New to offroading! reply if you have anything you want to say!

[8Koski7]

Straight up im new to off-roading in general. I really want to learn about anything and everything that has to do with it. Im from Sammamish Washington, which is a city roughly 15 min outside of Seattle. I'm 18 yo, im 6'9" a senior in high school and play baseball...No not basketball...baseball. Would totally appreciate any info/stuff you know about off-roading, just wanna learn and this is the place to start. Thanks

[bleakhorizon]

welcome... I can only say a couple things,

Find a club close to you (or meet some locals here) dont go out alone...

Thread lightly, our "sport" is always in danger...

You have some awesome wheeling spots very close to you, feel fortunate

HAVE FUN...

[8Koski7]

Thank you! but where are some good spots? all i have ventured out to are some service roads and i hate it cuz i dont wanna get in trouble. Also if anybody knows some good front bumpers or any exterior add-ons just let me know. I have the 2013 Trail Teams FJ Cruiser. Finally got the air dam on this friday! took dealership 4.5 hours...paid for only 1 hr, but im soo done with dealerships unless its maintenance.

[Goldrush]

When you get enough posts, post up some pics. I'm interested in seeing what you got! How did you find us? what got u or made you intrigued with rock crawling? And welcome to marlins!


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[bleakhorizon]

sound like you need a different dealership...

check out these links

http://www.wohva-map-catalog.org/

http://www.wohva.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=811105&module_id=84571

the ones i can think of that are top areas include the Tahuya state forest, Elbe Hills, Evans creek, various places on the Olympic Peninsula, Naches, funny rocks.....  on and on....

[*** YELLER ***]

I said BACON . . . . 



and thats all I have to offer 

[86bobbedtoy]

yur gonna wheel your eye out!!

[46&2]

As has been stated tread lightly. Pack out more than you pack in. Go at a comfortable pace, don't do anything that sketches you out. Get a feel for your vehicle, know it's limits. It is better to start small tirewise/modificationwise and work your way up as you find these limitations.

It is important for all of us to be as active as possible in keeping public land accessible to the public. As offroaders and OHV users, we are the #1 target of radical environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and Center For Biological Diversity. They use us as scapegoats frequently to push for broader public land closure to some extremes as to gate areas off entirely to prevent any access.

We all act as ambassadors for the sport. While volunteering is obviously not mandatory, by working together we have been able to stop and prevent some public land closure, but have lost far more. If you want to get involved, join the Blue Ribbon Coalition or other local public land use organizations and research the current issues. These are some good resources for that:

http://www.sharetrails.org/

http://treadlightly.org/

Current issues:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/18-land-use-issues/?pp=25&daysprune=365

[tyes]

welcome!! im pretty new too. this site is awesome and you'll get all the info you need to build your rig..but i'll say, build it right the first time!!!

[toe]

I like pancakes......

[Rocksurfer]

I like mine over-easy with toasted sour dough.

[Bluetoyotaboy]

Welcome!

[Cheesemaker]

Welcome to our second home.  You will find good info here.  If not, just ask.  And ignore the class clowns.    

Go to your local State Forestry, or BLM office, and ask for a map.  They are like $10, that's what I pay in Oregon, and that will show you all the roads and where they go in your local woods.  And if you see a no trespassing sign or a locked gate, don't go there.  I love just driving around in the woods.  My favorites are generally the old Fire Breaks, cause they are generally in rough shape, but just enough to pass through. 

[Bluetoyotaboy]

Cheesemaker good to know there is good fellow wheelers willing to help us newbies figure it out. I been wheeling for a few years but feel brand new to the group, and you seem to understand and try to help out. That's awesome cheese.

[Bluetoyotaboy]

I'm thinking a trip to Seattle in the next few months, maybe I can join you and we could go out and hit some trails.

[Bluetoyotaboy]

I just need an excuse to Jump in my yotas and go find dirt,rocks or mud. Road trips are fun too!

[SloCrawler]

6'9" make a convirtable so you dont hit your head whyle wheeling.

[Wainiha]

How do you fit?  I'm 6'6" and only have an inch of headroom at most.  Offroad I have to slouch.

The best suggestion I think is to find a good, educated and law abiding group to go wheeling with.  Get some seat time, learn and stay out of trouble. 

Let's see the rig.

[Cheesemaker]

I remember being the new guy. 

[Slowdave777]

Not exactly new to offroading, new to crawling though, I have been deep in some on hunting expeditions, mud, snow etc,  no other vehicles around if things go bad, Never went wheeling just for the sake of wheeling but since the motorcycle racing days are over i need a place to play. the people on this forum have been very helpful and friendly, Cheers to all! 

[Cheesemaker]

One other thing I forgot to mention, get a OffRoad permit too!!  That helps fund the patrols of OHV areas, and helps give money to help maintain OHV areas. 

Like Slowdave777 said, I too go out in woods alone all the time, but you have to know the limits of your rig.  I carry a shovel in my truck, and if I come across a mud hole, I get out and check it out first.  And if it's not too bad, I'll go through it.  But I generally shy away from mud holes.  And I also carry a come along, because I don't have a winch.  I've never had to use it, but you never know.  And if a stretch of trail/road looks sketchy, get out and walk. 

But if get a good map, know your rigs limits, and you tell somebody where your gonna be, you shouldn't have any issues learning the trails. 

[66cobra]

rule 1 check the depth before u go in 2 dents build character 3 its a toyota you can make it

[monyman]

I remember being the new guy.

I remember being the new guy, too. I was lucky and most folks were helpful. Welcome to the forum, it's a good group.

[toyotafever]

rule 1 check the depth before u go in 2 dents build character 3 its a toyota you can make it

Exactly!

[Tim Steele]

the hardest lesson ive learned is be patient and do your research on your projects first. you can never research enough in my opinion. 

[H8PVMNT]

Two words for you, lockers... & lockers.

That is all Wheel on!

[Nimyad]

Two words for you, lockers... & chromoly.

That is all Wheel on!

Fify

[1985CRAWLER]

Do your research before you go and start hacking up your rig.take your time and enjoy it,dont rush the build unless you have to.. be prepared to shell out some doe..oh and dont forget to choose  have fun!

[12Bravo]

I remember being the new guy too.....oh wait....still am, 

[bigdaddy76]

Be safe and have fun.