Topic: Looking for some beginner trails

[docked4runner]

I love in south orange county and looking for some beginner stuff, where i can learn what to do and not to do and not have my rig roll down some mountain because i don't know what I'm doing haha.

any ideas? thanks.

[MC387]

It really depens on your setup.  Id consider Coyote Lake, last chance Canyon, or just some of the Fire roads up by Hume Lake.  I would find some one who is more experienced than you and go along with them.  My first "rock crawling" was on the Rubicon.  I would consider that to be a good beginner trail if you truck is mildly built.  If your truck is stock,  I would consider Hungry valley or Hollister.  Maybe consider joining a club, or at least making a few runs with a local club.  We have a trail up here in Pozo called Garcia ridge.  It is fairly easy, but can be a challenge in a stock vehicle.  Don't go there if it is too hot though.

[studentwheeler]

Go up to Big Bear lake. Tons of good mild stuff up there.

[Rocksurfer]

Always wheel with someone, try to find a group of experienced wheelers that will bring you along. This way if and when you get in too deep you'll have an audience to one help you and two laugh at you.

[bigarms23]

what really helped me out was i bought a california off highway trails book for 24.00 it gives every trail from one end of california to the other

[docked4runner [OP]]

Alright, where would i find a local group of people to talk to about going on a trip? my truck has about 28k into it so i should be ok in most places a stock truck would get stuck.

[Snowtoy]

A google search brought of several. 

Check the California Club section and see what members here are in your same area, or what clubs are close buy.  Also check w/California Association of 4WDClub, they have driving clinics from time to time.

Unfortunately given your rigs stats, beginner/intermediate trails aren't going to be that useful for you, and trying to wheel it on the trails it is built for, will likely end badly for both you and your rig.  If you can swing it, you might consider picking up a stock rig w/31's(thinking mid '80's IFS), to learn with.  It doesn't have to be pretty or clean, just something you can run out to your local nearby trails in.  What you would learn from wheeling it would pay off once you started wheeling the trails that your rig was designed for.

[Tool Pimp]

yeah I know its the hammers but there is a lot of trails out there for beginners and they will make sure to get you in and out with no problems..
http://www.victorvalley4wheelers.com/fitd/overview/

[Rocksurfer]

Orange County 4Play is down your way, we are somewhat local to you also Spinnin4's 4x4 Club of Southern California we have members from the Pacific Ocean to Palm Springs and from Orange Co. to Northern LA Co. We even have some members further north all the way to Sac.

[docked4runner [OP]]

right on! where do i sign up?!?!

[Rocksurfer]

You can find clubs in you area on Cal4wheels site or here's the two I mentioned. Both Cal4Wheel and the Spinnin4s have bulletin boards so that you can get right into speaking with members and getting info on joining them on runs. Cal4Wheel has annual events and is statewide. They are a conglomeration of most of the clubs in CA. so you still would be directed to clubs local to your area where-as 4Play and the Spinnin' Fours are actual clubs doing monthly runs.

http://www.cal4wheel.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=112

http://www.cal4wheel.com/forum/

http://spinnin4s.50.forumer.com/index.php

http://www.oc4play.com/index.php