F&T's is a fun trail...Hells Revenge minus the steroids!
F&T's is a fun trail...Hells Revenge minus the steroids!
Billy Oliver
15xIronman
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First timer has a few questions:
One of my friends owns an amigo (which is also my current 2nd vehicle) and he wants to go. Can he drive his amigo, can there be more than just VXs?
Also, this would be my first time for any kind of real off roading (more than my usual farm field off roading). I have a stock VX. Could I participate and expect my baby to be in just as good condition when its over?
I've read many posts here and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun, i just wanna make sure my baby will be in good shape if I take it out into the abyss lol I'm not really sure what to expect but I think Athlete has a great idea to get a CB, consider that part done. Good lookin!
Is the trail long enough where we would camp out along the way? Any other advice
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Ty
Are the CB and handheld radios compatible? in other words, I have some handhelds can we talk to those who have CB's?
Clint,
Looks like a handheld CB can be had for under $40 on eBay:
http://search.ebay.com/%2Fhandheld-C...pZ34QQsbrsrtZd
As always, check feedback and whatnot. I would go that route if you want to pick one up.
Bart
My VX is basically stock, no lift, no skid plates, etc, but I am running A/Ts, which might have helped a little. I did Elephant Hill last year. VXIronWoman was 100% bone stock, iirc, and she did it too. You can expect to scrape here and there underneath, even if you are carefull. But its a blast and 100% worth it.
Bart
That said, I am thinking of a little lift up before I go this year...
Bart
Most are welcome, however, as Todd said earlier - if the crew gets too large (>18 vehicles?) beyond what can go out as a "spontaneous" trail ride; we may have to make preference to VX's.
I'm sure Todd will pick a VX run that a stock VX can make it through (i.e. alternate routes around obstacles). However, I would suggest investing in some skid plates over the fluid pans - just in case...
Trail rides that this crew has gone on are typically over by mid to late afternoon. Enough time to S-S-S and go for drinks and food.
I'm also figuring that there will be those going on other rides thoughout the week with stock VX's with the easier trails in mind...
Is it time to go already? My wife is anxious, especially after I showed the videos from last year. She may be more excited than me at this point.
The VX run is open to non VX's. It started as a run to get the noob VXers a chance to see what the VX was capable before hitting runs with all the other Zu's the rest of the week. Size of the group might dictate leaving others behind though. However with that said your friend can always ride along with you for the VX run (if needed) and then wheel his 'migo the rest of the week.
Handheld (FSR) radios are not compatible with CB's...CBs are worth the $$ if you plan on doing any other wheeling. Plus like everyone said it makes the trails more interesting and fun. Most club/groups use them to comunicate.
As far as stock VX's with stock tires... you will see that on a lot of the trails (especially the slickrock trails) street tires will sometimes work better than the off road tires. There will be several stock VX's there. I recommend that if you are new to the off road thing follow another vehicle that is the same as yours and watch the line they take on the obstacle. Those of us with more experience are always more that happy to jump out and spot you. I have yet to see anyone damage their VX's unless they were ,well, doing things to push the upper limits! The VX run is usually pick keeping in mind that there will be new people but with enough difficulty to let you see the capabilities that it posesses.
Tysamigo- I went with a fully stock VX. It was my first time offroading ever!!! I hadn't even done a dirt road until Moab. No special tires or anything and I came through without a scratch... thanks to all of my wonderful spotters (Gill...thanks by the way.) But you have to trust your spotters judgement. Remember they can see more than you can. And only listen to one person (the one you deem most trustworthy.) when you have 10 shouting at you...
Can't wait to see you there!
Kenny- F&T Rocked! Great pucker factor, but still no scrapes or bashes! YAY! I can't wait!
OK since the subject came up I’ll give you my thoughts on CB’s
1. Don’t go on an organized trail run without one. Period.
2. Don’t rely on a hand held. (I have a couple and only use them for spotter duties so that I am THE ONLY ONE THAT IS BEING HEARD in the spotted vehicle) they just don’t work good from inside a vehicle and most of them sound like crap anyway. In a pinch a hand held CB can be used with an external antenna but with all the wires is a PITA.
3. Make sure it works and that you can be understood (this means you need to do this before the trail not during)
4. Tune your antenna. SWR meters are cheep or built into the more expensive CB’s.
5. For less than $75 you can get a CB and magnetic mount antenna that will work just fine. No need to spend more unless you want a good microphone.
6. Stick with a name brand such as Midland, Cobra or Uniden. To tell you the truth though the quality has gone down the last few years. I have gone through a lot of cheep and expensive radios from the $40 to $500 ones so now I only buy cheep name brand ones. Stay away from refurbished radios you find on the web. I have several and they all have issues.
7. Big truck stops are the place to buy them along with any other CB equipment like antennas, SWR meters and mounts. Radio Shack and Wallmart just don’t have everything you need so at some point you will end up at a truck stop.
8. Linda and I also use FRS/GRMS radios but we use them for private conversations, not to talk to the rest of the group.
9. During Easter Jeep Safari we ask participants to have CB’s but my experience has been that only 75% do have them and out of the 75% only 25% can be understood during introductions at the beginning of each trail ride.
Todd