Cliffs Insane Terrain, 1st time

[sciguy6]

I've been reading the first timers threads and thanks for the info. This is my first time other than high centering a snowbank just after getting it.:blush:. Any recommendations? I'm going (hopefully) early tomorrow (Sunday). I don't plan on airing down and have pretty much the (less than) basics. My wife is going and I plan on being a "good" boy. (Still too many payments left). I just want to have a nice ride through the wood. Is that possible there? Thanks in advance.

[fish]

even if it is just a dirt road that you are going to be driving airing down will give such a better ride you and your wife will appreciate the little extra effort.

[sciguy6]

Then my question is, if I air down and I don't have a compressor and I'm driving over an hour from the boonies, what do I do about "airing up" to travel home?

[CIJeep]

Surely there must be a gas station near it. Air down with a gauge to 25 if not station near by and keep your speed lower on the highways going back, no 80 MPH stuff!

Use a gauge to air down at the site. Depending on the terrain it is usually best to have a buddy system going unless your doing the hanky panky. :) Otherwise let someone know when to expect you back.

[dburgette]

Surely there must be a gas station near it. Air down with a gauge to 25 if not station near by and keep your speed lower on the highways going back, no 80 MPH stuff!

Use a gauge to air down at the site. Depending on the terrain it is usually best to have a buddy system going unless your doing the hanky panky. :) Otherwise let someone know when to expect you back.

This is exactly what I did. I just drove back at a slower than normal rate and found no problems. When I got home I aired it back up.:D

[sciguy6]

Well I went and got part way and chickened out at a spot (On the easy trail) that I didn't know how to handle and tried to back out and hit a rut and broke my mirror and rubbed a tree on the passenger (top of the door) and totally freaked my wife. She won't be coming back. Doesn't understand what the draw is and why I would want to wreck a $30,000 vehicle. Misunderstanding as I thought she would want to go the first time and she said she really didn't. The thing that bugs me is doing damage chickening out. My wife was out of it before that, the mirror just cemented it. My son got yelled at for thinking it was the coolest thing he ever did. I had to have a heart to heart on women (like his mom) and when to speak up on such things. Jeep ladies, YOU understand.

[robin]

Well I went and got part way and chickened out at a spot (On the easy trail) that I didn't know how to handle and tried to back out and hit a rut and broke my mirror and rubbed a tree on the passenger (top of the door) and totally freaked my wife. She won't be coming back. Doesn't understand what the draw is and why I would want to wreck a $30,000 vehicle. Misunderstanding as I thought she would want to go the first time and she said she really didn't. The thing that bugs me is doing damage chickening out. My wife was out of it before that, the mirror just cemented it. My son got yelled at for thinking it was the coolest thing he ever did. I had to have a heart to heart on women (like his mom) and when to speak up on such things. Jeep ladies, YOU understand.

sorry to hear that. on a good note your son liked it:thumbsup:, so maybe this can be a thing you two can do together. the wife not wanting to come along is not always a bad thing. I always wanted to bring my wife along for so many trips, while my friends never did, now I understand. you end up not fighting and actually having a good time.

[Seir]

Well I went and got part way and chickened out at a spot (On the easy trail) that I didn't know how to handle and tried to back out and hit a rut and broke my mirror and rubbed a tree on the passenger (top of the door) and totally freaked my wife. She won't be coming back. Doesn't understand what the draw is and why I would want to wreck a $30,000 vehicle. Misunderstanding as I thought she would want to go the first time and she said she really didn't. The thing that bugs me is doing damage chickening out. My wife was out of it before that, the mirror just cemented it. My son got yelled at for thinking it was the coolest thing he ever did. I had to have a heart to heart on women (like his mom) and when to speak up on such things. Jeep ladies, YOU understand.

Sorry to hear that! My wife always makes me "test out" a trail first and report back before she want to come along :yup: works for me as she is currently about 4 months pregnant and don't really want to "discover" too much with her along.

[CAOKKIE]

Well I went and got part way and chickened out at a spot (On the easy trail) that I didn't know how to handle and tried to back out and hit a rut and broke my mirror and rubbed a tree on the passenger (top of the door) and totally freaked my wife. She won't be coming back. Doesn't understand what the draw is and why I would want to wreck a $30,000 vehicle. Misunderstanding as I thought she would want to go the first time and she said she really didn't. The thing that bugs me is doing damage chickening out. My wife was out of it before that, the mirror just cemented it. My son got yelled at for thinking it was the coolest thing he ever did. I had to have a heart to heart on women (like his mom) and when to speak up on such things. Jeep ladies, YOU understand.

Sorry for your bum luck. Not much I can say other than I am sure you are not the only person in that boat. My wife is not an outdoorsy type of person either so I make sure I never to take her anywhere but maybe the mall. I guess we all have a cross to bear. I hate shopping.:crazyeyes::crazyeyes::crazyeyes:

[sciguy6]

I knew most of you would understand. My wife admitted she was never "afraid", she worried about the Jeep the whole time. Her comment was that if I wanted to do this, I should buy one of those "beat up" Jeeps we saw. (I did not at this time argue with her that the "beat up" Jeeps I saw had more into them than I had in mine.) There were some monsters there. The problem was, I thought she wanted to do this as she was the one who looked up the parks and was saying when. After 20+ years of marriage, you would think I would know better. There are so few "us" things that I am fired up to do, I was just hoping she would get into it. I admit I should have "practiced" more but being so close to Chicago, the places to have fun are few and far between.

[Kachad]

Gotchya... well... give it a try again in time.. ease her back into it and maybe include some other activities along with the wheeling.. like stay at a nice hotel overnight.. some easy trails that might have some spectacular views might help too.

Do you know any other couples that might want to go along or have their own rig??

She might not be so worried about the damage now that you broke the "damage cherry". ;)

Good luck, I hope she gives it another chance.

Ditto - find a B&B nearby and do some research and find some girly stuff to do the day after. 1 day wheeling, half day shopping for her stuff = less worries about broken mirrors.

p.s. My girlfriend looks at drainage ponds and prompts "bet you couldn't drive through that". But then, she's not making the payments :)

[sciguy6]

Thanks for the tips. I have to sit low for a while but I think I could ease her in abit agin. I have a friend with a late 40's Willy's. If we go maybe he'll help me find some acceptable areas. (I have 3 boys, the youngest 15, so maybe if we went a few times, she'll want to "be with the family". I'm working on easing her in but time will have to be considered.

[johare]

If you can swing it, get into one of Bill Burke's courses.
www.bb4wa.com/ (http://www.bb4wa.com/)
You'll learn more in 2 days than you will in a year and you'll be doing it with others who are new as well. I've done 2 trips with Bill and wheel with much more knowledge and confidence.

[goldtr8]

Funny how the wife will react. But you have to also break them in slowly.

Our first Jeeping adventures were simple dirt roads where we live with the top down in the Pinckney Recreation Area.

Then we did a simple trip on the Michigan west coast, and did simple seasonal roads with a little Silver Lake Sand dunes.

Next major trip was with the club where we went to Drummond Island. Here the problem was Mud, so I strattled the mud holes, one side in and the other side up with the lockers on. On the way our the very last mud hole I had trouble getting up the bank as the tires were just filled with mud and I had no traction. She screamed then jumped out of the jeep saying Ill never do this again bla bla bla:rotflmao2::rotflmao2:

The we go out ok after I hit a tree gunning it:rotflmao2::rotflmao2: with no damage to the plastic fenderr. I love plastic cause it bends and 303 hids the scratches.:ya:

Anyway after we are all done and eat dinner then she laughs about it and said she had fun.

Now after a camping trip in the UP with the RV all she did was complain how we dont have the jeep so we cant go jeepin in the woods and trails.

So Rv was sold tuesday and now I'm looking for a light weight camping trailor to pull with the jeep. so we can go jeeping.:thumbsup:

[Gravel Gertie]

I remember waaaaay back when I took my first few off road rides. When my husband came to a spot that made me uncomfortable I would grab my camera and use it for an excuse to get out of the Jeep and take some pictures of him driving over/down the obstacle. When I got more experience and gained confidence I forgot the camera bit. Now when I am driving I toss the camera to my son who comes in his Jeep and yell, "Take a picture!"

I suggest bringing a camera along and when you come to an intimidating spot, hand her the camera and say, "Honey, you are so great with the camera, would you mind standing over there and taking a picture of me and the Jeep?" She will be flattered and welcome the chance to save face and leave the vehicle. Eventually she might just decide to stay in the Jeep too. :driving: :photo:

[JMP8562]

Well I went and got part way and chickened out at a spot (On the easy trail) that I didn't know how to handle and tried to back out and hit a rut and broke my mirror and rubbed a tree on the passenger (top of the door) and totally freaked my wife. She won't be coming back. Doesn't understand what the draw is and why I would want to wreck a $30,000 vehicle. Misunderstanding as I thought she would want to go the first time and she said she really didn't. The thing that bugs me is doing damage chickening out. My wife was out of it before that, the mirror just cemented it. My son got yelled at for thinking it was the coolest thing he ever did. I had to have a heart to heart on women (like his mom) and when to speak up on such things. Jeep ladies, YOU understand.

hey sorry to hear about the hole wife thing but i have heard about the cliffs and im not into tearing my shit up but have you heard about this http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=52036 im going and my son is also going from what i have read they have different trails and their will be guides so they will know what you can and cant do :thumbsup: so maybe take her with and get her toes whet with some easy trails she may like it :dontknow2: i am not a hard core kinda guy and like i said before im not going to tear my shit up its a every day driver something to look into :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[toad]

And to add to what others have said..the passenger seat is also known as the "bitch" seat. It's the hardest seat to be in because you don't have any control. It took me and my husband a few times arguing and realizing that. Maybe have her drive a simple trail. That way she can get an idea of the whole jeep thing. :wink: