS vehicles with little tyres scrape off the centre mound if they choose to winch it. And like I mentioned, the tracks that are important to industry get graded every few years regardless because water run off does just as much as damage as driving on them.

Interesting. It's always fascinating hearing about how different this hobby can be to different people lol. I don't really want to go anywhere unless I can somewhat challenge myself or my vehicle and there is a great location to get to. But that makes total sense that since you guys have such higher restrictions on vehicles, you don't see as many issues, since most people just go out to go camping, rather than challenge their vehicles.

 

[MSO Ash]

Interesting. It's always fascinating hearing about how different this hobby can be to different people lol. I don't really want to go anywhere unless I can somewhat challenge myself or my vehicle and there is a great location to get to. But that makes total sense that since you guys have such higher restrictions on vehicles, you don't see as many issues, since most people just go out to go camping, rather than challenge their vehicles.

Yeah it's hard to try and convey differences in culture and the nuances that go with it but it is fascinating. There is a small minority of us who wheel primarily for the challenge of it and actually know where the good tracks are and are willing to deal with the consequences of driving an "illegal" vehicle. The scene is mostly made of overpackers with instagram handles like " something something adventures" or shiny modern 4wds with full catalogue ARB builds that don't see much more than beach runs.

In any case, the challenging tracks are in no danger of over use.lol.

 

[Seth_PDX]

Sorry, got sidetracked with boring non-wheeling life.

I’m just getting back into the hobby after a 10yr hiatus.
I recall some hill climbs where big block K5/Broncos tired skinny pedaling up, those burnout areas would turn into burms to divert runoff from eroding the ruts further.
Then some trails so dug out (from full-size rigs), they would swallow the stock mini trucks we owned back in early 00’s. I feel like those trails get ‘closed’ until some fill dirt and rock can be added.

I feel like the wheeling up here isn’t sustainable, plenty of IG accounts show casing that kind of ‘offroading’, but you bring up some good questions 4x4toyotatyler. I don’t truly know how Oregon or Washington maintains trails or what local groups maintain the trails (which I plan on researching now).

I also think Rubicon and Moab are iconic areas that get much more attention than the OHV parks up here due to the history. Along with the difference of Californian govt. vs it’s neighboring northern States.

Time to do some research on my end. Thanks guys!

 

[4x4toyotatyler]

Sorry, got sidetracked with boring non-wheeling life.

I’m just getting back into the hobby after a 10yr hiatus.
I recall some hill climbs where big block K5/Broncos tired skinny pedaling up, those burnout areas would turn into burms to divert runoff from eroding the ruts further.
Then some trails so dug out (from full-size rigs), they would swallow the stock mini trucks we owned back in early 00’s. I feel like those trails get ‘closed’ until some fill dirt and rock can be added.

I feel like the wheeling up here isn’t sustainable, plenty of IG accounts show casing that kind of ‘offroading’, but you bring up some good questions 4x4toyotatyler. I don’t truly know how Oregon or Washington maintains trails or what local groups maintain the trails (which I plan on researching now).

I also think Rubicon and Moab are iconic areas that get much more attention than the OHV parks up here due to the history. Along with the difference of Californian govt. vs it’s neighboring northern States.

Time to do some research on my end. Thanks guys!

Ya man. That's the goal! To get the brain juices flowing and see what's really going on In our own backyards.

 

[LochyCQ]

Also, down here its easier to be challenged by tracks as our cars tend to be less modified. So you can travel remote and have fun in the same vehicle, on easier tracks. I find the guys with the really modified patrols etc get bored because stuff is really easy to drive. Just dont overbuild the car and you won't have to chase ever harder tracks...

 

[4x4toyotatyler]

Also, down here its easier to be challenged by tracks as our cars tend to be less modified. So you can travel remote and have fun in the same vehicle, on easier tracks. I find the guys with the really modified patrols etc get bored because stuff is really easy to drive. Just dont overbuild the car and you won't have to chase ever harder tracks...

That is far easier said than done!