PEAK PUTTERS

Write-up in NWJeepn that sends a message to folks getting into wheeling.

http://www.nwjeepn.com/Buildtherig.html

90% of rigs out there already fit the trail but they aren't allowed at some areas because some people think they are too big. Like elbe. Since it got logged you could drive a full sized truck through there. They just put a 80ish inch restriction on the place. No rhyme or reason but they did it anyway.

I'm bigger than every rig on this site and I can run most any trail I want to run and make it work easily. No I can't run certain trails at Rimrock and I'm fine with that but saying a large rig can't do Naches and a lower Rimrock is wrong I've done it...

The issue id have with what there saying is there still excluding a bunch of people. A stock Toyota has a bigger wheel base than what they were saying. so to me it sounds like old farts saying if you dont have a flat fender or samari cause thats what we like then your SOL.
I do understand some of the full size stuff but there is a huge groupe in the midde they forgot about, not just toyotas but what about the jeeps with Scout axles or cut down axles and extended wheel bases.

toyman2 wrote:The issue id have with what there saying is there still excluding a bunch of people. A stock Toyota has a bigger wheel base than what they were saying. so to me it sounds like old farts saying if you dont have a flat fender or samari cause thats what we like then your SOL.
I do understand some of the full size stuff but there is a huge groupe in the midde they forgot about, not just toyotas but what about the jeeps with Scout axles or cut down axles and extended wheel bases.

Werd. Cherokee's, cj-6/8's are excluded too. Along with scoutII's and EB's If you're going to build a trail or restore an old one there shouldn't be any trail restrictions IMO. It's enter at your own risk but if you cut a tree down we'll hang you by your sack and flog your wallet empty in the public square. Heck the first weekend little rattle snake was open a couple tree's were cut down to fit larger rigs through.

I think any rig longer than mine or wider is too big. Of course, I think any rig shorter than mine and narrower is too small.

So, just curious since I am kind-of a trail-newbie here:

Last time I was over in the Kaner-Flat area, Ellensburg side, we passed a few 'Yotas on a trail and found ourselves running into a fallen tree about 20 minutes later. You could see the tracks under the tree where the 'Yotas had passed through, so it had just freshly fallen. But the tree was much to large to cross with any vehicle in our group.

What is the "proper" thing to do? I usually carry a chainsaw with me, so I cut the log to the width of the trail and we continued on.

I told this to a fellow 4x4 enthusiast later, and was severely chastised for cutting the tree. Yet, the only way we could have gone around it was to blaze a new trail off to the side.

I say clear the trail, but I await the chastisement.

Wrench wrote: fallen tree

But the tree was much to large to cross with any vehicle in our group.

What is the "proper" thing to do? I usually carry a chainsaw with me, so I cut the log to the width of the trail and we continued on.

I told this to a fellow 4x4 enthusiast later, and was severely chastised for cutting the tree. Yet, the only way we could have gone around it was to blaze a new trail off to the side.

Fallen tree is the key word, this is know as trail clearing and in some case can count towards volunteer hours. It is actually better to remove trees from the trail, this stops by-passes from being made.

Think the "enthusiast" must have miss-understood you, trail clearing isn't bad but MAKING the trail fit your rig, BAD.

Cut up plenty of fallen trees to clear the trails rather than making go arounds. Not a problem at all.

Cut the tree if the alternative is a bypass.

just to be clear, and im sure most of you know me well enough. i do not condone cutting down trees to make it so your rig will make it, clearing trails= good but no falling trees not so cool.

Good point. . .if your junk don't fit through the hole, turn around and go home.

OldGreen wrote:Good point. . .if your junk don't fit through the hole, turn around and go home.

Not necessarily I can run lower Rimrock no problem but I know it'd be impossible to get my axle width through upper trails without damaging the trees and the body of the truck. I followed a tube buggy through pucker that was 91" wide at the tires and hehad a reall hard time making it through without damaging trees.

Naches is pretty easy with a wide axle for the most part. I've ran kaner end to end with no issues. Ya just gotta know the area you're attempting to wedge your junk into.

Most all of those trails that you mentioned were tight trails and that was a large part of the challenge. Now most all of those trails are wide and open enough for rigs much larger than your run of the mill CJ. Commonly, the larger rigs come with bigger tires. Now the challenge mostly comes from deep holes and ruts created by mostly rigs with big tires and bigger egos.

This is evolution of jeep trails into rough road like trails that they were not originally built to be because many 4x4 folks are competitive and like to build up their rigs. If land use is not regulated my land managers, the same thing happens to hiker trails --> horse back trails --> motorcycle trails --> little quad trails --> side by side quad trails --> Jeep trails --> wide torn up road like trails.

Ok so we should put a stop to evolution now that it is surpassing your willingness to keep up? Not surprising I guess, most people would rather hold others back then be left behind.

I'm extremely over built for any trail in the pnw but I bet I do less damage than 99.99% of users. My high axle clearance from my big fat weight dispersing tires makes little footprint in its wake. I can idle through the mud that you and everyone else has to spin your tires at a high rate of speed to get through. What you see as a big boring trail IS tight to me and it IS challenging to me. I am building my truck to NEVER take a bypass period.

FISH ON!!

Now we need alike button!

Screaming Toylet wrote:FISH ON!!

Well duh, drop a lure covered in stupidity and closedmindedness like that and you'll get a bite. You must be studying with Lee's mentor jim...

No fair using live bait and a barbed hook in these waters.

White trash wrote:You must be studying with Lee's mentor jim...

I don't even know what that means. Of course, I don't know what Jim you are talking about.
I think the size restrictions are a slippery slope. And the wheel base one really stuck in my craw. (I wonder why?) On width, I can see a gate keeper here and there. Basically, if the old school flatty wheelers want a couple crazy tight trails that are tough based on being tight, give the baby his ball. I don't mean that in a disparaging way, I just mean flatties built these trails let them have a few flatty trails. I do not have the wheeling experience of many of the people on here, but I find the tight trails crazy good fun (even if my power steering pump doesn't.)
This is a change in my opinion, BTW, if someone is looking to dig up my old posts. If a few trails are marked so my rig is too long or too wide, I respect that. I just don't want to see that happen for whole trail systems.

I'm talking about your buddy pokey. Makes more sense now don't it?



I don't have an issue with there being some small rig trails, not out of "respect/history" but because everyone needs something for them. I can't go on walking/hiking/quad/horse trails so adding a flatty trail setup is great imo as long as they don't take away any trails from anyone.

What gets me is when they switch stuff up mid stream like they did with reiter and elbe. If a rig already fits don't restrict it from using the trail system.

White trash wrote:I'm talking about your buddy pokey. Makes more sense now don't it?



I don't have an issue with there being some small rig trails, not out of "respect/history" but because everyone needs something for them. I can't go on walking/hiking/quad/horse trails so adding a flatty trail setup is great imo as long as they don't take away any trails from anyone.

What gets me is when they switch stuff up mid stream like they did with reiter and elbe. If a rig already fits don't restrict it from using the trail system.

I'm just going to delete WT's post, because I don't want to get caught agreeing with him. It would ruin all my street cred, it would.

Wtf when did you get street cred???

White trash wrote:Wtf when did you get street cred???

Comes with the Trail Rated Badge.

iaccocca wrote:

White trash wrote:Wtf when did you get street cred???

Comes with the Trail Rated Badge.

Your street cred is chrome plated plastic made in china? Damn don't feel too bad about losing it.