You can thank rock racing, Top Truck Challenge, and the evolution of suspension technology for that. While The TTP and Rock racing events are fun/exciting to watch, that type of driving style and attitude towards rock crawling doesn't belong on public trails anymore than driving a Nascar race car on the street does.
Eventhough Jeeps and FJ's didn't think the mini-trucks belonged on their trails when I started wheeling, at least they respected us, and eventually accepted us, for our driving skill. However, had we showed up with the "Go Big or Go Home" "Throttle Down" attitude that is so prevelant amongst the newbies(since 2000), it would have been a whole different story, and they would have been right to tell us to get lost.
