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Canyonlands NPS Threatens to Fine Subaru Driver for Driving on "4x4" Road

'84 Bronco II

'84 Bronco II

El Chingón
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
293
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2,403
Loc
NM
I just saw this, apparently the Canyonlands National Park Service set up a game camera on the "Colorado Overlook Road" and sent a warning letter to a Subaru driver threatening to fine them $5,000 or six months in prison for driving an all wheel drive vehicle on a four wheel drive trail :homer: Seems pretty asinine to me, especially considering the owner claims they didn't have any issues whatsoever driving the road.

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According to the NPS, this is the definition of a four wheel drive vehicle:
A four wheel drive vehicle is defined as a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or truck with at least 15-inch tire rims and at least eight inches of clearance from the lowest point of the frame, body, suspension, or differential to the ground. Four wheel drive vehicles have a transfer case between the front and rear axles that locks the front and rear drive shafts together when four wheel drive is engaged. All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles do not meet this definition.
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I have no idea why they think wheel size matters, and by this definition, electric trucks are not legal to drive on these roads. I have always seen the "four wheel drive/high clearance required" signs, but I didn't think they had any real legal bearing on anything. I figured this would be some good chit chat fodder :flipoff2:
 
The local FS has similar restrictions in winter…to keep ‘tards out that think they can go anywhere with AWD. Stopped my brother in his Lexus GX 470 and wanted to ticket him. They left after he showed them the low range transfer case.
 
Well Subaru claims 8.7" of ground clearance, 17" wheels and the autos have a clutchpack for the rear output that achieves a 50/50 split so that should meet their specs. That warning is a bunch of shit.

As far as expending resources, don't they just call a towing company to fetch you? And fine you per day for abandoning if you don't?
 
A four wheel drive vehicle is defined as a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or truck with at least 15-inch tire rims and at least eight inches of clearance from the lowest point of the frame, body, suspension, or differential to the ground. Four wheel drive vehicles have a transfer case between the front and rear axles that locks the front and rear drive shafts together when four wheel drive is engaged. All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles do not meet this definition.
though I do not really care one way or the other
there is a difference between 4WD and AWD

that said
their definition is fucked
the transfer case part is correct.
the rim size is BS and best part of it is
at least eight inches of clearance from the lowest point of the frame, body, suspension
tell them to keep their vehicles as well of the trail as I am pretty sure their lower ball joint is not 8 inches from the ground, and that is the lowest part of the suspension.

edit:
I am in a mood
sent them an email :laughing:
its what I do :flipoff2:
 
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Saw this when I was in Utah. Some douche blocking a dirt/trail road because he was stuck in a BMW SUV. I had to turn around after about 6 miles down a bumpy as fuck washboard road.

I'd have no problem with him getting 6 months in jail on that day after Austin Powering it to so a 1000 point turn around in the van.
 
Hooligan said:
The local FS has similar restrictions in winter…to keep ‘tards out that think they can go anywhere with AWD. Stopped my brother in his Lexus GX 470 and wanted to ticket him. They left after he showed them the low range transfer case.
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I could get a subie through more snow than that turd stock to stock. :smokin::flipoff2:
 
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All I have to add is thank you to my parents for landing me in BC, CANADA where I can pretty much go where I want, when I want with whatever I want (with some notable exceptions, of course, because of some cariboo that apparently have the cure for cancer or know where Hoffa's body is)
 
Fuzzydog said:
All I have to add is thank you to my parents for landing me in BC, CANADA where I can pretty much go where I want, when I want with whatever I want (with some notable exceptions, of course, because of some cariboo that apparently have the cure for cancer or know where Hoffa's body is)
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Until they come into Washington and we let the cats and wolves slaughter them. :flipoff2:
 
Dude should have asked them to prove it and then when they sent him the picture posted the location of the camera online.

Between worlds better power to weight and fairly decent traction control any modern "AWD car larping as a SUV" type vehicle will go more places and get less stuck than your average vintage leaf sprung open diff K5 or Landcruiser or whatever other classic POS the most retarded of the retarded are foaming at the mouth over. People forget how shitty off road those old vehicles the rules were based around actually are.

Heck, I bet the real POS mom-mobiles that can only transfer like 30% of power to the rear can still put more torque and hosepower back there on a per pound of vehicle basis than the old stuff can simply because of how much more power they make in the first place. :laughing:
 
arse_sidewards said:
Dude should have asked them to prove it and then when they sent him the picture posted the location of the camera online.

Between worlds better power to weight and fairly decent traction control any modern "AWD car larping as a SUV" type vehicle will go more places and get less stuck than your average vintage leaf sprung open diff K5 or Landcruiser or whatever other classic POS the most retarded of the retarded are foaming at the mouth over. People forget how shitty off road those old vehicles the rules were based around actually are.

Heck, I bet the real POS mom-mobiles that can only transfer like 30% of power to the rear can still put more torque and hosepower back there on a per pound of vehicle basis than the old stuff can simply because of how much more power they make in the first place. :laughing:
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Did you mistakenly think you were posting on Reddit?
 
Filthy McChevy said:
Wrong. Ground clearance matters more. :flipoff2:
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Unless you have basically none ground clearance matters a hell of a lot less than approach/break-over/departure angle and none of those mean shit if your garbage is lifting a tire on a washout.

Didn't we just have a thread about why humvees suck? :laughing:
 
FS is not NPS similar but they are 2 different agencies. Should know the difference.

As for the AWD I can see points on both sides as they are usually capable and most of the time fine.
On the tread lightly and wheeling side I can see the issue that effects the outdoor group, which is rigs that don't have the necessary equipment shouldn't be on the trails. I've seen where more normal rigs degrade the trails and or create bypasses because of mud or whatever. Often hear the argument that the agencies should enforce the trail rating and issue ticket if people are where they shouldn't be or didn't read the signs. So here that happened and it's outrage. Sorta to the extreme side of that argument though.
 
Squamch said:
I literally trespass 90% of the time I'm in the bush. But parts of the mainland are pretty good for access.
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But you get to enjoy that "island life" for those of you that are into that sort of thing. I lived in Victoria for a year about.....34 yrs ago (FML! It pains me to say that) That was just long enough to discover I don't like island life. I loved heading out to Port Renfrew and Shawnigan Lake areas, exploring in my 82 Yota or my Honda dual purpose XL350, but the whole living on an island just seemed so restrictive
 
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