vs_jk

I finally got a chance to use my Freespirit Recreation Adventure Series Manual 60 RTT this weekend. Full write up- Freespirit recreation - Expedition Portal

kmrtnsn

Our ARB Simpson III in action.

Mark Doiron

Apparently! LOL.

NMBruce

hey guys, I do believe this is about "Expedition Modded Jeeps - Let's see 'em!!" and the trips we take with them, PLEASE leave the other stuff at home or take it someplace else

dmwil

That conversation ended 4 days ago, and it actually was about one of the places someone might want to go. We've moved on, so thanks.

LoboMike

Finally got to put my XJ/ZJ Roof Rack and LoadWarrior basket to work. Drove down to Bend for a Bachelor Party, then drove back up to Mt. Hood National Forest to meet up with my wife and bro-in-law to camp out and catch a glimpse of the eclipse (within path of totality). I didn't get as many good pics as I wanted to, especially of the forest roads we took on the way back to hit Estacada, but here are a few shots of the weekend excursion

Loaded up and ready to roll:


Shot of Mt. Hood as I drove past Gov't Camp.


Shot of Mt. Hood on the way back to Mt. Hood Natl' Forest.


Taking a quick break after driving around looking for the perfect camping spot.


Found it. Didn't get a pic of the tents set up, but this was the entrance to an old service road. No one around, perfect!


Eclipse time... didn't even have to leave the camp site. The sun lined up perfectly with the forest service road (skyline rd).






View of Mt. Hood from NF-58 on the way back to 224 to Estacada.

Clark Collins

I just ruined my engine crossing a too deep creek. We took the plugs out and it will turn manually part way around in both directions and then stop. Our local dealer said that hydrolocked engines often have many damaged parts and it would be best to replace it. There should be many 3.8s out there at engine swop shops that have installed V8s in JKs. I would like to find an engine at a shop that could install it for me. Any advice from forum members would be much appreciated. Prefer to find one within reasonable distance from Pocatello, Idaho.

dmwil

Sorry to hear about your engine. Unfortunately, I'm unfamiliar with anyplace in your area with them. You might contact AEV in Michigan. I'm pretty sure they'd have a bunch of 3.8's laying around. Maybe they'd ship one. Otherwise, I'd look at a Jasper rebuild or something like that. I know of a shop in my area that rebuilds them and claims to fix the source of the problem that causes the famous oil burning issue. Maybe there is an outfit like that somewhere near you.

My question:

Is there an app or web site with a database of overlanding routes in the US? Magellan looks like they've attempted it but the reviews are poor.

It would be neat to collect routes from different regions of the country, especially areas where they might be harder to find.

kmrtnsn

A cautionary tale, above. "I don't need a snorkel, snorkels are for posers".......The AEV snorkel costs less than $400.00 and can be installed in less than two hours, including cutting the hood and allowing for the paint to dry. I call it "cheap insurance".

Mark Doiron

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Of the three shops that I know that do the installs, the already mentioned AEV is the closest. Not sure why a hemi-removal would be any better than scouring local junkyards for a low mileage JK that was totaled. Or, you can check out the remans on E-Bay for a bit over 4 grand.

I had a friend a few years ago who tried to set up a site, but it never panned out. The problem is a great many folks jealously guard their routes for a variety of reasons:

• You want solitude the next time you go.
• You can't trust people to not trash a place.
• You don't want to be responsible for people getting in over their head or other trouble out there.
• What good is a secret spot that everyone knows about?

What I will tell you is that there are thousands of creative routes that can be put together by anyone who takes the time to scour over maps. The state Gazetteers are your friend. So are the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) put out by the U.S. Forest Service. YouTube videos, and trip reports on websites such as here are, too. They provide info that maps may hide, such as closed gates, private property, difficulty of routes, etc. There are also widely dispersed websites that provide info on particular states or regions, often with free or modestly priced custom maps and .gpx files. Finally, there are a few guidebooks here and there that provide info on routes. Along the lines of those last couple points, check out:

• The Backcountry Discovery Routes series from Touratech/Butler Maps.
• The Charles Wells state off-road and backcountry road guide books and see what trails he lists might make suitable overlanding routes.
• The Mojave Trail guidebook by Dennis Casabier.
• The TransAmerica Trail and related offshoots.

Some national parks and monuments also offer incredible overlanding opportunities, so check out the NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps for them, including:

• Death Valley and adjacent BLM lands.
• Big Bend and adjacent Big Bend Ranch State Park.
• Grand Canyon on adjacent BLM and NF lands and, with appropriate permit, Navajo Nation land.
• Capitol Reef and adjacent BLM and NF lands.
• Canyonlands and adjacent BLM lands.
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Momument.
• Bears Ears National Monument and adjacent USFS and BLM lands, including the Abajo and Henry Mountains.