OK, so I have a 2012 Unlimited Rubicon with 3.5" lift and 35s. Obviously, my rig is fully capable. Problem is, I've not had any experience on even moderate trails. So this weekend my wife and I were in Breckenridge and I wanted to drive a trail and actually use my Jeep for what it was made to do. We (meaning I) decided on Mosquito Pass. For those familiar, I got to the East ride portion were it starts getting real rocky and rough. I got about 40 yards up but got a bit nervous due to my lack of experience, and so I came back down and left the trail behind.

I regret not finishing the trail, but since we were alone and I was without experience, I thought it best to give up my man card and try another time.

So, my questions are many... where is a good place to start? Should I find someone or a group to go with first? For those that know the trail, is that 4wheel Low time? I assume I wouldn't need the lockers on, but again, no experience. I would really like to start exploring some trails now that the kids aren't babies and we have more opportunities to get away. Would like to go back to Mosquito and give it a try with a little more confidence as well.

Thanks

 

Best is to find a local club to wheel with or wait at the trailhead for another jeep to come by. The first time I wheeled in the mountains was on a jeep jamboree in Ouray. I was a little nervous also, but have now been back on my own it does get better. We did black bear for the first time just had to wait about 10 minutes for another jeep to come along and asked if I could tag along. Its a good way to meet other jeepers.

 

Definitely would want to be in 4 low. I just did that trail a month ago in a stock grand cherokee, so your rig was definitely capable.
If ever you are uncomfortable, a shelf road is not the place to be.
Fwiw, the trail had more rocks all throughout it than I expected.

 

Definitely been kicking around the idea of joining a local club. There was another guy in a JKU that passed us while we were taking pictures, but he was long gone by the time we got to the fun part. There were several coming down, but he was the only one we saw going up

 

Well, I kept telling my Jeep "it's not you, it's me" lol.

Yeah, I figured I had better bail early rather than get stuck in a place I was really uncomfortable with no way to get out. I figured I should've been in 4lo once I got back, but of course it didn't occur to me at the time.

I'll look for some wheelin' buddies around home... there's got to be a million of them around here.

 

Best advice if going it alone is to get the Wells book "Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails", there are other books depending on where you are wheeling. I started coming back home to Colorado every year with my Jeep from Texas and found the Wells books to be very accurate in trail descriptions as well as difficulty ratings. I have wheeled mostly by myself, so the books are helpful to avoid getting into a bad spot. Start with Green trails and when you are bored or want something more difficult tackle a Blue trail. You will build confidence over time.
Some of the rocky trails look intimidating but its no more difficult than rolling over a curb, well a couple hundred in row . Put it in 4Lo and take your time, bumping isn't the end of the world. Use 4Lo on the downhill parts and if you have an auto go to low gears and control your speed with the throttle.

 

With time and more experience you will find yourself amazed at what terrain the JKUR can handle.
I did a moderately rough rocky trail in CA a month ago and there was a series of rock ledges I had to climb. Put it in lo-range, 1st gear, and rear lockers and just leaving it in idle, it climbed right up and all I had to do was steer. My girl friend was impressed!

 

There are a lot of people that hit all different levels of trails all around Colorado. If you post up when you're going I'm sure some people would love to join you and help you out. You can also check out traildamage.com. They are a great resource for trails and give you some good trails to start out on.

 

Awesome thank you! I will definitely pick up a copy of the book!

 

Perfect thanks!